San Francisco - Is this an ok area to stay?

I'm going to San Francisco for a few days next month. I've been before but it was years ago and I don't remember the layout of the city that well. We wanted a "cheap and cheerful" place to stay and I found one online (that was great value and had good reviews on Trip Advisor) located in Sutter Street, just a couple of blocks up from the Union Square Park. Is this an ok area? We don't mind if it's not particularly hip, just that it's safe (as much as any city can be given sensible precautions) and relatively easy to get around from. I've already booked but it's 100% refundable so please be honest, I just want to check I don't need to find another option.

IMO, there's almost no dodgy parts of SFO. Even in the less then polished neighborhoods, it seems they're filled with students/artists/hipsters. Just exercise normal precautions and don't carry around all of that money you saved in cash ;-)

What hotel did you book out of curiosity?

IMO, there's almost no dodgy parts of SFO. Even in the less then polished neighborhoods


I completely disagree. There are a couple of neighborhoods that I would never advise tourists to stay in (I've lived here for 5 years).

Sutter should be fine -- however:

The tenderloin -- south and west of Union square (while not necessarily super dangerous) is full of drugs, homeless, and generally very unpleasant.

Same goes for the area around 6th and Market (and the part of SOMA that is next it). Other than that -- you should be OK.

OP -- Please PM me if you have any specific questions.

Thanks both. I heard that the Tenderloin was best avoided but this area seemed ok. I live in London so am pretty streetwise but it's always a bit tougher to know where to steer clear of in an unfamiliar city.

This is the hotel I've booked: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g60713-d563989-Reviews-or10-Park_Hotel-San_Francisco_California.html#REVIEWS

It's by no means fancy but we're not planning on spending much time in the room so would rather spend the extra money on some nice meals etc while we're there.

Wingman32, thanks for your kind offer, I'm bound to come up with some questions so will drop you a line :)

IMO, there's almost no dodgy parts of SFO.

Ever been to Sunnydale or Bayview?

That location is fine - it's bascially Union Sq shopping area - about 1 block from the Grand Hyatt (away from Tenderloin).

Excellent location. You almost couldn't do any better as a tourist. It really isn't until about Taylor St. (and west) that things are sketchy.

Ever been to Sunnydale or Bayview?

There's not really any hotels or sights s in either of those areas, worst problem would be if you got lost on a city bus and didn't get off in time, which seems unlikely.

But i see they have rooms with and without private baths. I personally would only go for a private bath.

Huh??? :confused:

Glad the OP didn't take your advice.

IMO, there's almost no dodgy parts of SFO. Even in the less then polished neighborhoods, it seems they're filled with students/artists/hipsters. Just exercise normal precautions and don't carry around all of that money you saved in cash ;-)

What hotel did you book out of curiosity?

Excellent location. You almost couldn't do any better as a tourist. It really isn't until about Taylor St. (and west) that things are sketchy.

That's great to hear, thanks ^

But i see they have rooms with and without private baths. I personally would only go for a private bath.

They only had one room with private bath left so we booked that one plus one without so we can share the one between the 3 of us.

The area is fine, I stay at Sutter & Kearny all the time.

I also learned the difference between "private bath" and "en suite" the hard way in London, many, many years ago.

Excellent location. You almost couldn't do any better as a tourist. It really isn't until about Taylor St. (and west) that things are sketchy.

Agree. It's an excellent location.

+1. You'd have to go out of your way to stumble into those neighborhoods, and I was just assuming the OP wasn't looking for meth. :-)

For the most part you have to go looking for trouble in San Francisco.

Some folks have alluded to the Tenderloin being dangerous. It isn't so much during the day and you'd miss the opportunity for some great inexpensive restaurants in the area. I wish I could remember the name of the place, but it's next door to Lee's Sandwiches. It's a Vietnamese restaurant with awesome food. We found it because it was reviewed in a magazine. I bet your hotel staff would know the name.

Enjoy San Francisco!!

