Hotel Review: Courtyard San Francisco Downtown/Van Ness Ave

I had to be in San Francisco overnight this past week and hotel rates were astronomical. All of my regular haunts were north of $1,000 for the night. I settled on the Courtyard San Francisco Downtown/Van Ness Ave and might have just found one of the nicest Courtyard properties out there. The design was funky and fun with a modern lobby, snacks, and friendly service.

Anthony’s Take: I was struck by how nice the property is the moment I walked in the door. The hotel has a modern and funky lobby with fun art and a design that makes you want to stick around. The staff was friendly throughout my stay and while there were no suites available, the room I had worked for the short time I was there.

Booking

I booked a Guest Room, 1 Queen on a “Special Event” rate. It was $599 per night plus taxes and fees. Rates are generally low at this property, but they spike considerably when there are events in the city. Marriott did away with award charts a few years ago, but redemptions can be had for between 42,000 and 77,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points.

Transportation to/from the Hotel

I took an Uber Comfort from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to the hotel and back the next morning. The ride there took around 24 minutes (it’s around 14.3 miles) and cost $110. Departing, the ride was around the same time and cost $72.

Location

The hotel is not too far from Chinatown (described as the “Northwest corner of the Tenderloin), but I did not love the location. There were multiple homeless people arguing outside the door and walking even a few blocks to pick up dinner was unsettling as some that I passed were shouting with each other and to themselves. It’s sad to see and San Francisco still seems to be on the decline.

Upon arriving at the hotel, I pressed the buzzer to gain entry. The doors stay locked and a key is required to enter the lobby.

Once inside, I was struck by how cool the lobby’s design was and the amount of seating that it offered. This certainly does not look like most Courtyard by Marriott properties that I have visited in the past. The property was known as the Opal before it was renovated and rebranded in 2019.

Check-In

I arrived at the hotel around 8:00 PM. My room was ready and I was upgraded to a Larger Guest room, 1 King. I was asked if I needed a late checkout and I requested 1:00 PM, which was quickly confirmed. The hotel provided a bag of Ghirardelli chocolate and two bottles of water due to holding Marriott Bonvoy® elite status. I chose points as my welcome amenity for being Titanium Elite, had my keys printed, and was on my way.

The elevator is to the left of the check-in desk.

My room was on the fourth floor. The elevator lobby and hallways were both in great shape and clean.

Larger Guest room, 1 King (418)

There are 164 rooms and suites at the Courtyard San Francisco Downtown/Van Ness Ave.

The room opened to a small foyer.

The closet was found here. A luggage rack, iron, and ironing board were found here.

The tiny bathroom was close by. It held a toilet, vanity with a single sink, and glassed-in shower.

There was little space in the bathroom.

A bar of Le Natural soap and a bottle of Aveda body lotion were on the counter. Aveda is the brand for Renaissance hotels and I was surprised to see it here.

The toilet was tightly wedged between the shower and vanity.

The shower was an average size. Water pressure and temperature were both good. Bottles of 39° North toiletries were mounted to the wall.

The desk was closest to the bathroom and took up an entire wall. A TV was mounted above it.

A safe, coffeemaker, coffee, condiments, cups, and a refrigerator were inside the cabinets.

The refrigerator was empty for guest use.

My welcome amenity (in addition to Marriott Bonvoy® points).

The king-sized bed, two nightstands, and a bench filled the rest of the room.

The view looked down on the busy street and the buildings across.

Public Areas & Amenities

The hotel has a fitness center, a mini market, a small business center (pictured above), free snacks in the lobby, a conference room, a restaurant, and the seating above.

The fitness center was busy when I visited, so I could not take photos (this stock one shows the small space).

The mini market is located in the lobby.

Free snacks were found throughout the day to the right of reception.

The conference room is the hotel’s event space.

Mel’s Kitchen is a diner that’s attached to the hotel. It can be accessed through the lobby.

I loved the turquoise throughout the property. Even the stairwells were fun.

Overall Impression:

This was a great find and a hotel I would return to in the future. The location is a bit meh, but once inside it’s a great property.

(Fitness Center and Conference Room Image Credits: Marriott.)