Golden Gate Hotel

Spent a wonderful New Year’s Eve vacation in San Francisco and stayed at the GGH. We were greeted very warmly by the front desk staff and, of course, the adorable sweet Pip! Clean, quiet, cozy hotel, well furnished, and very charming. Breakfast was delicious (warm and flakey pastries and tea or coffee) and served in the sitting room overlooking the street. They are definitely a pet-​friendly hotel and we even got to take our cat (yes, we were those people…) for no additional fee (barring no curtains were destroyed during our stay of course). The staff was very gracious and helpful in directing us around the city and obliged any requests we had. The hotel is located in a great area of Nob Hill and is within walking distance of dozens of restaurants, coffee shops, and only a few blocks from Union Street shopping.

It’s not easy to find a reasonably priced decent hotel in a good location in this city. Golden Gate Hotel meets the requirements — great location next to Union Square. The property is very well cared for and has great pictures lining the hallways. The staff is anxious to please. The downside of any hotel in the city is parking — it’s expensive. We avoided that and took BART from the airport and took Über wherever we needed to go.
We’ll come back here for all those reasons, plus one more — Pip the cat. I think he really owns the place — he acts like it, anyway. Pip is a must see!

Nice, quiet, and quaint little bread and breakfast. There is no air conditioning and the room can get quite hot but our room had a little ceiling fan which is nice but has a consistent buzzing noise. There is a shared bathroom on the 4^th floor with a very small old fashioned shower. Everything is pretty antique-​looking here. We enjoyed our stay and Pip the cat manager was very friendly.
P. S. The tea and cookies in the late afternoon were absolutely scrumptious!

Absolutely perfect weekend stay! :) Pip lived up to the hype, room was clean, location was convenient (a few blocks from the Powell BART station and Union Square), and overall hospitality was above and beyond the call of duty. Am looking forward to staying here again in the future! Special thanks to Spencer for fantastic customer service.

I really loved this place. Thanks to Trip Advisor, I read many many great reviews and they were all true. The staff greet you like you are a family friend. The room was lovely with nice upholstered furniture and drapes. Table. Windows which open – great on a warm day. We were on the second floor in the front, but had little trouble with noise. My husband heard the trash pick up on Monday morning early, but we didn’t hear any other noise and I am a light sleeper. Bed was very comfortable. Bathtub/​shower combo would not work for an elderly person because you have to step up into an old fashioned tub with feet to shower. The shower has plenty of water pressure though.
Breakfast is in a lovely small parlor in the front of hotel and you sit with other guests, which is very pleasant. There was a gracious and elegant woman who served us and was nice enough to include our son, who lives nearby but was not staying there. Croissants and delicious coffee for breakfast. I could have used a little protein, like boiled eggs or some cheese or yogurt. I added an apple from the check in area, and was quite satisfied. We also appreciated the large basket of Jelly Bellys on the landing near our room.
All in all, this hotel is like staying with a family – as good as an Air BNB and with a great location. Safe and easy to get around. We will always stay here in the future. No need to look anywhere else.

This was an all-​right place to stay, considering the ludicrous price range of most hotels in SF. If you’re driving, pull into the parking garage across the street and tell them you’re staying at the hotel. It’ll cost you $ 30 a day to park there, but hey what can you do… there’s no street parking and since you’re in SF you might as well just get ready to empty your bank account.
I love cats, so I was happy to sit in the parlor with Pip The Cat, who lives there. He is quirky and amusing… he is the lord of the parlor. Pip is awesome and a real delight. This was one of the highlights of our trip.
The décor of the room is kind of old and blah, and the TV is tiny… I’m not into TV though so I didn’t care… but the bed was comfy enough and everything seemed clean. There were some nice toiletries provided.
There’s no AC in the room, so if it’s a toasty day you have to leave the windows open. This kind of sucked, because all night long we were treated to a non-​stop, bombastic cacophony of ambulance sirens, police sirens, fire sirens, car horns, screeching tires, screaming drunk idiots, and the distant wailing of deranged lunatics. Aside from that, the hotel itself was quiet and the other patrons seemed considerate.
The immediate neighborhood is not bad, it’s pretty easy to access to several cool places and areas, just know the map and don’t venture in the wrong direction south of the hotel towards the Tenderloin.
If I had to return to SF for some reason, I would stay here again. It’s all right considering the area and it has a lot of character, that’s for sure. The building is kind of neat and old.
If this same hotel was out by me in Milwaukee, it would be like $ 90 a night. I guess being from there, I’m more used to things not having astronomical price tags. It’s expensive for what it is around $ 250 a night or something, but SF is one ripoff of a city, so it was the best mid-​range hotel I could find in this area.
I would also add that the people who work there were friendly, courteous, and nice.

