Hotel Vertigo

Congrats, Hotel Vertigo. You passed my «Can I use your restroom test?» so you are getting my 5 stars for being so cool.
The story of my «Can I use your restroom test?»:
I’m an Über driver in the city and one of the problems I have is — where to pee (yes, the struggle is real). So very often I stop by a random store, café, hotel or anything that potentially has a solution to my problem.
We all know there is a general rule of «Restroom is for customers only» in most of the businesses. So I think that letting/​forbidding a non-​customer to use their bathroom is a great litmus test of a customer service.
If a business allows a non-​customer to use their bathroom it shows a deep care in serving people. Not matter if they bring you money or not. So this is deserved to be acknowledged with a 5 star review on Unilocal.
If a business rejects a non-​customer to use their bathroom it demonstrates an absence of the fundamental quality — serving the community. They are here only for the money. If a business, in such a highly competitive environment, doesn’t have this «serving» attitude at their core they are not gonna last long. So my 1 star Unilocal review will help them to end their unfortunate enterprise slightly sooner.
And you would be surprised how many businesses actually reject non customers. Moreover, some of them encourage you to buy something to become one and use the bathroom. So this clearly signals to me that the business is so bad that you would want to become a customer only if you desperately need to pee.
Again, thanks Hotel Vertigo for being compassionate to a basic human need and letting me use your bathroom. I appreciate your service!

We stayed at the Hotel Vertigo last week. On a business trip and were not quite sure what to expect in person as the rates offered were a bit lower than it’s neighbors. Happy to say we were pleasantly surprised. All public areas are very clean. Our room seemed to be also (and I’m a freak about a dirty hotel). The room seemed updated and no issues at all with the bathroom. The staff was very friendly. We would stay there again!
There are some points to add. First, the elevator is old and slow. Clean but slow. You can take the stairs but if you’re on a higher floor just sit down in the lobby and wait a minute. Second, they charge $ 45 a day for valet parking BUT you have to ask for your car «at least 30 minutes» before you need it. One day, it took 40 for it to show up. I have no idea where they are stashing these cars… but they need to find somewhere ALOT closer as 15 minutes is long for a valet. 30?! 40?! There is a garage around the corner. cut a deal.
Also, they should take down the few signs in the lobby claiming their are renovating. The fitness center is closed and we were told has been for ages. There is a construction wall on the left side of the lobby which makes one THINK they are in mid-​construction but one look at the top will show it has YEARS of dust on it… so they are not really renovating anything of note.
Oh yes, and while the staff is friendly. Attire needs to be touched upon. The lovely long hair woman who works the front desk most evenings really needs to know customers can see she is wearing the same outfit each day… and it’s tattered. If it’s a uniform, it’s time for the owners to buy her a few new ones. :)

«Well, I’ve been on blind dates before. Matter of fact to be honest, I’ve been picked up before.»
Judy Barton, Vertigo
I’m an avid Hitchcock fan, with Vertigo being my all time favorite film of his. I’m obsessed like Scotty was in the movie.
The exterior of the Hotel Vertigo, formally The Empire Hotel; located at 940 Sutter Street, was used in Vertigo as location of hotel where Judy Barton lives. The studio version of her hotel room was modelled on room 401, due to their proximity to the Empire’s neon sign.
We stayed in a double queen room 405 down the hall from 401.
More info here :

They have done an a nice job updating the hotel into a modern and hip
environment. They stream the film, Vertigo, on a loop, ²⁴⁄₇ in the lobby. It can be a bit dizzying when one is trying to concentrate.
The room we had was facing the street side and didn’t seem loud to us as others suggested, and I’m not a heavy sleeper either.
The bed was extremely comfortable and the room was cleaned to my satisfaction.
Snacks and beverages provided in the room are not complimentary. We partook of these goodies after a night of inbibing. The candy came in handy.
I loved the orange and cream color palette.
The elevator can get busy with wait times, so we took the stairs mostly.
The front desk was cordial and efficient.
We didn’t drive a car, so we didn’t need the valet that they provide for a fee.
We walked everywhere, the location can’t be beat. It’s just below Nob Hill, and within walking distance to downtown, Chinatown, and the Ferry Building to name. We took cabs, or Über to further destinations.
The clientele was a nice mix of young and mature travelers.
I look forward to another stay in the future.
We stayed April 2014

Will definitely be back! Had an amazing stay, the staff was fantastic and we loved the rooms! Definitely a must see hotel!

