Phoenix Hotel

A hidden gem in the Tenderloin!
My friends and I stayed at the Phoenix during Pride weekend. There was a party we were attending at the hotel on Sunday from 12 – 8. Check in is usually at 3, but our room was ready by 12 so we got to get settled in just before the party began! The room was clean and fully stocked. We had two double beds (which is kind of cozy for 4 people) but it ended up working out.
The pool was AMAZING. It heated and was warmer than typical bath water. Heads up though: If you are simply attending a party and not a guest of the hotel, you will be kicked out of the pool! It’s a liability issue… A couple of party goers were definitely pissed to hear that (since it was called a «pool party», so I would suggest the event organizers to be more clear on their invites!
Also, free parking!!!

Hidden gem in the middle of the trashy tenderloin! I lived in downtown SF and I never thought to go inside the hotel because of the area, until my friend started working there. Great SPOT! cool relaxing atmosphere. you can sit inside or out by the pool. Every time I return to SF this is one of my stops with old friends!

If you want to take the helm gentrifying SF, then you really can’t get much better than this! This is the worst of the worst in the Tenderloin. We couldn’t go 2 minutes without someone harassing us, calling us terrorists, slanging crack, etc. I’ve stayed in plenty of seedy hotels in adjacent areas, but this one takes the cake. AND at twice the price!
This place is pretentiously hip and doesn’t follow through with any charm. If you want to go to SF, but pretend you are in some weird palm springs style hotel, then I guess this place is for you.
The bar looked kind of cool.

We went to a ‘skinny dip — pool party’. We came in our swimsuites with towels expecting music by the pool. However, it wasnt a «pool party» just a party by the pool. The hotel was actively policing to make sure guests werent going inside the pool. So much for the pool party. Just beware next time they host an event. To go inside the pool is an additional cost on top of tix to get inside the private party. Bbq and drinks are also not included…

Really great little hotel smack dab in the middle of downtown San Francisco (Tenderloin). The property has a quirky, retro-​chic feel that plays well with the old motor inn vibe. I love a great revival, and they did a good job with this one.
The hotel is adjacent to a restaurant called Chambers that features new Americana cuisine. The hotel and the restaurant are separate business that share the courtyard area. The hotel does not have room service or any food and beverage outlets, so Chambers makes for a convenient choice.
The pool is heated and maintains an 80 – 85 degree temperature year-​round. There are fresh towels in the covered bin outside of Room 13. There is plenty of patio furniture. The pool area is very inviting and looks like a fun place for friends to lounge and congregate.
The front desk reception area is manned 100% of the time. However, I called a few times early in the morning (sometime between 4 – 5 am hotel time) on the day that I was travelling to San Francisco and got the general voicemail each time. So that’s something to think about if you’re travelling in from the East coast and want to ask a few questions super early in the morning.
The front desk staff are SUPER nice and very very very welcoming. I had the pleasure of interacting with Andrea and Mike quite a few times during my stay. They were like front desk agents/​concierges/​tour guides. Each were extremely knowledgeable of the city and gave great restaurant and entertainment recommendations that were tailored to our preferences. It was like being escorted around by savvy locals (even though they weren’t with us on our adventures).
The room décor was definitely a nod to vintage charm. The bedding was of high quality and quite comfortable. We stayed in a room with two double beds. There was no mini-​frige, but there was a coffee-​maker with complimentary coffee. There’s complimentary wi-​fi. Another great perk is that each room comes with one parking spot. There’s no additional nightly parking charge.
The room was pretty quiet most of the time. However, there was a private event at Chambers on the first night of our stay so there was a large, loud crowd in the courtyard. The noise from the courtyard absolutely echos and can be easily heard from the rooms. It didn’t bother me one bit, but it’s something to consider if you don’t like noise.
There is quite a bit of homelessness in the neighborhood, so you will encounter some interesting and colorful characters when walking to and from the hotel. Since we were two ladies, the front desk staff were pretty good about telling us which streets to avoid. They suggested that we walked more «scenic routes» when walking to popular places like Union Square. This didn’t bother me one bit and we had ZERO issues when walking around the neighborhood, but I figured I’d mention it if that type of thing makes you nervous.
Overall, this is a great hotel… super unique property with a cool, hip vibe. I would definitely stay here again and would recommend it to friends.

