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    Union Square

    4.2 (86 reviews)
    InexpensiveShopping Centers

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    Abel A.

    Beautiful plaza amidst shopping, tourism, and restaurants. Love that they've added amenities to chill, play, and view.

    Christmas Tree at Union Square (December 2025)
    Melinda L.

    The Union Square is looking pretty lively in the area, with the tall Christmas Tree that's been up during the Christmas holiday. This spot is located smack center of the downtown area and right now it's more decorated than normal. Across the street, you can see the very famous Macy's that's also lit up with Christmas decorations. Lots of seating around the park, though not really seats and tables, but there are some if you want to just hangout. There's entrance and exits around Union Square, depending where you would like to go. Recommend to walk through if you're anywhere in the shopping district nearby.

    Union Square
    Cin V.

    Fun area to hangout with family and friends. There's a lot going on: kids books, play area, games, basketball shooting, etc. All free to the public. Unfortunately it's not always too safe with lots of homeless people around, so keep a look out. This was not our first time here and won't be our last.

    Phil A.

    I always enjoy coming to Union Square!! During the holidays, the ice skating rink is here along with the Macys Christmas Tree. I even caught a Santa Con here one year. High end stores are all around Union Square, along with plenty of restaurants and also the famous Westin St. Francis Hotel!! There's almost always lots of people here, besides Christmas there's always something going on here. Plenty of places to sit as people come here to do just that!! The Dewey Monument Statue sits in the middle of the square, which is dedicated to Admiral George Dewey, and on top is Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory!!

    Becky V.

    Large square with seating in the middle of downtown. Take a break in between your shopping. Sometimes special events here like holiday tree lighting, ice skating, tulip festival, all kinds of stuff You can just sit and people watch too

    Tracy B.

    Its so absolutely beautiful here when all the lights are lit. The cold air definitely makes it feel like Christmas.

    Holiday Season is upon us!
    Richard H.

    Nice to see the holiday spirit come alive in Union Square with the tree and ice rink. Picture taken at zero dark 30 when no one was around. Kudos to Mayor Laurie for continuing to get out the word on social media to improve our beloved city and support those businesses who have been struggling since the pandemic.

    Union Square at Christmastime
    Kristin Leigh M.

    Union Square will always hold a special place in my heart, which is probably why I'm giving it four stars instead of three. The area has changed a lot in the last decade and unfortunately, not for the better. For the park - it's a nice place to stroll in the daytime. For the shopping area along Powell - there are more empty storefronts than those that are occupied. Those that are open close earlier than I remember. The area has really gone downhill in terms of shopping. I wonder what will happen when Macy's closes? I don't feel as safe in the area as I used to. There were a lot more homeless present (and not simply sitting on the sidewalk, but walking around in a drugged stupor.) I really hope that the business district and San Francisco can work to revive this area. Again: it's probably more three star right now... but I remember how it used to be and hope it can be that way again. 2024: 88/100

    Chris R.

    Be my girlfriend we were able to check out union squares San Francisco this past weekend we'd like how all the Christmas decorations are all set up It was very very busy people who are saying San Francisco was dead when it's quietly not. San Francisco has been really really busy especially with the tourist lately. I've been seeing a lot of people out lately shopping, especially on the weekends so I definitely feel like we are bouncing back from the pandemic. The service here is amazing. There are so many good and great places to spend money such as Macy's Bloomingdale's and Saks the selection is really good as well as Macy has six floors.

    Those Nintendo characters look familiar in SF
    Juan V.

    Back to square one. This is the place where memories are built around. This is the location San Francisco celebrates year round. This is the place where the New Years starts and ends whether it is traditional American New Year or the Lunar New Year. Union Square is the middle ground of a lot of things happening in San Francisco. This is the fun place for the Santa Con pit stop and also the place to pick free tulips once a year. There are over a million stories here and it's one my favorite tourist traps in San Francisco . The world comes to see San Francisco and not the other way around. There are good restaurants around the area and plenty places to shop. Whether it's the familiar named restaurants like the Cheesecake Factory with a view of Union Square or the Christmas time display in the lobby of the St. Francis Hotel there is something for everyone . The future is Nintendo opening up shop at Union Square 2025. Remember Union Square is not located on Union street in SF. Washington Square is located on Union street in SF. Just to square things out. The place for public affairs with different events and fairs you can feel it in the air Nothing compares to San Francisco Union Square

    Christmas tree!
    Louis B.

    Always Love Union Square especially in the Winter time... Christmas is Always Festive...Late Review but better Late than gate keep...lol... walking Around Here is Fun people watch... and check out the Holiday Scenery... Ice skating Rink is in the Middle of The Action... I can't skate but you don't Need to ... i just Relax and chill... double decker buses are coming and going. Best thing is just uber through the city and catch the bart... Walk Across towards Macy's and upstairs you get A Great View From The cheese cake Factory... get A Drink and a Snack while you Are up there... enjoy till Next Christmas...

    Eva S.

