Palihotel San Francisco

I’m genuinely surprised at some of the reviews for Palihotel. If you look at my previous reviews, you'll see I’m quite picky but this place really impressed me. It’s absolutely adorable and very thoughtfully designed. The rooms are clean, well laid out, and more than adequate in both comfort and function. What truly stood out, though, was the service. The front desk staff were warm and welcoming, and Donny in particular went above and beyond to make sure I felt comfortable during my stay. That kind of attentiveness makes all the difference. I’m so glad I gave this place a chance it’s a little gem, and I’ll absolutely be back.

Perfect hotel for our trip to the city. Comfortable beds and close to a reasonably priced parking garage, but the sink was very small so you couldn't wash your face without splashing water everywhere. Great bar with yummy snacks including cheap oysters!

Good enough. Location isn't bad, close to Chinatown, North Beach and Union Square. Very nicely decorated. Not a good option if you need to work remotely, as the wi-fi did not work the whole time I was there and the only other spot to sit aside from the bed is a tiny table and chairs. The elevator was very old and I was nervous using it but it seemed to hold up fine. Some issues with toilet plumbing and being able to flush, but shower water was hot and good pressure. Sink is very small. They had free water fill up in the lobby but noticed it was removed later into the night. Provided good assortment of snacks and drinks in the room for an extra charge, but not a lot of other free options. Be mindful if you need to use the restroom before check in, the lobby bathroom is through the back employee kitchen which seemed sketchy at first. VERY LOUD. You can hear everyone in the hallways and late night construction in the city. They provide ear plugs which was my saving grace. Overall, good for a cheaper solo travel option

Great overall experience at the Palihotel San Francisco. The location is fantastic, just steps away from Union Square and major shops, with easy access to public transportation. There's also a more affordable parking option right in front of the hotel. The decor is beautiful, and they've done a wonderful job with the restoration. The antique Otis elevator, one of the first in San Francisco, is still in operation, adding to the charm. I just love the french Diptyque amenities — the fig scent is to die for! There are a few areas for improvement, though. The bath towels could be larger, and the bathroom sinks aren't very functional - they're small, and the shelf above makes it awkward and even a bit risky as you could hit your head. It would be amazing if the TV had a more flexible mount that allowed it to turn towards the living area. I missed having Marvis toothpaste among the amenities. It would also be fantastic if the restaurant were open, and if they offered a continental breakfast, even in a shorter version. Despite these points, I would still highly recommend staying here!

The Palihotel has a cute aesthetic and very accessible location, but the design of the room was mostly an inconvenience. The bathroom sink is incredibly small and partially covered by a shelf. There are no dressers or shelving to store your clothes. The elevator is old and goes out of service frequently. There are no room essentials (eg, iron) unless requested. The walls are VERY thin and you can hear everything that’s happening in the hallway. Overall my stay was fine, but I’d recommend the hotel improve the room design.

We booked this hotel as part of a special trip to San Francisco to celebrate my birthday, but our stay turned into a frustrating and deeply disappointing experience—especially as someone with a disability. After returning from what had been a lovely evening at 10pm at night, we were informed that the elevator was out of service and would not be repaired that night. Apparently this happens a lot because the elevator is 100 years old. This should be listed on their website. I would have never booked it. Our room was on the 4th floor, and as a handicapped guest, I was unable to climb the stairs. This hotel doesn't have rooms on the first floor. We were told that we would need to find a different hotel on our own—with no assistance offered. To make matters worse, my husband had to carry all of our luggage down four flights of stairs, as there was no staff offered to help us during this ordeal. The first desk contacted the manager, Daniel Johnson, who was unhelpful and showed little empathy, which only added to the stress of the situation. I did later receive a call from Rachel Stassi, the front desk manager as we were struggling to find a place to stay that night, who was far more pleasant and understanding. She assured us we would be fully reimbursed for both our disrupted stay and the hotel we had to move to. However, despite repeated follow-up calls and emails, for 6 months we have still not received any reimbursement. Each time I speak with Rachel, she tells me it’s “on the way,” but months later, nothing has arrived. We were only in San Francisco for a few days to celebrate my birthday, and this experience completely derailed what should have been a joyful trip. As a guest with mobility challenges, I found the lack of support unacceptable—and the failure to follow through on promised reimbursement adds insult to injury. I cannot recommend this hotel to anyone, especially those with accessibility needs. And sadly, since this hotel chain, does not publish a phone number for their corporate office so that we can escalate the issue further. Extremely disappointing on every level. Don't stay here if you want good customer service and definitely if you have mobility issues ABSOLUTELY do not stay here.

