Parc 55 San Francisco - a Hilton Hotel — Attraction in San Francisco

Hilton Honors Diamond member here: My family and I stayed at this location for 3 nights as part of our one week visit to California at the end of July 2023.

Overall: Outside of the restaurant, all other staff were amazing and pleasant (reception, concierge, and house keeping were the other interactions). Recognition of my Hilton Honors status was noted, with staff indicating that my room had been upgraded to a higher floor (floor 26). My brother, who is not a Hilton Honors member, was also on floor 26 but the hotel may have extended this benefit to him as they were made aware we were traveling together. Rooms were great and comfortable. Absolutely loved the fitness center (lots of cardio and strength training equipment). Love the communication check-ins with the staff within the Hilton app and they quickly responded to our dismal service we had one night in their restaurant. This location is near Union Square in downtown San Francisco - literally a block from Market Street where we can catch several trams/buses to places like Fisherman's Wharf and two blocks from the older style light cable car system that can take you near Chinatown. Lots of little cafe's and street stores. Also one block from the San Francisco Centre mall.

Positives: Location, ease of access to mass transit, helpful and friendly staff, and the fitness center. The hotel itself is also beautiful. The room floor carpet did appear a little dated, but still maintained well.

Negatives: Parking fee was $75/night - ouch. But somewhat expected for a downtown location with limited access. The parking ended up being completely full each day. Thankful we had no issues. You do get unlimited in and out and they do keep your spot if you're already in. There is no kids menu for the restaurant - so expect to pay between $25 and $40 for your child to indulge in breakfast. I had a 5 year old who wanted items from the full buffet (so she was charged $38 just like me). After that fiasco and the poor service we had one night, my daughter would just eat at Barbary Coast Pastry and Coffee just outside the hotel entrance. I will note that I did provide feedback on that poor service at the restaurant and while I didn't get to explain my situation in detail, it was mentioned the next morning when I visited for breakfast.

Last note: There were several homeless folks near the hotel and also several tent - what can only be describe as tent encampments - outside the hotel area and around this area of San Francisco. But we didn't really run into any issues. Everyone kind of minds their own business and if you want to engage with folks you can. Folks seemed overall pleasant. In fact, in general, we found folks in San Francisco to pleasant and kind compared to our visits in LA, Santa Monica,...

The hotel is not bad given its price and location, but EVERY staff I met had a weird attitude that makes me feel very uncomfortable, to an extent that I would take my time to write this review.

Every staff I encountered spoke to me with either sarcastic tone, or indifferently and impatiently as if I owe them money. Here are a few example :

My suitcase handle is broken so I asked reception if I could borrow a duct tape. Reception told me to ask from the baggage center , because they have wide tape that could serve my purpose better.

Next thing is the senior luggage guy told me “ it looks like what you need is not a tape but a new suitcase “ , hehe let’s assume he is trying to tell a joke that didn’t work on me. Then he said they don’t have a tape and walked away.

As the info i get from the reception contradicts what the senior luggage guy said, I tried to confirm with another luggage staff, and he looked at me and said “ I thought you just asked our colleague and he already told you we don’t have a tape?” I said “ yes but the receptionist said you have it and that’s why I’m here.” The senior guy came out and basically yelled in my face “ we do have one before and some guest borrowed and never returned it ! “

I checked in with one receptionist for my suitcase, she checked my ID and asked for credit card for deposit. Then a different receptionist for a room later. Second receptionist asked for my ID again, so I asked “ when I checked in my bag, I already showed my ID. “ the lady replied “ yes but it wasn’t me, I’ve never seen you. We don’t want to give room key to random stranger right? “

I asked a question on what seems like an inefficient repetition of workflow , and she acted like I was trying to pick up a fight with her . There are a million nicer ways to put it, like a professionally trained hospitality worker, but she picked the worst way to reply.

Thirdly & lastly, when I approach the luggage desk to retrieve my suitcase, there are two staff in front of the desk. One greeted at me so I assume they work with luggage desk. I said “ hi I’m getting my luggage “ and started looking for my luggage ticket. Another guy looked at me and simply said “ I’m security “.

What about “ our luggage desk behind my back would help you” instead of “ uh uh, no wrong person, I’m security so leave me alone.”

I don’t know if I was treated subtly bad because of my cultural heritage( I’m Asian) , or they are just a bunch of unprofessional, underpaid, unhappy people who equally hated every customer.

Hilton management could easily know this by sending a staff to check in as a random guest, but I guess...

Would have given it five starts, but giving it one star to warn any other guests who may see this review - they CAN WAIVE the $35 daily "Destination Amenities" fee at check-in.

This was my first time encountering this, so I wasn't savvy enough to know how this works. When I checked-in, they told me I had to pay an extra $35 a night fee, but it could used to offset any charges I accrued at the hotel bar, restaurant, etc. They didn't give me the option to waive it then, and made it seem like this was something I couldn't opt out of. Honestly, I felt like I was already part of some scam, since I didn't know about this when I booked. I came with the expectation that the cost of my room plus tax was already settled, and I could opt in at my choosing to pay for the restaurant and things like at other hotels. I accepted my fate, but quickly realized that the hotel restaurant/bar was below average, and their breakfast was outrageously priced ($36+tax per person for the buffet, or you could go a la carte, which still cost us $62 for two mediocre breakfast sandwiches, two pastries, two orange juices, and a coffee). It made me feel I had to go to the hotel restaurant when I would have rather explored a bar or café in the city that I came to visit. At the end, when I checked out and started asking questions, the desk person eventually said the fee could have been waived, and they didn't like that the hotel made them charge it to guests. It was clear the management were getting to staff swindle and scam people and were very aware of it. I felt sad for the staff and extremely disappointed in the management (hotel or corporate) that made the executive decision to take advantage of guests in this manner.

Everything else about the hotel was fine - good location, standard rooms, etc. It will be a good stay, as long as you don't make the mistake I did at this or other hotels that do this...