Hotel Boheme

Location and staff were really great in this little hotel on Columbus. Staff was very helpful, greeted you by name and did lots of little things to make the visit personal. Location is so close to some of the best food in SF. Really. While the rooms are VERY small, they seem to make up for it in service.

We loved our romantic stay at Hotel Boheme - the check in was smooth and friendly and the room was clean, comfortable and entirely in keeping with the bohemian, North Beach style of its location. We walked everywhere, enjoyed delicious meals within steps of the hotel, and watched 4th of July fireworks from nearby Coit Tower.

This is a perfect place to stay if you are off to Beach Blanket Babylon (one block from the hotel). We went to the show and to Rose Pistola, a great restaurant half a block from the hotel. When the rest of the group were slogging off to their cars for an hour's drive home, we strolled a half block to the hotel. The only downside, the street is noisy until the wee hours. Maybe a room on the back side would have been quieter.

There is no parking or valet, not even a temporary space for you to leave your car while you run in to the reception area to get directions to the nearest garage, so be prepared to double park or have someone else drive your car around the block for awhile...quite a feat in this congested neighborhood. Then, you get to haul your luggage up a steep flight of stairs to the reception desk, and, if you're lucky enough to get a room on the top floor, another steep flight of stairs after that. Your room will be tiny, so hopefully you don't have much luggage. A creaky old open window and a small fan provide the only climate control. You'll need binoculars to watch the tiny 10 inch TV. And be careful when you flush the toilet--the handle may fall off, leaving you to flush by reaching in to the tank. This hotel is only appropriate for people who enjoy backpacking around Europe and staying in hostels, although it definitely costs a LOT more than any hostel accommodation. If you prefer some semblance of comfort in your hotels, stay far away from the Boheme.

The hotel is located in the heart of North Beach, which is a great location for Italian dining. Lots of coffee houses are there as well. But the hotel is small with no elevator. The rooms are small as well.