The Best Hotels to Book Near the Presidio of San Francisco

Get acquainted with San Francisco’s daily life during your long-term stay at the Laurel Inn. A room with a kitchenette is ideal, since there’s no doubt that you’ll need a refrigerator for all of your take-out leftovers from Japantown and Pacific Heights. Sip your morning coffee over the daily newspaper in the lobby and use the business center to keep your workday moving smoothly. Afternoon lemonade and cookies are sweet treats that’ll get you ready for the four-block walk into the Presidio for an evening stroll.

Admire the City by the Bay from a quiet roost at Hotel Drisco. This hideaway in the Pacific Heights hilltops is within two blocks of the Lyon Street steps leading into the Presidio. You’ll sleep soundly each night with your choice of a preferred pillow, a sleep machine, goose-down comforters and Egyptian cotton triple sheets. You’ll think you’re still dreaming when you discover that the Drisco offers an evening wine reception, passes to the JCC gym and daily chauffeur service around the city to all of its guests.

Though the Monte Cristo resides in the same building where a saloon and brothel once operated, we can assure you that this B&B is much more reserved these days. The laid-back California king rooms with private marble bathrooms and elegant antiques complement the old-world charm and hospitality Monte Cristo has perfected over the years. Those uninterested in the delightfully diverse history of this home will find a more wholesome (fictional) story a few doors down at the Full House house.

If you’re going to be based in Japantown, do it right with a stay in the Zen-infused rooms of Kimpton Buchanan Hotel. Evening wine and sake are great primers before a long sit in your suite’s Japanese soaking tub. Well rested, you can wake up the next morning and rent a custom Kimpton PUBLIC bicycle to ride over to the Presidio. Do make a note to detour your route down to the Painted Ladies.

There is no wrong end of the Presidio to stay on, though we’ll admit that My Rose Garden Guest Rooms perfectly positions you for an afternoon at Golden Gate Park and Lands End Lookout. Both are within walking distance from this B&B and are best enjoyed after a complimentary gourmet breakfast of San Francisco sourdough waffles. If you’re visiting on the weekends, sign up for a cooking class so you can bring a few West Coast recipes home with you.

Want to wow your followers with more than the obligatory Golden Gate Bridge photo? Stay at the Jackson Court and let this beautiful Victorian brownstone stir up a little envy. This delightful mansion will charm you in every room, though we’ll admit to being partial to the Italian marble fireplace of the executive suite. Afternoon tea and cookie service is an excellent opportunity to admire the fine details in the wood-paneled parlor before setting off across the street to Lafayette Park for a picnic.

Budget travelers can’t beat the perfect location and price of Travelodge. This basic motel, sitting right beside the Presidio’s Lombard Gate, offers a simple stay that grants you instant access into the Presidio’s birdwatching area, Yoda Fountain and a plate of burgers served in former military barracks. Imagine walking to the Presidio every day and having enough room in your budget to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum and Palace of Fine Arts without penny-pinching.

Slip into the Infinity Hotel and let the coastal vibes of the Marina District keep you calm, cool and content during your holiday. You may only need a queen room to keep you comfortable, but who wouldn’t want to indulge in the steam showers in the executive room? Grab a free bottle of water from the front desk, throw on your deck shoes and follow the sound of the Wave Organ down to the marina.

Sleep just outside of the Presidio of San Francisco at the Cow Hollow Motor Inn and enjoy easy access from Lombard Street to Fisherman’s Wharf. Mosey on over and get a much-needed night of rest on an extra-long Serta iComfort bed. You can keep your keys in your pocket and hoof it to one of the dozens of cafes, bars and restaurants surrounding the Inn. When you’re ready to explore the Presidio, head a few blocks west and get lost in its labyrinth of trails.