Mithila San Francisco, SureStay Collection by Best

For us, the Mithila has a lot of charm. It’s a little worn but seems to have been renovated, and we loved the old birdcage elevator. The room was small, though it had what we needed: a clean space, comfortable bed, modest but adequate bathroom, coffee maker, microwave, mini-fridge, good internet, and even a small desk. We’re seniors and stayed six nights, quite satisfied with it. It was also a great value. You could spend two or three times as much, and if you planned to stay in your room a lot, you might prefer somewhere newer and more luxurious. The neighborhood is a bit rough around the edges, but we always felt safe walking around. There’s a cozy cafe across the street, a convenience store/grocery next door, and a deli a couple of doors away. Public transport, including the cable car, was easy to reach and felt safe and convenient. We were always back at the hotel shortly after sunset. A light switch by the room entrance and a nightstand beside the bed would have helped. Those were small inconveniences. We know tastes differ, but we’d recommend the hotel and plan to return.

Three of us shared a room with a queen bed and two bunks, and the price was reasonable compared with the other city hotels we looked at. The room had some wear, but was fine overall, and the staff were nice. We stayed a few weeks ago while spending most of our time exploring the city. The location wasn’t bad either, and the narrow halls and stairs struck me as charming and interesting. A solid budget choice.

This is a budget stay with budget service. There was mold on the bathroom window, and I’d choose a hostel where you expect to advocate for yourself, or spend more for somewhere cleaner and sort out parking on my own. The website made it sound like parking was included, but it was actually a partner valet service down the block. We also left medication in the fridge by accident and realized about an hour after checkout. Staff seemed unconcerned that medication was missing. We had to push them to check the fridge, then ask the cleaning staff if they remembered throwing anything from that room away. Luckily we found the medication in the trash and wiped it with Clorox. Their lack of concern and problem-solving really put me off.

The rooms were clean and nice, with a microwave and plenty of space. Staff are nice too. The old-fashioned elevators are really cool to ride.