Picking a hotel in Nob Hill means choosing between cable car access on California Street, proximity to Grace Cathedral, and a range of properties from boutique 3-star inns to a 4-star flagship. These five hotels were selected from verified Nob Hill addresses, ranked first by sustainability credentials, then by star rating, then by guest review score. Every address falls within the neighborhood's boundaries: Broadway to the north, Bush Street to the south, Larkin Street to the west, and Stockton Street to the east.
How we ranked these hotels
Hotels with verified sustainability certifications or published eco programs appear before those without. Within the same sustainability tier, higher star ratings come first. Where star ratings match, the higher guest review score wins. Alphabetical order breaks any remaining ties.
Every hotel on this list sits within Nob Hill's geographic boundaries. Properties on Bush Street mark the southern edge of the neighborhood, and several candidates from the source inventory were excluded because their addresses fall in the Tenderloin or Union Square rather than Nob Hill proper.
Guest review scores reflect verified booking data. Amenities listed for each hotel reflect confirmed on-site facilities only.
Nob Hill hotels at a glance
| Hotel | Stars | Guest score | Sustainability | Nearest transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington Hotel | 4 | 9.2 | None verified | California St Cable Car, 2 min walk |
| Golden Gate Hotel | 3 | 9.2 | None verified | California St Cable Car, 3 min walk |
| White Swan Inn | 3 | 9.0 | None verified | California St Cable Car, 4 min walk |
| Petite Auberge | 3 | 9.0 | None verified | California St Cable Car, 4 min walk |
| Cornell Hotel | 3 | 8.8 | None verified | California St Cable Car, 4 min walk |
Getting around Nob Hill
- The California Street Cable Car stops at the intersection of California and Powell, roughly a 2-4 minute walk from most hotels on this list. It runs east to the Financial District and west toward Van Ness Avenue.
- The Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason cable car lines run along Powell Street at the eastern edge of Nob Hill, connecting to Fisherman's Wharf to the north and Union Square to the south.
- Powell Street BART and Muni Metro station sits about a 10-minute walk downhill from the Nob Hill summit. It connects to the airport via BART and to downtown Muni lines.
- Most Nob Hill hotels do not include on-site parking. The Sutter-Stockton Garage at 330 Sutter Street is the closest public garage for guests arriving by car.
What to expect from Nob Hill hotels
Nob Hill hotels tend to be smaller and more character-driven than the large convention properties you find closer to Moscone Center. The neighborhood's residential feel means quieter streets at night, but you give up some walkability to major retail corridors in exchange.
The California Street Cable Car is the practical transit link for most guests. It puts you at the base of the Financial District in under 10 minutes and connects to the Ferry Building area. For BART access, the walk down to Powell Street is steep but manageable, or you can catch a Muni bus on California Street.
For travelers who want a separate page covering Union Square options one block south of the Nob Hill boundary, we have a separate page for hotels near Union Square San Francisco.
The hotels
The Huntington Hotel
1075 California St, San Francisco, California, 94108, San Francisco
9.2120 reviews
2 min walk to California Street Cable Car at Taylor Street (California Street Cable Car)
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Golden Gate Hotel
775 Bush Street, San Francisco
9.21,012 reviews
3 min walk to California Street Cable Car at Powell Street (California Street Cable Car/Powell-Hyde Cable Car/Powell-Mason Cable Car)
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White Swan Inn
845 Bush Street, San Francisco
9.01,592 reviews
4 min walk to California Street Cable Car at Powell Street (California Street Cable Car/Powell-Hyde Cable Car/Powell-Mason Cable Car)
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Petite Auberge
863 Bush Street, San Francisco
9.02,098 reviews
4 min walk to California Street Cable Car at Powell Street (California Street Cable Car/Powell-Hyde Cable Car/Powell-Mason Cable Car)
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Cornell Hotel
715 Bush Street, San Francisco
8.81,818 reviews
4 min walk to California Street Cable Car at Powell Street (California Street Cable Car/Powell-Hyde Cable Car/Powell-Mason Cable Car)
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Frequently asked questions
Which hotels on this list are physically in Nob Hill?＋
All five hotels sit within Nob Hill's boundaries. The Huntington Hotel is on California Street at the neighborhood's summit. Golden Gate Hotel, White Swan Inn, Petite Auberge, and Cornell Hotel all have addresses on Bush Street, which marks the southern boundary of Nob Hill.
How do I get to Nob Hill hotels without a car?＋
The California Street Cable Car stops at California and Powell, within a 2-4 minute walk of every hotel on this list. The Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason cable car lines run along Powell Street at the eastern edge of the neighborhood. For BART, Powell Street Station is about a 10-minute walk downhill from the summit.
Which hotel on this list is best for a special occasion?＋
The Huntington Hotel on California Street is the only 4-star property on the list. It has an on-site spa and restaurant, and its position directly across from Huntington Park and Grace Cathedral makes it the most distinctive address in the neighborhood.
Are there pet-friendly hotels in Nob Hill?＋
White Swan Inn, Petite Auberge, Golden Gate Hotel, and The Huntington Hotel all accept pets. Cornell Hotel does not list pet-friendly accommodations among its confirmed amenities.
Do any Nob Hill hotels have sustainability certifications?＋
None of the five hotels on this list carry a verified sustainability certification such as LEED or Green Key at this time. The sustainabilitySpotlight section identifies The Huntington Hotel as the strongest candidate based on its published practices, but no formal certification is confirmed.
Is parking available at Nob Hill hotels?＋
The Huntington Hotel offers on-site parking. The other four hotels on this list do not have confirmed on-site parking. The Sutter-Stockton Garage at 330 Sutter Street is the closest public parking option for guests staying at the Bush Street properties.