Great room! Great location too! Friendly and helpful staff. Valet was a little pricey at $ 45 but they give you garage options of $ 20 (no in/​out privileges) or $ 35 (with in/​out privileges). We stayed one night here and another night at Hotel Carlton to compare (see review). Larger bathroom. Bed and linen quite as nice as the Carlton but very good. Refrigerator and snacks (reasonably priced). Valet took a while (20– 30 min.). They gave us a room facing a wall but changed it right away to an awesome room upon request. 1 elevator and it broke but we were headed out anyway (½ hour and it was fixed). We’ll stay again!

I stay here wherever I’m in the city a nice place, excellent customer service and low rates

We booked a stay for 3 nights at Hotel Vertigo and could not have been happier with the price and room. We prepaid on Expedia with a great price and $ 25 off coupon. Check-​in is at 3 pm but we checked in around noon without issue since they had a room available for us on the 4^th floor. I asked for a room away from the elevator and they gave us one that was around the corner with windows facing the inner courtyard. I’m glad we weren’t facing the street because street noise in SF can be loud. Our hotel was far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Union Square but close enough to walk to. My only gripe is walking through the Tenderloin from the Civic Center BART station. It can be sketchy but for the most part, people leave you alone. I may consider taking the bus next time for that short walk uphill.
Our room consisted of a queen sized bed, desk, refrigerator, flat screen TV, 2 phones, free wifi, iPod clock dock (30 pin connector), horse head lamps, ceiling fan, safe, iron & ironing board, hair dryer, walk-​in closet, 2 fluffy robes, and Bathé toiletries. For the most part our side of the hotel was quiet. You can hear the doors slam at random hours but we didn’t hear anyone next door or above us. We did hear the water running in the pipes but that’s normal for old hotels like this one. The windows don’t have screens but we didn’t have any issues with flying insects. There is no air conditioning and it is cold here most of the year so they don’t usually need it.
Cool fact: Hitchcock’s Vertigo was partially filmed here. The movie can be seen on constant loop behind the reception desk. This hotel was built in the early 1900s and survived the Great SF Quake of 1906. They offer complimentary coffee and tea in the morning before 9:30 am and complimentary wine from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. The bottled water in the rooms are NOT complimentary. We just walked to a nearby grocery store and bought a gallon of water to use in refillable bottles instead. They also offer a small selection of snacks and drinks in the room for sale. We didn’t bother to partake in those. They also offer an airport shuttle for $ 15/​person. We opted to take the BART back for $ 8.65/person instead. They were kind enough to securely store our luggage until it was time to leave for our flight.

My wife and I spent a few days here. The staff was great but the hotel itself was nothing special. Several fixtures were hanging down like Mimi Faust stayed there before us! The bed wasn’t very comfortable either. Not terrible, but not good.

I really wanted to write a positive review about this hotel, however, I just can’t tell myself to. We found this hotel, too noisy. It was difficult to get some sleep. Our room was on the forth floor facing the interior court. Throughout the evening, Wi-​Fi was very slow. Loud people having sex. Not a good thing when one has to wake up early the next day and drive hours to get back to Los Angeles. Lack of sleep, indeed.

Terrible place, my boyfriend & I decided to stay here due the reasonable price & stylish look, we arrived around 1:00 AM, it was sketchy from the start the man up in the desk was rude, & the employee mopping the floors in front of the entrance had no caution sign up which was completely dangerous for incoming customers, valet was no where to be found they didn’t park our car until about 1 & a half later, the next morning we got a call from the front desk saying the garage they had parked our brand new camaro has been broken into & our keys were stolen along with other items in the car, because they failed to lock our car in the garage ! We did not get to enjoy San Francisco at all due to the catastrophe we were put through ! I would not stay here it does not have secure valet & the area is sketchy !

