Hayes Valley Inn

Hayes Valley these days might as well be called Yuppie or Hipster Valley. If you want to be right in the heart of a vibrant street scene rich with all that's trendy in restaurants, bars, and shops, then this is the place for you. But be prepared for a truly bohemian experience. The hotel (both main building and annex—where I stayed) are converted housing units. They are old and no place for anyone with disabilities. You share the restrooms with everyone else on the floor—and it's a lot of people—so DON'T FORGET to bring along the toilet paper from your room each time. For salubrious conditions, you are dependent co-dependent with the other guests. For less than a $150 a night, this is what you get in San Francisco. The rooms are clean, Wi-Fi good, and furniture cheap. If it's warm, the cooling system consists of a ceiling fan and windows—and open windows (no screens of course) also let in a LOT of noise from the restaurant and bar below. So do the closed windows for that matter. As for heating: what heating? I stayed here primarily because of the price and the fact that the hotel is only two blocks from the Symphony Hall and Opera House, which is why I was in town. I have no intention of returning to the HVI preferring next time to pay the extra cost to stay elsewhere and have a restroom of my own fully stocked with toilet paper.

Very good location. Multi-storey car park just across for convenient parking. Average price for San Francisco. The place is old and feels it. Was clean but not the best smells?

The room did not look like the advertisement. It was clean enough but really quite out dated. See photo. Maybe other rooms have been updated but mine was not and I don’t appreciate the deception. Also, the only common area is the kitchen which has a recommended maximum stay of 30 minute. Not great if you want to do some work outside of sitting at your bed.

A clean, well-located inn that is a great value. I stayed here while my Mom was staying at the hospital up the hill and it was a good retreat. With its small bedrooms, shared shower and WC, it is more like a rooming house than an inn. Rooms are clean and simply-decorated. Be prepared to walk up stairs - even the first floor is up a flight. It can be noisy at night due to the HVAC or the street below. The check in room was being remodeled - full of boxes and wires - you can still store bags there during the day you check in or out. It is staffed 24/7 with workers of varying levels of enthusiasm. Management is very helpful, though --we had an issue with the Hotels.com booking and the manager resolved it right away. The breakfast room is lovely with a big window that makes it nice and sunny. Breakfast is simple but diverse - yogurt and granola, cereal and milk, loaf bread and jam, sliced ham and American cheese, coffee and tea. There is tea and cookies in the afternoon (a good place to snag your green or herbal tea since they only have Lipton at breakfast). A range of good restaurants are just out the door: Chez Maman, A Mano, Absinthe. The performing arts garage (up a block) has $22/day parking, or you can park for free between 6:00 pm and 8:00 am on the street, or a short walk to the subway (Muni) in Market at Van Ness. A great value for the price and location, but don't expect anything fancy.

I’ve been staying at the Annex a couple of times. Rooms are nice and clean. Sharing the bathroom and shower wasn’t an issue. Staff very nice. During my business trips to SF this is my go to hotel!