Review: San Francisco Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf

Frugal Flyer recently took a company excursion to San Francisco to see the Two Friends + Chainsmokers and other shenanigans during the October Halloween weekend. 

Read about some of the fun things we got up to: 5 Fun Things to Do in San Francisco.

While in San Francisco we stayed at the opportunely located Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf. Here is our review of the property. 

Booking 

We booked this property at the cash rate using an industry discount. This decreased the cost from roughly $250-300 USD (or ~40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) to $150 USD per night. 

There was a mandatory resort fee of $20 USD, however, this was offset by a $20 USD per day food and beverage credit.

They accidentally gave us 3 of these instead of 4 so we actually turned a profit, so to speak 🙂.  

Unfortunately, there were no suite upgrades available to us for this stay, but that wasn’t a huge drag as we didn’t plan to spend too much time in the hotel anyway. 

Location 

The San Francisco Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf is, as implied by the name, situated mere blocks south of the Fisherman’s Wharf and waterfront, at the intersection of Columbus Ave and Bay St. We arrived via Uber from the airport, which took about 20 minutes only.   

The hotel is also within walking distance from the Powell-Mason cable cars, which connect you to many other farther parts of the city.

It’s also not excessively far from the Golden Gate Bridge (~3.5 miles – walking distance for some), the main attraction of San Francisco. 

Check-in and Lobby

The check-in process was typical for a Marriott property, and as a Marriott Bonvoy elite status member. From the front desk we promptly received our food and beverage credits, as well as our breakfast vouchers for all three days. 

The front of the hotel and lobby had a bright modern look.

As we made our way to the elevators, we passed the all-day concierge, who can help with directions, reservations, and info on all things San Francisco.

I’ve personally always found the Marriott hotels brand to offer a fairly consistent and good service across their various properties, both Canadian and American.

Valet Parking

We didn’t have a vehicle for this trip, however, private parking was available only as a valet service. Like all parking in the area, it is exceedingly expensive at $70 USD per night (yikes!). 

The Room – Guest Room, 2 Queen Beds 

The hotel rooms continued the modern contemporary theme of the rest of the hotel, and had a basic, elongated layout. Upon entering there was a closet, coffee station on the left, and bathroom on the right. 

The coffee + ice station had a basic Keurig machine. Nothing too fancy, but if you combine the coffee with Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey and ice you get a vastly improved beverage 😉. 

The main room area had two side-by-side queens (very comfortable beds!) facing a credenza with a flat screen television and a small work desk.  

The bathroom was rather basic and expected. 

Of note, the rooms are equipped with air conditioning, definitely a plus if visiting during the scorching Californian summer.

Hotel Facilities

The hotel had a fairly minimal set of facilities, notably a business center on the lobby level and a fitness center (called the health club) located on the second floor. Of note, there is no pool 🙁.

Business Center

The business center was very minimal with just a few computers lining the wall in the lobby area. Two printers are available as well.

Fitness Center (Health Club)

The fitness center was surprisingly impressive by hotel standards, and I was fortunate to get a couple of workouts in during the trip. I guess the fact that Marriott calls it a ‘health club’ should have been an indication.

There was plenty of space inside with two levels, exercise balls and free weights on the upper level, and cardio equipment (ellipticals, treadmills, and bikes) on the lower. Not shown, there were also a few weight machines behind the cardio equipment. 

The club also contained two washer and dryer machines, free to use for guests.

Dining: The Red Fin

There was only one restaurant / dining option available at the Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf: the Red Fin lounge and restaurant.

We had some food at the lounge before going to our concert, using our food and beverage credits. It was not bad, but certainly, nothing to write about. With such a plethora of phenomenal food options available in the area (although very expensive), it’s hard to justify paying out of pocket to eat in the hotel.  

Marriott Bonvoy Elite Complimentary Breakfast

Of course, a highlight of staying at any Marriott hotel for us points enthusiasts is the complimentary breakfast courtesy of Marriott Elite status (Platinum and higher). The breakfast at the Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf was an à la carte breakfast buffet, with a plethora of options, including:

• Hot breakfast items: bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns, omelets, pancakes, french toast
• Cold items: ham, turkey, cheeses, fresh fruits, yogurt
• Dry food items: Bread, bagels, muffins, cereal (no Corn Pops – sigh…).
• Beverages: Milk, coffee, juice

The breakfast was decent and what one would expect for North American Bonvoy properties. Definitely doesn’t stand up to the buffet at Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, however.

Conclusion

The Marriott San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf offered a pleasant experience. While not cheap, nothing in San Francisco is. Not to mention, you are paying for a great location with this optimally situated hotel within walking distance of many major San Francisco attractions, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Ghirardelli square, and the North beach district.

Other highlights of the hotel for me included the contemporary and newly renovated decor, solid breakfast buffet, and well-equipped fitness center. 

Definitely consider this Marriott property (or at least nearby hotels in this location) the next time you visit San Francisco!