The Pickwick Hotel

The room felt dated and had a few small issues, which is understandable in an older property where everything can't be fixed right away. For the price and prime location, this is among the more affordable places around. The central spot made getting around San Francisco convenient, and the receptionists were a real plus, friendly, professional, and helpful throughout. They did their best to sort out any room problems we raised. We had a pleasant stay at The Pickwick Hotel and found it good value.

I wouldn't stay here again. The room had several problems: the bathroom door didn't close properly, there was a dead bug on a water bottle they sell, the shower knob didn't work, and the ceiling lights kept turning on and off. I noticed the window was open at check-in, and the walls and doors were worn out. The staff were very friendly, but the hotel's condition was no good. It may be inexpensive compared with other hotels, but if I'd known how terrible it was, I wouldn't have stayed. Find another hotel.

I booked the Pickwick in early December for a late February 2026 conference at the Moscone, traveling with my student. We're both women, and I reserved two queen beds to keep costs down. Ten days before the conference, the hotel said a "software" issue meant we'd have to switch to a king room. I was very upset. Two days later, they offered a king for the first night and two queens for the second, but that wasn't acceptable, so I cancelled. I chose the hotel because it's close to the Moscone. I found another place for $140 more and asked the Pickwick to send me a check for the difference, but they didn't. They treated us very badly and I don't trust them. I would rate this zero if I could, and I wouldn't recommend booking there.

This is a hundred-year-old hotel, so don't expect modern rooms. I recommend the 7th or 8th floors rather than the 3rd or 4th. The location is central, at 5th and Market, just a block from Powell station on BART. There was no room service, microwave, drinking-water fountain, or complimentary bottled water. They also couldn't provide the electric kettle, plates, bowls, forks, or spoons we asked for. On the plus side, the lobby is spacious, its restroom was clean, and we could leave our luggage there after checkout while exploring before our flight.