Hotel Julian in San Francisco

The hotel has a bit of a unique decor and the price is definitely affordable. There are two convenience stores downstairs, a coffee shop, and a CVS and Trader Joe's just a five-minute walk away. It's also very close to bus stops, cable car stops, and the metro. However, the neighborhood isn't the best. Most of the hotel rooms look out onto a wall, which essentially means no window. The free coffee in the morning is incredibly sour, and the complimentary bottled water suddenly disappeared one day. The cleanliness is barely acceptable, and there's no fridge or kettle, though there is a coffee maker. The toiletries are from Warm Oak and quite nice. Honestly, if you're not like me and pretty much out all day, only coming back to sleep, I really wouldn't recommend it.

The room was relatively clean, but the overall environment outside the hotel was not good.

I decided to stay at this hotel because it was the filming location for Hitchcock's film "Vertigo," and because Kim Novak stayed there. I was very happy to be able to stay at the same hotel. However, there were many things I was dissatisfied with. The location is far from the station and the city center. The young front desk staff was arrogant and unfriendly. The elevator was out of order, so I had to carry my suitcase up and down the stairs. The room was renovated and clean, but there was no refrigerator. If I wanted a cold drink, I had to go to the convenience store next door. The bathroom light was sensor-activated, so it turned on when I entered the room, but it turned off after about a minute, leaving me dim, so I had to move my body or hand to activate the sensor. This repeated on-off-on-off cycle was extremely stressful. The resort fee was waived due to the elevator malfunction, but that's only natural. As a movie fan, I was satisfied, but as a hotel, it was the worst possible stay.

Pros: beds are comfy, rooms are clean. Good restaurants and galleries nearby. Interesting people all around. Nice little café across the street for home style breakfast.
Cons: Elevator hasn't worked in months and I was not notified until a day before check-in. This information is not posted on the site nor do they advise you upon making reservations. smells like urine in the lobby, walls are thin, you can hear your neighbors. Doors have large gaps underneath so lots of light and noise comes in at all hours. Views, of the roof with trash . Unsafe area at night. Toiletries offered smell extremely off (heavy musky scents). Sliding heavy glass shower doors that could injure your hands due to poor sliding control. Shower pans are slippery.