Hotels in San Francisco
Like most big cities, hotels in San Francisco start at the swanky and stylish and go… well, they go pretty much as low as you’re willing to go.
Budget Beds: There are a surprising number of very affordable hotels in San Francisco that may not be featured in fancy design magazines or boast trendy hotel bars, but do the job and do it well.
One is the Hayes Valley Inn in the middle of Hayes Valley, a neighborhood that may seem off the beaten track at first but is actually filled with fun restaurants and shops and is just a stone’s throw from many more populated San Francisco neighborhoods. The inn takes pains to maintain its cozy, bed and breakfast style — you feel like you’re a houseguest at a Victorian house belonging to a kindly old lady. The rooms come at an amazing price, far below $100 for most rooms, although guests do have to use shared bathrooms (the rooms come with individual vanities and sinks).
San Francisco’s Richmond district doesn’t house too many tourist activities, but it is home to the Seal Rock Inn, a large motor in with a kitschy-fun feel. The hotel offers a pool, which can be quite useless most of the year due to the area’s foggy and frosty weather, but the rooms are clean and affordable and the hotel offers free Internet access, free covered parking and a large restaurant for casual dining options. The hotel is close to less populated San Francisco attractions including the Cliff House, Sutro Heights Park and Ocean Beach.
Mid-Priced Manors: The Orchard Garden Hotel in the heart of downtown San Francisco calls itself the first green hotel in California. This means that the structure was built in accordance with green standards and uses eco-friendly cleaning products and organic soaps in the rooms. The décor is fittingly fresh and minimal as well, and guests regularly rave about the fluffy, luxurious beds.
For an opulent, Victorian experience, try the Chateau Tivoli, located near the Western Addition at Alamo Square Park. This historic bed and breakfast featured themed rooms including the Mark Twain Room and the Isadora Duncan Room. The grand parlor is a meeting spot for guests, with free wine and cheese in the evenings. The décor is romantic and intricate, and some rooms even have special surprises like secret doorways and antique knickknacks.
Luxury Lairs: The most logical first step in truly high-class lodging is Nob Hill, with grand stone structures perched atop the hill in order to obtain the most classic city views. Well-known behemoths like the Fairmont and the InterContinental Mark Hopkins line these manicured streets, and these hotels often offer delightful tea services, classy bars and very pricey rooms.
For a more modern edge, try the Clift, just a bit down the hill in the downtown/Tenderloin area. The doormen dress as if they’ve walked out of a J.Crew catalog, and every inch of the place is decorated with care by renowned designer Philippe Starck. The feel is sexy, whimsical and modern; this is accentuated by the seductive Redwood Room bar and Asia de Cuba restaurant.
Another sleek place to sleep is the Hotel Vitale, located in the cleaned-up waterfront district. Many of the rooms offer great views of the Bay Bridge at night, and the suites are especially wonderful on New Year’s Eve, when revelers from around the Bay Area flock to Embarcadero Street to view fireworks. The rooms offer modern ambiance and wonderful extras such as Fresh beauty products in the bathrooms.