Hotels in South San Francisco

South San Francisco's identity is stamped on the hillside above town: giant white letters reading The Industrial City, carved into Sign Hill in 1923 when this was a meatpacking and steel centre. That industrial base is exactly what let Genentech found the modern biotechnology industry here in 1976, and the city now bills itself the birthplace of biotechnology, home to more than 250 life-sciences companies packed into one of the most valuable square miles in American science.

It sits less than ten minutes from San Francisco International Airport, making it a practical base for conferences and early flights rather than sightseeing. There's little in the way of historic charm or nightlife here; this is office parks, lab buildings and airport hotels rather than a tourist destination. San Francisco's actual attractions are a short BART or drive away if you want them. Stay near the airport or the biotech corridor for convenience, and treat South San Francisco as a base rather than a destination in itself.