Winning tip
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The Parsonage Bed and Breakfast Inn
Posted by fulldeck

San Francisco has passed through several cultural lifetimes since 1967. It still has its unique clarity of light and the Victorian houses clinging to hillsides, but today it offers a deep acceptance of lifestyle choices, a rich mix of world cultures, more excellent restaurants per capita than perhaps anywhere else in the world, and arguably the best aesthetic taste of any American city. It is also the only US city west of New York where one reasonably can ditch the car for public transportation.

Epitomizing these cultural strengths is The Parsonage Bed and Breakfast Inn, a 19th-Century Victorian freestanding city house that is easily the most elegant bed-and-breakfast inn in San Francisco. It is the home of Joan Hull and John Phillips, a worldly and welcoming couple committed to politics and the arts, patrons of the San Francisco Ballet, and connoisseurs of good food and wine; their portuguese water-dog, Pilar; and an ever-changing group of visitors and residents. They serve a restaurant-quality cooked breakfast to guests in their formal dining room, whose trompe l'oeil decoration was inspired by a one of their many trips to Italy. With their lovely antique furniture in the double parlor, sitting room, dining room, and two floors of guest rooms, the house itself is a sight worth seeing. They also have excellent beds.

Its location in the lower Haight puts it within easy walking distance of the symphony, ballet, and major music venues of Civic Center, as well as in a public transportation hub. The Market Street streetcars, BART, and many buses are within a few blocks. There are dozens of high-quality restaurants in the neighborhood. The Hayes Valley shops closeby are some of the most interesting in town. The owners are long-time local residents, generous with advice to visitors.

With its physical beauty, location, and the professionalism and charm of its hosts, The Parsonage is really a find. I only hope this review doesn't make it too hard to get in there.

The Parsonage
www.theparsonage.com
198 Haight Street, San Francisco 94102
888.763.7722
just west of the Market/Van Ness Muni Metro station
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The Inn on Castro
Posted by Sameera3000

It's a quirky B&B in the heart of Castro - the gay and lesbian district in San Francisco. Everybody is welcome and the breakfasts are divine. Rooms are clean with beautiful views. Each decorated with a kind of funky 70s style.

www.innoncastro.com
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The Gables Inn
Posted by VELASQUEZ

An historic Inn 15 mins from downtown San Francisco across the Golden Gate bridge with stunning views of the city and the Bay. Just a five minute walk to the ferry crossing through streets of funky boutiques, museums, eateries and scented gardens. Finely furnished historic Inn with wonderful touches of detail.

www.gablesinnsausalito.com/index.html
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Blackthorne Inn, Inverness, California
Posted by pshawphoto

Blackthorne Inn bed and breakfast is nestled in a wooded canyon near the charming village of Inverness, California, an hour from San Francisco and the Napa-Sonoma wine country. It provides intimate overnight accommodations in a beautiful rustic setting adjacent to the magnificent Point Reyes National Seashore wilderness park in northern California.

This unique structure resembles a giant elegant treehouse. Crafted from redwood, cedar and a 180-foot Douglas fir cut and milled on the site, the Inn rises through fragrant bay trees to sunny decks on four levels.

A generous buffet style breakfast is provided each morning. Guests may dine privately or together on the 3,500 square foot deck which surrounds the main level, or inside in the glass solarium.

Hot and cold tubs are sunk into an upper deck and one bedroom (The Crow's Nest) is in a tower reached by a spiral staircase. A firehouse pole connects the main deck to the ground.

266 Vallejo Avenue, PO Box 712
Inverness, California (CA) 94937-0712
Phone: (415) 663-8621
www.blackthorneinn.com
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San Francisco Village House B&B
Posted by coolhandluke99

When I visited San Francisco a couple of years ago I stayed at a colourful victorian guest house, moments from the bars and shops of Castro and Market streets. With five tastefully themed rooms it had a friendly, laid back atmosphere and was a great starting point for exploring the city.

www.24henry.com/village.html
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The Golden Gate Hotel
Posted by gingerbreadgirl1981

A beautiful Edwardian building in the Nob Hill area of town The Golden Gate Hotel ticks all the boxes. The hotel is wonderfully original with an amazing old fashioned lift to take you to the upper floors. Homely doesn't even begin to describe this small family run hotel, from the morning croissants and juice, to the complimentary tea and home baked cookies every afternoon, not to mention Pip the curious ginger cat and Cookie the aging Golden Retriever who lend their images to the hotel's logo. The Golden Gate Hotel is what all B and B's should aspire to be and John and Renate are kind and informative hosts. They were even nice enough to post me my dressing gown back to the UK after I left it behind post check out! Located right next to Chinatown and the main shopping districts of San Francisco and on the beautiful cable car line one could not wish for a better location.

775 Bush Street, San Francisco
www.goldengatehotel.com
8001351118
Powell Street Station
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Washington Square Inn
Posted by SillySolly

The Inn is situated overlooking Washington Square Park, which is halfway between touristy, tacky Fisherman's Wharf and Downtown. We managed both with a 15 minute stroll in either direction. The park is frequented early morning and late afternoon by large groups of Chinese men and women doing tai chi, which was very restful to watch. The Inn is in a residential area with good restaurants, bars and independent shops nearby. It is also a short, but exceedingly steep walk from the hotel to the Coit Tower, which offers great views of the city and bay area. Breakfast was great, especially the fresh muffins. Highly recommended.

1660 Stockton Street;
tel: (415) 981-4220, or toll free in the US: (800) 388-0220;
fax: (415) 397 7242
www.wsisf.com
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San Remo Hotel
Posted by northernpowell

Although strictly not a B&B the San Remo is a little oasis in this stunning city. The abundance of cafe's and coffee shops right outside the door mean that you can choose a different breakfast every day or just stick to your favourite! The hotel is in a European pensionne style, the rooms are elegantly furnished and oh so quiet and serene. Bathrooms are shared but clean as a whistle and very sumptuous, most rooms have a sink too. Staff are supremely helpful and it's possibly the best value for money I have ever experienced.

www.sanremo.com
2237 Mason Street, San Francisco, California 94133 (415) 776-8688 (800) 352-7366
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White Swan Inn
Posted by FirethornSparkles

I was supposed to meet my sister in San Francisco one year but the hotel I had booked was horrendous so I had to find a place to stay for a few nights before she arrived. The White Swan Inn saved my bacon. My room had a little fireplace in it and was the definition of cosy, which is weird considering it is quite near Union Square. So the bed part was great. Breakfast was served in a lush little parlour and was really good - scrambled eggs, bagels, muffins - I felt really fat! I felt really at home and was happy killing time with a book in the parlour. I haven't stayed in many places in San Francisco so I don't know if this kind of character in a place is normal but I had a super stay and would be happy recommending it - although if you expect it to be like and English B&B in price (i.e. £25 a head) you'll be disappointed. Even with a strong exchange rate it wasn't cheap.

Bush Street in the Nob Hill area
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