Located steps from shopping
Stayed this past weekend, the remodeled lobby, restaurant and bar had all opened up only 2 weeks prior. The remodel is very nice, with 2 gas fireplaces in the cozy lobby seating area. The restaurant has been re-located to the mezzanine level, along with the bar, and these are open to the lobby below. They spent some serious money on the furnishings and fixtures, but beware there are no views like from the Grandviews bar and restaurant they replaced. They say that Grandviews will no longer be a public area, and be converted into meeting room space. Sad, as this was a very nice feature of this property with impressive views from the 36th floor. 
 Check in was prompt, but slightly confusing, as staff each are situated at small desks with laptops. It seems they are going for a boutique hotel look, but when you have over 500 rooms and no intuitive way to queue up, it gets crowded. The doormen were always very efficient at hailing cabs and providing directions. There's also a lot of staff standing around by the elevators and I could never figure out exactly what their jobs were. The breakfast buffet is very good, and is $25 a person, though service seemed a bit unsteady. Perhaps the staff is still very new.
 Rooms were nice and very clean. No curtains. There are some light plastic movable shades, and then a roll down room darkening shade powered by switches next to the bed. Room was very quiet while I was there, except on Saturday night during a massive rain and wind storm the building's steel structure squeaked and groaned for hours, keeping us awake. I was surprised that no robes were provided in the room, and after 2 phone requests for 2 bathrobes, only 1 ever showed up. Also, newspapers for elite members are not delivered to the door as at other Hyatts, but are left in the elevator lobby. The bathroon did have a great shower, and hot water was abundant each morning. A very welcome touch was that the room had a mini-fridge that was empty so that you could stock your own drinks in it for your stay. No mini bar. There are a couple convenience stores within a block or two of the hotel along Sutter Street. You are also almost right on Union Square, and the heart of San Francisco's shopping district. Literally every major department store and boutique has an outlet within a few block radius of the Grand Hyatt.
Overall, a nice renovation job, and I would stay here again, if just for the location. They do have a few kinks to work out training personnel, but hopefully this will be accomplished very soon. I do hope they will re-open the 36th floor bar space again someday.