I love the concept of boutique hotels and try to stay in one whenever I can. From a location standpoint, this hotel is great — close to public transportation, restaurants, and the venue I was attending. The neighborhood isn’t the best part of San Francisco, but since that’s where my event was, the convenience of walking everywhere worked perfectly.
Check-in was quick, though I was a bit surprised by the extra $15 charge for morning coffee and amenities. It ended up including some pastries, so it wasn’t too bad.
Now for the issues. First, the elevator — there’s only one, it’s small, and quite slow. With nine floors and people constantly checking in and out, be prepared to wait. We were on the fifth floor and ended up taking the stairs at checkout, which was fine since we only had backpacks. But if you have luggage, the narrow stairs could be a real challenge.
Second, the noise. Our room was on the fifth floor facing the street and right next to the elevator. Between the street traffic and elevator noise, it was hard to get much rest. The windows and walls definitely need better insulation.
Lastly, while not a deal-breaker, the room could use some updates. The furniture felt a bit dated and there were several stains on the carpet.
Overall, I might give it another try if I need to stay in that area again — but next time, I’d request a higher floor, a room not facing the street, and definitely far from the elevator. And I’d pack light, knowing the elevator situation.