Nob Hill Hotel

Staff were helpful, and they stored our luggage after checkout. The quaint lift was nice, and we got hot water every time we tried, unlike some other guests. The roof terrace was a good space, though it needed better signs and perhaps a phone link to the bar. They’re still upgrading some areas, so there was missing paint and Polyfilla on the walls. Breakfast felt like one saving too far: it came on paper plates with plastic utensils, and the knife made it impossible to cut a bagel or spread hard butter. Choices were two cereals, instant porridge, apple or orange, bread, bagel, muffin, pastry, yogurt, and coffee from a machine. Ideally they’d have two machines, since the wait gets long when one is being restocked, cleaned, or not working. Hyde St itself was the other drawback. We walked up from the bottom in daylight and saw dodgy characters, homeless people, mental health and drug abuse issues, and dog mess all over the sidewalk. Guidance suggesting visitors approach from the top of Nob Hill or get transport there would help, since it felt much safer. The walk to the quaint California St tram was good. We used Waymo, Uber, and Lime for the rest of our trips. I’d be happy to stay again now that we know this.

I had very low expectations given what I paid, but the room was tiny and smelled awful. The bathrobe had stains and clearly hadn’t been changed from the previous guest, as the photo I’m attaching shows. They let me check in early, which was nice, but the rest of the stay was terrible, and I’d never come back. Coming uphill from downtown, the street had a terrible smell, dog poop, and lots of homeless people. I didn’t feel safe walking around. When I returned around 5 pm the next day, the room hadn’t been cleaned. I asked the front desk for fresh towels, but the housekeeper came to my room and couldn’t understand what I was asking for over five minutes. The housekeepers don’t speak English. The front desk woman wasn’t very nice either. There was no apology or suggestion for how to fix things.

The rooms and location were great, and being near my doctor and convenience stores helped after my surgery in SF. But the service was awful. On checkout day, a few days after surgery, I needed help getting my luggage downstairs so my friend could load it into the car. I wasn’t asking anyone to pack my things, just help carry them because I wasn’t supposed to lift. Staff said they don’t provide that service. No one even opened a door for me; they just sat at the lobby desk. If you need any kind of physical help, they won’t assist.

The location looked lovely when we arrived, but the room was unbearably hot. We tried the in-room controls and got nothing but hot air. We hadn't realized there was no AC, which was a deal breaker for us. The desk mentioned ceiling fans, but our room didn't have one, and the windows had no screens, so opening them meant letting bugs in. None of the practical ways to cool off were available. We asked to move to a room with a fan, but they said everything was booked. Sharing in case others also miss the no-AC detail.