655 Ellis St, San Francisco, California, United States | (251) 219-4428
Spacious hotel with clean, modern rooms
Close to convention center and many tourist attractions
Roof deck with city views and conference/event spaces
Free breakfast at the adjoining restaurant
Free first-come, first-served shuttle bus to tourist areas
Free Wi-Fi
Reputation for friendly staff
Gritty surrounding neighborhood
No air-conditioning (common in San Francisco)
This mid-sized property has large, modern rooms and a location close to tourist attractions, but the location in the gritty Tenderloin can be a downside for many. (The Cova even runs a shuttle to Union Square, which is only a 15-minute walk away.) Nonetheless, the venue offers budget-friendly value for its amenities, which include a free breakfast at the adjoining bistro. For travelers who feel iffy about the neighborhood, Hotel Fusion is closer to Union Square and has similar rates, while deals can sometimes be found at other properties like the Handlery as well.
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Scene
Modern and stylish, with a rooftop deck
The Cova is set off from the street with a parking area in front, and the lobby has a trendy, stylish design. By the door is a small super-mod seating area in neutral tones with a semi-circular high-back banquette, with a lot of black, white, and wooden furniture on hand. The rooftop deck is no-frills, with wicker and metal furniture and large potted plants, though it does have interesting views of a part of the city many visitors wouldn't generally see.
Location
In the Tenderloin, close to main tourist attractions, though visitors have expressed concern about the immediate area
The hotel is in the heart of the Tenderloin, a fairly gritty neighborhood, and is adjacent to a few other hotels, corner markets, and apartment buildings on a busy street. The Cova is conveniently located a few blocks from the Civic Center and is a 15-minute walk to Union Square and Nob Hill. There’s a free shuttle from morning to night to Union Square/Moscone Center and Fisherman's Wharf, though you should arrive at least a half-hour before you want to leave.
Rooms
Simply and stylishly designed with large bathrooms
The hotel’s 96 rooms don’t have air conditioning, which is pretty common in mild San Francisco, but not ideal during the occasional heat wave. Continuing the motif found in common areas, the rooms have stylishly neutral decor, with electric blue throws on beds that have plain, light-colored wooden headboards. The large rooms also have mini-fridges and flat-screen TVs mounted on walls. The clean, modern bathrooms are also spacious, with large curtained shower/tub combos. The area outside can be noisy, however, and earplugs are recommended for light sleepers in rooms facing Ellis Street.
Features
Free breakfast, gym, and spaces for special events
The Cova offers a free continental breakfast of waffles, pastries, cereal, and fruit in the bistro-style restaurant adjoining the hotel. Events are held on the roof deck and there’s a business center on every floor with a computer terminal. There’s also a Cova Hotel app with tourist information about the surrounding area. The large fitness center has modern cardio equipment and rooftop spaces are available for business conferences and special events.
