Fodor's Expert Review Phoenix Hotel

A magnet for the boho crowd, the Phoenix is retro and low-key, with colorful furniture, white bedspreads, and original pieces by local artists, as well as modern amenities like free Wi-Fi. Standard rooms face the courtyard, an azure-tile pool, and a garden that all feel more Palm Springs than SF. Subdued surroundings aside, this isn't the best choice for those seeking peace and quiet (or anyone put off by the hotel's location on the fringes of the Tenderloin). Little Richard, Elijah Wood, Sean Lennon, and members of R.E.M. and Pearl Jam have all stayed here, and in the evening, the crowd from the hip Chambers eat + drink (great weekend brunch) populates the cabanas and pool.