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Beacon Grand, San Francisco

450 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States. (show on map)

Expert reviews

New York Times review:

“Beacon Grand, formerly the 96-year-old Sir Francis Drake Hotel, reopened in 2022 with a new name and an extensive remodel. Its location in the heart of downtown, overlooking Union Square, along with its elegant bar, the Starlite, and whiskey lounge, the Hidden Library, evoke the hotel’s glamorous history.”

CN Traveler review:

“Enter Beacon Grand, the rejuvenated embodiment of the landmark Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Elevating one of San Francisco’s most famous historic hotels into a modern destination for the 21st-century traveler, the hotel has been updated and rebranded. Combining legacy with ambition, it’s still the social focal point of Union Square.”

Fodors review:

“This 1928 landmark—renovated and reopened in 2022—welcomes guests in its ornate, high-ceilinged lobby and classically elegant rooms that come equipped with 21st-century tech amenities but evoke the hotel’s heyday with gorgeously restored wood plank floors and plush white comforters.”

Guest rating

This an aggregated customer review rating of Beacon Grand, San Francisco. We have taken customer review ratings from hotel booking sites, search engines, the official hotel website and other travel platforms. This is the average of all those ratings. We only list places that have a customer review rating of at least 4.0 out of 5.0

4.3 out of 5.0

Ranked 12th in San Francisco

129£115$160¥16960C$124A$124HK$1252S$211SFr150¥1016kr1320kr966kr1246

What guests liked

All you need to know

Beacon Grand (formerly the Sir Francis Drake) is a seriously cool spot right in the heart of San Francisco’s Union Square. The building oozes old-world charm, think marble staircases, vaulted ceilings, chandeliers, but it’s been totally reimagined for modern travelers.

Their rooms mix elegant craftsmanship (European oak floors, high ceilings) with contemporary perks like high-speed internet, Chromecast TVs, and eco-luxury toiletries.

When you’re not crashing in your room, there’s plenty to do: The Post Room is their cozy all-day lounge spot perfect for breakfast, dinner, or a cocktail, complete with local live music on weekends.

And for a bit of glamour, head up to Starlite on the 21st floor. It’s got a storied past as a rooftop bar and now spins vinyl nights, creative cocktails, and killer views.

 

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Location

Recent guest reviews

5.0
Tiffanie

3 November 2025

Exceptional

It is a beautiful, clean hotel in a great location.

Parking is pricey and the room was warm.

4.0
Ingibjorg

2 November 2025

Very good

Very good bed, bed linen, pillows and airconditioning

4.0
Miles

2 November 2025

Great location, Skyelite bar the highlight, room for improvement

Good location if you like the city centre, next to Union square. The rooms are well equipped, clean. Bed very comfortable. Liked the Skyelite bar which is a real plus and the wine list throughout the hotel which was local.

Lack of provision of breakfast in the price (€300 dollars plus a night!). Corridors dark, dingy. Food in the restaurant was inconsistent and definitely overpriced.

5.0
Victoria

1 November 2025

Exceptional

A grand old hotel very nicely decorated. I think they may be in the process of renovation. The bathroom in the first room we stayed in a week ago was a bit old and tatty. The room we had on our second stay was nicer with a renovated bathroom.

The hallways to the rooms are a bit dreary.

4.5
Laura

29 October 2025

Fabulous

Clean, grand, historic property

Minimal staff, rooms are pretty small

4.5
Prior

27 October 2025

Lovely stay.

Lovely room, great restaurant, friendly staff, lovely health club.

5.0
Lena

27 October 2025

Fabulous

This is a lovely hotel - a fabulous place to stay

Decor, Room , very clean helpfull staff

5.0
Tristeen

21 October 2025

Gorgeous Property, Phenomenal location

The staff is literally across the street from Union Square. Plenty of restaurants, lounges, and shopping. Stunning property, amazing staff, and a great location.

It’s SF, so not really alot of parking. But they did offer valet.