If this were a two word real estate ad, it would be: «Vintage charmer.»
Don’t come here expecting all the creature comforts of a luxury hotel. Come here to feel like a rock star crashing in San Francisco mid-​tour, getting a steal of a deal in the Tenderloin district. This is straight out of Mad Men, the ‘60s era. The scenes of drapey dresses and koi ponds and drinks that are more colorful than last night’s psychedelic dreams. Also? The rooms are LOUD because there’s a pool downstairs and the doors and windows are made of tin. But, seriously, at $ 100-​some dollars a night and such solidity, take it and rock it.
And yeah, there really is a koi pond. Plus free parking. Whoa.

What started out as a savior due to our flight back to the east coast being canceled, this hotel ruined our last night in the city we love and miss since our move in 2008.
For $ 140+ we booked a room through their website, great deal for a Saturday night stay!
In the morning I received an email with a link to check in and request room type, arrival time, etc.
A bit later I get a text message from Joe, the manager on duty. He informed me he upgraded us to a king but the room would not be ready until around 12:30 noon time. Wonderful! I can check in early? Wow.
We arrived around 11:30 due to having to check out of our other hotel in the Lower Haight. Joe stored our bags and gave us bag tags, (like an airline) and we were on our way to the famous Bahn mi spot across the street.
We decided to bring our sandwiches back and ate them poolside while our room was being finished. As promised our room was ready right around 12:30.
I entered the room and was blown away at the size (compared to the tiny room we just left in the Lower Haight) the huge king bed, the adorable furnishings and the immaculately clean room. We were in heaven, or so we thought.
I put my husband to bed due to his hangover and went shopping downtown for a couple hours.
I get back to the room and he was still asleep so I took Über to the Castro to meet friends.
He eventually meets up with me and we spent our last night with friends bar hopping and then had dinner around 9PM.
We retuned to the hotel, which was bumping (and grinding) and went to bed. Or so we thought.
The noise from the all night non stop party allowed us zero sleep! But that is not the best part. The best part is around 1:30am an employee entered our room to «deliver beer». Thank God the chain was on the door. My husband jumps up to confront the dude telling him we did not order beer. His response was, «I will leave it on the doorstep» WE DIDN’T ORDER IT!!!
So, finally at 3:45am I get up, take a shower and went to the front desk. The female (sweet) night manager calmly listened to my freak out about the noise, no sleep and the non stop all night party and the employee entering our room.
She followed me back to my room, 24 to go to rooms 25 and 26, which had been a problem all night long she says and knocks on the door. No one came to the door. Then a wasted (not booze or weed either) guy stumbles out of room 26 and says to me, «why did you book a room at the Phoenix knowing it was a party hotel.» REALLY??? The manager barked, this is not a party hotel to him as we wheeled our bags away. I turned around and thanked him for keeping us up all night to which several fuck yous ensued.
Have you ever flown from CA to NY via ORD hungover and with NO SLEEP? It SUCKED.
It sucked so bad I cannot even begin to describe how awful we both felt.
I did reach out and asked to have the GM contact me ASAP and she did. She comped our room. She told me she was mortified and that this is not the norm for the Phoenix. She invited us to come back as well.
Would I come back for a free night on the manager given the opportunity??? That is yet to be seen. But I want to let Unilocalers know this: this is where young, wealthy party people stay. There are a LOT of young screeching girls. People party poolside (mostly because who has an outdoor pool in SF? No one!!) Management does not enforce the quiet rule but they were responsive AFTER THE FACT. They do bill themselves as a rock and roll hotel on their own website so there is that factor too. This was not rock and roll. This was a huge group of 30 somethings partying their asses off all night long.
It’s too bad. The property is gorgeous and the rooms are so comfortable, until the noise keeps you up all night long too. #FAIL

Great place to stay for any artist, musician, hipster, or New Yorker.
Not a great place for anyone who faints at a sight of junkies and homeless in vicinity. This place is in Tenderloin, in an area that has tun of: cool bars, dive bars, hookers, great (mostly) vietnamese food, dealers, strip clubs, murals, ambulances-​all-​night, junkies, art, graffiti, smelly alleys, tire shops, public transport, walkability, etc.
Staff has tats, piercing and punk bands, the rooms are super clean, the pool is heated, (use the pool! it’s super nice!) and my night of sleep was quiet and restful (but it was Monday). I can imagine weekend night perhaps involving sirens and breaking glass – but the place itself in spite of it’s location really feels safe and spotless. It’s really kind of great. You will want to buy a T-​shirt.

