2690 46th Ave, San Francisco, California, United States | (251) 219-4428
Retro, Art Deco-style motel
Close to the ocean and zoo
Lovely garden with children's play equipment
Small outdoor hot tub
Free on-site parking
Free Wi-Fi
Dogs allowed
Some rooms are tiny
Rooms facing the street can get noise from trains
Far from main tourist attractions
This small, clean Art Deco-style property built in 1936 -- reputedly the first motel in San Francisco -- is a short walk away from the Pacific. Replete with marine-style decor that fits its location, Ocean Park Motel offers affordable value for travelers who like the retro aesthetic and don’t mind being a little far from tourist attractions. Rooms facing the street and Muni trains are best for heavy sleepers, though the friendly owners do provide earplugs. A pretty garden and outdoor hot tub are on-site as well.
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Scene
Marine-style facade on a beautifully landscaped property
The motel was designed to look like the great ocean cruise liners of the 1930s, and it definitely succeeds with its marine blue exterior. While the interior decor is a bit dated, the rooms are clean and comfortable. The tree-filled property is well maintained and beautifully landscaped, with a central courtyard and another larger garden with a swing set and some outdoor seating.
Location
Right by the ocean and within walking distance of the zoo
Ocean Park Motel is fittingly located just blocks from the Pacific in a neighborhood that includes a number of Art Deco homes with colorful exteriors. There are also a few restaurants and cafes nearby as well as a surf shop. Visitors should note that the area is one of the foggiest parts of town.The property’s location is very convenient to reaching the San Francisco Zoo, which is only a six-minute walk away. It’s about a 10-minute drive, or 25 minutes via public transportation, to Golden Gate Park. Fisherman’s Wharf is a 30-minute drive away.
Rooms
Old-fashioned decor; some rooms have kitchenettes
The property’s 24 retro-style rooms have cedar paneling behind the beds and bedspreads with pale pink and white stripes. Larger rooms have kitchenettes with stoves and refrigerators; some of the kitchen fixtures are rusted, but rooms are generally clean. All have flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers. Rooms facing the street come with earplugs to lessen the noise of the outside trams, cars, and busses. The pastel-colored bathrooms have original tiles and curtained stall showers.
Features
Landscaped courtyard and hot tub; property also allows canines
The main common areas include a lovely central courtyard and another garden with a swing set. There’s also a small hot tub. The Ocean Park is canine friendly, though additional fees are charged. (Dogs must be kept on a leash and never left alone in rooms.) The attentive owners, who purchased the motel in the 1970s, are happy to talk about the history of Ocean Beach, giving the property a feel of a bed and breakfast.
