Kensington Park Hotel

8.4

Excellent

958 Guest reviews

8.4

Excellent

958 Verified Reviews

Read all reviews

Cleanliness8.8/10

Service9.0/10

Comfort8.4/10

Condition8.0/10

Neighborhood9.2/10

Amenities7.6/10

Relaxing music in the lobby to enjoy a hot drink before heading out in the morning was a nice touch. The old-time decor was charming. I've never spent any time in hotel lobbies, but this was a comfortable place to gather with our group in the mornings. The concierge was very polite, friendly and responsive.

Enjoyable stay

I enjoyed my brief stay at the Kensington Park Hotel. The location close to Union Square is very nice and convenient. The hotel is in a historic building that I found charming.

Convenient location. Old world charm, room was quiet and comfortable. Front desk staff were courteous and professional. Appreciated the Bevi water options.

Nearby so many things. Shops, transportation and restaurants

Thank you for the Hospitality 😊

Great location with a helpful staff.

Excellent staff, Adam and the rest of the staff were super attentive, helpful and absolutely a pleasure to interact with. The people from the Elks Lodge are a great group as well. Definitely staying again.

The hotel is primarily an Elks Club facility with several floors of commercial hotel. It is an old building, and the rooms are small or at least feel cramped, with very limited drawer space for your clothes. No ice machines on the floors ("for safety"), so you have to take your ice bucket to the front desk and then they insist that it be delivered to your room (for a tip). The staff is excellent and helpful. The management strongly recommends that you not ask for maid service ("for the environment"). Biggest drawback for me was the weak water pressure and burning or lukewarm water in the showers (plenty of cold water!). Great location; however, just steps off of Union Square. Close to Powell Street and public transportation. For all of my whining about minor issues, I would stay here again as it is well-located, quiet and affordable.

They tried to charge me 2x

I booked thru hotels.com. I booked Friday thru Sunday I paid the amount on there for the e days. No where do the promote that you have to pay 60 to 80 to park a day. So I checked out Saturday due to an emergency during check out they wanted my card so I can pay the valet which is fine. I get my car setting up navigation and I get a notification that is was charged an extra $300. After I already paid before arriving just a bad exp

Its very quirky we loved its decor and the staff were wonderful location was brill too

I booked this property because i was attending an event at the August Hall, one block away from hotel. Hotel has a nice look to it, most definitely will stay here again.

The Flavor of San Francisco!!

Adorable place!!! So much history!!! Love it!! Close to everything!! Don’t miss this flavor of San Francisco!!

The room was clean. The service was very good. It was reasonably priced and in a great location.

Shame, could’ve been a very nice stay

They are so strict with the check out time, and only one elevator working, had to wait for more than 5 minutes twice that morning, I requested 20 minutes for check out, after a 4 day stay!!!!

Was in a perfect spot from union square

This was the most amazing property. All of the staff were really great - especially Amy!! Would stay here again for sure.

It was by far different as shown in the listing. Old, dirty and noisy.

The hotel was good, happy with it mostly. Pretty old and dated room, climate control needs to be better. Protesters outside very early each morning. Not the motels fault but not great. Generally a good motel I would stay again.

The hotel has a unique lobby, it’s welcoming. The staff are friendly and welcoming.The coffee and biscuits are nice in the morning in the lobby. It’s close to union square, walkable to fisherman’s wharf, but you have to consider the steep hills,china town is walkable.

I had fond memories of this place from years back, and decided to give it another go.The place is OK, and the staff is fine. Parking is outrageously expensive. Pro Tip: Park yourself in the structure around the corner - it’s about half off the valet price. Disturbingly, Expedia double billed me for this stay, and the KPH manager is working with them to refuse a refund to me, even though the double billing isn’t my fault. Stay somewhere else if you can. And use Orbitz.

Cute hotel. Don’t miss a look down the spiral staircase!

Staff were friendly snd courteous. Its very convenient to walk around restaurant, theaters and parking garages. It is also reasonably priced for the room..it was very loud and the windows are soundproof, that we can hear the protesters down the street early in the morning. They provide free mandalines, biscottis and coffee and hot chocolate by the lobby for free. Room was clean and spacious for me and my husband. The hotel was little bit old, i think they should change the head boards, sliding doors in the shower and probably make the beds more softer or comfortable. We will definitely come back to this hotel.

nice 2 day stay. A bit dated but very comfortable.

I loved the vintage feel and the fact that a playhouse was housed in the facility. I like the bed and sheets and decor. The staff was very helpful. I didn't like the noise from the hotel strikers. It was numbing and went on and on--I was in a front room and I couldn't hear myself think think for almost three hours on Wednesday morning and again the next morning.

I could stay here again.

Old but nice hotel. Very friendly and helpful staff. Noisy because the neighboring hotel chain workers were loudly on strike. Good value for the money.

