Civic Center Inn

The only good things I can say are that the TV worked and the location is decent. The place is in terrible shape: boarded windows, urine-smelling hallways, and the last room I saw was disgusting. There was graffiti and writing all over the walls, torn and burnt bedding, and a completely gross bathroom. I can’t believe the Department of Health and Safety hasn’t shut it down. I heard through the grapevine that the owner was trying to sell, but I have no idea what will happen to the property. I should have taken photos, but once I walked into the room, all I could think about was getting out of there. I never even sat down.

The area around the hotel felt unsafe, which I expected given the location. The room was dirty, though, and I saw at least 15 cockroaches during my two-night stay. It was so bad I bought a bottle of Raid and spent about an hour spraying the place. The owner was nice at check-in and let me inspect the room quickly before charging me, in case I changed my mind. I just wish I’d spotted the roaches then, because I wouldn’t have stayed if I’d found them earlier.

For $128 a night over Labor Day weekend, I’d stay again for the price and location, but the room was really just for sleeping. We walked to the city center and to good bars in the same evening, which was great since Lyft is expensive in SF. The hotel offers free parking, though there were lots of friendly homeless people around. Service was minimal, just check-in and checkout. The room was basic, with no hairdryer or dirty clothes bags. It wasn’t very clean but wasn’t filthy either, and it smelled a little odd. The bed was comfortable but squeaky. For a king bed, they gave us three somewhat small pillows, cheap sheets, and an old coverlet for warmth.

The best thing here is how close it is to what you might need or want to see. City Hall and the public library are only a few blocks away, and the historic Castro is about a ten-minute cable car ride from Market Street. Getting around from here is easy. The price was affordable for what the hotel is, though it changes, and many discount booking sites showed the wrong rates. I'd call to check. They also require a refundable $100 cash deposit, probably because of the area. My room was quite large, with a queen bed, two nightstands, a big-screen TV that wasn't smart, and a chair. There was a dresser big enough to use in place of a table, I guess. The bathroom was basic, so bring your own toiletries: they only provided a bar of soap and a small shampoo bottle. The staff were really friendly. They let me look at a couple of rooms and walked me to each one. I picked the one without a mildew smell, though it didn't have a table either. People were on the outside stairs all night. I couldn't tell whether they were staff, guests, or just hanging around, but there was always someone there when I went up or down. I'd say this could work for a solo or business trip, but I probably wouldn't bring my family. That's just my opinion.