Phoenix Hotel = reasonably priced boutique hotel in the heart of the city with FREE PARKING. O_​_​O
I’ve had the chance to visit the Phoenix for the Do Over and for dinner at Chambers. Just last week, my family and I needed to book an emergency stay in the city, and The Phoenix offered the best price for a last minute booking. I was able to go online the night before my reservation and provided my room preference and expected time of arrival. I arrived a few minutes after 3pm and parked directly in the parking lot. I wasn’t exactly sure where the front office was, so I rounded the corner on foot and was chased down by an employee who thought I was trying to take advantage of the parking lot. Honest mistake, given parking in downtown SF is $$$$.
Check in was quick and easy, and we made our way to our ground floor room. There are only two floors at the hotel. The size of the room and bathroom were decent for accommodations in city. Complimentary ear plugs were provided, but I did end up hearing the couple next door to me getting intimate around 6pm =/​. That was probably the most unpleasant part of my stay, aside from the loud fan in the bathroom. My brother ordered some ramen through the Postmates app for dinner, but there are plenty of food options close by if you feel like exploring. In the morning from 7am-​10am, there was a complimentary continental breakfast including some cute pastries and coffee/​tea.
The Phoenix is one of the few, if not the only hotel in San Francisco with an outdoor heated pool. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to take a dip, due to El Nino. There were an umbrella and room heater in the room, which both came in handy during our stay. We wanted to catch the Warrior game on TV, but they didn’t have CSN Bay Areas so we had to stream it online. No biggie, just had to view it on a smaller screen.
I would recommend the Phoenix Hotel for anyone looking for a hip hotel and affordable stay in San Francisco. If you’re not local, do be weary that the hotel is located in the Tenderloin district, so do your research. There are some trade-​offs involved. That free parking though!

11:55pm, Saturday.
No sleep — bar patrons are having a very loud hoe down. I have a pregnant girl in the bed next to me.
1 Star.

We usually stay here because its clean, ultra cool, parking and everyone is so nice. Prices are not low anymore, however. BUT, I had to cancel a two night reservation only a few hours before check-​in time because one of our party was sick. Hotel staff waived policy and did not charge my credit card. I appreciated that so much which is why I will definitely come back to this wonderful hotel.

This place is retro-​amazing, great staff, pool, bar and a laid back feel to it. Joe at the front desk was super helpful and accommodating. We will be back!

Outstanding customer service from the get go. Super friendly and helpful with recommendations. Trendy, eclectic little place with lots of character. Perfect accommodations after a beautiful dinner in the adjoining restaurant, Chambers.
Hotel guests receive 13% off the restaurant.
Can’t wait to come back again next year and stay at the Phoenix again. Special, romantic memories that the staff catered well too. Orlando was exceptional.

This is not a 5 star hotel. It’s not a 4 star hotel but it is probably the best 3 star hotel in the city.
The neighborhood is not great. Lots of homeless but the hotel is super safe. It’s also centrally located so you are basically within a mile from everything.
There is a restaurant/​bar on the facility so expect people to be making noise till like 2am.
The dude Joe at the lobby is adorable and super helpful.
I would 100% stay here again, but you need to know what you are in for, its not the Four Seasons but its a great inexpensive alternative for the city.

Great price and great vibe. Free parking in San Francisco, are you kidding!
This hotel is know for a place touring musicians stay. It has that kind of vibe.
Nice room, nothing fancy. Free parking. Great staff. Warm pool. Free Wi-​Fi.
Hotel located in the Tenderloin.

