The LINE San Francisco Review

Located in the heart of downtown, The LINE San Francisco is a beautiful addition to the downtown area. I was lucky enough to call this place home for a week as it has so much to offer in such a good location. The newly constructed building sits at the intersection of Market and Turk Street, bordering the Union Square and Tenderloin districts.

The hotel has a flatiron-style look from Market Street with 12 floors and a rooftop. My experience at The LINE SF was great and probably worth noting before you book your next San Francisco stay.

First Impressions

It doesn’t take much to realize this hotel is themed towards an Art Deco style, with a modern twist to most regular hotels. The unique pieces you see on the wall and tasteful finishes all around make for a pleasant place to be. Several art pieces are featured around the hotel by local artists, with the one shown above a group of upcycled pieces designed by artist Sasinun Kladpetch.

The hotel also feels ultra modern, thanks to its floor plan, large windows, and simplicity. The hotel is newly built and features modern and upscale finishes. It’s unusual to see a hotel with this combination at this price point, especially in downtown San Francisco.

History

The LINE is a boutique hotel chain started in 2014 and currently runs 4 properties. The LINE San Francisco opened in 2022 as a newly constructed 4-star hotel. The 236-room hotel opened as an addition to the area’s art theme, replacing an old 2-floor mixed-use building.

The Rooms

Just like with the rest of the hotel, the rooms carry over the art deco modern theme. You can immediately see sleek furniture, modern finishings, and a big window. Some unique features are an Apple TV, radio, manual espresso machine, and a window nook.

The room I stayed at was labeled the “skyline king”, the least expensive room that money could buy. I was situated on the 8th floor facing north, giving great views of the Tenderloin. Lower floors should also get quite a good view, especially if you’re facing Market Street. Most of the Tenderloin was built when a height limit of 80 feet was in place, meaning that no supertall building would obstruct your view. This room was 260 square feet but some rooms can surpass 1,500 square feet with more features and amenities.

Speaking of amenities…

Amenities

Amenities here are plenty, only enhancing an already fantastic experience. The free bicycle rentals at the hotel are perfect for car-free Market Street and navigating downtown. The LINE Hotel has exclusively partnered with Priority Bicycles, giving advanced technology to navigate San Francisco with ease. The interesting and spacious underground gym is open 24/7 and features Peloton bikes. Finally, the ground floor cafe and lounge area as shown above is an ideal spot to hang out. There’s even an outdoor space which is perfect on warmer days.

Parking is often a big issue in downtown San Francisco, but luckily The LINE has dedicated valet parking. The downside is that this parking costs $68 per day, yikes! My recommendation is that if you’re staying in downtown, don’t bother bringing a car. You’ll be constantly stuck in traffic and paying way too much.

Food

In addition to the countless restaurants just steps away, The LINE features two spots to eat. The first is a rooftop restaurant called Rise Over Run, enjoy downtown views as you eat unique American dishes. This spot is open for dinner Tuesday-Sunday and brunch on weekends. There’s a variety of indoor/outdoor seating options for every need.

The second food spot inside The LINE is Alfred Coffee, this Los Angeles based chain recently opened their first and only San Francisco location here. The coffee shop is at ground level and is accessible to anyone. This spot is known for its coffee and is open every morning. There are also small bites you can get for a quick grab-and-go. In addition, the convenience store is nearby for essentials during your stay.

Location

One of the main reasons for choosing this hotel was the location. You’re right on car-free Market Street with some of the best public transportation in the country. You can connect through bus, BART, MUNI Metro, and cable car to pretty much anywhere in the Bay Area as seen through my experience of traveling San Francisco to Stanford. These transit networks all stop at Powell Street, just two blocks from the hotel.

You’re also very close to countless shops, restaurants, and activities. As seen further down in this blog post, The LINE puts you at the center of the city. If you don’t mind living in a concrete jungle for a few days and want to experience the city at its finest, you know where to stay.

Neighborhood

The LINE is located right at the edge of the Tenderloin neighborhood, bordering Union Square. This puts you at the heart of San Francisco and into an interesting art and culture scene. It’s an area to be careful in at night, but I found no problem during my one-week stay. Use the normal safety precautions, especially at night, and you should be all good. It’s quite an interesting and happening neighborhood, hence I’d recommend it to anyone.

What’s Nearby

Most of the city is very walkable from The LINE, as you’re in the center of downtown. Salesforce Park, Chinatown, and Civic Center are all within a mile while the Embarcadero, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, and Coit Tower aren’t much further. The Golden Gate Bridge is slightly further but the public transportation is so good that connecting without a car is easy. Staying at this hotel puts you in the middle of San Francisco, close to everything the city offers.

It’s important to take San Francisco’s hills into account, especially when walking. Market Street and Embarcadero area is very flat, the hills are apparent when moving north. Walking to Fisherman’s Wharf can be a fun but tiring walk, but is still worth it for the views. Renting an electric bike might be a good idea for these routes to make these unhills easier. You’ve also got so many public transport options available to quickly connect the city.

Final Thoughts

I hope this cleared up some questions if you were unsure about staying at The LINE. My biggest concern before booking was the neighborhood, but it isn’t a problem as a tourist. This hotel is new, has a great location, and a luxurious feel. It’s rare to see this combination in downtown San Francisco, especially at this price point.