Budget
Grant Plaza Hotel
Good for 1 or 2 night stay. Rates are reasonable. Make sure you ask for one of the outside rooms that overlook Grant Avenue, the inside rooms are small, dark and dingy. Close to parking garages and walking distance to many restaurants, bars and attractions. Staff is friendly.
The Green Tortoise Hostel
A favorite of backpackers world-wide, price includes free internet and wi-fi, free breakfast every morning and dinner 3 nights a week, a 24-hour sauna, pool table, common room, free beer at the Beer Olympics on Tuesday nights and free live music on Sundays. An ideal location, right between Chinatown and North Beach and a short walk from downtown.
San Remo Hotel
At the other end of the spectrum is the San Remo Hotel, All rooms except a rooftop suite are under $100. It was built right after the 1906 earthquake, became apartments later, and has been nicely reconverted to a hotel. It appears to be a favorite place for European tourists. It is quiet, all non-smoking, has no room phones nor TVs, and shared baths. A nice and large Italian restaurant, Fior d`Italia, self proclaimed "The oldest Italian restaurant in the United States," has moved into its street floor.
Castro Hotel
Fancy a short stay at an S.R.O., well here's one that rents by the week. The rooms are clean, it's in the heart of North Beach, it's safe — being directly opposite the police station, and it gets good reviews.
St Paul Hotel
This budget hotel has 150 rooms and it is located in between Chinatown and North Beach on Kearny street. You will have a sink in your room but you will have to share shower/bath rooms.
Midrange
Hotel Boheme
Hotel Boheme is located in a popular Italian neighborhood with decorations that pay tribute to San Francisco's Beat Generation. The building may be hard to find, with only a single innocuous doorway covered by a small awning. You have to buzz at the door to enter but you get a key for this door on check in. Past the door is a steep and narrow staircase leading up to the next floor. On the second floor to the right of the landing is the hotel office. A bottle of Sherry surrounded by cordial glasses is set out for guests on the landing sideboard each night. Hotel staff are always friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about everything San Francisco.
S W Hotel Inc
Named after its owner Sam Wong, this budget hotel is decorated with everything Asian. The rooms are a bit smaller than standard but it is situated in a very central location in Chinatown and the price is reasonable.
Top end
The Orchard Garden Hotel
A stylish eco-friendly hotel, claiming to be San Francisco's "greenest" hotel, this lodging gets almost universally good reviews.
Ritz-Carlton San Francisco
This hotel has a spacious lounge, fitness center, pool, and 4 star dining room in a Beaux-Arts building. It has 336 guestrooms, including 60 suites.
Washington Square Inn
Modeled after boutique European hotels it offers many services including a complimentary breakfast, and evening hors d'oeuvres. Rooms are well appointed with European antiques, cable TV, private baths, and free wi-fi. Centrally located in North Beach, it has views over Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill, and Washington Square Park.
San Francisco Hilton Hotel
Situated at the nexus of Chinatown, North Beach and the Financial District, this 27 storey hotel has some stunning views over the city and of San Francisco Bay.
| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | under $100 |
| Mid-range | $100–200 |
| Splurge | $200 and over |
Many of the hotel accommodations in the area are of the S.R.O Single Room Occcupancy variety, especially in Chinatown. These are of less interest to tourists as they usually rent them out by the month $600-800 p.m.. There are more traditional hotels however including: