Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Castro

The Castro has been waiting for this brand-new, 12-room hotel, designed for travelers who appreciate smart design and embrace self-service. There’s no staff on-site—upon reserving, guests receive simple instructions for accessing the building, followed by a code for the front door, elevator, and room just before check-in. The five-story property is close enough to the action to be convenient and just far enough away to blend in with this lovely residential area. Done in crisp whites with colorful splashes, the small rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, a terrace, and clever details that maximize space (like under-the-bed luggage compartments and drawers) and Nespresso machines. In place of headboards, rooms have murals made up of tiny photographs of LGBTQ+ life that together form images of gay icons. Snug bathrooms have black fixtures and blue hexagonal tiles in cool designs; the marble-top sink is in the sleeping area. The hotel’s Lobby Bar next door and a rooftop lounge with firepit overlooking the neighborhood add hangout spaces.