    Loved soaking in the Christmas vibes at Union Square in the city! We made stops at Macy's, the LV store, and the San Francisco Shopping Center in Market Square. The giant ornament decorations at the cable car stop were just amazing!

    David L.

    Union Square is right in the middle of the downtown shopping area. They hold several event through out the year. I am reviewing the Christmas time of year. We went down to San Francisco for a special dinner and shopping. I arrived in the afternoon and parked in the lot below. When we exited the elevators we saw a bum without any shirt cleaning himself. It was not a pretty sight. SF has been plagued with homeless for a long time and criticized for it constantly. I am sure tourist have stopped coming because of it. Anyway the Christmas was decorated and very nice. The stores around the square were also decorated and gave perfect photo opportunities. I love Christmas time and it is still a nice place to come at this time of year. There were still a lot of people in the Square and taking pictures or just hanging out. I didn't feel unsafe there with so many people.

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    Union Square Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Union Square

    I have heard that conditions are bad in San Francisco. Is it safe to visit Union Square?

    I am here in San Francisco now and staying at Union Square. I am traveling solo and walking everywhere. No problems and I feel safe.

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    Review Highlights - Union Square

    In winter, they have an ice skating rink and the big Christmas tree, a great holiday spot to get your Christmas celebrations started.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

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    San Francisco Centre - Psychedelic escalators

    San Francisco Centre

    3.7(1.1k reviews)
    0.3 miUnion Square, SoMa
    $$

    Oh man! So I use to perform the Fire Alarm Inspection at the Nordstrom for about 7 years straight…read moretill they closed. Went back to do a job walk foe the entire center and boy was i shocked! I cannot believe how empty this place got. Super sad really. I remember the mall to be packed! One of the most iconic and beautiful Nordstroms. Bloomingdales. The most amazing dome. The upside down Christmas tree under the dome. Man, they use to go all out! And now it's all gone. A literal ghost town inside with scary homeless people running around. Well, at least, Panda is still open and we didn't have to wait in line at all, so that's a plus. I sincerely hope they can salvage this mall and that it would eventually come back to life! I really do hope so!!

    Everything went downhill drastically after the iconic four-story Nordstrom and two-story…read moreBloomingdale's were gone. Even 90% of the food court is gone. The remaining eateries are Panda Express and Shake Shack. The movie theater is gone. Walgreens is gone. One entrance to BART/MUNI remained locked. It's so sad to see what happened post-pandemic. The memories of walking around the spiral escalators to Nordstrom, having frozen yogurt while waiting for my grandmother to arrive, sitting next to a Mexican family while eating food court sushi, and shopping for cute clothes at American Eagle Outfitters as a teen. Long live the past of shopping in the 2010s. The entrances on Market Street still smell like urine, though. The majority of SF residents blame the city officials for letting criminals and homelessness go free, which made most retail stores shut down due to robberies. Less than 28 stores remained in business. The best part is that the public restrooms are still open, and there's access to BART/MUNI near the GNC Store. The best shopping mall in SF is Stonestown Galleria, next to San Francisco State University, where you can take the MUNI train M.

    Photos
    San Francisco Centre - (c) SFGate

    (c) SFGate

    San Francisco Centre - (c) SFGate

    (c) SFGate

    San Francisco Centre - (c) SFGate

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    (c) SFGate

    PIER 39

    PIER 39

    4.0(1.7k reviews)
    1.4 miFisherman's Wharf, North Beach/Telegraph Hill
    $$

    Pier 39 is the perfect mix of waterfront fun, shopping, and great food all in one lively…read moredestination. The pier is filled with unique shops, entertainment, and plenty of places to grab a delicious meal while enjoying the beautiful views of the bay. The food options are endless, from the famous clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl to tacos, seafood, and classic fair-style treats. As you make your way toward the end of the pier, you're rewarded with stunning views of Alcatraz Island and the bay. One of the highlights is watching the sea lions relaxing on the floating docks below -- a fun and unforgettable sight. Whether you want to stop by for a quick bite, enjoy the scenery, or spend the entire day exploring, this is one of those places that has something for everyone.

    Having lived in San Francisco for numerous years, I've been to Pier 39 many times -- sometimes to…read moreshow out-of-towners cool parts of my favorite city and sometimes because I just wanna go to a place by the bay that feels like a carnival! The stores are super cute, there are things to do, there are restaurants as well as good quick eats (like the mini donut shop - oh my gosh that's so good - and a cute retro candy shop at the end of the pier. Additionally, the views at the end of the pier are magical, and you get to view it with songs from the sealions! There are also magic shows at the pier you can watch for free and a large carousel! Pier 39 is 100%, touristy, but it is still festive and fun, whether you're an out-of-towner or a local resident. The only downsides are the prices (because this area is a tourist trap) and the parking. Here are some tricks and tips: Look for coupons for some of the pier activities (ie, coupon books, Groupon, and even on the ads in the local map they give you for free). I've found coupons for the Aquarium By the Bay, restaurants, the mirror maze thingy, and The Flyer. You can also go to the Visitor Center office on the 2nd floor of the pier! Just ask politely for coupons, and they'll usually have something. (They gave me 20% off some nice restaurants last time.) As for parking, be careful with street parking because if you are even a minute late, I swear, you'll find a ticket on your windshield! The city ticket workers are like hawks. There is a Pier 39 parking garage that is the closest but costs a lot. You can look for open parking lots further away, like at hotels, which can be cheaper. If you are able to walk, that may be a good option -- or better yet, take public transportation when you can. That is part of the San Francisco experience! One more tip: if it's your first time there, bring a lock to put at the end of the pier! (See photo) There are definitely a multitude of photo opps here!