Good Location & Bar, But Unacceptable Payment Issues – Stay Cautious! The hotel has a decent location and a nice homemade feel. The bar inside is excellent—great drinks and atmosphere. However, our stay was ruined by serious financial problems. 1. Triple Deposit Charge: Instead of taking the deposit once, they charged us **three times** (total $300). It’s been 3 weeks, and they still haven’t refunded the extra money. 2. Mysterious $119 Night Charge: On top of that, they took an additional $119 at night without explanation—we have no idea what it was for. We contacted the manager, but she only refunded $88 out of $331 and now ignores our messages. This is unprofessional and possibly fraudulent. Until they fix their payment system and refund policies, avoid this hotel—you might end up overcharged with no resolution. ____ Update 26th may, it about 1,5 month after checkout, still didn’t receive money back and still ignore. Comment answer from ai doesn’t contains email

I had a great experience at Palihotel San Francisco thanks to the incredible service from Daniel. He went out of his way to accommodate my request for a more work-friendly room, which made a huge difference in my stay. The room was perfect, and the level of care and responsiveness was truly appreciated. Highly recommend staying here—top-notch hospitality.

Alright i definitely have some mixed feelings about this hotel . i attached our email to the manager below, but we have gotten no response The good - hotel was clean, decently safe and cute decor the bad - when we checked in the front desk girl told us the lay of the hotel and told us there is some "street noise " we didn't think twice because some cars and people noise isn't a big deal. to our surprise there was an all day protest with banging pots and pans and megaphones. We walked to the other side of the hotel and you couldn't hear it at all, meaning they placed us on the side with noise We got a king suite and payed extra therefore we expected better treatment. when we went to complain the front desk girl. Lovely was nice and tried to find us a different room but she couldn't. So she told us to email her manager Of course we email the manager and it's been half a month with no response. I hate to give low reviews but a reply would be nice all in all, we got NO SLEEP the entire stay and left early and sleep deprived. We would've chosen a different hotel if they told us there was a protest. but lying / stretching the truth is pretty messed up

This hotel is clean, quiet and safe. It is near shopping, restaurants/bars and things to do. I wish they had a bar or restaurant on the property. I can't wait to stay here again!

I stayed here with my roommates and my boyfriend during our little joint birthday vacation. We stayed from 6/17-6/21. And, let me tell you, what a wonderful experience it was, from making the reservation to check out! We were initially gonna stay only from 6/17-6/20. When we got closer to the actual day of check-in, we decided that we wanted to add on an extra day to our stay. When we called to inquire about adding an additional night, the concierge on the phone was very helpful, and thankfully was able to match our rate for the previous nights. When we checked in on 6/17, we were helped by the lovely Miss Lovely! She really lived up to her name. We arrived at the hotel very early, and they let us hold our bags in the lobby area so that we could walk around and grab a bite to eat and get something to drink. My roommate and I were just chatting with Lovely while the boys took our bags from the car to the lobby, and she's literally the funniest. Can I also just say, the location of the hotel is PHENOMENAL! There's a Boba Guys next door if you want milk tea, they have a Starbucks across the street, and a McDonalds right across the parking garage that the hotel has a partnership with. The parking garage is another big reason we wanted to stay at the Pali! They lock the garage at midnight and open again at 5AM, and you have in and out privileges (except the hours they're closed of course). We were assisted by Donny, Rachel, and Sean as well! The entire concierge staff was so wonderful, I can't really emphasize how much they really made the stay that much more enjoyable. Sean was really helpful and very sweet, he had helped me and my boyfriend with small items, and even went as far as to bring a bucket of ice to our room when he really didn't have to. The rooms are very nice and clean, which is the most important thing to me. I usually break out into hives with certain sheets and pillow cases if they aren't properly cleaned, but I did not have that issue once at the Pali. The shower was spacious, and they had large bottles of shower necessities against the wall. We had a quaint little table and two chairs in our room, as well as a TV and clothing rack! The room also has a mini fridge and a basket of snacks for sale by the hotel. I honestly could say so much more about the hotel, it was really and truly such a wonderful stay. So much so that my boyfriend and I decided to make Pali our regular hotel destination when we head up to the Bay area again. Big thank you to Sean and Lovely and Donny and Rachel again! You guys really went above and beyond for my group and I and we won't forget it any time soon.