Very nice stay

Right down the street from Union Square and all the shops and dining one could want or need, this location was perfect for our plan to ‘walk the city’. Everything was in walking distance. The Powell cable car runs half a block away and many your busses left right across the street. Friendly staff, clean room, historical and charming hotel. Zero issues and would stay here again.

Great location

A comfortable, cozy stay in a great location. We could walk to the theater, great restaurants, and shopping.

Excellent location and friendly staff

Property is conveniently located. Very clean and very nice staff.

Should state there is no AC before booking.

Very spacious and comfortable room. Appreciated Coffee, tea and cookies in the morning and cold water. Hotel very well situated. However no A/C but fan on ceiling did the job. Highly recommended.

A great place to stay; you cannot ask for a better location.

Great location, comfortable accommodations, convenient to dining

We stayed here for the last 8 nights and it was lovely. Great location for getting just about anywhere in the city, the staff (especially Adam!!!) were lovely and the hotel itself is charming. It shares space with the Elks Club and a Playhouse which was fun for the atmosphere and the interesting people coming and going. My partner and I took full advantage of the free sherry in the evenings when getting back from long days of exploring. There is a free water machine in the lobby to refill your bottles, which was also handy. Only criticism I would have would be that one elevator was out the whole visit which made for some long waits. Thank you again, and we miss you already, Adam!!!

Inexperienced and rude staff

The hotel has inexperienced staff that are rude. I booked a room up for my associate for three days and she was not aware that the check out day was today and so she didn’t take her stuff out of the room. The staff insinuated that she was trying to be sneaky and have a room for free. Now, how would that be possible? She just was unaware that the room was not booked for one other night. We wanted to add another night but the staff was so unfriendly and insulting. We had to check out immediately.

Picked this hotel because it had parking according to the description. And this is very crucial for downtown San Francisco. Parking is exclusively valet that cost extra. Which we obviously payed. Other then that very nice hotel and the restaurant where we had brunch was really good.

good

Easily the best hotel in the city!

Classic hotel I've always wanted to stay at . Will return one day .

Great location. The San Francisco Playhouse theater group is in the same building so this is an excellent place for out of towners who want to enjoy a show. We've seen three of them now, all very enjoyable.

Can’t wait to go back!

This is a jewel of a hotel, perfectly situated right at Union Square. We loved the classic decor, and couldn’t believe the fact that we could see a live musical right inside the hotel, the SF Playhouse! Everyone at the front desk was gracious and helpful.

This is a great location for staying near union square. I was worried that we would need air conditioning but staying in June , never needed it once. I would stay here again.

It was a nice hotel. Not the best neighborhood.

I had a great stay at the Kensington Park Hotel! They had a kind and helpful staff. Overall, it was a positive experience!

Amazing place!!

Amazing stay from first day to last! Beautiful rooms, great ambiance, gorgeous gardens. I would go back in a heartbeat 🌞😊!!

Not very comfortable.

Take note: the hotel does not have air conditioning. The check in clerk was using his cell phone and took an unacceptable amount of time to even acknowledge me. I’m not going to list the minor stuff.

Y

This hotel does not have air-conditioning!!!!!!!!! This needs to be an all Bold letters across all reservation sites so that people are not caught off guard. I will never stay there again.

It is an old style hotel, facility is old but clean, room service is good too. A nice hotel for a budget.

Good

Elevators broke down for 1 1/2 days. Had to climb 5 flights of stairs.

Old building but nice staff

Nice location, but the shower was clogged when we checked in.

Great location

Really convenient for Union Square and cable cars, and not too far from Powell St BART if you're coming in from the airport. Rooms are a bit tired (it's an old property) but everything works perfectly and the beds are really comfortable. Glad it's not summer as no a/c just a ceiling fan but window does open about 3 inches to let air in.

The service here is top notch, everyone was super friendly and helpful. Beautiful older building. The bed was comfortable, and the parking is a value for the area. I would highly recommend this hotel for anyone looking for a comfortable place to stay near Union Square at a great price.

The room was small. The room was to dark, there was no sun light or any light in the room. The washroom didn’t have any ventilation. There was no water in the room, the room didn’t come with water to make coffee or tea. The room wasn’t clean we found an old disgusting sock.

Was fine old hotel

Amy and Manfred on the front desk give exceptionally fine guest service. I fell in love with the character and charm of Kensington Park Hotel the minute I walked through the door. Amy greeted me like an old friend. I will never forget her smile. Highly recommended.

So glad we chose this hotel, great location and easy to walk to so many sites. Stayed 3 mights, very clean, staff was excellent. Would definitely recommend if you want something that has a bit of history and away from the hotel chains.

Quaint older property but well kept. We enjoyed going to a play in the theatre that is part of the hotel.