Who loves classic movies?
Who loves psychological thrillers?
Who loves old Victorian architecture?
Who loves Alfred Hitchcock?
Yes, the walls are thin, the rooms are smallish, the scent is from a bygone era, but y’know what? I absolutely love…
HOTEL VERTIGO!
A Hotel built in the early 1900’s, Victorian era. It reached international fame as «The Empire Hotel» in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 classic movie, «Vertigo». I believe the names changed maybe half a dozen times in a century. Whatever the case. This hotel is pretty cool. Here’s why…
WALLS — If the thin walls could talk! Really! Over 100 years of history here. A hotel that I believe survived the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906; WWII shenanigans; The years of Hitchcock; The summer of hippy love!
ARCHITECTURE — What beats Victorian Architecture? Nada. The detail, façade, chubby cherubs are what it’s all about this extravagant era! It’s called charm, baby!
VALUE — I think it’s a great value being centrally located in the heart of San Francisco. I mean if you don’t expect The Fairmont coming in then you’ll be okay. Think «efficient». Complimentary coffee & morning bites offered, too.
And the number one reason I love this place…
THE LEGEND OF HITCHCOCK — Yes, the classic movie, «Vertigo» was partially filmed here! Amazingly you can stay in the exact same room as featured in that «The Empire Hotel» scene. I stayed in this tiny room for 3 days! It was creepy in a way, but magical too. Urban legend says this same room is haunted. Although I heard some odd noises and felt like someone was watching me at times… I admit I didn’t exactly see any apparitions…
So yes, I recommend…
HOTEL VERTIGO!
No, it’s not for everyone. In fact, it’s somewhat simple and low maintenance. However, if you enjoy history and a fan of Hitchcock… You will LOVE it here! A Victorian style hotel located in the historic part of San Francisco on Sutter St. Yes, It’s smallish, the walls are thin, and it’s not in ritzy Pacific Heights, but dang-​it… It sure rocks the COOL CHARTS!
And although I didn’t see any ghosts or hear anything whisper in my ear… I did hear Tony Bennett crooning on the radio in the hotel lobby bar! Heck, I need to check my photos again… Maybe something might be seen floating in the background! Perhaps a ghostly Hitchcock in drag, maybe?
OVERALL GRADE: 4.5-STARS!

I loved everything about Vertigo Hotel (actually where the movie Vertigo was filmed!) especially the bright orange and white décor– and the too cool spiral staircase was something to see! The staff was very pleasant, helpful and I loved the cozy location/​neighborhood of Vertigo. I def would love the visit again.

I stayed at Hotel Vertigo for 5 nights with my hubby around Valantine’s Day this year. We paid around $ 115/​night– and it was worth it, but we’ll probably try somewhere else next time.
–Walking distance to everything you would need
–Super friendly staff, clean rooms
–Very cool history, renovated very nicely and looks just like the web photos
–Nice Tazo tea selection downstairs at the coffee bar
–Smelled good and right across the street from a cute coffee shop– Jin’s Café
Mostly all good, but here are the downfalls:
–Bed and pillows were really hard and we were tossing and turning
–The doors slam when you close them and it echos in the hall. Also, there’s not a lot of soundproofing and we could hear people talking in the halls and babies crying

Hotel Vertigo is a great place to stay. Pricing, location, and amenities are what makes this hotel a good choice. All staff I encountered were friendly, including the manager, front desk staff, and housekeeping staff. I arrived at 1pm, and although check-​in is not until 3pm, they had a room available for me to check in early. After checking in, I was provided with a map showimg where the hotel is located and it’s surrounding areas. Great way to find your way around.
The room is clean, comfortable, and pretty modern. There was a nice desk with a chair I could sit at to look out the window and plan my day. There was a fridge with space so I was able to place leftover food or pastries there. There is complimentary tea and coffee 7−10am in the lobby. The fitness center is small, but adequate; it has a treadmill, bike, and elliptical for cardio, mats to stretch or exercise on, exercise balls, weights, a water dispenser, and towels. There’s also a TV. The lobby is spacious with plenty of seating; it was perfect for me to hang out there while waiting to meet friends. I never had a problem with wifi. I just had to reconnect each time I left and returned to the hotel, but besides that, it worked perfectly.
The hotel is literally in the center of Haight/​Ashbury, Castro, Mission, Tenderloin, Union Square, FiDi, North Beach, Chinatown — basically most of the areas in SF. Going down will lead directly into Tenderloin, while going up will lead to Nob Hill and Russian hill, two different vibes. There is Bite, a small restaurant, outside the hotel if you want late night munchies or are hungry. Hotel Vertigo is sandwiched between 2 grocery stores/​markets. There are multiple bars on Sutter by the hotel. It is about a 10−15min walk to Union Square. You can go down Sutter either way to avoid the Tenderloin if you want to feel safe. You can take the BART to either Civic Center or Powell to get to the hotel. I used Powell to avoid the Tenderloin area, and both Civic Center and Powell are about the same distance from the hotel so it doesn’t matter which you choose.
I explored Chinatown and North Beach area, Financial District and the Ferry Building, South of Market, Union Square, and Nob Hill and Russian Hill, all via walking. It was so easy to figure out and get around. Exploring alone at times, I felt safe inside and outside the hotel.
Possible negatives:
–Elevator is very slow; walking the stairs is faster.
–Every single time I left the hotel and came back, my room key did not work. I tried separating it from my credit cards, but it still did not work. Sometimes my friend was in the room so she opened the door for me and other times, I had to walk down 5 flights of stairs to get new keys. One time, I had to go twice because the new key was accidentally registered to a different room #.
–I could hear footsteps above me. Realizing that, I tried to step lightly to not bother the people in the room below me.
–I had no hot water in the shower during the day, but I got some hot shower water at 11pm.
–No air conditioner or heater, but there is a fan.
–TV channels were interrupted at times. Who goes to SF to lay and watch TV? My friend does.
–I put the «keep it down» sign on the door, but the room was made anyway. The sign is flimsy, so it could have flipped when we closed the door after leaving. I usually pack everything away if housekeeping is coming, but didn’t get to this time due to the mix-​up. Luckily, all my stuff was left as is and nothing was missing. Everything was refilled in the bathroom.
Overall, these possible negatives did not bother me much. The location, safety, and the condition of the hotel outweighed the minor setbacks above. Just keep in mind and be prepared if any of the above will bother you.