I stayed here for two nights. The wall separating each hotel room has got to be paper thin because you hear everything going on in the adjacent rooms. Their garbage truck comes and picks up trash on Tuesdays at 5 AM, and you will hear the trash for about 25 minutes. The AC units in the room wouldn't go below 76°. Basically, if you want to be able to sleep, this is not the hotel to stay at

This place was great. The room was small but well appointed. The overall design was super cute and chic. The modern furniture worked well with the old SF interiors, which still shone through. And Dyptique products in the bathroom. Great location just outside the Stockton tunnel, great access to several neighborhoods. We did Nob Hill, China Town, and Northbeach in an afternoon.

Truly the nicest front desk (on the phone and in person) Rolando especially was so kind. First time taking my Kids to San Francisco and was a little nerve wracking. He couldn't have been lovelier, truly a representation of a hotel that takes pride.

We had to find a last minute hotel for two nights because of some issues with a different hotel down the street. Donny at the Palihotel has been wonderful, helpful, professional and so friendly. This hotel is a very nice hotel. Great accommodations they even serve coffee and pastries in the morning. We will come back to this hotel in the future because of Donny.

Can I put a "do not recommend" on this any more strongly? The only reasons I'm giving it two stars instead of one are a) because Rachel and Donny at the front desk were helpful and nice , and b) because the housekeeping staff and cleanliness were excellent. There's a lovely sitting area on the second floor. Unfortunately, the sitting area, which must have been a thriving bar and restaurant at one point, is only open from 7am-10am. During that period, there's free coffee. No decaf, no muffins or bagels or anything even for purchase, and the coffee isn't changed out often enough, but it is free. During our stay, we begged the front staff to leave it open until 5pm so groups from our event could gather there, and they did. The rooms are small, as many reviewers point out, but we were prepared for that. It's supposed to be a "European-style boutique hotel", and rooms in the older European hotels are even smaller than these. Our parties were on the 7th and 8th floors, which was fine until the elevator went out. The hotel brags that this elevator is "one of the oldest Otis elevators in San Francisco". Apparently, it's also one of the fussiest. When we checked in, we asked a woman named Lovely at the front desk about reviews saying the elevator hadn't been working, but were assured those were "old reviews". I wish we'd double checked ourselves... The elevator went out just before the weekend. Rather than call the Otis repair people (apparently there is only one company doing repairs), the staff told us one of their people had done a temporary fix. Temporary indeed. It stopped working that night. So, they had a full hotel, with many elderly people because of the event, and no elevator. The actual manager of the hotel, meanwhile, was apparently away at a convention somewhere. What SHOULD have happened, the moment they found out the elevator wasn't working and wouldn't be repaired for 2-3 days, was the hire of at least one person tasked ONLY with assisting customers. Helping them navigate flights of stairs with their bags, for instance. Instead, it all depended on who was at the desk. Speaking of that, there's only one person on the desk, so if something needs to be fetched (anything from a spare razor to help with baggage, if you were lucky enough to get someone willing), the desk has to be shut down. Additionally, when they're busy, they turn the phones off, interal and external calls. The message you get is that the mailbox is full. What if someone was sick? What if someone had a heart attack? It's easy to say "Well, they'd call 911" but how on earth would they get down eight flights? The hospitality people, poor things, were great, trudging up and down the stairs for 3 days and keeping the rooms up. I want to particularly note that one of the people on the desk was, we think, very stoned during their shift. I can't say for sure, but this person forgot simple things in seconds (like "Could I have an extra towel" and then the towel is sitting next to them at the desk but they insist there are no extra towels available.) We took to hanging about the tiny lobby rather than shlep up seven or eight flights to our rooms between meetings. In the course of a few hours, we watched a female desk attendant have to leave the desk for an hour to deal with a domestic violence issue on one floor, then spend a good amount of time removing a person (not a guest) who wandered in and began fooling with the alarm system in the wall. In fact, that was only dealt with because one of our colleaues also sitting in the lobby noticed it! We were told the hotel was short-staffed "because of Covid", but honestly, I'm getting tired of that excuse. After listening to a young man tell us that his 83-year-old mother had to struggle up six or seven flights of stairs, any excuse wears thin. All in all, we would not stay here again. Ever.

