Hotel Julian

We booked directly through the website three weeks ahead, but when we checked in at 9pm, we were told the elevator didn’t work and the lowest available floor was the sixth. Staff kindly helped with our luggage, but we still had to climb to the sixth floor several times a day for days, even to get ice on the first floor. I was told the very old elevator’s parts wouldn’t arrive for a few months, and they couldn’t predict a full repair date. The restaurant and bar were open only when one of their two remaining employees was there, after they’d laid off the others. There was no fridge or microwave in the room, just two K-cups for bad coffee and powdered creamer. Housekeeping was already making noise around our room at 6am. The staff were very nice, and I really wanted to like the place, but I wouldn’t stay again. If we’d had less able family with us, as we usually do, we’d have been scrambling late at night to find proper accommodations. After four nights, we moved to another hotel a block from Union Square, booked through AirB&B, with much better accommodations for the same price.

Our previous hotel lost power, so we had to book here at the last minute. Everyone was incredibly accommodating about the price and our check-in and checkout times. Angel especially made us feel welcome and listened to when we were exhausted. The room was clean, colorful, and warm, and it made the whole stay ten times better.

For our anniversary weekend, my boyfriend and I had a great visit at Hotel Julian. The rooms were clean, with cute decor and an old-style feel, and the customer service was 10/10. The elevator wasn’t working while we were there, but the staff kindly offered to carry our bags upstairs and hold them when we checked out early. The area isn’t the best, though there are lots of bars and restaurants within walking distance. We’d definitely return, 10/10.

Good beds, clean rooms, and plenty of restaurants and galleries nearby. There are interesting people around, plus a nice little café across the street for a home-style breakfast. But the elevator’s been out for months, and they didn’t tell me until the day before check-in. It isn’t mentioned on the site or when reservations are made. The lobby smells like urine, the walls are thin, and you can hear neighbors. There are big gaps under the doors, so light and noise get in at all hours. The view was of a trashy roof, and the area felt unsafe at night. The toiletries had a very strong, odd musky smell. The heavy sliding glass shower doors were hard to control and could hurt your hands, and the shower pans were slippery.