Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [62]
Best For: Playing wannabe rock star at the Phoenix Hotel.
Drawbacks: Not the nicest part of town. Expect panhandlers and take taxis after dark.
Moderate
The Phoenix Hotel ★★ If you’d like to tell your friends you stayed in the same hotel as David Bowie, Keanu Reeves, Moby, Franz Ferdinand, and Interpol, this is the place to go. On the fringes of San Francisco’s aromatic Tenderloin District (rife with the homeless and addicts), this well-sheltered retro 1950s-style hotel is a gathering place for visiting rock musicians, writers, and filmmakers who crave a dose of Southern California—hence the palm trees and pastel colors. The focal point of the Palm Springs–style hotel is a small, heated outdoor pool adorned with a mural by artist Francis Forlenza and ensconced in a modern sculpture garden. Rooms are more pop than plush, with bright island-inspired furnishings and original local art; each faces the pool. If you want luxury and quiet, stay elsewhere, but if you’re looking for a great scene, head to the Phoenix.
601 Eddy St. (at Larkin St.), San Francisco, CA 94109. www.thephoenixhotel.com. 800/248-9466 or 415/776-1380. Fax 415/885-3109. 44 units. $119–$149 double; $219–$399 suite. Rates include continental breakfast and free passes to Kabuki Springs & Spa. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking. Bus: 19, 31, 38, or 47. Amenities: Bar; concierge; heated outdoor pool. In room: TV, VCR (upon request), fridge (some rooms), hair dryer, free Wi-Fi.
THE CASTRO
It’s the Castro, so most accommodations (usually converted homes) cater to LGBT customers. But even breeders can have a lot of fun in this lively neighborhood.
Best For: Excellent nightlife and dining scene, great people-watching, and augmenting your sex toy collection.
Drawbacks: Minimal selection of hotel choices, far from city center, noise and crowds on Pride and holiday weekends.
Moderate
The Parker Guest House ★★ This is the best B&B option in the Castro, and one of the best in the entire city. In fact, even some of the better hotels could learn a thing or two from this fashionable, gay-friendly, 5,000-square-foot, 1909 beautifully restored Edwardian home and adjacent annex a few blocks from the heart of the Castro’s action. Within the bright, cheery urban compound, period antiques abound. But thankfully, the spacious guest rooms are wonderfully updated with smart patterned furnishings, voice mail, robes, and spotless private bathrooms (plus amenities) en suite or, in two cases, across the hall. A fire burns nightly in the cozy living room, and guests are also welcome to make themselves at home in the wood-paneled common library (with fireplace and piano), sunny breakfast room overlooking the garden, and spacious garden with fountains and a steam room. Animal lovers will appreciate the companionship of the house pugs Porter and Pasty.
520 Church St. (btw. 17th and 18th sts.), San Francisco, CA 94114. www.parkerguesthouse.com. 888/520-7275 or 415/621-3222. Fax 415/621-4139. 21 units. $129–$199 double; $219 junior suite. Rates include extended continental breakfast and evening wine and cheese. AE, DISC, MC, V. Self-parking $17. Bus: 22 or 33. Streetcar: J Church. Amenities: Concierge; access to nearby health club. In room: TV, hair dryer, free Wi-Fi.
Inexpensive
Beck’s Motor Lodge In a town where DINK (double income, no kids) tourists happily spend fistfuls of money, you’d think someone would create a gay luxury hotel—or even a moderate hotel, for that matter. But absurdly, the most commercial and modern accommodations in the touristy Castro are in this run-of-the-mill motel. Standard but contemporary, the ultra-tidy rooms include low-Levitz furnishings, a sun deck overlooking upper Market Street’s action, and free parking. But be warned: This is a party spot, popular with late-night party people and cruisers, and the staff can be brusque.
2222 Market St. (at 15th St.), San Francisco, CA 94114. www.becksmotorlodgesf.com. 800/227-4360 in the U.S., except CA, 800/955-2325 within CA or 415/621-8212. Fax 415/241-0435. 58 units.