Item: San Francisco Marriott Union Square
Rating: 9
Author: Caroline Tremblay

San Francisco Marriott Union Square – Booking

The San Francisco Marriott Union Square hotel is located in the heart of downtown San Francisco. I had stayed there a few years ago and for this other visit to San Francisco, I went back.

The San Francisco Marriott Union Square costs between 170 and 400 USD per night, depending on the time of year or events. Otherwise, it’s accessible via points, at a cost ranging from 41,000 to 65,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Review: San Francisco Marriott Union Square | Marriott Bonvoy - Marriott Union Square San Francisco-19

A few days before my arrival, I received an email with all the details and options available at the hotel.

Unfortunately, as is the case with many hotels in the city, a « destination fee » of 25 USD per night is required, which is added to the cost of the room.

This fee includes :

$25 credit per day for food and beverages at the hotel’s two restaurants
High-speed Internet
Two one-way tickets for one cable car trip
Two reusable bottles (once per stay)
2 X 1 hour self-service bike rental (once per stay)
For Marriott Bonvoy Elite members: One mocktail per day at the Bin480 restaurant between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

This fee was not charged when I came here a few years ago. Since I could get some benefit from it, I resigned myself to paying for it.

Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for free stays at over 8,000 hotels worldwide is to have the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card (and/or the Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card).

In addition to the exceptional welcome bonus of each of these two cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all your purchases and 5 points per dollar at any of the Marriott establishments. On top of that, every year, you’ll receive a free hotel night certificate (worth 35,000 points) and 15 Elite Night Credits toward your Marriott Bonvoy status.

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Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card

American Express Marriott Bonvoy

Annual fee: $120
Our valuation: $990Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.; Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer: Up to 110,000 points; Ends Sep 22, 2026

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on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points with the current offer:

Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

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Annual fee

Primary card$120

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437

2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $500

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $500

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

San Francisco Marriott Union Square – At a glance

Here is some information about the hotel:

Date of opening (or renovation)	1987	Number of rooms	329
Restaurants	Two	USB sockets in the room	Yes
Accepts animals	No. Service dogs only	Smart TV	Yes
Mobile card	Yes	Shower/Bath	Shower
Balcony	No	Accessible for people with reduced mobility	Yes
Parking	External: 71 to 82 USD / day	Lounge	Yes
Gym	Yes	Breakfast included	No
Pools and Spas	No	Room with kitchenette	No

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San Francisco Marriott Union Square – Location

The San Francisco Marriott Union Square is located in downtown San Francisco, within walking distance of :

Powell metro station
Several popular department stores (Macy’s, Apple Store, Saks Fifth Avenue, etc.)
From the Powell/Hyde cable car line, which runs right next door
From a Hop On Hop Off bus stop

Fisherman’s Wharf is a 12-minute drive away. Also, you can take the tickets « donated » by the hotel for a ride on a Cable Car, to avoid climbing the city’s hills.

San Francisco Marriott Union Square – Check-in

Even though I arrived earlier than planned in the morning, my room was already ready.

The sympathetic receptionist put on her best French to welcome me. She gave me a sheet with the destination charge inclusions.

Review: San Francisco Marriott Union Square | Marriott Bonvoy - Marriott Union Square San Francisco-21

San Francisco Marriott Union Square – Room

Throughout the corridors on the upper floors, you’ll find posters of psychedelic drawings from the late 1960s, depicting artists who were popular at the time.

Review: San Francisco Marriott Union Square | Marriott Bonvoy - San Francisco Marriott Union Square couloir

I got a corner room. It was much larger than the other standard rooms on the floor, with a view of the other downtown buildings surrounding Union Square.

Review: San Francisco Marriott Union Square | Marriott Bonvoy - Marriott Union Square San Francisco-01

In addition to the two double beds, there were armchairs to admire the city view, a desk and a sitting area.

The sofa became a bed, big enough for one or two persons to sleep on.

The bathroom was rather small, with shower, sink and toilet.

Opposite the bathroom was the wardrobe, as well as an area with mini-refrigerator and coffee maker.

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San Francisco Marriott Union Square – Restaurants

Two restaurants are on site at the Marriott San Francisco Union Square. Customer service is very friendly, professional and efficient.

Bin480: For alcoholic beverages or simple meals (salad, sandwich, pizza, hamburger, steak) and open between 5 p.m. and midnight, every day.
The Restaurant: For breakfast only. Open from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday to Friday and from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday

San Francisco Marriott Union Square – Other services

San Francisco Marriott Union Square – Swimming pool

There is no swimming pool at the San Francisco Marriott Union Square hotel.

San Francisco Marriott Union Square – Lounge

The Concierge Lounge at the San Francisco Marriott Union Square is located on the 28th floor and offers a splendid view of the city (when it’s not foggy!).

Concierge Lounge opening hours are :

Sunday: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday to Thursday: 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Saturday: Closed

Here are the times for each service:

Breakfast is served between 6:30 and 10 a.m., Monday to Friday
Hors d’oeuvre: from 5:30 pm, Sunday to Thursday
Desserts: from 7.30 p.m., Sunday to Thursday

Only Elite Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador members have access.

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Outside these opening hours, there are always hot and cold beverages, snacks (nuts, pretzels), fruit, yoghurt and bags of potato chips.

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In fact, from 10 a.m. on Friday to 4 p.m. on Sunday, the lounge is completely closed.

When the Concierge Lounge is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador members and their guests enjoy complimentary breakfast at The Restaurant.

They get a Continental breakfast (fruit, cereals, muffins, pastries, yogurt, oatmeal, toast and tea/coffee). If they want the « hot » part (with bacon, omelettes on request, sausages, etc.), they have to pay an extra 10 USD per person.

San Francisco Marriott Union Square – Gym

The fitness room is medium-sized.

There are weights, yoga balls, a few weight machines and treadmills. At the entrance, there’s a vending machine for Gatorade and energy drinks.

San Francisco Marriott Union Square – My overall impression

The Marriott San Francisco Union Square is perfect for San Francisco visitors and business travelers. It’s close to major tourist attractions and a 15-minute walk from the Moscone Center for conventions.

The areas around the San Francisco Marriott Union Square are safe. Of course, basic travel precautions are always necessary, but I always felt safe there.

Read our reviews of other Marriott Bonvoy hotels in San Francisco :