Elevator is is historical antique elevator. It doesn't go fast at all but how cool. All staff are so nice and treat dogs like royalty. The shower is so nice and I love the shampoo here. Nice thick robes and good bed linens. Even the pillows are good. Love the bar and love the location. The SECURE parking garage makes this my choice for when I come to SF.

The hotel itself was really nice. It had a cool feel, the showerhead in the bathroom was amazing ! I also thought the pillows were super comfortable. The complimentary coffee was not good lol, i recommend parking at 450 Sutter St and checking out the sandwich shop inside the parking structure! That being said, Palihotel front desk staff were not accommodating during the check in process, and honestly kind of rude, especially if you choose to book through a 3rd party website. So be prepared and read the fine print.

Beautiful hotel and great price! My heir continental breakfast includes fresh baked pastries and coffee. Much better than I expected as usually it's sugary packaged pastries!! Best description to describe our queen bedroom was quaint and very smart use of space. It's enough to put your items and very clean. The bathroom was the best part because we love the big waterfall shower head. It's a little Unusual that they don't have a door to close the shower and bathroom but it's manageable. The staff was very nice and welcoming. Gifted us sparkling water and delicious chocolate as we do not drink alcohol and cannot have gelatin. They were very sweet and accommodating our dietary restrictions. The common room where the breakfast is served is a great room to get some work done and my favorite chair to relax was the coral one pictured.

lovely litrle hotel but God help you if you leave anything in your room! I have emailed, sat on a ringing telephone line several times, and still not a word about the cherished bracelet I left in the shower of my room. this really upsets me.

The Palihotel San Francisco is an old structure, modernized to look trendy but failing in most ways. My room had malfunctioning heating which, despite repeated promises, was not fixed during my stay (see picture of the freezing temperature to illustrate my point). The rooms are cramped and mine lacked any surface to work on but I did get an uncomfortable chair by a corner to sit on so I could contemplate the life choices that brought me to that moment. In the bathroom one can look forward to stepping on a rug (?!) which gets drenched as one enjoys the low water pressure shower. Room keys get demagnetized frequently for an unknown reason, offering one an opportunity to spend time with staff and other impacted guests to solve the problem collaboratively. Water in the room was 13$ which is higher than I paid at the Four Seasons in Maui, but location, location, location?! - Two blocks from the Tenderloin! Never again.

I had read that before Palihotel took over the hotel was known to be haunted, and I see why that could be true but honestly it's an old building that makes a lot of noise at night and the sounds have the tendency to sound like typical ghost sounds. Besides all that the hotel is great, we stayeD in a two bedroom which was more than enough space, the hotel has a restaurant on the second floor which is great and convenient, in the middle of union square everytHing is walking distance, the hotel has made arrangements for parking which will run around $35 a night, the rooms are clean the staff is polite, you can go wrong, this's my second timE staying at Palihotel, and I will be back

I loved staying at this hotel. Very cute boutique hotel with great staff. Great location too. The hotel is 113 years old and has great character. The room had a nespresso maker which was awesome ! Will definitely be back !

