The Washington Square is an all-round hotel. Its location in the Italian quarter North Beach, not far from Polk St, could hardly be more ideal: the city’s best brunch is just across the street and its most famous oyster-bar around the corner. The 26 individual rooms are all comfortably and cozily furnished in a country hotel style by Maria Levin. Some of them have a fireplace or a large windowpane from which you can overlook Washington Square. Levin has been running the hotel with heart and soul, and her husband Daniel, since 2005. “It came to us; one day Daniel saw the empty house only to discover the advertisement in the newspaper a couple of hours later. Then we knew – this is our house!” Breakfast is laid out on a long table with a view of the colorful hubbub in Washington Square, but if you ask in advance, they will also bring it to your room. In the mornings you can meet the innkeeper-couple personally, after which friendly staff members man the reception. We found they had a whole lot of friendly tips and answers to all of our questions. Early in the evening a snack with cheese and wine is served – a nice gesture which is spreading in California, and serves as an unforced, easy conversation starter between the guests – if you feel like it. The philosophy of the inn is “to give the guest their space to do whatever they feel like doing”, says Levin.
Stockton Street 1660
94133 San Francisco
phone: +1 415 9814220
price: double: $179,- to $329,- incl. breakfast
