Alexander G.
Yelp
YOTEL is a new hip world-wide hotel chain; this is the first location in San Francisco and second in the USA. Check in and check out are easy and can be done with the attendant or at a self-serve kiosk in the lobby. The lobby is modern with lots of oversized seating. There's a staircase to the mezzanine, which has a cafe. In the morning a local vendor brings a pastry and coffee cart.
The concept is simple: it's a converted high-ceiling office building. The high space is utilized with a lofted bed in each room. The layout of a typical room is the toilet, shower, and sink right inside the door. Along the large window is a desk and plenty of space to put luggage. A staircase snakes up from here to the lofted bed, which is above the door. This area has a mattress on the floor, plenty of nightstand space along the headboard, lamps, and a TV at the foot of the bed. Is the room cramped, yes. Is it uncomfortable, no. If you understand this, you'll have a pleasant stay. It kind of felt like staying in a cruise ship room; you're basically here to sleep anyway.
Amenities included an easy-to-use safe, iron, ironing board, hair dryer, big new fluffy towels, hygiene products like lotion, shampoo, body wash, and conditioner (all liquid, no waxy bars here). A purified water/ice machine is on each floor at the elevators. In the future, they'll have a rooftop bar, but this wasn't completed during my stay.
Positives: it's very quiet here in the room. The bed nook is cozy and I slept very well every night. Inside it was safe and secure. It's kept very clean and still very new at the time of this writing. Just a few blocks in every direction you can get to amazing things with Union Square and all the touristy areas just one trolley stop away (station right outside the hotel). The other direction is Haight Street. The F Train goes to the embarcadero and wharves for just a few bucks. A BART stop is also right outside.
Negatives: the neighborhood is the worst in the city. This is not an overstatement. Drugs and homeless are everywhere outside the hotel. The staff does a good job keeping people away, but it's not safe for single people, and families with children after dark. My recommendation is if you're staying here and feel unsafe, take a ride-share back right to the door. $10 is nothing compared to feeling unsafe or getting hurt. If you understand this, I'd say it's a great central location for the price.