Union Hotel Restaurant & Bar

Went back again this summer. Always exceptional food and service….and sidewalk dining!! (Only place I’ve been to that has an unrestricted sidewalk dining area, so cool!) If you haven’t been there, you MUST make a special outing to go one night.

A staple in Benicia when strolling downtown through first street. There's indoor and outdoor seating. I don't think I've ever really noticed that it's a hotel. They also do ghost tours around this area too. But one of my friends really likes this place to get a drink. Nice and cozy, we planned on getting a drink then just decided to grab dinner here on a Saturday evening. We started with some cocktails, I just got a tequila soda and my friends got a mojito and jazzy cosmo. They also give you some bread and butter. I asked what the most popular salad is and they said it's the pear salad, so I got that with chicken and devoured it. My friends got the chicken Marsala which also sounded popular and the penne pasta. Theres plenty of street parking downtown when it's not too busy but it's also nice walking the streets here and the servers were very friendly!

Outstanding food. Lots of great atmosphere. Owner takes care of everyone.

5+ stars! We had a birthday dinner for a party of 9. Dinning room is in the back - not to be confused with the bar area. Atmosphere was cozy and mellow in an old-school Benicia downtown kind of way. It was a welcome change from the usual sleek franchisey restaurants. The waiter was pleasant and accommodating. The food was awesome. Everyone loved their dishes. Penne, salmon, ribeye, and the risotto. Dessert was delish as well. Everything went towards making it feel like a special event - which it was! [6 month update] We went back for lunch. The food and experience were still excellent. I ordered a ribeye sandwich, which was the best steak sandwich I've ever had. Meat was charred just right, and very satisfying. Its not a thick steak (and probably the meat is dry aged) so each bite cut away clean. I'm hungry thinking about it again. Absolutely love this place. Understated but over-delivers.

Food was good *** Atmospher was up beat and fun *** SERVICE WAS WONDERFUL *** I DON'T ALWAYS FEEL AT HOME THIS PLACE IS SO FREANDLY AND WELCOMEING !!!! I WAS COMFORTABLE !!! $$ THE PRICE AND QUALITY MOOR THAN FAIR $$$ PLEASE TIP GOOD $$$

I love the Union Hotel & Restaurant! It's my go-to for girl's night and meeting up with friends for lunch or dinner. Staff are friendly, professional, food is great, and plan to have a good time! Jazz nights are my favorite.

The atmosphere decor and food were just perfect. Bocelli in the background with Bruschetta and Penne. We had a wonderful afternoon

Excellent food! Had ribeye which was perfect ..... with delicious roast potatoes and spinach. And we had the linguine .....wow..... Will definitely come back. Service goof and friendly. Nice atmosphere inside but we sat outside.

A staple in Benicia when strolling downtown through first street. There's indoor and outdoor seating. I don't think I've ever really noticed that it's a hotel. They also do ghost tours around this area too. But one of my friends really likes this place to get a drink. Nice and cozy, we planned on getting a drink then just decided to grab dinner here on a Saturday evening. We started with some cocktails, I just got a tequila soda and my friends got a mojito and jazzy cosmo. They also give you some bread and butter. I asked what the most popular salad is and they said it's the pear salad, so I got that with chicken and devoured it. My friends got the chicken Marsala which also sounded popular and the penne pasta. Theres plenty of street parking downtown when it's not too busy but it's also nice walking the streets here and the servers were very friendly!

This was our first time eating at the Union Hotel Restaurant. It's in beautiful Downtown Benicia and we enjoyed sitting outside. The waitress/bartender was very friendly and she made excellent suggestions. We really enjoyed our meals along with attentive service. We definitely will be back soon.

The food was amazing! We celebrated a birthday and let me tell you, it felt very special. It's a family owned business and you can feel the love the locals have for this spot. We were not locals so at times the stares were a bit uncomfortable but luckily they placed us in a perfect spot. We started out with the Caprese Appetizers and then ordered the Filet Mignon Risotto Special, it was rich in flavor and delicious. Highly recommend this dish! For my pescatarians the grilled Atlantic Salmon was also very delicious and lastly the Gnocchi was also a hit with the Italian sausage. The owner also brought a piece of chocolate cake and raspberries and sang for the birthday girl. I would definitely go back to try more dishes from this place!

