San Francisco Inn

San Francisco Inn occupies a typical two-story, motel-style building with a parking garage, and guest room doors opening outside onto a long common balcony that runs in the center of the property. The tan building, stairs, and walkways show some age and though the lobby is neat and tidy, it’s also small and best used just to check in and grab a few items from the basic breakfast offered each morning. There’s no elevator on the property, so be prepared to haul luggage upstairs if you're staying on the top floor. Upon our visit, we noticed a pungent smell throughout and some in-room cleanliness issues, but feedback from past guests doesn't indicate that this is a common problem. Overall, it’s a decent place for travelers on tight budgets who want a place just to sleep (and park) for a few nights. 

San Francisco Inn is located in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood for those who want to be within walking distance of downtown. The hotel is in a good spot that’s surrounded by restaurants, shops, grocery stores, and small outlets with stores like Costco, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Best Buy. The Civic Center is a 16-minute walk away, whereas Union Square takes half an hour to reach on foot. AT&T Park -- home of the San Francisco Giants -- is also a half-hour walk away or a 12-minute drive. The closest bus stop is in front of the hotel, and the closest street car stop takes 10 minutes to reach on foot. It’s a 25-minute drive to the San Francisco International Airport without traffic.

The guest rooms here are reasonably spacious but decorated in the dated, no frills-style one would expect of a motel room from the 1990s. The beds have white linens and rose-toned bed skirts that match the old-fashioned wall trim with curtain prints. Carpets are faded blue or maroon, curtains are brown, and art pieces are the chain-style “homey” paintings of houses and beaches from a few decades ago. But despite the old-fashioned decor, guests report that rooms are kept fairly clean. Amenities include air-conditioning, mini-fridges, microwaves, coffeemakers, and tube TVs. Bathrooms are basic with shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and Terra Pure toiletries. Queen SPA rooms jump a little above the other low-frills rooms with a jetted tubs in the shower/tub combos. 

The San Francisco Inn is a true budget motel, with no restaurant, bar, pool, or gym. However, they do provide a free breakfast of cereals, juice, coffee, packaged pastries, yogurt, and fruit each morning in the reception area (there's no breakfast room to sit and eat). There’s also free Wi-Fi throughout the property and a free parking garage with limited spaces (which can’t be reserved beforehand, making it first-come, first-serve).