The Palihotel was nothing but amazing from service to cleanliness to all around enjoyable. We took a trip for a week and decided to stay here because of the location because it's right in Union Square, but it was so much more because the mid-century modern furnishings around the hotel were so nice and the 2nd floor bar and dining area were the perfect places to take pictures. Janelle and Jennifer were working the front desk and we're both amazing. Janelle gave the best customer service and made us feel right at home, even let us know about places to tour around SF. If there's anywhere to stay it's the Palihotel!

Awesome Hotel, walking distance to everything you could want in SanFran. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The room was very comfortable and the price point was dialed in for the accommodations. The Deli next door has a killer pastrami sandwich, and there's bobba around the corner. Would stay again as Palihotel is a pedestrians dream landing pad.

We had a wonderful stay at the Palihotel in SF! The front desk staff was super kind and accommodating. The rooms were smaller than expected, but were stocked with everything we needed. The cozy vibes in the rooms were unbeatable, and the location was great! Would definitely stay here again!

Although the decor is cute, it is not very functional. Given the shelf covering more than half of the sink, it is almost impossible to wash your face without getting water all over the floor. There is a single rod for hanging clothes but very little space for luggage. The worst part is that they did not provide any of the extras that were advertised. We returned from a show at 9:15 Saturday and the bar was closed; however there was no sign saying so and all the lights were on. After about 10 minutes, I went down to the desk to inquire and was told that the bartender decided to close early. Sunday morning they advertise coffee and pastries from 7 am to noon. We went down at 9:00 and the restaurant and bar were empty. Cannot recommend this place for any reason.

We had a lovely short stay at the Palihotel. I reserved for just one night, and wasn't looking to spend a lot since we planning on being away from the hotel most of the time. I got an outstanding rate on Expedia, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I was MORE than pleasantly surprised. Apparently, there was a recent change of ownership and remodel. The remodel is modern and sophisticated without being too stuffy. Check in staff were friendly and helpful. The hotel itself is an old building and they've left a lot of quirky, charming aspects while updating things to be comfortable. Our room was tiny but extremely well appointed. EVERYTHING you could possibly want or need and lots of nice extra touches. Bonus points for the bed and pillows being super comfy AND the linens being very high end. Fully loaded mini fridge and snack bar, typical hotel pricing, but a fun and wide range of items. Toiletries were really nice. Rooms come with comfy robes. Over all, lots and lots of high end touches. I would say the downside is that it's an old building in a busy district of SF, so the noise was a bit on the loud side. Some folks in my hall got up and left at 6am and had convos in the hallway which were LOUD. Some signs in the hall asking guests to speak quietly in the halls would be a good idea. And the windows are old and a bit drafty and let in a fair amount of street noise, and we were on the side of the building. It might be tough to be on the street side. That said, for someone like me who a)travels with a white noise machine and b)is a VERY early riser anyways, it wasn't a deal breaker, but is worth noting. We had a couple issues with the room due to it being a brand new remodel that didn't seem to have been used yet, but the staff very SUPER kind and helpful and quick to respond. The Pali is in an excellent location, walkable to load of shopping. We actually traveled in via Amtrak and we were able to walk a brief 10 minutes to and from the transit station at Salesforce Tower. All in all, I'd definitely stay again.

The Palihotel San Francisco offers a good location, nice rooms, an Otis Elevator built in 1910, and an excellent front desk staff. We stayed there three nights and enjoyed our visit immensely. A major convenience is a parking structure across the street with other local amenities nearby. A liquor/convenience store next door, a CVS on the corner, and numerous restaurants nearby. The Pali does have a restaurant and bar, but they were not yet in operation. The highlight of our stay was the desk personnel. We primarily engaged with the night staff, Juan and Kate. They were the best! Knowledgeable, helpful, fun to talk to, and just downright nice people. I can't say enough about these two employees. The prices are reasonable and I recommend the Palihotel to anyone who wants a convenient, comfortable, and pleasant stay in San Francisco.