3.5
Keith

20 October 2025

Good venue for SF but some surrounding districts are not good. Staff made a serious error processing my payment by dupli

Location is good for the central SF area.

5.0
Linda

12 October 2025

Wonderful

Staff are fabulous so helpful and friendly. Location is superb! Right in the middle of the shopping district and directly across from a shop/pharmacy which is very convenient! Short walk (very short) to nearest hop on hop off bus tour stop & the tram! Really enjoyed our stay.

4.5
Claire

11 October 2025

Fabulous

The hotel was in a fantastic location. We loved the grand feel of the entrance and the Post Room bar. We enjoyed cocktails in the Starlite bar, overlooking Union Square.

3.5
Francyn

9 October 2025

Convenient location for cable car hop-on, heart of downtown, comfortable. Hallway was dark but bedroom had plenty of lig

Location downtown

Dark hallway, bathroom sliding door (prefer doors that shut tight)

5.0
Boomtang

8 October 2025

Perfect location

Superb location for a few nights stay in San Francisco

Parking costs

4.5
Joseph

5 October 2025

Fabulous

Nice Room, comfy bed.

Parking cost.

4.5
Hoon

3 October 2025

Fabulous

The room was beautifully furnished. The staff were kind and helpful. The location is great with a trolley running in front of the hotel and union square a minute away.

The exterior of the hotel was under reconstruction.

5.0
Caroline

30 September 2025

Beautiful enjoyable stay in the heart of the city

It was beautiful and the staff was so friendly. The room was clean and comfortable

It was under construction in the front

5.0
Kevin

28 September 2025

Everyone needs an ALEX!!!

Opulent hotel, built in 1928, and well looked after and recently refurbished. Very well located and easy to find - I drove myself to the front door. Staff were excellent and ALEX, on several occasions, went “above and beyond”. (If I ever buy a business in San Francisco ALEX, I’m going to come and hire you - whatever kind of business it is because you are a real “gem”!)

The charge for “valet” parking was, I thought, excessive at $72 per day when I could “self-park” in one of several nearby car parks for $48 per day. I should have researched this better, in advance. That said I left my cell ‘phone in the car and ALEX delivered it back to me in just a few minutes.

4.0
Itay

26 September 2025

Very good

Nice location

Very expensive parking and small room

5.0
Tracee

26 September 2025

Exceptional

The staff and accommodations were exceptional. They ensured everyone in our group was taken care of.

5.0
Louise

25 September 2025

Great location and clean comfortable rooms

Very comfortable beds. Great location for exploring the city. Great view from the Starlight bar.

Shame the Starlight bar was closed one of the nights.

4.5
Stephanie

23 September 2025

It was a great stay great customer service great valet, great location, beautiful hotel.

This was a good walkable location and great staff, the hotel was beautiful. The area was safe and the valet did a great job. Honestly, I only have two complaints and one of them is just a human error. The first is that we stayed on the 10th floor and I’m not sure if it was our rooms proximity to the elevator, but you can hear the elevator going up and down, and it got pretty loud where it would wake us up, but it would pass, and it would be fine and the second thing was probably just an oversight on the cleaners part and I wouldn’t of noticed if I hadn’t dropped my earring there was a yellow baggie in between the nightstand and the bed on the floor which was from the previous guest. Honestly, for the prize, this was a really great stay.

As stated in my above comment what I didn’t like was the oversight on the cleanliness but it’s an honest mistake. It was just one small tiny bag of what could’ve been drugs. And the elevator rattling noise.

5.0
Paul

22 September 2025

Amazing hotel

Decor, location, rooftop bar

Price of breakfast

5.0
Jessica

21 September 2025

Another wonderful stay at the Beacon Hotel: a blend of spacious comfort and warm hospitality

We returned to the Beacon Hotel after a wonderful stay last summer, and it was just as delightful as we remembered. Our room was spacious and comfortable, with a city view that never gets old. The staff were outstanding; friendly, welcoming, and always helpful. Special thanks to Tony and Alma for handling our reservation with warmth and professionalism, making us feel perfectly at home on the final stop of our vacation.