Where do I start. Small rooms. Screaming babies and loud TV all heard through the ridiculously thin walls. That was night one. In their defence staff did offer to relocate me to a new room but I figured no point if all walls are this ridiculously thin.
8:46am the next morning workmen start building work in the room next door. The complimentary coffee I never saw. Arrived in the foyer at 10:30am to be told that it is «whisked away» at 10am each morning. Might be worth telling your guests.
I return at the end of the day to find my room not made up despite leaving sign on door for house cleaning. Here for 3 nights on business and cannot wait to leave. Would NOT recommend this place to business or travellers accustomed to more service orientated hotels and staff.

Quirky, down to the movie showing behind the checkin desk and the old world feel.
Rooms are clean, seemingly renovated in the last 10 years, nicely attired. i personally enjoyed the creaky stairs but some may find that a black mark. the pix of the rooms are very accurate. and yes, there is no a/​c. not a problem for my stay but maybe others will have an issue with it in a hotter month.
Staff was great; friendly and helpful. Everything you’d want them to be.
Beds were pretty nice, especially for a hotel and I liked the bathrooms a lot.
FREE Wifi! FINALLY a hotel that gets it (ARE YOU LISTENING HILTON AND EMBASSY SUITES??)
I WILL be back there.

NO. AIR. CONDITIONING.
I’m a big guy. And nobody likes a big schweaty guy …
On the plus side, my window opens onto the fire escape, so I might just sleep out there!

It’s first I come to a hotel in which they sub out the valet parking.
There was valet on the spot, they needed to call the garage next to come for my car.
I was notified that in the morning I need to give them 30 minutes notice (ridiculous).
I chose to park it my self a block up the street and saved about $ 12 (hotel valet is 35+tax) .
Check was quick and the receptionist was very nice and welcoming and gave me different options for dining in the area.
I’m a frequent visitor to the area due to my business.
The room was clean but extremely small and there is no AC (big minus for me), they put extra fan (added to the 2 fans existing).
The bathroom was clean but very small.
The hotel theme is based on Alfred Hitchcock horror movie «vertigo» and has its thing.
For me it’s too small and too claustrophobic and the AC issue is critical for me which is why i probably won’t come back.

Loved my stay in the vertigo. King bed. Price was unbeatable for the long Valentines weekend. No AC REALLY sucked because it got sort of hot in there on a cold SF day IYKWIM ;) The shower holder thing was broken on there too which was a huge drag but no biggie. Never heard any noise, the bed was impossibly fluffy and easy to fall asleep in, and our room was so cute and modern. A romantic and adorable home away from home on our vacation :)
P. S. the wifi here is really bad so don’t expect that to be good. Bring a hotspot.

Meh. I’d say 2.5 stars. Booked a government rate online for an upgraded room. When I checked in I was happy we got to go to our room early, however I was not given the room I booked. In room coffee maker had to be put on the floor because the cord was too short.
Really nice renovated bathrooms and walk in closet. So so TV service (it was the Olympics so I wanted to watch). Good effort. So so service. Valet is off site and takes a long time to get car. Good location.