US police are investigating the death of an Australian tourist in San Francisco.

Matthew Bate, 33, from the Northern Territory, was killed Friday morning in a fight outside a hotel in the Russian Hill neighbourhood, police confirmed to local San Francisco media outlets.

His identity was disclosed after the San Francisco Medical Examiner formally identified him.

Police were called about 2.15am local time to the Da Vinci Villa Hotel at 2550 Van Ness Ave., between Union and Filbert streets, where they found him injured from being in a physical altercation, officials said.

Mr Bate was taken to a hospital, where he died. No weapons were involved.

Officer Giselle Talkoff, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco Police Department said Bate had gotten into a verbal altercation with more than one suspect that turned physical.

Two suspects were detained shortly after the altercation and Talkoff said homicide detectives are investigating their involvement in the fight.

Police expect to make more arrests.