5.0
Eva

21 September 2025

Great location, friendly and helpful staff, clean and spacious rooms.

Grand entrance, inviting decor, helpful staff. Spacious rooms, good food and dtink at The Post dining room.

5.0
Andrea

18 September 2025

Amazing hotel — Highly recommend!

I booked this hotel as a surprise for our anniversary before our trip to Napa Valley— we only stayed one night but fell in love with the property. Beautiful hotel. Absolutely loved everything about it. The lady at the lobby (I believe her name was Alma) was beyond kind to guard our luggage, and even gave us two vouchers for complimentary drinks at the bar. During our small talk, I mentioned it was our anniversary, and when we returned later to check in, we were surprised with an upgrade to a beautiful room — It was on the top floor and had amazing views. We were beyond happy. Thank you so much to The Beacon Hotel and its amazing staff for making our trip so special! We will be coming back.

I loved everything.

5.0
Cyndi

18 September 2025

Exceptional

Such a beautiful hotel. Perfect location for shopping at Union square and restaurant near by.

Nothing at all. Loved everything!

5.0
Tess

16 September 2025

Wonderful classic SF hotel with great amenities, comfy bed and great views!

Great location, easy to get on the Trolly and near a ton of great places to eat. The Starlight on the top floor was very fun. The rooms, although small, were very clean and well appointed and the espresso maker was wonderful.

The air circulation in the room could have been a bit better, but not really an issue at all.

5.0
Anthony

15 September 2025

Nice, fun, an experience. If you want to visit the starlight make reservations

The employees were very nice and the room was very clean thank you to Antonio at the front desk and Tony at the bar for making my ladies and my engagement photo shoot amazing as well as our stay. Thank you again!

I have no complaints.

4.5
Meredith

14 September 2025

Great spot central in the city, without breaking the budget

Bed, room, and facilities were all perfect - super comfy, clean, and enjoyable. The front desk staff and valet were all very nice and helpful. The location was convenient for us as we were only in town for 24hrs, and it was central enough for us to walk around or grab a quick uber to further afield.

4.0
Alexander

12 September 2025

Characterful grand hotel in great location but worst and most overpriced breakfast ever

Great location, lots of character, grand public spaces, large bedroom, filtered water fountains in every corridor

Breakfast was terrible (meagre portions, bland food) and extremely overpriced - possibly the worst cooked breakfast I’ve ever had - and definitely the most expensive. 14% service tax in restaurant / bar, which we did not encounter anywhere else in the city

4.0
Christy

5 September 2025

Very good

Beautifully designed historic space well-maintained very well located.

Attempted to have lunch in the restaurant was ignored for several minutes before being coldly greeted and essentially dismissed. We left. Do better

5.0
Jacqui

3 September 2025

This hotel has a perfect location, with easy access to transport to explore other areas of San Francisco. I felt safe wa

Style, cleanliness & location.

No complaints.

4.5
Elizabeth

1 September 2025

Really good

.

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4.0
Joscelyn

1 September 2025

Great! Nice room in the middle of everything. Nice staff.

Beautiful. Comfortable. Great location. Nice bar. Nice breakfast. Loved the blackout shades. Very nice valet staff.

Room really needed a luggage stand. We didn’t understand that gratuity was included at the bar.

4.5
André

31 August 2025

Great for a couple of days in San Francisco

Great location. Big, comfortable and clean room.

Shower needed a bit of maintenance. The shower head wouldn't stay put.

4.0
Julie

27 August 2025

Great hotel for location

A really nice looking hotel with a grand lobby and bar. Good size bedroom.

I felt the service lacked warmth and the bar and restaurant were too open with the lobby: The bathroom was small and there was not enough towels although we were able to get more on request. No ironing facility in the room.

4.0
Matthew

26 August 2025

Very enjoyable stay in Downtown San Francisco

We asked for a quiet room (as quiet as possible in the middle of a city), away from both the street and the rooftop bar and were given a corner room on the 12th floor, which suited us perfectly. The staff were all very helpful and polite.

