1599 Lombard St, San Francisco, California, United States | (888) 616-5829
Great location
for tourists, within walking distance of Fisherman’s Wharf
More affordable than many comparable hotels in the city if booked early
Pleasant garden, sun room, and rooftop observation deck with great views
Free garage
parking under hotel
Free Wi-Fi access in rooms and throughout hotel
Free continental breakfast
Some guest rooms and public areas have Golden Gate Bridge views
Lobby and
facade remodeled in early 2015
Some rooms are small and still need updating
Road noise
audible in many rooms
Breakfast room is tiny
No bar on-site
Although its name may conjure up the image of a dusty dive
off a southwestern interstate, the Buena Vista Motor Inn is a
charming, newly renovated budget hotel within walking distance of San
Francisco’s marina. The 50 rooms are rather plain and compact; some have views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The hotel has a quaint garden and rooftop deck, and offers free Wi-Fi, continental breakfast, and parking -- a rarity in San Francisco. However, some rooms can be noisy, and much of the decor is dated, as renovations are ongoing. This inn is a better deal than most comparable properties
in the city, although booking early can be key to getting lower rates.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Bright, boutique-style lobby with nice roof deck and sun room
Situated in a four-story cement building freshly painted in cream, Buena Vista sits on the corner of two busy
streets. The bright and inviting lobby was renovated in early 2015, with special touches such as colorful, original ink drawings of cartoonish people and San Francisco-themed
landscapes. A few chic, mid-century modern-style chairs surround a brushed-metal table topped with books on San Francisco, and there are a couple of studded, black leather armchairs against large street-facing windows. The top-floor
observation deck and sun room have more generic decor, though are nice areas to escape to. Each is built to accommodate a maximum of about
20 people, and are typically uncrowded, so guests -- typically tourists -- can easily take in views of the surrounding neighborhood and Golden Gate Bridge. There is also a small, outdoor garden area with a couple of patio chairs and a table set upon a lush green lawn lined with shrubbery, potted plants, and a beautiful, leafy tree.
Location
Near waterfront, a 15-minute walk to Russian Hill
The hotel is on Lombard Street, a couple of blocks from Van Ness -- both are major, multi-lane roads through town.
Lombard is home to a string of motor inns, fast food restaurants, apartment
buildings, and small retail spaces. Buena Vista Inn is about a 12-minute walk
from both the waterfront and Ghirardelli Square, and 20 minutes on foot to
Fisherman’s Wharf. Russian Hill is a 15-minute walk away. There are
several trams and buses within a 10-minute walk of the hotel, offering easy
access to just about anywhere in the city, including San Francisco
International Airport in about an hour (it’s at least 25 to 30 minutes away by
car).
Rooms
A little small and bland, but in the process of remodel (2015)
Guest rooms are in the process of
being remodeled as of spring 2015, and are standard hotel fare. King and
queen bed varieties are available, both with small luggage closets, mounted flat-screen TVs, free
Wi-Fi, desks, and coffeemakers; mini-fridges and microwaves are available on request. Decor in renovated rooms includes striped carpeting and olive green patterned bedspreads, along with neutral walls and curtains, warm wood furniture, and framed nature photography. King rooms have small love seats, while queen rooms have armchairs; both types have large windows. Suites are considerably
larger than Deluxe rooms, each with a separate bedroom and sitting area with sofa bed,
mini-fridge, and microwave. Bathrooms are relatively large with long
countertops in tan faux-granite tile, wall-mounted hairdryers, and shower/tub combos.
Features
Free parking, basic breakfast, and Wi-Fi
This compact hotel
offers more amenities than most in its class and of its size. There's free garage parking under the building -- a rare treat in San Francisco. Free Wi-Fi access is offered in rooms and throughout the hotel, and there's a guest computer in the lobby. Free continental
breakfast is served daily, and includes coffee, juice, cereal, and pastries. Guests can relax on the rooftop deck, in the sun room, and outdoors in the small, private garden area. There is no restaurant or
bar on-site. The front desk is open 24 hours.