    Photos
    PIER 39
    PIER 39
    PIER 39

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    Stonestown Galleria - Shake Shack

    Stonestown Galleria

    3.2(626 reviews)
    5.6 miStonestown
    $$

    The parking and getting there is a bit bizarre since there's an underpass bridge that the mall…read moreitself goes over I think? It reminds me of a smaller Del Amo Fashion Mall if anything. Parking and driving around looked quite busy in the front where you can see that tiny Trader Joe's that's overshadowed by the giga Whole Foods and what I think are protestors against Uniqlo, I think. Never seen protestors for that brand in particular, but it is what it is. There's LOTS of college students (near SFSU apparently) and Zoomers since it was, I suppose it's after school on a Tuesday. Parking the back was no issue. Also a decent selection of shops that I would go to normally, like Daiso or Miniso, as well as a Round 1. Neat that they have a Quickly's that looks like it's untouched by time (portraits of cute Ulzzang style workers enjoying the drinks and food there), there's charging tables, and a good amount of eateries and options to get boba and snacks. Completely incomprehensible unless you're specifically from the 626, but this mall reminds me of a mix between the Santa Anita mall and the West Covina mall (during it's prime). Pretty bustling and lots of businesses that actually interest me. I think my only qualm is that everything is at a smaller scale and smaller store, like their Pop Mart and Miniso are markedly smaller with a smaller stock, so keep that in mind.

    Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and a Perfect Mall Walk…read more I visit Stonestown weekly for groceries at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. My visit always starts with a walk around the mall--window-shopping, checking out stores that catch my eye, and getting some exercise. Everything I need is in one convenient spot--great restaurants, a food court, coffee, movie theater and plenty of shopping.

    Photos
    Stonestown Galleria - That was Shake Shack out front of the Stonestown

    That was Shake Shack out front of the Stonestown

    Stonestown Galleria - 《Nice Christmas Decorations At The Stonestown Gallery Shopping Mall Of San Francisco Ca USA》

    《Nice Christmas Decorations At The Stonestown Gallery Shopping Mall Of San Francisco Ca USA》

    Stonestown Galleria

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    Embarcadero Center - Embarcadero

    Embarcadero Center

    3.6(97 reviews)
    0.7 miFinancial District
    $$

    Came for a few hours for a meeting. Flew in from out of town. Very minimal instructions were given…read moreto me to get here. Luckily it's all pretty straight forward when you arrive. If you're walking. That's easy. Just pop it into your GPS. If you're taking a cab then I would suggest putting as your destination "Devil Teeth Baking" as getting dropped off at other locations around the area is pretty chaotic (I mean it's already pretty chaotic as it is since you're in the financial district of San Fran). There are many businesses in here. But I came for a business meeting. So if youre going for something like that, you'll want to enter the cement building (no doors just opened entry) and go up one flight of stairs / escalators and head to the lobby. From there, you let them know that you have a meeting and on what floor and give them your name. They'll check in the database for it and then let you into the elevators. You hit the button and off you go. Some of my colleagues found parking around the area but they live here so much more familiar. They suggested to me to not have a car. The meeting space I was in was on the 12th floor and it was a few large meeting spots and some smaller offices that are rented out to different businesses. There's a wellness room and a business center with stationeries. I'm assuming every floor is different. Mine had some color to it. Plants, paintings, art etc. It felt a bit homier than what a generic office would look like. The people were chill too. Good spot. Decent value. Would host a meeting here again!

    Based upon these criteria, I give this event 5 stars based upon :…read more- the ability to meetup & network , - service (mobile bar &Happy Hour) , - site/location (Embarcadero Center) , - value Embarcadero Center Presents Summer Happy Hour Wednesday, July 31 | 4-6pm Urban Patio, Three Embarcadero Center 1) https://embarcaderocenter.com/bar-car-at-embarcadero-center/ 2) https://dothebay.com/events/2024/7/31/summer-happy-hour-at-embarcadero-center-tickets-7-31?fbclid=IwY2xjawEXbtBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQgCExw7wiM5iKRdS0l0itlSr2cAOUW1NDf1kh8GpXP6fZO-iJtpKmDRcA_aem_Rzn27kTXStVBBRFJUEJoLQ

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    Embarcadero Center - Embarcadero

    Embarcadero

    Embarcadero Center
    Embarcadero Center - Where's the elevator

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    Where's the elevator

    Union Square - shoppingcenters - Updated June 2026

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