We held our daughters rehearsal dinner at The Union Restaurant and it could not have gone better. Gabby did an AMAZING job and had a great appetizer and pizza menu. The food was OUTSTANDING and everyone loved it. Great wine bar as well with very nice wines. Gabby and his team took care of EVERYTHING and all we had to do was show up and eat. We ended up spending most of the time on the patio area and it was a perfect evening. The staff were friendly and accommodating and patient. I cannot recommend The Union enough. Thank you Gabby!

Location, location, location! This hotel is located exactly where we wanted to be. View was great and price similar to a boring chain hotel. On the minus side, there's no parking- we drove around 15 minutes searching the neighborhood and then through sheer dumb luck got a space as someone was pulling out closest to the hotel as possible. The restaurant connected to the hotel serves a top quality dinner, fabulous, with many choices and a liquor license. The breakfast, kinda meh. No worse, once again, then any chain hotel but after the 5 star dinner i was hoping for a little better than yogurt in plastic containers from the supermarket and couple of random pastries Altogether since the location suited our needs we'd probably stay here again. Maybe in a different room just for fun

Experience the Timeless Charm of The Union! Gabby & his daughter deliver exceptional service with a warm, welcoming touch that makes every visit special. This beloved restaurant has stood the test of time, keeping its classic charm inside and out while continuing to serve amazing food that never disappoints! Fun ambiance Delicious, top-quality meals No corkage fee - bring your favorite bottle! Unbeatable value for an unforgettable dining experience My with Annette and I have been coming to The Union forever, and it's still the best! Come see why this local gem remains one of Benicia's favorite.

The hotel is marvelous, the food hot and fresh. The servers seem to bustle around the small dining room. The stain glass window on one wall creates a lovely ambiance. The bread came out warm. The cocktails were strong. I would return :)

This is our main get-together-and-hang-out spot in Benicia, especially on Thursday evenings during the farmer's market. Everything on the menu is reliably good. Highlights include the ribeye steak, the filet mignon, and pastas. Pizzas are especially good but they don't tell you that you can get Italian sausage on them. My favorite is the Cesar salad with chicken, bacon and tomato. My boyfriend's favorite is the lasagna. From the drink menu, Gabby's Jolt is particularly addictive. The best thing about this place is that the prices are the most reasonable of all the fine dining restaurants on First Street. One of my favorite places.

The food here is always fabulous and the Martinis are the best! Outdoor seating is a special part of summer at this great restaurant.

The service was great and the food was delicious. Definitely adding this restaurant to our go-to list in Benicia.

Great food, service, and ambiance! It feels like you're experiencing a piece of Benicia's history. As a local, I highly recommend it--fantastic all around.

Service was attentive at first approach and ordering but the server Never checked back with our party of 7. They literally disappeared...I ordered a penne with chicken and there was three or four small chunks of chicken in the entire dish. For $22 you would think you'd get at least half a breast of chicken? The Parmesan cheese was pre grated and tasted out of a box.

Very average food. Got one of the pizzas and wife got a salad. The service was slow. I think they only had one person waiting tables. No draft beer available. They have a cool bar inside but doesn't seem like it's being used to its full potential.

Love this place. Very quaint and plenty of tables to sit outside when the weather is nice. Food is delicious and reasonably priced as well as the drinks. The staff is super friendly and never rushes us.

small location, but the food was awesome and the ambiance was wonderful. Definitely worth a visit

This is our favorite restaurant in Benicia. Everything we have eaten there is fantastic, and the owner/operator is friendly, cooperative, and wonderful. At a recent birthday gathering there, he even cut the cake that we had brought and served it to all the guests. We love this place. The cocktail lounge is a good place to hang out, too. Lots of regulars drop in.

Fun ambiance! Amazing food! No corkage fee! One of the best meals I've had in a while! Rich, but delicious! The owner - Gabi, is the waiter and the owner and the chef! He is adorable and was patient when we took awhile to order! There was no corkage fees and one of the best meals I've had for the price in longer than I can remember. I had the house made ravioli two different ways. One was a bit rich for my stomach, even though delicious and the other was killer. My husband's salmon was exquisite. Oh I forgot to say my spinach salad was over the top great! Please try it! I almost hate to say how good the place is, as will become too popular! But, on the other hand, you should try it!