My wife and I just spent 5 days at the Golden Gate Hotel. This was our second stay. The first time was wonderful. The second time was wonderful. It is clean, neat and moderately priced. It’s Nob Hill location puts it in a good central location.
They are a bed and breakfast place. Breakfast consists of various pastries such as muffins and croissants with orange juice, coffee and tea. They serve cookies and tea in the afternoon, and I think that you can get coffee too. All of the guests that we met over breakfast or afternoon tea have been pleasant and enjoyable to talk to.
The service is first rate. WiFi is included along with cable TV. They have various sized rooms at various prices.
I would happily stay a third time. I recommend the Golden gate Hotel to anyone looking for this type of accommodation.

This is undoubtedly one of the best values in the city! Our room was so quiet that we completely forgot we were in the middle of a bustling city every night. Our two night stay was very comfortable with someone quickly providing whatever we needed. There’s no question that the staff really cares about guest comfort and we felt very well cared for. A real rarity these days.
Pip was a total love bug and genuinely made our stay more enjoyable. The staff was extremely accommodating with keeping our bags for as long as we wanted after checkout which made our lives much easier during the day.
Highly recommended and the price was very reasonable for the holiday weekend. We’ll be staying here again next time we’re in the city!

One of the best part of visiting San Francisco was staying here. This hotel is so cute. First off, the service is wonderful. They are so kind, helpful, and caring. Second, it’s so beautiful there. The place is clean, pretty, and it has an amazing vintage feel to it. Third, the beds are super comfy, I literally slept like a baby. But the best part is, they allow dogs, they are so accommodating and nice. My experience here was wonderful, I will definitely be back!

The owners are totally hospitable and the place is very clean! A very cute and cozy B&B feel. Free breakfast included with the room rate (croissants/​muffins with coffee/​OJ/​tea), not to mention the room rates are a steal! Located at a prime location in Union Square, Chinatown and the downtown shopping area both a of couple blocks away. The room we opted for had a private bathroom; it’s pretty small so if you feel you need a bunch of room to lay all your toiletries out and what not, probably not the place for you. The shower itself is large enough for you to turn front and back, that’s about it. The toilet is a toilet with charm, being old-​school, but definitely functional, don’t get me wrong. There is no flat-​screen TV, if you’re hoping for that, but we brought our Surface to watch shows on. The bed was nice and comfy; furniture had that old-​fashioned vibe, but that is what was expected to add to the hotel’s vibe.
They have a computer you can access downstairs, if needed, with a printer. While we sat in the parlor area to wait for our ride back to the airport, the front-​desk guy chatted with us and two other people who were waiting to leave, too. Definitely great mannerisms from the entire staff, very friendly and sincere. And let’s not forget to mention Pip, the cat :) I fed him a tiny piece of a croissant one morning since I couldn’t resist… but be mindful that tons of other customers probably feed him the same, so don’t overdo it! The one morning we got to see the little pug too — she was so sweet. We thought she had an inclination to women since we noticed she kept coming over to me for pets more :)

I, too, do not want to write a review because I want to keep this place secret. This is a great place is you’re traveling solo but don’t want to take a risk with a hostel. The staff is friendly, the rooms are clean, and there is a wonderful cat here who will probably greet you every morning.
I stayed in a private room. It was just big enough for me and my stuff, and that’s not a complaint. There is a sink in the bathroom so you can get up and wash your face and do your make-​up. The toilet and shower are in another place down the hall and it’s a shared room. Some might think of this as being weird, but I found no problems with it at all and there was never a wait.
They serve pastries and tea in the afternoon, and I’m sad to say I completely missed that part. I would definitely come back here if I were traveling solo or with a partner.

in short about my experience: positive. staff was nice, room clean and comfy.
cons — didn’t find.
pros– PIP THE CAT!!! can you imagine??? Pip is a real gem, he is the boss of everything there! from the first sight I fell in love with this cat, can’t forget him.
I love cats, so Pip was a real present!!!
and if I have opportunity I’ll come back here again. definitely.

