Hotel Bijou

nothing

everything

Firstly, this hotel is nothing like it looks on booking.com. What they don’t tell you is that across from your bedroom window (3rd floor) there are approximately 20 homeless people sleeping each night. They are also there in the day and stand outside the hotel door. There was drunken shouting , loud music and general loud noise through out the night.... hence the ear phones provided on the bedside! The room was small and too hot, but you couldn’t have the window open due to noise. Although reception staff were mostly helpful- on our arrival- a man ( who didn’t look like he belonged to the staff at all) piled our bags onto a concierge trolley and then disappeared off outside for a smoke! We had breakfast in the hotel one if the mornings but never again. Choice was poor, hot water was not hot and half the tables in the dining room had chairs on top of the tables. Not welcoming at all. When my daughter asked if she could have a packet of porridge heated in the microwave ( from the reception staff who was only one on duty)- they replied ‘no’ as there was no microwave! So why offer it at all? Sadly- the hotel looks sad and needs a refit, with attentive staff who wear name badges and aren’t on their mobiles every time you pass reception. I wish I’d done my research and read reviews in advance- I would not have chosen it in the first place .

It was clean enough and in a central location

The hotel overall felt like it was really stretching to call itself 3.5 stars. The beds especially were not great, the entire bed would shake if one person moved the slightest bit. The block the hotel was on was also really in the tenderloin, not union sq

The location is fantastic. Close to Powell Station, great shopping and trolley and bus stops.

I did not appreciate the resort fee. I was told it covered the coffee station in the lobby and attached restaurant. That is ridiculous. Resort fees are for golf, spa and gyms. I had to use ear plugs so loud! AND bed bugs!!! Never had them before.