Argonaut Hotel

The Argonaut Hotel is in the landmark Haslett Warehouse building on Jefferson Street, right on the waterfront at Fisherman's Wharf. The hotel has kept the building's preserved walls, so the old warehouse structure is part of the character of the rooms and public spaces. It has 252 rooms and suites, and some look out over the bay towards Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The location is the main reason to stay. Ghirardelli Square and the rest of Fisherman's Wharf are a short walk away, and Hyde Street Pier is close by. It is an ideal base for families who want to spend time on the waterfront, for visitors catching early Alcatraz ferries, and for anyone who likes to walk along the bay in the morning and evening.

For direct questions about rooms, call the hotel on +1 415-563-0800; reservations have their own line. The hotel restaurant, Blue Mermaid, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, and has a happy hour and a patio beside the wharf; the executive chef is Amod Singh. Other amenities include free wifi, bike rentals, a fitness centre, and a courtyard with a fire pit and games. The hotel also has more than 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, which suits weddings and meetings, and pets are welcome.

Practical tips: ask for a bay-view room when you book if the view matters, and check packages such as Stay and Savor, which has included valet parking, since the hotel itself notes that parking in San Francisco is expensive. Bike rentals from the hotel are a convenient way to ride along the waterfront towards the Golden Gate Bridge. If you are travelling with a dog, mention it when you book so the hotel can prepare. Ask about current packages too, as they can include extras such as parking or dining credits that offset the cost of staying by the water.

The Argonaut suits families, couples and first-time visitors who want to be by the water. Downtown is a ride away rather than a walk, but the Powell-Hyde cable car line runs to the Fisherman's Wharf area, which makes the journey part of the fun.