+1. You'd have to go out of your way to stumble into those neighborhoods, and I was just assuming the OP wasn't looking for meth. :-)

For the most part you have to go looking for trouble in San Francisco.

That's not quite correct. There are a number of low-end hotels in the Tenderloin, 6th Street and Civic Center areas. Anyone staying in these areas should understand that there is substantial criminal activity there. I wouldn't say stay away no matter what, but I would suggest more than the usual caution if you stay in these parts of SF.

Also, don't rely on hotel descriptions of the neighborhood (e.g., Little Saigon is actually Tenderloin). Look it up yourself or ask us locals.

That's not quite correct. There are a number of low-end hotels in the Tenderloin, 6th Street and Civic Center areas. Anyone staying in these areas should understand that there is substantial criminal activity there. I wouldn't say stay away no matter what, but I would suggest more than the usual caution if you stay in these parts of SF.

Also, don't rely on hotel descriptions of the neighborhood (e.g., Little Saigon is actually Tenderloin). Look it up yourself or ask us locals.

Agree 100%. In fact, just last Friday, at about 7pm (still light out), I was walking from 6th and Market, up Taylor, to Geary (to go to the Curran Theater). The walk up Taylor St, up to about the back side of the Hilton is something that a tourist would not really want to be walking through. Compared to Jones, however, Taylor is almost like Beverly Hills. I used to live just a few blocks from there many years ago. Some streets/blocks are seedy but relatively harmless and others you just avoid. As a tourist, you really can't tell one from the other.

I agree 100% with EastBay1K and dhuey as well.

There are certain areas (that are *very* close to tourist areas) that you just want to avoid unless you have a specific destination there:

1) The Tenderloin
2) Market Street between 5th street and 12th street
3) SOMA below 5th street
4) The Mission to the east of Mission

Are any of these neighborhoods truly dangerous? Not really, but bad things have been known to happen.

More importantly, as a tourist, they're unpleasant -- and unless you have a specific destination there (all of these areas do house really excellent restaurants and bars) you should probably avoid them, especially at night. I agree with MsBlues and end up in some of these neighborhoods regularly (b/c of gems like Rye Bar and Bourbon & Branch or Lers Ros or Limon Rotisserie) -- but I wouldn't recommend to just wander around there as an out-of-towner.

Having said that -- San Francisco's best really is hidden off the tourist track! I'm thoroughly convinced that tourists get the short end of the stick in SF as Fisherman's Wharf, China Town, and Union Square....really aren't that great or interesting.

I agree 100% with EastBay1K and dhuey as well.

There are certain areas (that are *very* close to tourist areas) that you just want to avoid unless you have a specific destination there:

1) The Tenderloin
2) Market Street between 5th street and 12th street
3) SOMA below 5th street
4) The Mission to the east of Mission

Are any of these neighborhoods truly dangerous? Not really, but bad things have been known to happen.

More importantly, as a tourist, they're unpleasant -- and unless you have a specific destination there (all of these areas do house really excellent restaurants and bars) you should probably avoid them, especially at night. I agree with MsBlues and end up in some of these neighborhoods regularly (b/c of gems like Rye Bar and Bourbon & Branch or Lers Ros or Limon Rotisserie) -- but I wouldn't recommend to just wander around there as an out-of-towner.

Having said that -- San Francisco's best really is hidden off the tourist track! I'm thoroughly convinced that tourists get the short end of the stick in SF as Fisherman's Wharf, China Town, and Union Square....really aren't that great or interesting.

I'd avoid the Tenderloin at midnight, not 8PM. The Tenderloin has some of the best ethnic food in the City so I wouldn't avoid it at all, just be aware as you should be any place.

There are a dozen or more very good Vietnamese restaurants like Turtle Tower, Pho 2000, Ha Nam Ninh, Pagolac, Hai Ky Mi Gia, Pho Tan Hoa, Anh Hong and even the Saigon Sandwich. All are just terrific for Vietnamese, Bodega Bistro is Vietnamese too, but also has other dishes that reflect the French heritage of Vietnam.

