Best Bed and Breakfast in San Francisco: Monte Cristo Inn

Looking for a hotel in San Francisco can be tricky. There are so many different neighborhoods and price points to sort through, I understand that it can be difficult to figure out where to stay. Luckily, I have visited the city enough times and can finally point you to a couple of affordable hotels that I know you’ll enjoy, like the Monte Cristo Inn featured here.

This charming bed and breakfast in the Presidio Heights neighborhood of San Francisco is the home away from home that you’ve been looking for in your travels. Personally, I love San Francisco for its proximity to nature, so I often forget that the city is rooted in some really interesting history, as well. After the Gold Rush and the completion of the Pacific Railroad, San Francisco became a booming center of trade. With booming business comes the demand for entertainment and hospitality, so the Monte Cristo Saloon was born in 1875.

Today, the inn offers comfortable rooms, modern marble bathrooms, and a delicious breakfast made to order with a side of sourdough toast, of course. On our way to a wedding in Healdsburg, we needed to spend a night in the city since our flight was getting into SFO so late. I’m so glad the Monte Cristo Inn was able to accommodate us, even with such a late arrival.

The owner was there to greet us when we arrived and quickly showed us to our beautiful, cozy room so we could get a great night’s sleep. In the morning, after a leisurely breakfast in the dining room, we made coffee to go and set out for a walk around the neighborhood. Coffee lovers will appreciate the extensive coffee bar including a mix of delicious creamers, spices, and non-dairy milk alternatives. It’s the little things.

The neighborhood was quiet and we loved checking out the beautiful townhouses in the area. I also loved the short walk to Fillmore Street, where we found great shopping, restaurants like State Bird Provisions, and the famous Fillmore theatre which is an amazing, historical concert venue.

While we were not looking to sight see on this particular trip, the Monte Cristo inn is conveniently located about a thirty minute walk from Alamo Square (home of the Painted Ladies) or Golden Gate Park. If you are not fond of walking though, you can easily park on the street near the hotel and drive over to the more touristy areas. When I used to visit for work, I would often park for free near the Marina or Fort Mason, and then walk or rent bikes to explore between Crissy Field and Fisherman’s Wharf.

I highly recommend a stay the Monte Cristo Inn. Personally, I can’t wait to return and stay for a longer visit to my favorite city. Stay tuned for my full San Francisco travel guide! You can check out my previous Bay Area posts here.