Hotel des Arts

NOBODY WORKS HERE!!! This hotel is run by an app, I would not recommend staying here. Please don’t support a place that doesn’t employ people. No security, no lock on the door beyond the smart lock, no chain or latch. Tv barley worked, shower was warm half the time, no ice machine, no breakfast or anything, there’s a kurig in the “common area” that you are asked to keep clean like it’s a dorm.

This is an economical, no frills hotel conveniently located right in the heart of downtown San Francisco, but far enough away from the Cable Car lines so you don't have to listen to their clanging. Good restaurants are nearby, and so is BART/Muni. In January, the nights were cold, so the small radiator kept the room warm enough, but little of its heat made its way into the tiny bathroom

This is a conveniently located no-frills hotel. It has all one needs which worked for me. However, besides the cleaners, you will hardly see any staff.

I liked being able to come and go without front desk staff, though it felt like no one was there to field concerns. Fold out Bed/Couch in our suite was sub par for either and made for an unusable salon. T.V. in our bedroom was not functioning. Bed is excessively stiff and bedding smelled of bleach. Had hopes for continental breakfast, alas none was to be had. Overall acceptable value for price though there is a missed opportunity for connecting visitors with contemporary SF art and culture.

First the pros: clean and quiet room, nice location, very close to Union Square. The cons: 1) There is no physical key to the room. You have to download a phone app. So, non-smartphone users, this place is not for you. 2) Extremely uncooperative staff: There are no human beings at the reception to help you. Everything is done over the phone. I had already paid $100 to reserve the room. However, when I reached the hotel after a 24 hour long flight, I was told that I will only be issued a key if I make a full amount. When I tried using the website link to pay, both my credit cards were declined. The person on the phone was adamant that I would not be allowed in unless the full amount is paid immediately. Finally, I had to call a friend overseas to make the payment. 3) It was cold in December in San Francisco. The heater in the room didn't work. The additional lock on the door didn't work. To top it all, the shower did not work. When I requested a room change, it was declined. I then requested an option to take a shower in one of the empty rooms. That too was declined. I was understandably upset. In response, I was accused of being rude and that I was "yelling", none of which was true. There was a common shower right next to my room, the existence of which was never revealed to me. 4) Tiny room The maintenance staff, however, were a blessing. They provided me with portable heaters, extra blankets and told me of the shower next door. Without them I would have been lost.

The building is in a good location. I did not interact with any staff. There is free coffee & water in the lobby which is nice. Unfortunately my room 206 smelled rotten due to some kind of back up in the sewage. I had to keep my bathroom door closed to try to reduce the smell (window was bolted shut) additionally there was about 12 fruit flies in the room, took me about 20 minutes to eliminate those. The staircase to the second floor is very steep and narrow, but it’s understandable since it’s an older building. Probably wouldn’t return to this location personally.

Excellent location, excellent check in, unique and super cool room. Vintage and well taken care of.

Very European-like small rooms. The room was clean and the bed was comfortable, but there was no light other than the ceiling one, which was a bit uncomfortable. The flat-screen TV with streaming service options was great!

For the price, I was worried this place would be a dump. However, it wasn’t. The hotel itself is basic, but clean and tidy. The room was quite small, and the window faced a wall so the air was a little stale. There was no fan or AC in the room, which could have helped. En-suite Bathroom was clean and ok. Flat screen TV and iron in the room. Bed was ok, but creaky and squeaky as it was a metal frame bed. Check-in was smooth, and digital card system worked ok. Make sure you provide international code with your phone number when booking the room, as the number is used to send your key. For us the unmanned reception wasn’t an issue and the hotel felt secure. We had a bit of contact via What’s App with the support function and it was quick and helpful. The hotel itself is in a good area, you will feel safe here - it is a short walk to Union Square without being in it. Overall the hotel was fine, but don’t expect anything fancy.