Hilton San Francisco Union Square
| Company type | Hotel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Founded | May 25, 1964 in San Francisco, California, United States |
| Founder | William B. Tabler (architect) |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | West Coast of the United States |
| Products | Hotel rooms and suites, event and convention spaces |
| Owner | Wilmington Trust (in receivership) |
| Parent | Hilton Hotels & Resorts |
| Website | www |
Hilton San Francisco Union Square
Situated a few blocks southwest of Union Square in San Francisco, California, the Hilton San Francisco Union Square is a high-rise hotel. Initially opened in 1964, the original 18-story structure contained 1,200 guest rooms and was uniquely designed as a "motel within a hotel," enabling visitors to park directly beside their upper-level accommodations. Spanning an entire city block, this building stands as one of the city's most prominent examples of Brutalist architecture, although it has undergone significant alterations since its original construction.
In 1971, a 46-story tower was added to the complex, followed by a 23-story connecting tower completed in 1987. After an extensive renovation in 2017, the hotel expanded to offer 1,921 rooms, establishing it as the largest hotel on the West Coast. It operates under the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand and is presently owned by Wilmington Trust (currently in receivership).
Initial opening and distinctive architecture
The property launched on May 25, 1964, originally named the San Francisco Hilton. Constructed at a cost of $29 million and designed by architect William B. Tabler, this 18-story building featured 1,200 rooms and was recognized for its innovative "motel within a hotel" concept. This design incorporated ramps that allowed guests to drive up to seven lower floors and park adjacent to their rooms. Tabler’s checkerboard-patterned facade combined windows with decorative panels that cleverly concealed the building’s earthquake reinforcement. This was the 60th Hilton hotel established worldwide.
The original structure did not include a designated 13th floor; instead, floors 12 through 15 were allocated for mechanical systems. Guest rooms were situated on floors 16 through 19, overlooking an internal courtyard and garden located on the 16th floor, which featured a landscaped plaza, swimming pool, and cabana-style rooms. The hotel offered amenities such as a heated garden court, sunbathing terraces, and multiple dining options including Cafe Bellagio on the lobby level.
At the time of its opening, the hotel housed one of the largest ballrooms globally, accessible via escalators from the lobby area. This space could host banquets for up to 2,000 attendees or meetings accommodating as many as 3,000 participants. The ballroom could be subdivided into nine soundproof sections with sliding partitions and was equipped with lighting and projection booths. Above this area were thirteen private dining rooms, underscoring the hotel's emphasis on convention business. The top floor (19th) contained two suites featuring living rooms and bedrooms along with a penthouse solarium designed for gatherings exceeding 100 guests. When not booked for events, these suites rented for $200 per night; standard room rates varied between $12 and $27 depending on occupancy levels. Cahill Brothers, Inc. served as the general contractor for construction, while David T. Williams, Inc. handled interior design.
A notable moment in the hotel's history includes hosting The Beatles during their kickoff for the 1964 US tour in San Francisco. Additionally, its unique parking system was highlighted in the 1968 film Petulia.
Expansion with second tower
The addition of a 46-story Hilton Tower was finalized in 1971 and linked to the original building via a skybridge. This tower remains the tallest structure in San Francisco outside both the Financial District and South of Market District.
The hotel served as a filming location for several key scenes in the 1972 comedy What's Up Doc?, featuring its lobby, drugstore, ballroom, seventeenth floor, and partially completed top floor.
In March 1985, Hilton’s application for a casino license in Atlantic City was rejected by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission due to concerns over alleged organized crime links involving executives from the San Francisco Hilton property. This decision followed reports of document destruction during a Federal antitrust probe.
Addition of the third tower and modernization efforts
From 1985 through 1988, the hotel experienced a $150 million reconstruction project led by architect John Carl Warnecke, which included the construction of a 26-story third tower that linked the existing two towers, along with extensive renovations to the first five floors of Hilton Plaza. The original facade featuring a checkerboard pattern was replaced with a postmodern style to complement the newly added wing.
Between 2011 and 2017, a $130 million refurbishment was carried out, incorporating soundproof windows and doors in guest rooms. This phase, completed in 2017 and primarily focused on Tower Two, helped maintain the hotel’s status as the largest on the West Coast.
Transfer of ownership
In June 2023, Park Hotels & Resorts, an investment trust that separated from Hilton Worldwide in 2017, handed over ownership of Hilton San Francisco Union Square along with the adjacent Parc 55 San Francisco property to lender JPMorgan Chase. The company attributed this action to factors including San Francisco’s unprecedented office vacancy rates, concerns over street conditions, lower office return rates compared to similar cities, and a convention calendar that underperformed expectations citywide. Following a request from Wilmington Trust, which acts on behalf of the mortgage lenders, Hotel Value Asset Enhancement was appointed as receiver for both hotels in October 2023. Originally mandated to complete property sales within 11 months, the deadline was subsequently extended by judicial order. After several postponements, Newbond and Conversant—two firms based in New York—reached an agreement to acquire the hotels in September 2025.
Labor strike of 2024
Workers at Hilton San Francisco Union Square commenced a strike in September 2024. The labor dispute concluded on December 24, 2024, with the ratification of a four-year contract agreement. This property was the final hotel among multiple San Francisco-area establishments to resolve labor negotiations during 2024.