The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in San Francisco

Who would have thought this Victorian gem among the painted ladies of Pacific Heights was a cheap hotel in San Francisco? Genteel details like the antique furniture, floral patterns, morning paper with your continental breakfast, afternoon tea and sherry around the grand piano will take you back in time to when this was an exclusive boarding school for girls. For extra service, book Room 410, once the office of headmistress Mary Lake. It may or may not be the ghost of Mary herself who will unpack your bags, tuck you in and sing you to sleep.

This contactless boutique hotel provides a quiet, safe retreat from the hustle and bustle of Union Square around the corner. Check-in is entirely online and you get an access code, so you can get from the front door to your room without having to speak to anybody and without having to wonder in which pocket you put your key. For a cheap hotel in San Francisco, the in-room amenities are plentiful: there are even umbrellas for venturing out when you want to check out the dining and nightlife as the fog rolls in.

Yotel San Francisco resides in a redbrick building in the heart of the Mid-Market neighborhood. Inside, the chain sticks to its minimalist aesthetic with sci-fi-style sky cabins, cleverly designed with mezzanine levels, adjustable smart beds and mood lighting to make the most of space and comfort. Premium rooms are just one level with striking city views, while the suites have plenty of space within exposed brick walls. Get an early morning workout in the gym, or wander over to see the Alamo Square Instagram-worthy painted ladies – a row of colorful Victorian houses.

Hotel Zephyr is an affordable option if you want to stay by the water, especially for anyone with kids in tow. This hotel is perfect for younger travelers, from its colorful maritime theme and art-filled courtyard to its indoor game room, which includes ping-pong and billiards. It even has an on-site food truck. For older guests, the room views can’t be beaten. The Bay is just outside the window and the view stretches as far as the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge. Rooms feature smart TVs, docking stations, board games, and luxurious CO Bigelow products in the bathroom. Zephyr’s close proximity to Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 shopping center and the beach at Aquatic Park is also a major perk.

Nineteen 06 Mission, built following the devastating earthquake of 1906, has been restored and is now an eco-focused hotel. Rooms are lit by energy-efficient lighting and are minimally furnished, with repurposed building materials and calming slogan art. There are also organic Terra Nova toiletries in the shared bathrooms and extra blankets for the colder months. A complimentary continental breakfast is served every morning, and evening libations can be enjoyed by the woodburner on the patio.

Located in the waterfront Marina District, Infinity Hotel is a short distance from the Palace of Fine Arts, a neoclassical landmark. Rooms are practical, pairing warm lighting with geometric-print carpets, a microwave, and a clock radio. There are also in-room tea and coffee facilities to help you rise and shine before heading out to see Pier 39’s basking sea lions and snapshots of storied Alcatraz. The rooftop patio is the ideal spot to take a requisite snap of the Golden Gate Bridge, and you’re just steps from boutique shops, wine bars, and top restaurants. Finish off your day with jerk chicken and piña coladas in the Palm House, a tropical-themed restaurant on Union Street.

The Hotel Triton oozes bohemian flair – funky chairs, glass-encased butterflies and a twisting burl wood root slab desk are just a few of the pieces found in the lobby. The library is stacked with travel books that echo the collection of globally-curated art and rooms add luxury touches, such as super-smooth Frette bedlinens and Carrara marble bathrooms. Popular eateries flank the hotel: the 1930s-style Cafe de aa Presse serves up Parisian fare such as steak frites. The hotel is directly across the street from Dragon Gate, the entrance to the San Fran Chinatown.

Palihotel San Francisco adopts the warm Californian style with its own distinct vintage twist. Rooms are decorated in a soft, earthy palette and feature potted plants, a retro phone and a treat-stocked minibar, while a bespoke table-and-chair set sits in the bay windows. The all-day restaurant, Fisher Loft, doubles as a Wes Anderson-style bar with an assortment of art mixed among the liquor bottles. Slide into a floral booth to sip on the tequila-infused monk’s delight cocktail. Movie buffs might also like to wander into the back alley to see the plaque dedicated to fictional character Miles Archer, who died in this spot in the film noir The Maltese Falcon (1941).

Previously the Empire Hotel, this hotel was renamed for its appearance in the Hitchcock movie Vertigo (1958). The movie plays on a loop in the lobby, and vertigo swirls are mounted on the walls, contrasting the baroque orange and white decor. This hotel is near Union Square, but care must be taken as it borders the Tenderloin, which is not a safe place at night. Breakfast can be purchased from Cafe Vertigo in the lobby, and the use of a small fitness center is included.

Visitors staying at this impressive, 19th-century restored mansion will feel like locals, strolling the tree-lined Western Addition residential streets. The nine rooms and suites are lavishly decorated, some with Bradbury & Bradbury wallpaper, four-poster beds, turret seating areas, and claw-foot tubs. Like the variations in decor, some rooms have private ensuites, while others use shared bathrooms. A cold continental breakfast is included during the week (think fruit, muffins, cheese), champagne brunch on the weekends, and an afternoon wine and cheese reception.