San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood is known for being the center and origin of the 1960s counterculture hippie movement. Vintage shops, small music venues and record stores have lined Haight Street for half a century. Set between the large Victorian houses in Ashbury Heights and one of the most popular entrances to Golden Gate Park, it’s a popular tourist destination for people looking to explore the strange and wonderful aspects of the city. Here’s our pick of the five best hotels in Haight-Ashbury.
In true Haight-Ashbury fashion, the neon-lit Metro Hotel on Divisadero Street is a business that practices eco-friendly policies. With only 24 guest rooms, the hotel retains a charming nature. Complimentary Wi-Fi and affordable rates make it a great place for travelers looking to save a buck. A perfect escape from the bustle of Haight Street. The Metro Hotel also features a backyard area perfect for gaining some solace.
Housed in a restored Beaux-Arts building, Haight-Ashbury’s Stanyan Park Hotel – built as a boarding house in 1883 – predates the neighborhood’s hippie movement. A homage to a bygone San Francisco era, the hotel’s antique decor and luxury amenities make it a relaxing home away from home. Across from the grassy knolls of Golden Gate Park, the grandiose hotel remains a testament to the historical significance of the area.
Located in the center of Haight-Ashbury, The Red Victorian has a storied past as a place for artists and travelers. Housed in a red-painted building from 1904, the “Red Vic” has been through many iterations, with it supposedly being a brothel at the beginning, before it became what it is today. The hotel was a popular meeting space for environmentalists, social activists and artists in the 1970s. Currently repurposed into a co-living intentional community, the unique space still offers guests short-or long-term stays.
Northeast of Haight-Ashbury, surrounded by century-old buildings near Alamo Square and the iconic Painted Ladies, the Grove Inn is a historic guesthouse built in the 1800s. Receiving an extensive renovation in 2015, the hotel features modern comforts including cable TV and high-speed Wi-Fi. Offering rooms with private bathrooms and bay windows, the amenities – including cozy bedding and luxury towels – make The Grove Inn an ideal place to relax during a stay in the city.
Molly Codyre contributed additional reporting to this article.