Hotel Griffon

Your room makes a big difference here. I started out in interior room 401, which was dingy, with old furniture, a sloping floor, and a soft mattress. After some negotiating, the staff kindly moved me to an exterior room with proper furnishings and a decent bed. Watch for the amenity fee. They tried to charge me extra just to get into a room that was usable. The Harbor Court next door is much nicer.

The beds were comfortable, everything was clean, and the price was good. The front desk was really accommodating, too. I left medication behind, and they kindly helped get it to me at the airport by Uber courier so I wouldn’t miss my flight. Really amazing service.

That Bay Bridge and Embarcadero view from the King room was such a relaxing thing to come back to after a long day, and lovely to wake up to. We came from HI to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary in SF, and Hotel Griffon made a cozy, romantic getaway. The room isn’t average-sized, but it had the vibe I wanted. The bed and AC were super comfortable. The bathroom was small but did the job, with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, hair dryer, iron, and ironing board. Soon after check-in, they brought a bucket of ice, champagne, and a thank-you letter for sharing our anniversary with them. That thoughtful touch made the stay extra special. The staff were friendly from check-in through checkout. The $25/day amenity fee covered the YMCA next door, unlimited purified water (bring your hydroflask), free WIFI, luggage storage, local calls, and coffee, tea, and pastries each morning. The area felt very safe to us. We never encountered anyone who made us feel unsafe. There were no homeless people in sight near the hotel; they were on the other side of the Embarcadero by the tourist attractions. The hotel is at one end of the Embarcadero, with Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, and the Alcatraz tour at the other end. It’s a nice long walk to the tourist spots, but doable. We took a bike cab back one day, which fit the romantic vibe. Hotel Griffon is right across from the Ferry Building for the SF Ferry to Vallejos, where we went for a Napa Valley wine tasting with Platypus Wine Tours, another must. We walked across the street to STK for our anniversary dinner, and many attractions are walkable. Uber eats late-night meals arrived quickly, in under 10 minutes. With taxes and the amenity fee, the price felt worth it for the cozy, romantic atmosphere. “Serenity” sums it up well. We’ll definitely return, and I highly recommend it for a special occasion. They make the stay feel memorable.

Coffee and pastries are there for breakfast, too. Perry's is right next door, a fun bar with good food, and Boulevard down the block is spectacular. Great location and really helpful staff. You can't miss with a stay here.