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Intercontinental Hotel – California St. & N Hill Review
The hotel is in a great location, but unfortunately, it feels tired and outdated. The moment I walked into my room, there was a strong, stale carpet odor—despite attempts to mask it with air freshener, it was clear the carpets desperately need deep cleaning. The furniture was worn and jaded, to the point where it felt unpleasant to sit on, and I avoided touching much of anything.
The elevators were painfully slow, likely due to the high volume of guests, which made simply getting to and from my room a frustrating process. My check-in experience was also disappointing: despite a scheduled 3 p.m. check-in after a long flight from San Francisco Airport, my room wasn’t ready for over five hours. I ended up sitting in the lobby and trying to pass the time, which wasn’t how I envisioned starting my stay.
For lunch, I tried the hotel restaurant—prices were steep, and in my opinion, the quality didn’t match the cost. In a city like San Francisco, you can easily find more flavorful meals at a better value elsewhere. For what I paid overall, I expected a fresher, more comfortable room with a newer, supportive mattress. Instead, mine was old and dented, far from restful.
On the plus side, the Top of the Mark offers beautiful city views, but even here I was disappointed: as a vegan, I found zero menu options to accommodate my diet. For a hotel of this caliber, more inclusive dining choices should be standard.
In short—great location, but outdated rooms, slow service, limited food options, and a lack of attention to comfort make it hard to recommend at the current price point