Hotel Zoe Fisherman's Wharf

When the smoke alarm went off around 4 AM, smoke filled the whole floor. Staff took far too long to help people evacuate. With the hallway still smoky, we asked for updates and safety instructions and were told, “There’s nothing we can do,” and, “If you want to go back to your room, just go back.” The fire department had NOT arrived yet, and nobody knew what had caused the smoke. Telling guests they could return to a smoke-filled room before professional help arrived showed a shocking disregard for safety. When we eventually went back to our room, it still smelled strongly of smoke. The Duty Manager dismissed my concerns the next morning as a “communication error,” saying that since the Fire Department eventually cleared the building, everything was “fine.” That misses the point. The dangerous process matters, whatever the final result. The management showed no empathy for the trauma we experienced and refused to take responsibility for the staff’s negligence. Stay away if you care about your safety. Around 4 AM, this was terrifying, and the handling of a potential fire was passive and unprofessional.

The location is superb, in Fisherman's Wharf and maybe a 5 minute walk from the piers. There are lots of restaurants and convenience stores nearby, and the area felt safe to us. We were worried about seeing "fenty-leaning," but didn’t spot any. The hotel lends umbrellas, which is nice, though availability is very limited. SF is rainy, so plan accordingly. They also did their best during the PG&E power outage, but honestly there was little they could do when we had no electricity or hot water for about a day. One staff member gave us ONE (1) flashlight and said each room could only have one, which seemed ridiculous. What if your partner, friend or family member needed the restroom? It wasn’t very bright either. The next day, another front desk staff member gave us an extra one, thank God. The hotel itself was pretty unremarkable, and I can barely remember staying there. Nothing was wrong with the room, but nothing stood out either. It felt like somewhere to sleep, not a 4-star hotel. The bathroom was spacious but poorly laid out. When the huge shower door is open, the towel behind it is hard to reach. The shower floor felt dented and flimsy, and I was scared I might fall through. There’s also a strange open square hole in the front of the glass panel, maybe meant as a towel holder. Water splashed through it onto the toilet seat while I showered. Everything was just okay, so I don’t understand the glowing reviews.

The problem was that I was told at check-in there’d be a $15 daily rebate to use at the restaurant for each night of our stay, but the final charges showed it was applied to only one night. I’ve emailed the hotel several times for clarification and haven’t received a reply. That lack of response to a simple billing question is the most frustrating part. I stayed at Hotel Zoe for two nights, and checkout left me disappointed. If you stay, I strongly recommend asking for the final invoice before leaving and checking it carefully. Clear, timely service matters in hospitality, and I hope management improves both billing accuracy and responsiveness to guest concerns.

We got an early check-in, which was a really nice bonus. The beds and bedding were wonderfully comfortable, and the room had decent space. Rene at the restaurant made breakfast a pleasure every morning, and Mildred and the front desk crew were great. The location is hard to beat. I’d stay here again on a future trip to SF.