We really like this place !
If you are nervous about staying in the TL maybe it’s not for you.
Great restaurants in the area, nice rooms and an excellent attentive staff.
Heading back again for my birthday in March.
Can’t wait !
Thanks
–Prof. Brennan and Rev. Miezis

Shhhhh! An affordable hip place with heated pool open until midnight. Don’t tell anyone. I loved my stay here. It’s walking distance, or short über/​cab to anywhere you’d need to go. Motel style parking. Leave your SUV at home though. Super friendly desk clerks, great coffee, quality pastries and muffins, darling rooms, clean and mostly quiet. By that I mean bring ear plugs. I wish people would leave their screaming kids home. This place has an adult hip, rock n roll ambience. I want to stay again sooner than later. The bar and restaurant was fabulous as well. I drank absinthe and watched the rain. We also enjoyed Vietnam spring rolls from a place across the street. It great to find such a cool affordable place in this rough neighborhood. Maybe things are turning around.

I’ve never felt so inclined to review a business before my stay at The Phoenix. My husband and I booked a poolside king bed room for our wedding night. I noticed usual check-​in is at 3:00pm, so I called a few days prior to our stay to find out the likelihood of being able to check-​in early in order to get ready for the ceremony at the hotel. I was told to call back the morning of, which I did. The moment I said who I was, the person at the other end (I think it was Orlando — SO FRIENDLY!) said, «WEDDING DAY!» which made me feel special, and then he proceeded to tell me our room is ready now (it was about 8:45am) and that we’re welcome to check-​in any time at no additional cost. Every staff member I spoke with was so incredibly accommodating and friendly. I couldn’t stop raving about the service they provided to my wedding party. I was seriously stoked.
We checked-​in around 12:30 and found our room to be really comforting. There’s zero pretension at this hotel and it’s reflected in the rooms and common areas. It’s not a hoity-​toity establishment. It’s a funky rock-​and-​roll motel, and no, it’s not up everyone’s alley, but it was right up ours. Also worth noting: the shower head is high on the wall and the water pressure is perfect.
Our stay was on a Monday and Tuesday night, so we didn’t experience any of the loudness some other reviewers did. In fact, our experience was quite the opposite. It was calm and quiet. We swam in the heated pool (about the temperature of lukewarm bath water) by ourselves, and slept soundly both nights.
The hotel is situation directly across the street from a liquor store (the guy who was working there was also super-​duper friendly) and Saigon Sandwich (cheap and delicious). A few blocks away is Sushi Hana – OK, but overpriced. We didn’t try the restaurant on-​site.
I could go on about how much I love this place. My husband and I have decided to stay there each year for our anniversary. What made our stay extra-​special was the staff. A huge shoutout to Orlando, Andrea, and the other guy, whose name I can’t remember. I think it was Leo? They are some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. I understand people in the service industry have to be friendly, but they are just genuinely nice people. We enjoyed the hell out of our stay.
Edited to add: I created a Unilocal account just so I could review this place.

I really like the vibe of this hotel. It is young and hip and the cabana out by the pool is a fun hang out spot at night. I love that there is a courtyard that is gated so only hotel goers can be there. We were told by every über driver that the area was sketchy but the hotel was no where near sketchy. The only negative was that there isn’t a fridge but that’s not a big deal. They also offer coffee and muffins in the morning which isn’t much but at least it’s somethingalso staff is very friendly

A great hotel if you’re not at all interested in sleeping. Ever. The bar is ridiculously loud considering its size, not to mention that it’s brimming with attitude. I’m kit joking. This is the loudest hotel ever.

I didn’t stay at the hotel. So, this review is about the bar area. It’s a cute bar, hidden within the Tenderloin. It has amazing style and a classic vibe. The staff was über cool and suave, just really great folks. The décor is fantastic. A balanced blend of vinyl, books, candles romantic lighting and chaise seating. Oh how my heart beats for this type of ambiance.
The hotel is within walking distance of some great spots to kick it. I love the vibe! The hotel also offers parking. We walked in around 515pm, the kitchen was only serving bar bites. Happy hour prices were good and so were the bar bite prices. Only thing: I don’t eat meat. Only one bar bite item I could eat. So, we were kinda wondering what to do. Decisions! Decisions! We kicked back for a minute to take in the vibe, then headed to Brenda’s to eat. Don’t trip, I will definitely return. If all goes well, they will get that 5^th star.

This is a cool little hotel. Actually a updated motel. The day staff is great, they go out of their way to be friendly.
The night staff is where they lost a star. This guy can spoil a stay. We all know we need to be quiet in common areas late night, people are sleeping. This guy takes a military attitude towards guests.

