Monarch Hotel San Francisco

Despite what some reviewers say, I quite liked staying at this hotel. Yes - it is right next to the Tenderloin district, and some homeless guys hang around at the street corner at Geary and Polk during the afternoons. Because that's what homeless people do...hang around on the streets.Some reviewers also seemed offended by the store across the street - well, it's really quite quaint (at least by european standards), so only the prudest are likely to be bothered by it.

The hotel itself is surprisingly nice - rooms are all right, lobby is almost posh, and the service, although a bit surly, is ultimately friendly. I didn't go there expecting the staff to be kissing my butt everytime I walked in.

There were some fun-looking bars and cheapish restaurants north along Larkin street too, so I guess I could recommend this hotel to students or people who otherwise feel youthful. Everything is between walking distance, Union station a simple 15 to 10 minute walk, a Mels Drive in at the corner, domino, pizza hut, art museum, Theatres, a mini grocery store, and a nice bar across the street from Mel's that is simply a riot of fun and great food!

The bathrooms are all brand new, the beds are comfortable, the tv works perfectly fine, WIFI though does have a problem reaching the rooms but hanging around the lobby WiFi will work perfectly well. I enjoyed my stay there, I knew it wasn't a 5 star Hotel so I didn't expect that much from it. I think this is where people just get all anal about the hotel. Don't expect a 5 star if you'll be paying 65 or more a night. Duh.

My husband and I stayed here one night and it was really an aweful experience. First, the staff is really rude and really unfriendly. They all have an attitude problem. Third, the rooms are so crappy and they smell musty and old. The sheets may be clean but feel dirty. We had an old zenith tv in the room and the sound would come in and out. the wooden blinds were so dusty and kind of sticky. Fourth, it's in a really shady neighborhood, close to the red light district. At 3:30am, the guy next to our room was having sex with the loudest hooker, which woke me up and I couldn't get back to sleep till she finally left. The hotel didn't do anything. You really don't want to bring anyone you love, be it your spouse or your family and especially kids to this hotel. It really sucks! I never write bad reviews but I had to get this one out. Stay away from this place. Trust me.

Wonderful hotel for the price. Our window view was great. We were at the end of the hall in room 302 which made it quiet. We had a car in their garage with tax was $23.00 a day with free in and out. We gave them a ten minute notice and their valet had it in front. It was a half block walk to a main line of the muni bus, and a block walk to the muni bus to Union Square. No a/c but the ceiling fan was fine. There was a lighted walk in closet for hanging items plus an ironing board and iron, and a hair dryer. It's not a Marriott or Hilton but all the rooms have baths. Mel's diner a half block walk is open 22 hours and the prices were very reasonable. We ate at Mel's every morning. I will be back.

I recently found the Monarch Hotel online for a trip into San Francisco. It looked great, and the price was quite good for a busy weekend. However, all of their basic services became really tedious. It started when booking, when their staff member was blatantly rude on the phone (ok, I said, he's probably just busy/stressed). My rooms were held on credit card, to be paid when checking in by cash. However, the (international) credit card was charged against my wishes, significantly adding to the overall cost. When checking in, the staff member was disoriented and smelled of marijuana (as did the check in office). Myself, my colleagues, and another couple checking in simultaneously, immediately began having problems with the head staff member (who, whislt I attempted to make a formal complaint about the discourteousness of the staff, turned out to be the owner!). Whilst we were all trying to iron out the creases in our bookings (there was little chance of finding something convenient immediately because of all the city's festivities) - the owner made a few expletives, to the obvious embarrasment of his staff.

The rooms themselves were ok, good for a city stay when someone isn't spending much time in their room. However, there are lots of great hotels in San Francisco - don't stay at this hotel, the owner is obscenely rude, the staff defective (bar one absolutely lovely British man who tried his hardest to make us comfortable). Don't stay here!

This hotel is in a central location.