Location, Location in expensive San Francisco
The Handlery Union Square is a nice guest hotel located metres from Union Square and Macy's. If you are forking out the dollars to stay in central SF then it is a pretty good choice.
In our opinion the Handlery is a good 3-3.5 star hotel by international standards - and unfortunately like many hotels in central SF the rates are more like those of a 4-4.5 star in many other cities of the US and Australia. In sections it is more like a motel layout than a hotel, but the accommodation/rooms are fine.
We had a room in the 'modern wing' which is within an enclosed courtyard over looking the pool. There is a bit of an echo if the pool is in use during day (8am-8pm) but closes at 8pm. The courtyard rooms would be quieter than streetside rooms (common complaint for many comparable hotels with many services etc in streets early AM). The room itself was roomy and more than adequate for our needs but some may find the bathroom and shower space small.
The various 48 hour hop-on-off buses offer services from Union Square and these make accessing Fishermans Wharf, Ferry Buildings, the Golden Gate Bridge etc very easy. Market Street is a short walk and quite safe during day and evenings (some TA comments for other hotels raise this issue - not problem at Handlery)
You have to find somewhere for breakfast - no in-room or hotel facilities. But there are various high and lower cost options nearby. Similarly the Union Square area is well serviced for meal options - the connected Daily Grill is good, plus couple other very good bars/grills etc within metres of front and rear [carpark] entrances. 
Major negative is that while advertised as a "non-smoking" hotel, Smoking is permitted on balconies, the public walkways and beside the pool (only space for children). Coming out of our room to find people smoking immediately outside and leaving their full ashtrays was unpleasant - poor reflection on the manners of smoking guests generally and good reason to ban them altogether.