Such a gem! My girlfriends and I were in town for the music festival and we found this hotel for a fairly reasonable price. The staff are friendly & knowledgeable, parking is included with the room, the bar/​restaurant attached are yummy but a bit pricey but hey, it’s downtown San Francisco. The hotel rooms are spacious & comfy and it is within walking distance to the civic center, yummy Thai food and other fun spots. Highly recommend.

This is a hidden gem in a crappy location. I think the food, service and ambiance make up for it. :) I’ve only been here for drinks, but never to dine. We came here for a birthday party with a large group, so we all wanted to grab a bite. So glad we did! Cute little bar and good energy in here. Would definitely come back again. They did a good remodel of the place.

I love this organization and have stayed at several of the properties. Each property is different and unique. Unfortunately, this is my least favorite.
The hotel itself is cute. It sits in the heart of the Tenderloin district and is convenient for walking to many areas including Hayes and Union Square. There are lots of new and realky good restaurants within walking distance also. The hotel has it’s own restaurant and Free Parking.
Check in-​5 Stars
Early checkin and I was greeted with friendly smiles.
Pool-​4 Stars!
Small but deep pool in the center of the grounds.
Saturday Night Stay/​Lack of Consideration-​0 Stars!
My little one and I were kept awake. Whe. I called and checked the webpage, no one mentioned therw would be large hotel parties. Profanity, arguments and glass breaking occured right outside our door well past midnight. There is no phone so I walked to the front office which was empty. Sunday morning at checkout, I mentioned this and a comment was made that Saturdays are a bit rowdy. This was never told to me up front and that entire evening just sucked. NOT APPROPRIATE FOR AN 8 YEAR OLD. or anyone.
I called twice after my stay and asked for a manager to no avail. Another negative for me. My experience is not indicative of the other properties where I stayed.

I’m sure the hotel is nice, but don’t go here for a «pool party».
Bought tickets to a GoldRoom DJ set that was titled: «Skinny Dipp, featuring Goldroom». One would think that skinny dipping = going in a pool, especially on an 80 degree San Francisco afternoon. But my fault is for not reading the fine print on the ticket, management said it was a «poolside party». They were very resistant on trying to work something out, my only option was to book a hotel room for 200+ dollars, and that would only allow two guests in the pool.
These rules made this «pool party» very stratifying. There were tons of ladies in bikinis wanting to go in the pool, while 3 dudes who brought their own drinks in waded around. I still had a fun time at the party, the staff was trying to be «empathetic» but kept defaulting on their rules.
The hotel grounds were very restrictive on using their facilities. For a «pool party» they did not allow guests to use their restroom in swimsuit attire. If you wanted water, you had to pay 4 bucks at the bar or wait 30 minutes at the inside bar while the bar tender ignores you because you want water.
I ended up jumping in the pool for the last hour. I expected to get kicked out, but did not expect a very confrontational security guard. All he wanted to do was pick a fight while I tried to grab my wallet for a cab.
Next time you see a pool party advertised here, read the fine print.

Came here for a friend’s wedding. The hotel had a cool retro vibe to it and the pool area was clean and well-​decorated. I’ve heard they have filmed a lot of movies here so I was kind of intrigued to see the place and I was not disappointed. The rooms are pretty basic but well kept and clean. The windows are a little dated (they are glass slats and don’t really seal all the way, I could see that being a problem if there was a lot of noise from the adjacent bar but luckily it wasn’t a problem for us, and it adds to that old-​school vibe.)
The bar area was nice and the bartenders were pretty friendly and attentive. We were there for a wedding and there was a small reception at the bar. Around 10pm they started letting people from the gen public in and the crowd was not bad at all. A lot of good looking and friendly people! All said and done I had a great time staying here hanging out. Only reason I didn’t give the fifth star was the area outside of the hotel was not that great. Not like your gonna get mugged or anything, but it a little grungy and dirty. But I am from San Diego, and our downtown area can get a little grungy too, so I didn’t judge too much.
The last part of this review I wanted to touch on in this review was the staff. They were FANTASTIC! Shout out to Orlando. He is definitely a one-​of-​a-​kind. The type of person you hope to run into when getting any type of service. He was super friendly, energetic, always had a positive vibe to him, and was there to help in any way he could. He even helped point us in the right direction when we were trying to find a breakfast spot the next day and even let us keep our car parked in the lot after we checked out so we wouldn’t have to re-​park somewhere just to eat breakfast. And if anyone knows the are parking can be a nightmare, or you will have to pay about $ 20 to park in a garage, so that was really cool of him.
I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a hotel in the area, The staff is awesome, the bar has great drinks, and the hotel is pretty comfortable and affordable. If yo do stay make sure you check out Brenda’s French Soul Food. Its about less than a 5-​minute walk away. They’re breakfast is worth checking out.

