Reviews
Hot Damn! For 50 bucks you get a great stay in the SOMA district that just ain’t what it used to be. I stayed here the weekend April 15-17th and just fell in love with this part of town. It is so conveniently located right by the Bart station and walking distance to just about a years worth of hip activities such as museums, concerts, bars, restaurants, shops, you name it! I wanted a private room cause I’m a bit tired of bunk-beds, so the Pontiac Hotel was king. The staff here were really cool and the bathrooms and showers were impeccably clean. Bunk-bed living just leaves too many filthy toilets in my mind, here the cleaning persons did a stellar job. I read a few bad reviews of the neighborhood, but I think this area has cleaned up a lot and now has the right amount of spice to it. Whenever I go back to San Francisco I’ll be sure to book at the Pontiac to get a hotel feel at an unbeatable price.
I stayed here for 3 nights, wanting to spend my money on food/drink/shopping, and was seriously considering finding another place that first night…but the staff was very nice, lots of cute euros in-house… nice little breakfast room downstairs… so if you can deal with the guys on 6th street trying to hussle, then this place is okay. Rooms are clean, shared bathrooms were surprisingly clean, and I stayed on the 4th floor so the noise was not bad at all. The place is close to BART stations, MOMA, Union Square, some great restaurants (LuLu’s!) and bars. |
Finding the perfect spot in a new city may take some trying and error, but if your top requirements for a good time in San Francisco are value for your dollar and location, location, location, then look no further. 6th Street is untamed, wild like nature, an epicenter for underground art, restaurants and food shacks you would not believe could last in the jungle, and walking talking true city phenomenon’s. 6th Street has an “edge” no other street has. On this street in the middle of it all lies The Pontiac Hotel, right on Minna Street, in the same building where Rancho Parnassus art cafe serves tremendous coffee. I’d say that in this neighborhood the Pontiac Hotel is the key player. For $45 a night for a full size bed in a private room with clean bathrooms and a free continental breakfast (minimal) THIS IS IT!!!
Well, it WAS only $50 a night, and other than the crime and sketchiness, the location was stellar. Very close to Tu Lan (AMAZING Vietnamese food. Julia Child used to eat there, true story) and a burrito joint that my local friend told me is the best in the city (which I’m sure like 30 other places are as well). Also close to a cable car stop, which was cool as a tourist. But make sure you don’t wait in the 45 minute line at the bottom, just walk up the hill a little bit and catch it at the next stop like the locals. |