Great place and highly recommended —
1) 2 blocks from union square, lots of nice eateries around, cable car stop 1 block away. You had the key to the front door so felt very safe
2) beautifully decorated room and had everything you need despite it being on the small side (we didn’t mind, this added to the charm)
3) lovely breakfast and afternoon tea served daily in the parlour to classical music
4) shared bathroom was not a problem, it was always available whenever we needed it and very clean.
5) wifi throughout the hotel and printer available in the office.
Overall a very enjoyable stay and one of the highlights of our San Fran trip. Thanks guys, keep up the great work!

I almost don’t want to write a review in fear that this place will be impossible to get a room!
I stayed here with my Mom for four nights we split a room with two twin beds and a shared bath! It was wonderful! So cozy, clean and homey. The staff was extremely friendly, and Pip the cat was great! He would follow us to our room and hang out! A parking garage across the street made it very convenient with a car! The hotel is centrally located right near the entrance to Chinatown and union square!
Can’t wait to go back!

Absolutely great hotel location to get to any San Fran neighborhood. Safe to walk around at night and plenty of restaurants to walk to nearby.
I love quaint places like this and it has so much old charm. The staff were all polite and so helpful.
Afternoon tea and cookies are served along with a croissant, jam, tea, and coffee breakfast.
We had the room with a shared bathroom in the hall, which was never a problem.
We loved Pip the cat.
If you ate someone that needs a large room with a big tv go to a different hotel. Our room was small with a sink (none in shared bathroom) and a little tv, but I don’t really watch tv on vacation.
I would definitely come back and will refer the Golden Gate hotel.

There’s a lot of charm in this hotel and a lot that isn’t quite clear from their website, so I’ll break it down for you if you’re considering a stay.
HEATING: The biggest dealbreaker is the steam radiator system. On both nights, it started clanging wildly at 3 am, like shaking a penny in a coffee can. The valve was tightly closed, as instructed, but it still made a racket. So then we opened the valve and opened the windows. They aren’t thick windows, but an open window downtown means lots of sirens. For two vacation nights, we got very poor sleep. That’s a major letdown. We did inform the night clerk and the management, and they did attempt to fix it after the first night, but the second night was the same clank-​clank-​clank
BATHROOM: The second point is that many hotel stays are romantic. Our room was an en-​suite but had a MINIATURE bathroom. I could not fit in there with my man. Not at the sink, and certainly not in the shower. There was no clawfoot tub. One morning I decided to venture into the hallway bathroom while ours was occupied by some serious business. Ok, great, the hall bathroom had no sink! So there I was, waiting around to wash my hands. Ewww.
BEDDING: actually just fine for a hotel, neither great nor awful. I slept ok when I could sleep.
BREAKFAST: a very tidy affair and five star worthy. You’re offered warm croissants, jam, fresh coffee, tea, and orange juice. Nothing more, but it’s all good quality. And you get the company of Pip the Cat, if you are ever so lucky. He likes to steal the crusts from the croissants, so be careful!
PIP the CAT: Ok, so he’s a completely charming cat. You should probably like animals if you stay here. The soap dish in our room was a cat. The soap itself has a sticker on it with Pip’s outline. The owners reallllly like Pip and he’s going to entertain you. Fun fact, he’s at least bilingual and lurves the sweet morning prep cook.
LOCATION: Great, if you don’t mind a few tiny hills. The location was safe, easy walking distance to everywhere and close to many bus lines.
DECOR: Loved the vintage photos, loved the old elevator. Did not like how squeaky the stairs are — worried that I was waking people up when we squeaked around their doors.
LUGGAGE HOLD: they held our bags without fee, which is always nice when you’re sneaking in a few extra activities on vacation.
PRICE: Maybe a steal in the summer, but average in winter. I found a lot of comparable rates, even at places like the W.
WHY THREE STARS? There are a LOT of options in the Union Square /​Nob Hill area. The owners and operators are independent, so it’s nice to support their business, but it was hard to say that I enjoyed our stay. Compared to a property like the Ace Hotel, it’s lackluster. One of the owners told me that the hotel used to be full of murphy beds, and salemen would use the room as a showroom during the day, then sleep there at night, with inventory stored in a basement warehouse. It’s fun to see a place with this much history being used in a similar fashion, and not converted into condos, but I wish they had been clearer about this being an efficiency operation. If that’s your thing and you want to stay in a dorm room for the night? Just know what you’re selecting.

