I'm a bit surprised at the comments about the Hotel Whitcomb area on Market Street. There is not a shortage of sketchy folks on the street, although the mix has changed. A portion are now employees of some of the area tech firms, with behavior that can include unpleasant weekend/evening inebriation/yelling/etc. Overall, the area is remarkably changed since 20 or even 5 years ago. There are likely better-located options than the Whitcomb, and that stretch of Market doesn't necessarily show off the best bits of the City, but I feel much safer on the street there than I did even 5 years ago, both during the day and at night, including late at night.

Financial District hotels (including the Chinatown Hilton), for example, are probably a bit lower-key as far as street life, and the views from the Hilton will be much better, but given the changes, I'd be less inclined to tell people to give the Whitcomb a pass because of the neighborhood.