San Francisco Proper Hotel

The rooftop bar was great, and Jose, our waiter, was great too. The room coffee was super delicious. Check-in was amazing, with a cool lobby, Champagne, and an early room ready. The thermostat kept turning off, so the room swung between cold and hot. Maintenance tried to fix it but couldn’t. Breakfast was terrible: I had a waffle that was a burnt, hard disk. It cost 30 with tax and wasn’t worth five dollars. The shower was hot but had almost no pressure, and you have to call room service to get ice.

I booked two nights, but switched hotels because returning after dark was harrowing. The neighborhood feels disturbing, and at night you can’t set foot outside. It’s like the walking dead, with hundreds of people openly shooting up and others defecating in the street. The area is a mix of a zombie apocalypse, mental health crises, and bodily waste. In the morning, there were multiple piles of human feces scattered along the sidewalk. During the day, it felt like a dystopian Black Mirror episode: severe homelessness, many people still high from the night before, and tech bros attending an AI conference. It’s all so sad. I know the neighborhood isn’t the hotel’s fault, but it’s wild that Marriott markets a “luxury” hotel costing $600-$1000 a night in such a disturbing part of San Francisco.

The hotel feels more like a boutique than a corporate property. It’s beautifully decorated, and every room is a little different. The location also works well for my work trips, since I can rent a car off Mason Street and get around to Palo Alto, Larkspur, Walnut Creek, and the other towns I visit. I travel here for work twice a year and have never had a complaint or a hiccup. The staff make sure I’m comfortable and make the place feel like home. Theresa at Villion starts my day with a big smile and warm service. In the evening, Jose at Charmaine’s recommends great drink and food pairings and talks up the chefs’ newest creations. Can’t wait to come back next season.

I expected more from the San Francisco Proper, considering the price and branding. The hotel may look stylish, but design can’t make up for poor service. My bill was wrong multiple times, and I had to point out the errors more than once. Staff seemed dismissive, disorganized, or simply uninterested in correcting them properly. The manager literally avoided my calls, which was extremely unprofessional. I wouldn’t stay here again and would caution others.