From the piped-in, poolside jungle music to the hip Bambuddha restaurant-lounge with its bamboo furnishings and Southeast Asian menu, the Phoenix (a classic 1950s motel) evokes the tropics -- or at least a fun, kitschy version of them. Little Richard, Elijah Wood, Sean Lennon, and members of R.E.M. and Pearl Jam have stayed here, so it's not the place for those seeking peace and quiet -- or anyone put off by the hotel's location, on the fringes of the sketchy Tenderloin District. Simple rooms with bamboo furniture, batik-print bedspreads, and original pieces by local artists all face the courtyard pool and sculpture garden, where free continental breakfast is served.
Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip >>