Union Square

Union Square refers to both the physical public plaza and also the neighbourhood around which the plaza sits. The neighbourhood is defined by Bush Street at the northern edge, Kearny Street at its eastern edge, Leavenworth Street to its west and Market Street cuts up from the south.

The area is a major tourist centre for San Francisco and is a great base for visitors with a vast array of hotels to choose from. Included in these are well known grand hotels like the Westin St. Francis on Union Square, the Sir Frances Drake, the Grand Hyatt San Francisco and the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. There are also many smaller boutique style hotels like the Taj Campton Place that provide a special personalised service.

When you talk about Union Square it is hard to get past the shopping. If you are looking for most of the world’s major fashion labels, then this is where you will find them, along with some of the most recognised department store names including Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Nothing is more quintessential San Francisco than the renowned cable cars. The Union Square area is serviced by 2 cable cars as well as the heritage streetcar. Catch a cable car along Powell Street and up over the hill towards the marina and bay or you can head down to the corner of Powell and Market street to watch the cable cars manually turned on the cable car turnaround.