Golden Gate Hotel

Skittles was the highlight for us. She’s a sweet, friendly cat who followed us from the lobby to our room and slept with us most nights. As a cat lover, I missed our own cat less with her around. She’s such a special part of the stay. We’ll come back next trip, we miss her already! The hotel had a charming bed-and-breakfast feel, with nicely decorated rooms and lobby. Our room had old-fashioned charm and its own bathroom, which was definitely nice. We could walk to many places and catch public transit easily. As a seasoned traveler, I felt safe in the area at night. I occasionally heard loud coughing from next door, but otherwise it was very quiet. The sister hotel on the same block has staff 24/7. We checked in there and picked up our bags after leaving them with staff on checkout day. When we had an issue with the room early one morning, they helped very quickly after we called. Breakfast there is simple, but a nice option: good eggs, bacon for the first few mornings but not the rest of the trip for some reason, plus fruit, juice, coffee, and cereal.

The rooms are small, but not too cramped, and we spent about 90% of our time out exploring anyway. We loved the place: cute decor, a gorgeous elevator, shampoo and conditioner, shower caps, and shared fridges and a microwave. Everything was great apart from only having one key. Skittles was the real concierge. We loved her and invited her to our room for cuddles. I only found out at the end that her toys were in the umbrella holder!

I’d pick this place first on any future trip. It’s a lovely, homey B&B with rooms that still have their 1913 Edwardian charm. Cable cars are easy to catch nearby if your legs can’t manage the hill. The ginger cat on staff, Pippin, is unforgettable. Some of our SF memories have faded, but not this one. It was lovely to be greeted by Pippin, followed to our room, and have her come by for cuddles.

Such a pleasant stay, with the historic character carefully preserved. The friendly cat is worth meeting, and check out the dog, cat, bird, and mouse on the antique elevator. There are also great photos on the stairway walls. Those touches add to the San Francisco feel.