I was travelling with a friend all around california and our last stop was in San Francisco. Grove Inn is a calm, clean and lovely place. If you really wanna feel what is a life near the painted houses, you should stay there. Klaus, the lovely host, is very kind, and such a good cultural live book of culture, amazing conversations. I stayed only 3 days there and it was like was living home. The room is cute and every day you have an amazing buttered croissant on the breakfast. If you wanna noise, nightclubs and see movement, grove inn is not the place. But if you wanna feel the city, stay calm and feeling like home in a hotel, you really must stay there.

My partner and I were referred to the Grove Inn by friends getting married in San Francisco. They live there, and know the lay of the land. We wanted to stay close to the wedding venues, and the Grove Inn fit the bill. It is comfortable, clean, fine location, and we were very warmly received. I was suspicious of the late arrival procedure, but the night manager was there to greet us, despite our arrival nearly three hours later than planned. The room was ready and comfortable, although the bathroom was small even by San Francisco standards. We were not there to linger and bathe, so this did not present a problem. The offer of modest breakfast was a welcomed surprise in a domestic hotel, and the coffee was hot, fresh and delicious -- more than what we needed to start the day. We had no issues with the locks, nor noise (internal or street), and were greeted warmly every time we came and went. The value was outstanding, easily half the price we had paid only one year prior at branded high rise hotel -- that didn't know us by name nor offer us coffee. If you want something fussy, please go and find it, there are lots of good options in San Francisco. If you want comfort and care, please call (better than email or Internet) the Grove Inn next time you plan to visit the City by the Bay.

I've been staying at the Grove Inn for 20 years! and simply wouldn't think of staying anywhere else. The touristy parts of downtown San Francisco hold no appeal to me: and what's special about the Grove, is that it is so unlike the characterless hotels where you really have no sense of their being any different from their replicas in other cities around the world.

The comfortable rooms, furnished in keeping with the building's long history (it's nearly 150 years old), have supremely comfortable beds - and free wi-fi access. Breakfast is included: a convivial occasion, as guests share communal tables and really "connect".

The Innkeeper, Klaus, is truly delightful; very knowledgeable about the city, and he presides over the Inn with a very special style.

"Bed and breakfast" in my home country of England, means somewhere cheaper than a hotel, often rather basic. In the US, it means somewhere really rather special - and the Grove is an outstanding example. Maybe you can stay at a characterless modern building for less money: but choosing the Grove will give you a memorable experience. Being in a residential neighbourhood, rather than downtown, means it's much more peaceful. The frequent bus service is reliable, and downtown is within easy walking distance, anyway: or, if you head in a different direction, the quirky delights of Haight Ashbury (populated by people who must be the children of the "flower power" people of the 60s, but the "vibe" seems so much the same.....) are nearby.
Stay in formulaic hotels if you must - but you'll miss a real treat, if you don't go to the Grove Inn!

This is exactly what we are looking for in a B&B. The building is a lovely older one, the room is very nice and comfortable, the proprietor is friendly and interesting, the neighborhood has a lot of good little restaurants, and it's very close to the lovely Alamo Square "painted ladies."