I'm so happy I stumbled across this hotel on orbitz. The staff was super professional and accommodating and really seems to go above and beyond when assisting the guests here. I was blown away by the friendliness and ambiance of this hotel. Personally, I consider myself a minimalist and i appreciate European interior design concepts... neutral colors, lots of space, clean lines, exposed brick and airy with a touch of greenery. I also am a clean freak and this is always a concern when booking hotels. Well this is why I'm giving this spot 5 stars because it perfectly hit all my deal breakers. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone who feels similar and has the same type of tastes.

First of all, let me say that the staff at the reception desk were friendly and trying their best. Overall they were great and bear no responsibility towards what I'm going to say next. My problem is with corporate, and with Hotels.com. I booked this room for Charlie Palmer's Mystic Hotel, having stayed here before. The Mystic's breakfast, which was included with the room, was one of the finest I've ever had. After I booked the room, the Mystic was sold to Palihotel, but nobody told me. I found out because about a week before my trip, I get an email from Palihotel saying they look forward to my visit. But wait! who is this? I'm booked at the Mystic! After a bit of internet research, I learn about the sale. Well, okay--the room is prepaid, so let's go. Well what a mistake! First, there was no breakfast to speak of. Well, the first day, there was coffee, apples and pastries. The second day, no pastries. Evidently a mix-up with the bakery they contracted to. But why couldn't they just put in an order for a couple dozen donuts to replace? Ridiculous. Second, floors 2-5 are under renovation! People move out of their houses when they're being renovated, why would I want pay top dollar to stay at a hotel that's being renovated, that advertised breakfast and just gives you some apples? On top of that, housekeeping did less than the bare minimum and falsely said that I had used the mini-bar. You know what? If I use the mini-bar, I'm honest about it and will pay up, but I don't like it when false charges show up. After seeing the mini-bar charges, we called the front desk and explained that we didn't take anything from the mini-bar and that the charge was a mistake. The charge was eventually taken off. Palihotel is a total ripoff. And Hotels.com should have notified us about the change from the Mystic too Palihotel. I will never stay at another one of the Palihotel properties. Ever.

Great hotel modern and central location next to Union square! The staff was very welcoming and upgraded me to a bigger room as i had lots of luggages! Special thanks to Janette at the reception!

Palihotel was a wonderful surprise . We were very blessed to book this hotel. It was clean , staff was friendly , accommodating and made u feel at home and safe . Room was extremely comfortable as I slept so well. Most businesses nearby close early. Park at the garage behind the hotel . It is extremely safe . Will is a rock star . I can't thank you enough for being so kind and helpful since this was my familys first vacation to sf.

Booked on a third party website, staying for one night, but they ended up charging us the difference of prices anyway? I don't understand why you'd advertise on that website if you're gonna charge us the regular price anyway. Also, if you have a car, AVOID THIS PLACE, you will end up having to pay every time you leave and it's $40 overnight. The lot even says take all of your belongings because your car might get broken into, though I did see a security guard wandering late at night. Final complaint: DO NOT USE THE Q TIPS IN YOUR EARS or you might end up having to drive to the ER at midnight to get a cotton ball removed from deep inside your ear for $100. Overall the room was great, but we literally ended up spending another $150 for all of the problems we had here. We probably could have gotten a nicer room with that amount of money.

I am a frequent business traveler and don't typically write reviews, but my week stay at Palihotel exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere of the hotel is like a cute Parisian restaurant. The rooms are decorated in a similar manor, with a little cafe table by the window. They provide notable amenities, such as a nespesso machine and robe to wear during your stay, as well as a happy hour in the evenings. It was such a nice break from the typical cookie-cutter business hotels. It is also located in a great location, a short walk from the convention center and a great price for the quality. The general manager, Will, was so helpful throughout the week with anything I needed, including recommendations for the area. You can tell he genuinely cares about the guests. My stay at the Palihotel made coming back from work feel more like coming back to a temporary home. I would definitely stay again and recommend. Thanks again!

Cute hotel. Rooms are tiny (as expected) but well decorated. Super comfy bed. Giving this hotel 2 stars because I got stuck in the (historic) elevator twice, super scary.

Came to town to go to a concert and I love this hotel. The atmosphere is great and the guys behind the bar (Eric and Robert) are fun and personable and make great drinks.