FIRST OFF
This is NOT a hotel, it’s a MOTEL. There is no AC in the rooms at all, just a little window and a fan. The hotel charged my credit card $ 600 TWICE!!! I’ll never stay here again.

Ah this hotel is such a dream! I live in SF but always make a point to book a room for a sweet staycation with friends or hit up the sexy pool parties they throw.
The vibe of the retro motor inn is beachy and rock n roll at the same time — no seriously there are always rockstars staying there and it adds to the allure imo. It’s my ideal oasis in the city. The rooms are fantastic; the beds, super huge and comfy and the bathrooms are sleek.
The pool oh the pool! Heated to 85 degrees all year round, glistening the crystal blue water with beautiful palm trees around and artwork INSIDE the pool. I love the staff who not only looks cool but also cares a lot about making your stay amazing.
And just outside is little Vietnam where you can actually eat some to-​die-​for cuisine WITHOUT 2 SF staples: lines or ridic prices. Also there this little Korean snack shop close by that has me hooked. Then again, there’s the Chambers resto which features an amazing chef please look at the menu without passing out because it will blow your mind.

The Phoenix Hotel is a swank hotel/​motel over in the Tenderloin. Great place to party, but the bar is more expensive than it has any right to be.

Friendly staff, excellent location, FREE parking, ample room amenities, and $.75 sodas in the vending machine. Why wouldn’t you stay here?

First of all, let’s make something very clear to all the readers… This is not a hotel. This is 100% a MOTEL. The name is a lie within itself. Secondly, do not let the fancy updated pictures on their website fool you. This is a renovated old motel with a new coat of paint, some «new» beds, and some retro curtains. But, you can’t throw a dress on a pig and call it pretty.
Our first room smelled of old smoke. I sniffed around and found that the smell was coming from the curtains… And let’s keep in mind that this is a completely smoke-​free «motel». We got a basic double bed guest room. First room smelled like smoke. Asked for a new room. None given… So we payed to upgrade to full king suite. Being that it was after midnight and we had been traveling all day, this was pretty inconvenient and also frustrating that we had to pay to change rooms.
So, we get to the new room only to find… A COCKROACH ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR. Seriously?!! At this point, it’s 1am, and this is a battle not worth fighting. My wife stood on the bed in overly dramatic terror as I killed the cockroach, and we went to bed paranoid, wondering what else might be crawling around.
In summary, this is a roach motel (literally) masked by a mediocre renovation, or as I like to call it, Hipster Trash.

Revisited Phoenix due to a friend’s birthday. She was turning 31, so it seemed perfect that they assigned us room 31!
I believe the room was a studio suite as it had a two beds, a mini fridge, microwave, living room area, projector & screen, and was on the pool level. Perfect for a chill bday get together. The fridge fits a good amount of beers if you stack them well. And the room was clean with a retro chic vibe.
I used to come to Phoenix hotel a lot back in the day. (About 8 – 10 years ago?) The pool has always been a great spot to hang out and drink. That hasn’t changed, but they’ve made great additions such as the modern fire place/​pit. It looks much cleaner and nicer.
The area around Phoenix may not be the most desirable, but once you walk into the hotel, you forget all about that. It’s just all chill and fun.

Stayed again after a couple of years and again, found the place to be a lovely little urban oasis is the heart of a transitional part of SF.
Stayed in a room off the pool with a comfy bed and modern décor, minus the bathroom. Note to hotel: time to modernize the bathrooms. Retro chic doesn’t apply here.
Chambers is still loud at night, which wasn’t an issue for me but could be for some. Love that you can now sign to your room, and enjoy happy hour by the pool!