There are also some great Indian/Pakistani places like Lahore Karachi, Shalimar or Chutney. You can also find some of the best Thai restaurants like Lers Ros Thai and Thai House Express down there.

The Tenderloin has other very unique places like Brenda's French Soul Food and farm:table.

For breakfast you the Taylor Street Coffee Shop and The Griddle and Philz Coffee for what might be the best coffee in SF.

And you might not go east of Mission Street, do look at the great places on it like El Farolito, La Quinta and El Delfin. There are many other great ones in the Mission District.

I have never seen this hotel but the area is very good
you are a couple of blocks from Union Sq and a couple of blocks from the entrance of Chinatown.
The price is probably low because it is an old building with little modern amenities.
There are some "homeless hotels" around the area but this one does not look bad.
I think San Francisco in general is lots safer than London;

I think San Francisco in general is lots safer than London;

I can't say I agree with that. We just returned from a stay at the Hilton San Francisco near Union Square. I wanted to pick up a rental car on O'Farrell (only two blocks away) and was told emphatically not to walk it. I didn't really want to take a taxi for a two block drive so the rental car company came and got us. We also took a city tour and were told by our driver that there was no reason whatsoever for crossing over into the Tenderloin district, day or night.

Granted, these are anecdotal experiences and locals will have a different perspective, but what is different about San Francisco and London is the proximity of tourist locations to higher crime areas. In London if you are in the main tourist parts of town you aren't likely to wander into Brixton, say. In San Francisco it's right there.

I can't say I agree with that. We just returned from a stay at the Hilton San Francisco near Union Square. I wanted to pick up a rental car on O'Farrell (only two blocks away) and was told emphatically not to walk it. I didn't really want to take a taxi for a two block drive so the rental car company came and got us. We also took a city tour and were told by our driver that there was no reason whatsoever for crossing over into the Tenderloin district, day or night.

Granted, these are anecdotal experiences and locals will have a different perspective, but what is different about San Francisco and London is the proximity of tourist locations to higher crime areas. In London if you are in the main tourist parts of town you aren't likely to wander into Brixton, say. In San Francisco it's right there.

That is all incredibly wrong. How many times have you been to San Francisco? How much total time do you have there? I listed many restaurants that are a very good reason to in the Tenderloin day and night.

While it might be a high crime area relative to other parts of the City, it isn't compared other areas in the Bay Area.

That is all incredibly wrong. How many times have you been to San Francisco? How much total time do you have there? I listed many restaurants that are a very good reason to in the Tenderloin day and night.

While it might be a high crime area relative to other parts of the City, it isn't compared other areas in the Bay Area.

As a local the TL doesn't phase me as much as it might a tourist, simply because I've lived here for so long (and two of my years here were in the TL). The problems there relate primarily to homelessness and drug dealing, but there is also a bit of a trade in robbing people who look like tourists. I think advising tourists to be on extra guard there is good advice, but I agree, don't avoid it all together.

I've lived here for over 20 years. I do NOT frequent the "true" inner tenderloin (like around Glide Church, Boedekker Park etc) any time. Even for good Vietnamese food.

However there are a lot of places on the fringes that I like to go - Thai House, Canteen, Exit Theatre (more in the TL than on the fringe). I just have a destination if I'm going there and I don't just wander around. And while the TL and parts of the mission are dangerous, in the sense that if you were going to have problems those are areas it would be more likely, it is more the nuisance disgust factor of homeless people bugging you for $$ and drug addicts plopping down on the street. In my travels I would say that SF is more tolerant in its funky neighborhoods of people who will bug you for money or drugs.

The idea of not walking to O'Farrell to a car rental place from the Hilton, however, is just ludicrous, and I say that as a non-streetwise scaredy cat.

The idea of not walking to O'Farrell to a car rental place from the Hilton, however, is just ludicrous, and I say that as a non-streetwise scaredy cat.

Honestly, I thought it was a little bit silly also, but that was straight from the car rental agency that they didn't want us to walk. I wondered maybe if they had an issue recently.