Gabby & his daughter service are lovely. My kids love coming here, they'd go eat there everyday if they could. The restaurant is great inside & out. The food is amazing as well. We've been going to the Union since 2015 and they haven't changed a single thing & it's still the best.

Some of the best food on first street. A more unknown or underrated restaurant in town. Gabby serves fantastic food at fair prices, it feels almost like home cooked food but better. Nice cocktails and wine and a chill vibe inside. Reccomend 100%

Just like the good old days, it's a shame the surrounding areas are no longer. Wonderful room service and great food. Very comfy stay!

When we arrived, the restaurant was short-staffed: a bar mender and a waiter. Both had great attitudes and worked hard to maintain service. Each of our meals was delicious and we ate every bite: lasagne (very cheesy and rich with a slightly sweet tomato sauce), grilled salmon (with an interesting grape-based glaze), and chicken marsala (delicious sauce made up for the slight dryness of the chicken). It's a very small space. About 9 tables and a bar. So it's very cozy. Great to hang out for a trip to or through Benicia.

We went here last night. We had no idea this place existed! Omg it was all great. Bruschetta, pork chop and filet. Everything was fantastic. It's our new favorite place. We may go back tonight we loved it so much!

Best steak in s good while cooked and flavored to my taste I enjoyed my dinner I shall return

We enjoyed a very pleasant lunch here today. Started off with fried calamari that was lightly flour dusted and fried to perfection. The warm sightly spicy marinara was a perfect accompaniment. Moved next into the spinach salad with bacon, red onions and mushrooms. Again the masterful warmed dressing made this the highlight for me. The missus had fettuccine with shrimp in a delicate brandy cream sauce that she found delicious. I enjoyed gnocchi with Italian sausage in a red wine fortified red sauce. The ambiance was idyllic sitting outside across from Avant Garden, the communal garden and chatting with passersby. Gabby, the owner and our host was superb and catered to our every whim. He's a jewel. I would recommend this spot to everyone as we had a very lovely time.

Came to the bar for a quick drink and calamari. Great atmosphere and service. Would have stayed for dinner but wanted to try something else on my short visit. FYI.. calamari was fresh and a good portion size. Drinks were strong. You've been warned.

Always delicious food and company!! Gabby is a wonderful host!! Chicken Marsala is always my favorite! And awesome drinks!

We had the delightful experience of staying at the Union Hotel in Downtown Benicia. However a disclaimer: we do seek out 'Historical Hotels' and for us this one was a classic. Modernized some years ago but still retains the 'Old Feeling' of something special. Great location (heart of downtown / shops and restaurants / bars). Rooms were large and nicely appointed. Clean baths and linen. Very nice adjoining bar and restaurant. This place may not be for everyone, don't expect a lot of the amenities of the large corporate chains (concierge or bell captain service, a pool or underground parking). The hotel is privately owned and locally managed & staffed with everyone being friendly, courteous, helpful and great tour guides. If you are looking for that classic historical hotel that is so prevalent in our California small towns - this is a wonderful find! Looking forward to our next visit.

Highly recommend this restaurant. The service was good, but the food was amazing! We were truly impressed with the cuisine. Portions were great and the flavors were mouth watering. We enjoyed our meal from start to finish. No complaints at all. Bread was soft and warm. Butternut squash ravioli was delicious and the so wee the stuffed pork chops (my husband ordered those). We sampled some interesting cocktails. It was a very enjoyable evening. Would definitely visit again.

The Chicken Marsala and Lasagna with a Basil Margarita and a Side Car...Amazing! All reasonably priced, delicious, and fast, friendly service. Definitely recommend!