The restaurant was a bit slow when serving food, and the cocktail bar was very busy so make sure to book ahead

4.5
Nick

25 August 2025

Fabulous

Great Union square location. Comfortable rooms, a little small for 3 of us but we only slept there so no problems. A couple of great diners nearby.

5.0
Donald

20 August 2025

Fantastic

Not applicable

5.0
Michael

16 August 2025

Fantastic. Starlite was amazing, staff was exceptional. Great stay all around. Will definitely be back!

Fantastic hotel. Great location, staff was great.

The only thing, was our tv, room 510, wouldn’t pivot from the wall, making it really hard to watch from the bed. Called front desk, who called maintenance, they said some tvs are stationary , and some move. Minor inconvenience.

5.0
Inbal

16 August 2025

Perfect hotel to stay while visiting SF

Beautiful hotel, great location, super friendly staff, spacious rooms with extra attention to the small details. The bar is lovely, has wonderful selection of drinks and amazing service

5.0
Ronnie

16 August 2025

Amazing hotel, just the best!

Everything, stunning rooms, great location. Alma was amazing at reception and really kind and helpful. Great location. Kind staff. Great bar with amazing menu

Nothing. It is a great hotel

4.5
Martijn

15 August 2025

Elegant and ideally situated

We were given a room on a high floor which had a great view. The room was comfortable and nicely decorated. The hotel looks very nice and is ideally situated. We walked almost everywhere from there.

Nothing. (Or maybe just one small thing ;”: thé music in the 21st floor bar was really too loud so we left the bar)

5.0
Mirna

14 August 2025

Exceptional

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed at with the cleanest rooms! Fantastic location, close to everything, and the friendliest of staff. Tony and John were very help and kind - just a grand hotel with beautiful decor!

4.5
Paul

10 August 2025

Overall fantastic

Breakfast was poor, yet very expensive. Accommodation was excellent.

4.5
Cristina

7 August 2025

Great choice

Loved the vintage vibe Of the hotel ! Hotel decor and Manly loved the location

Did not like the bath rub and the small size of the bathroom

4.5
Kim

7 August 2025

Old and new perfectly matched together

This building is absolutely beautiful. I love that they still have the old elements. It has all you need with all modern amenities but without modernise it to much.

The architecture and out room was really comfortable. The bed was like a sleeping on a cloud.

5.0
Lucinda

6 August 2025

Can't wait to return

Room was beautiful, loved the toiletries, and the bar staff and starlight room staff made me feel at home.

The front staff at reception!

4.5
Joseph

6 August 2025

Fabulous

The bar/food during lunch took about half an hour to get our drinks. My guess is that they wanted it to come out the same time as the food but it’s kind of a long wait when there’s no one else there and you only have to make 5 drinks.

4.5
Julie

4 August 2025

Beautiful Hotel with great location

Great location close to transit, shopping and restaurants. Staff were very nice and helpful.

Hotel facilities

Food & Drink

  • - Restaurant
  • - Bar
  • - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
  • - Coffee house on site

General

  • - Room service
  • - Non-smoking rooms
  • - Facilities for disabled guests
  • - Family rooms
  • - Lift
  • - Safety deposit box
  • - Heating
  • - Non-smoking throughout
  • - Air conditioning

Business facilities

  • - Meeting/banquet facilities
  • - Fax/photocopying

Reception services

  • - 24-hour front desk
  • - Tour desk
  • - Luggage storage
  • - Concierge service

Activities

  • - Fitness centre
  • - Fitness

Cleaning services

  • - Laundry (additional charge)
  • - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
  • - Daily housekeeping

Parking

  • - Parking garage

Miscellaneous

  • - 24-hour security
  • - Key access
  • - Key card access
  • - Smoke alarms
  • - Fire extinguishers
Check availability 129£115$160¥16960C$124A$124HK$1252S$211SFr150¥1016kr1320kr966kr1246