Erik S.
Yelp
The only single thing that gave me a reason not to give it 5 stars was the neighborhood. It's certainly not the hotel's fault, and it wasn't a problem during the day, but at night, there was no safe parking nearby, and the walk back to the hotel's non-descript front door was a little unpleasant. If you know the mission, you know why. Again, not the hotel's fault.
Once I got in, I was greeted by the manager, who showed me where my room was. It was my first time staying in a hotel like this: communal but private restrooms and showers, communal kitchen, no appliances or sinks in the rooms, and could be completely self-service. The entry, main halls, common areas, and kitchen were clean and organized. Real plants accented some corners. The restrooms were a bit on the small side, but didn't present a problem. I'd imagine they might be difficult to use for a larger individual, but this is a fact of life in San Francisco. Expect everything to be sized for a smaller or average-sized person, as space really is expensive in this city.
My room was exceptionally clean, except for what looked like a small, unthreatening stain on the carpet. All bedding was spotless and had no odors at all. I very much appreciate the cleaning staff not using scented cleaning products on the bedding! The bed and pillows were firm and comfortable, and I rested well, after taking longer to fall asleep due to simply being in a new and unfamiliar place.
I was actually worried that the yelling and other noises from the street below would keep me up, but they were hardly noticeable once I was in the room.
On a related note, it's silly that there are other reviews that give this hotel one-star ratings, simply due to its location and its design. It's not the hotel's fault that there are "scary" people outside at night. They actually won't bother you if you don't attract attention to yourself. This shouldn't be a surprise to you if you've ever spent time in the Mission district before. Also, there's nothing wrong with communal restrooms and showers! It's very common in other countries and in hostels. You've gotta get over your expectation that everyone's supposed to have their own private toilet and shower. That's a _luxury_ by most of the world's standards, and this is a convenience/efficiency hotel, not a luxury hotel.