Two arrested over Australian's death in US

A Darwin man has been killed a fight in San Francisco, with US police arresting two people over his death.

Matthew Bate died after an argument with two men in Russian Hill turned violent about 2am on Friday local time, San Francisco police told AAP.

The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner released the 33-year-old's identity and told AAP he lived in Woolner.

NBC is reporting Mr Bate was taken to hospital after the fight, which happened near a hotel, and he later died.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing Mr Bate's family with consular assistance.

"The Department requests the media to respect the privacy of the family at this most difficult time," DFAT said in a statement on Saturday.

Police have detained two suspects and the death is being investigated by the homicide unit.