5 stars for the customer service and the meal. I was in the mood for something not heavy, so I searched out Yelp for a restaurant that served chicken. I saw a pic of chicken in a champagne sauce with mushrooms, from the Union Hotel. I headed there with the intent to try it. I got there and found out it was a special from a while ago. I frowned and muttered, but the guy said "you really want it? I'll make it for you. I said no worries I don't want you to go out of your way. He said have a seat, no trouble at all, and went to the kitchen. Apparently Gabby, is the owner and chef. After a while He came back out with the dish. That chicken was cooked to perfection and the sauce was to die for. This was exactly what my tastebuds were looking for. I'm a happy camper. The ambiance is turn of the century as it is one of the original buildings in Benicia. The place is busy for sure with bar patrons and food patrons. The bar staff are well mannered professionals who handle the patrons well and with a smile on there face. Oh by the way, did I say the meal was awesome?

Nice rustic ambiance. Some of the wall hangings takes you back to the gold rush days. The bar area where I sat is nicely manicured. The owner is always very attentive. Good choice of food. I will probably go there again.

It looks like this restaurant redid their yelp page to start over because of bad reviews. I view customer writing reviews like me as a public service. I hate bashing independent businesses, however, I also think it's fundamentally wrong to rate places highly only because they are a small local business. The ambiance: Cute, victorian inside and out. The service: The waitress/host seemed a bit in a rush and grouchy, even though it wasn't crowded. The food and beverage: My cocktail described to have "fresh basil" in it was misleading and gross. The basil was taken from frozen, soggy, and brown. My Penne alla Vodka: The sauce was literally vodka with a hint of tomato. The person who cooked did not have the basics of knowing how to deglaze or how the dish is supposed to be. What a total disappointment as we were hoping for a neighborhood spot to repeatedly go to.

The food was excellent. I had cherry glazed salmon, with buttery mashed potatoes topped with asparagus. Absolutely delicious! Service and Ambiance was perfect. I would definitely recommend.

We love going to the Union Hotel. Gabby and his team are so friendly. They make the best homemade cocktails. Food is fantastic.

Staff was knowable and funny. Food was really good food. Very happy with this place - enjoyed it

We had come to the Hotel to eat since we moved to Benicia, they already know what we like, wonderful service, great food and they are always nice to us. A good place to celebrate a special occasion.

I love this restaurant. It's a hidden Gem . Gaby makes the best cocktails my favorite is the espresso martini and the food is delicious. We never had anything we didn't like here . When your in downtown Benicia try this place out you won't be disappointed.

So good! Have read about this place forever and finally got the chance to try on my birthday. Had the fried calamari, ribeye, and filet and all were excellent. Love the atmosphere and will definitely be going back soon.

Absolutely love this place. Food & drinks are amazing and well priced. I love everything on the menu but the lasagna is really something special.

You can never go wrong with their food, drinks, desserts and service. The salmon is excellent!

The waitress was nice. The room had an old odo This is something aroma candle Perhaps could've helped reduce the scent with a little effort. The cook was a butt hole. He was out of buns we ordered sandwiches he didn't inform us he just took it upon himself to use white bread. My husband tried to talk to him. The cook he started yelling and wouldn't listen We were prepared to pay for the drinks that we had however, he was so rude we left we did not want to make a seen. What was this it is Valentine's Day, we're looking for lunch visiting a place that we had never been what was this I said, was this a race issue? The restaurant appear to be struggling the waitress said that they were not open, but I call prior to going to ask were they open for serving lunch I heard her yelling In the back to the Cook and her reply, yes, so that's why we went there, again I say what was this was at a race issue ? I only give two stars because the waitress was nice. That was a horrible experience it is 2023. hard to believe.

I spent a night at the Union Hotel recently as I had officiated a wedding ceremony in town that evening and just wanted to have a comfortable, quiet place to sleep before driving home in the morning. I chose the hotel first because of its affordability and proximity - right in downtown Benecia. But I'm so glad I did as it was comfortable and quiet and the room was sweet and charming. I was totally rested in the morning had coffee in my room before checking out. My only less than top experience was the continental breakfast in the lobby. Nothing to write home about: pastries in cellophane wrappings that had no flavor, no decaf coffee, no tea, ice-cold hardboiled eggs. There was fresh orange juice. I went out for a good breakfast and I recommend you do too. Oh and the 5-star rating? I gave that for the fabulous help and attention I got from the morning hostess, who gave me great info on Benecia and the surrounding area, listened to me as much as she talked, and was kind and enthusiastic. Maybe she merited 2 of the 5 stars!