This hotel is all about location. If that is all you care about, this is your hotel... Close to everything....

My experience was the bedsheet smelled like bleach (at least I knew it was sanitary haha) the bed spread smells like dirty laundry and had stains (I dont even want to descrive it) The bathroom smelled like bleach too...... until I felt like my nose hair burn! It was so strong.

The continental breakfast contained of breads, bagel, some cheap coffee, jam, butter and hard boiled eggs. The room was really hot and there was no fan or anything.... I definitely would not stay there again.....

This hotel sucks! No wi-fi on the 7th floor only on second floor. So if you are on the higher floor no wifi. The bed is so hard. Parking garage is so far. The only convenient on this hotel is next to Chinatown.

Disclaimer: this is my 2nd review of the Astoria.

Let's start with all the negatives first:
The Astoria is not a 4 seasons, or even a Holiday Inn. There is no nice-looking bedspread (they look old). There are no fancy bath products (theirs are usable - let's say that). The elevator is both old and slow. The room amenities are minimal - a phone, no coffee maker and and old TV. BTW - the tv brand is Gold Star - which is what LG is known for a long long long long time ago .......

Now let's go to the positive:
It's clean - at least my room/bathroom is. The mattress may not be a Tempurpedic, but it's ok. It's next to the Chinatown gate. Room is big, for SF standard, window that opens toward the street to have good air circulation, huge closet, and a 9-foot ceiling. Big bathroom - with tub.

The rate that I paid was $65 per night.

I traveled to SF this past weekend with the sole purpose of watching the Fleet Week air show and parade of ships. On Thursday evening I arrived and slept. Friday morning - went to Fort Mason pier to watch the practice show - and back to the hotel almost at sundown, had dinner at Chinatown then slept. On Friday, I repeated the process all over again. In other words - the hotel is just a place to crash - that's how patrons should view this hotel, nothing more.

If you're expecting anything more than that - you would be very disappointed - so consider yourself warned.

Me? I'd stay there again - since every time I am in the Bay Area, I am always out and about anyway.

Let's be clear up front. This is NOT the Ritz. The hotel is old, the rooms are small, the carpet is threadbare in places, and the elevator is scary (circa 1930s, I think!). They have NO AMENITIES. None. Zero. Now, let me tell you the rest of the story, and why I rated it four stars.
It's about the cost/value tradeoff. I am a mid-50's male traveling alone. I don't CARE about amenities -- all I need is a polite staff, a comfortable bed, a clean bathroom, and a good location for walking around a city. I stayed here on the recommendation of a friend, and immediately referred another friend to stay there the following week. All three of us had good experiences. Again, if you expect the Ritz, you will be disappointed. If you want value on a budget....the price cannot be beat, and the location is FABULOUS!
I stayed here for several days in late September 2011, and it was clear that the room had been recently repainted, there was newer carpeting in the hallways/common areas, and they have free wireless access in the common room on the second floor, which is a gathering spot for the many youth who stay there. They also appear to be in the process of replacing many of the beds (rotation was in process while I was there) The hotel is located LITERALLY next to the gate to Chinatown. shopping, markets, and lots of food options were mere minutes away in every direction.
West, it was two blocks to a fabulous Italian place and a cable car stop, there was a cafe caddy-corner from the hotel, and there were two Starbucks and a local coffeehouse all visible from my fifth floor window. :-) I walked to Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39 in half an hour. North Beach was 20 minutes. Market Street about 10, and the Ferry Building and the Embarcadero & Justin Herman Plaza about 12 minutes. Union Square is only 5 minutes. Again, GREAT location. Staff are all Chinese, half speak only limited English, but they were all unfailingly polite. Love this place, and will return. If you want onsite breakfast or a concierge, spend more money and take a taxi. The rest of you, give this place a try!