InterContinental San Francisco

I spent several nights at the InterContinental San Francisco on Howard Street and came away with mixed feelings. This is an average to slightly above-average downtown convention hotel. It does some things well, but it also falls short of what I'd expect from the InterContinental brand or any comparable 4-star or 5-star hotel. The biggest positive was the staff. Without exception, every employee I encountered was polite, professional, friendly and genuinely helpful. If I owned or managed a hotel, these are exactly the kinds of people I would want to represent my property. The service attitude was consistently excellent. The shortcomings weren't the people. They were the product itself and the amenities. The hotel opened in the mid-2000s, and it feels frozen in that era. Walking through the lobby is like stepping back into 2006 or 2008. The design is generic, the lobby bar concept feels dated, and the entire property is showing its age. Guest rooms have visible wear and tear on the furniture, stained seating, tired finishes and bathrooms that need far more attention than they've received. My first room had extensive mold in the walk-in shower. This wasn't something that appeared overnight — it reflected a housekeeping or maintenance issue that had clearly been ignored for some time. I requested a room change and moved the following day. Unfortunately, the second room wasn't perfect either. There was a significant amount of hair in the shower, the sitting chair had heavy stains (use your imagination), and it appeared the bedding had not been changed after the previous guest checked out. After I raised these issues, management promised me the "star treatment" from housekeeping. To their credit, the remainder of my stay was spotless. The problem is that it should have been that way from the beginning. Turndown service was provided each evening, which I appreciated and helped elevate the experience. Arrival and departure also lacked some of the polish expected at this level. At neither check-in nor check-out was I offered assistance with my luggage by the doorman or a bellman. There was no welcome letter at check-in, nor was I offered the option of checking in through the Club Lounge. The amenities also felt surprisingly sparse for an InterContinental. The in-room refrigerator was completely empty. The bathroom lacked bar soap, mouthwash and a dental kit. Housekeeping was able to provide a dental kit upon request, but I was told bar soap and complimentary mouthwash were unavailable. Instead, I was advised to purchase mouthwash from the gift shop. For a hotel positioning itself at the upper end of the market, those are basic amenities that should be available without charge. Even a simple request for a daily newspaper couldn't be accommodated. The Club Lounge was another mixed bag. Breakfast was better than average, although the coffee setup desperately needs improvement. Rather than providing large carafes of brewed coffee, the lounge relies on a single automatic machine that serves one guest at a time. It is extremely slow during busy periods. Evening service was inconsistent. Some nights featured hot food while others did not. Beer and wine were available only from 5 to 7 p.m., yet hard liquor remained available until 9 p.m. — a policy that made little sense. The selection also felt limited, and some of the sliced meats and cheeses appeared to reappear from one service to the next. Overall, I would still consider the InterContinental one of the better large hotels in downtown San Francisco. I would rank it ahead of the two Hyatt Regency properties and the Westin St. Francis. At the same time, it remains a noticeable step below the Fairmont, St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton and both Four Seasons properties in the city. This hotel has good bones, an excellent staff and a convenient location. What it needs now is a comprehensive renovation, better guest recognition, more amenities and far greater attention to housekeeping and maintenance details.

Beautiful hotel, great location, the room is comfy and the staff is very hospitable! Everyone at the reception made sure to make me feel home away from home. The service at the restaurant is impeccable. Looking forward to my next visit!!

This is a very pleasant and comfortable hotel with top-notch rooms and service. Extremely clean and well and comfortably furnished. I have stayed over the years in all of the best hotels in San Francisco (Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Palace, all the Hyatts, etc.) and this is my choice among them. Stayed there night before last and needed a cab. There was a gentleman standing by the front door, apparently a member of the staff, whom I asked to get me a cab. He immediately asked someone to call one, and accompanied us to the curb to wait. Turns out, he is the General Manager of the hotel, and was a very nice fellow, indeed. How often to you get that level of commitment to service from the top management? BTW, if you travel as much as we do, you will appreciate that the concierge is a member of Clef D'or. All in all, my favorite in SF. Highly recommended

Amazing stay above and beyond service. They offer a ton of amenities and perks if you’re a member. The food tastes amazing and the in-room breakfast was the best. This stay has set the bar for all my future hotel stays. And I want to give a shout out to Dorian. He went above and beyond to help us get our luggage and navigate the hotel. He is a key reason we had a amazing stay and trip.

My husband and I stayed at the InterContinental San Francisco for two nights to celebrate my birthday over the 4th of July weekend, and we had a wonderful experience. The location is perfect for both business and leisure travelers, being just a short walk from the Moscone Center and Union Square. Our room was spacious, modern, and impeccably clean, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning city and bay views. We booked through the Amex Platinum Hotel Collection, and as an IHG Platinum member, I was pleased to be upgraded to the top floor (the 33rd). The views of the city and the bay from up there were truly amazing. We also really enjoyed the heated pool and jacuzzi. We live just 30 minutes outside of San Francisco, and we will definitely be coming back here for a Staycation.