You might expect San Francisco to be full of hip places to stay for a song, but its budget scene is heavy on Victorian B&Bs and small European-style hotels. Here are 10 of the best
Nob Hill Inn
A turn-of-the-century Victorian hotel built after the great quake of 1906, this beautifully restored townhouse is located in the posh Nob Hill neighbourhood. The 21 guestrooms and suites have Edwardian-style antiques – think four-poster beds and carved wooden furniture – and rates include continental breakfast, plus tea and sherry in the parlour every afternoon from 4-6pm. Although the building feels delightfully old-fashioned, the owners have gone to great lengths to offer contemporary amenities. Lovely suites with fireplaces and bay windows, sleeping four to six, are comparatively affordable for families.
• 1000 Pine Street, +1 415 673 6080, nobhillinn.com. Doubles from $110*
San Remo Hotel
The story behind this quaint Italianate-Victorian hotel mirrors the history of San Francisco itself. The great earthquake of 1906, and the massive fires that followed, devastated the city. The founder of Bank of America, AP Giannini, built this 62-room hotel during the construction boom that followed the disaster. The first occupants were Italian immigrants recruited to assist with the rebuilding effort, and the hotel has served the community ever since, offering multi-course Italian meals for 50 cents during the Depression and free accommodation to displaced victims of the 1989 Loma Prieta quake. Pleasantly off the beaten path in a quiet North Beach neighbourhood, the San Remo maintains an old-world European charm: guestrooms are cosy, with brass beds and oak furniture, and quiet, without telephones or TVs; bathrooms are shared.
• 2237 Mason Street, +1 415 776 8688, sanremohotel.com. Doubles from $99*
Touchstone Hotel
Reuben, blintz and matzah-ball enthusiasts – and those seeking a slice of old-school Americana – will love the fact that this hotel is attached to David's Delicatessen. The classic mid-century diner was founded by David Apfelbaum, a Polish-born Holocaust survivor who later dedicated himself to Holocaust education in San Francisco. The 42-room Touchstone Hotel is old-fashioned, with small, simply decorated rooms and gracious service; it's an ideal choice for budget-minded travellers. It's close to the city's theatre district, though the central location means the place is a little noisy at night. Union Square and a plethora of restaurants, museums and shops are steps away, too.
• 480 Geary Street, +1 415 771 1600, thetouchstone.com. Doubles from $129*
Inn on Castro
Colourful Castro – the historic neighbourhood where the first openly gay US politician, Harvey Milk, fought for gay and lesbian rights in the 1970s – remains the happening centre of San Francisco's LGBT community. This petite B&B is your best budget bet, featuring eight rooms with boldly coloured walls, fresh flowers and modern art pieces, plus an ample breakfast and a cosy living room with a fireplace; save a few bucks by choosing a room with a shared bath. Best of all, you're steps away from Castro Street's famous dining and nightlife scene.
• 321 Castro Street, +1 415 861 0321, innoncastro.com. Doubles from $125*
Grant Plaza Hotel
One of San Francisco's most vibrant attractions is Chinatown: the bustling neighbourhood is the largest of its kind outside of Asia and, dating from 1848, the oldest Chinatown in the US. Grant Plaza is inside its magnificent gates. Guest rooms are basic – this place won't win any prizes for style, especially with its garish bedspreads - but have TVs and free Wi-Fi. Elsewhere in the hotel, unexpected details remind you that you're in a historic neighbourhood, such as the stained-glass skylights in the top-floor lounge. Thanks to its fantastic location, the Grant Plaza remains a perennial pick for budget travellers.
• 465 Grant Avenue, +1 415 434 3883, grantplaza.com. Doubles from $89*
Chancellor Hotel
You'd never guess that this elegant boutique hotel on Union Square could offer prices in the budget category, but you can score a room here for $129 – provided you book ahead. Built in 1914 as a centrepiece of the Panama Pacific International Exposition of 1915, the Chancellor was the tallest building in San Francisco when it opened. Today, the 137-room hotel remains a classy, family-run affair ideally located right on the Powell Street cable car line. Guestrooms are compact and contemporary, with large TVs and a "pillow menu"; the onsite Luques Restaurant & Bar, with a nightly happy hour, stocks an impressive range of Californian wines.
• 433 Powell Street, +1 415 362 2004, chancellorhotel.com. Doubles from $129*
San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel
Outdoorsy travellers seeking bay views and easy access to San Francisco's network of bike paths won't do much better than this inviting hostel on an enviable patch of waterfront that's considered part of the Golden Gate national recreation area. Both private rooms and dorm accommodation are available; amenities include a complimentary continental breakfast, a guest lounge with a fireplace, a sustainably minded on-site eatery, Café Franco, a spacious terrace, a communal kitchen, a media room with theatre-style seating, and a friendly tour desk where you can book anything from foodie tours to boat trips to Alcatraz.
• 240 Fort Mason, +1 415 771 7277, sfhostels.com/fishermans-wharf. Dorm beds from $30, double rooms from $75
Hotel Beresford
Just around the corner from Union Square, this classy little hotel exudes old-world San Francisco charm – note the cheerful awning, polished front desk and chandeliers in the breakfast room. All 114 guestrooms have sweet Victorian decor, private baths and satellite television; not that you're likely to spend much time watching TV when you're staying in the heart of San Francisco. The continental breakfast is complimentary; just next door is the lively White Horse Tavern, an English-style pub that gets busy with theatregoers after curtain call most nights.
• 635 Sutter Street, +1 415 673 9900, beresford.com. Doubles from $139*
Herbert Hotel
Just off Union Square on the famed Powell Street cable car line, the 34-room Herbert Hotel is in an antique building that's undergone thorough renovations. Today, the interiors are crisp and minimal, though the hotel still has a European feel – rooms are small but functional, and only a few have private bathrooms. Amenities are fairly basic, but the hardwood floors and sleek lines appeal to design-minded travellers. Petite single rooms are ideal for solo travellers, and families find the double- and triple-adjoining guestrooms especially convenient. The Herbert Hotel's big draw is its location - the flipside is ongoing noise from the street.
• 161 Powell Street, +1 415 362 1600, theherberthotel.com. Doubles from $109*
Pacific Tradewinds Hostel
Geared towards international travellers, backpackers and solo adventurers, Pacific Tradewinds is all about the social atmosphere: guests come for the communal dinners, guided excursions, organised pub crawls and the chance to meet others looking to explore the city. Dorm-style sleeping arrangements and shared bathrooms are basic, but there's 24-hour access, a well-equipped communal kitchen, laundry facilities, luggage storage and helpful staff to help you plan your urban adventures. The hostel is a short walk from Chinatown, and you can hop on a cable car just around the corner.
• 680 Sacramento Street, +1 415 433 7970, san-francisco-hostel.com. Dorm beds $29.50
• For more information on holidays in the USA, visit DiscoverAmerica.com
*Where starred (in most cases other than hostels), prices do not include 15.5% hotel and city taxes. Rates include breakfast only where noted