The Hotel Castro San Francisco

Great hotel with nice views both day and night. The concept is a little different (no front desk) but this didn't impact the stay at all.

If you book this hotel, please keep in mind that this hotel has no stuff, no reception desk or service. Before our arrival we received about 20 e-mails and text messages about our booking. We were assigned a room so small it had no resemblance to the picture sent in the confirmation e-mail. We called Kasa which operates this hotel remotely from Los Angeles and waited 2 hours until we were assigned the "suite" next door which was ready all the time. Other than the check-in ordeal, the hotel is in a great location with a supermarket across the street and many eating and drinking options within a short walking distance.

Very easy check in-out experience. Bed was soooo comfy!

POSITIVE: Check in was easy - on our arrival day (Monday), we requested and received early (3 pm) check in (normal is 4 pm), which was helpful as Castro St. rush hour starts after 3 on weekdays. Didn’t have a problem with the access code mentioned in other reviews at check in or throughout stay. There’s a space right in front for easy loading/unloading. Note: if you have a car (we didn’t), parking is limited - the hotel recommends using SpotHero. To get an overnight (free) street space, you likely would need to find one up Castro or one of the cross-streets, which is doable but will take luck & time. Tip if you have a car: drop bags off, punch in access code and drop off in room. There are 4 rooms each on floors 2,3,4. Level 5 is roof lounge with excellent panoramic views (when not raining) couches and cozy fire pit. We booked a handicap accessible room (we needed two twin beds). Our room had a toilet/shower room with pocket door, sink with lighted mirror just outside pocket door, 2 twin beds, HDTV connected to wifi, 1/2 height wardrobe cabinet below TV, small fridge, coffee maker, tea kettle, small table for meals/work, and terrace overlooking back of property. Terrace had a chair and small cube. Prior reviews indicate better to be in back of building on higher floor. We were in back - it WAS very quiet, peaceful - got great non-interrupted sleep. Plenty of nice restaurants, a really nice supermarket, pharmacy, a Starbucks, and shops within walking distance. There are some homeless but they’re friendly and respectful and we never didn’t feel safe. (One actually held door open when I went into Walgreens and hands were full.). Check out was easy - take photo of QR code, leave door hanger, vacate unit, building. We were asked in texts a couple of times if all was well on our stay. Never needed to contact customer support. FOR IMPROVEMENT: We only found out lobby bar not open Monday or Tuesday - after arrival Monday (and we checked out Wednesday morning.) Still, they gave us two drink tokens - which we will use if/when we return. Very limited counter space and no shelves - none in toilet/shower room, a little area on either side of sink, small table (see note about lighting below), a few sq cm on nightstand between beds(see note about lighting below), and top of wardrobe closet. Very few power outlets - there is a cluster of 4 with 4 usb slots on small table, one behind nightstand(see note about lighting below), 2 on wall between small table and wardrobe, 2 at door, 2 hopefully GFI protected (didn’t see reset button) at sink - so unless you travel with a power *****, you’re going to have to sequence what gets recharged when thru your stay, or leave phone/ipad etc. away from bedside - not road warrior desireable. Coffee maker is Nespresso - lots of caffeinated pods zero decaf pods (for old timers or an evening cup. More caf pods in essentials cabinet on 1st floor lobby. They also provide small assortment of teas in room and more i

Great stay Really enjoyed our stay here. Great location, cute hotel. Already looking forward to coming back.