What a perfect little spot to stay at in SF. At first I didn’t know if was feeling that antique vibe going on at this place — antique elevator and all — but the charm really grows on you.
The hosts are all wonderful and friendly. And of course you fall in love with the dog, Cookie and Cat, Pip. What a gem right smack in the middle of SF on Nob Hill, near union square and great photo ops at Huntington Park and Grace Cathedral right up the block. All historical sight seeing spots.
Thumbs up to this charming B&B. Oh! Tea time and breakfast are both simple yet amazing as well.

This was my second stay at the Golden Gate Hotel, my first being over 7 years ago. I was curious to see if it lived up to my first stay and, happily, it absolutely did! The neighborhood sure has changed and there are some delightful new spots right near the hotel. Check out Sushi Toni and Hopwater Distribution for starters. The hotel is in a wonderful location and we walked everywhere!
Everyone at the hotel is so helpful and they really go that extra mile to make the stay fantastic. We were going on a picnic after a hike in Muir Woods and the staff provided us with a picnic blanket and cheese knife (two things we didn’t have).
The rooms are rather small but cozy and delightful and the bed was extremely comfortable.
Breakfast with the most delicious croissants, muffins and tea/​coffee was the perfect start to the day and cookie and tea in the afternoon was a wonderful end or much needed transition into our night. We were even lucky enough to dine with Pip the housecat on two separate mornings!
This spot is truly unique and full of character. It is the only place I will consider staying when visiting San Franscisco! Thank you again for another wonderful stay!

I can’t even begin to explain how excited I was about this place and the fact that it not only lived up to my expectations, but perhaps surpassed them. My husband and I were in town for the night with his sister and her husband before heading to Sonoma for a wedding the next day. The big draw for me was that the hotel has a resident cat (I’m a crazy cat lady) and it just looked incredibly cozy.
We were met with a super helpful and polite staff member when we checked in and headed up to our room on the fourth floor. When we walked in, I was in love with the quaint setting – having only a bed and sink in the room was just what we needed; a lavish hotel room isn’t necessary all the time. Walking down to the shower, I got flashbacks of band camp. Showering in what was basically a tiled closet made me nostalgic! We actually didn’t run into any problems waiting for the bathroom or causing a wait as far as I know, which was a slight concern in sharing a bathroom with other guests. Everything was clean and tidy, and the décor was awesome. I just felt really comfortable overall. Additionally, the price point is amazing for the location and accommodations. The only downside for some might be the minimal breakfast, but there are plenty of other options nearby that will get you out and about anyways.
Now to Pip. What a wonderful kitty soul. As I was heading out for an early morning run on Saturday, he meowed at me from behind his lamp station and basically demanded I give him a little pat on the head before leaving. Heart = melted. I only wish we had more than one night here not only for the joy of exploring the area, but also for spending more time in the hotel and with Pip.

I stayed here this past weekend (8÷8÷14−8÷11÷14) with my boyfriend and cousins to attend Outside Lands and to just hang out in SF. I had originally wanted to stay in a different hotel but because of the event this was our only option… BUT i am SO glad we ended up here.
This B&B is one of the better ones that I have stayed at. They are extremely clean (they have a cat and dog and my allergies did not flare up once while I was there), super accommodating and great location (located a couple blocks from the Financial District).
After the first night at our event, we were too lazy/​tired to get dressed and come to breakfast. The staff was SO nice and brought it up to our room for us!
The location is another HUGE plus with this B&B. We were able to visit the Financial District, the Ferry Market Building as well as eat a numerous restaurants all by walking. All other destinations can be reached by public transportation which is only a couple blocks away.
I will definitely keep this place in mind next time I am planning a trip to SF!