Visit to SFO

Great hotel located half a block from Union square. Easy and fast Check in and check out. Rooms are clean and spacious. Staff was very attentive and friendly Highly recommended.

The hotel was really nice! It has a old style charm and air about it. The staff was very nice and helpful. The location was idea for getting around the city via walking or driving. The dining options was great. The parking option and pricing is also great. The seating area in the lobby is amazing. The a fireplace and piano there. Its a wonderful place to unwind after a long evening. Wine is served which makes it all the more special. A wonderful place to stay if you are in the city.

The Kensington Hotel is an older historic ( but well maintained) hotel n downtown SF. It has an old vibe to customers services and even has complimentary coffee /hot chocolate in the lobby, noon check outs with specious rooms and amenities all for a very reasonable price.. I will definitely be back.

Kensington Park is super conveniently located. The area was very safe and close to everything.

Charming, very unique property, with unique traditions (coffee in the lobby rather than in the room, sherry happy hour for free, playhouse in the hotel)

The location is ideal and the facility is charming

Love the location

Our 2nd stay here. Clean and comfy.

Was very good. We all enjoyed our stay. Only issue was the heat. No AC in the rooms.

El hotel esta bien ubicado cerca de Union Square. Tener en cuenta que no cuenta con aire acondicionado, solo abanico en el techo, que sonaba mucho durante la noche. Había que dormir con la ventana abierta y habia mucho ruido en la calle.

No AC in the rooms. Temperature in the rooms was too hot even if thermostats were off. Unbreathable. Space in rooms is very tight. Showers were inconsistent and water turns very hot for no reason…dangerous

Very conveniently located to everything Hotel clean and tidy No breakfast but diner just around the corner

Location hood no AC

Very old, stuffy hotel. No air conditioning and no fitness center. Near the trolley pick up was about the only good thing.

I enjoyed my stay at this hotel and would definitely stay here again in the fall and winter time. There is no proper AC in the rooms and some of the nights I spent here I felt super hot but nothing too intolerable. The staff was amazing and the location is very convenient

San Francisco Players theater is on the lower levels of the building. Nice smaller theater. Saw a great show too! Seat reservation through SF Players, headquartered in the same building.

Amazing property! And the show we flew out to see performed in the theater inside the hotel! Plus the two cafes only steps from the front entrance were both delicious options for breakfast and lunch.

Always a confortable experience. Great location. Friendly staff. Good value for money. We have been coming here for years - no reason to go somewhere else.

Clean

This is the second time I have stayed at the Kensington. It is very close to my son's school and the staff is very helpful and accommodating.

SF Playhouse, a small theater company, has performances in a 200 seat capacity theater there.

150 seat theater inside of hotel inside the building. The musical “A Chorus Line” was great. Afterwards hung out, saw some of the actors. Convenient to have room just up a few floors on elevator.

We went to the theater located on the 2nd floor and that was incredibly convenient

A cozy placec to stay. Clean, convenient, and friendly staff. Definitely cone back.

Great place. Clean and the staff were friendly.

Great location. Room a bit small

Excellent location, friendly staff

Great place for female travelers

We had a great time! I booked two rooms for 6 people, and while the double beds were small for the four people staying in one room, we found our room to be comfortable and we had a great view of the city. We loved the location, it was walking distance to a lot of great shops, cafes, and restaurants. I liked the valet parking, although we paid $80 per night because our vehicle was oversized- I didn’t see that information on the website. The staff was very kind and were always available when we needed them.

I like newer Hotels. This one has dark ambiance.

Classic vibe of the building and room . I was disappointed there was no AC . But I found out quickly it was not needed. Staff was awesome and room and lobby were very clean.

Excellent stay

We came for 5 days, 4 nights. First time in the city. Hotel is located in an excellent part of downtown. Walking distance to Union Square and Market Street. Walking distance to a few different museums. Service was excellent, gentlemen in the front were very kind and helpful. No coffee machine in room upon arrival, but I asked and one was brought up on a silver platter with cookies and coffee options. Beds were comfortable and the hotel was quiet and peaceful.

Excellent

Lovely hotel with great spacious and quiet rooms.

nice place, but some gotchas.....

The location, staff, and main room were good, but the bathroom left a little to be desired. The water temperature would shift randomly and dramatically when taking a shower making it a not so pleasant experience. Also, the bathroom vanity/sink seems reallllly low. I found myself hunched over a lot using it. (and I'm only 5'10")

Older hotel with charm and character Friendly staff

Great location and service

Friendly staff, comfortable bed, good location - easy to walk to transport and never waited longer than 5 mins for ride-share vehicles. Lots of bars and restaurants within a 20min walking radius. No AC but not hot enough to need it; opened the window a little overnight and used the ceiling fan to circulate fresh air. Would stay again.

Elks

I like this place because I am an Elk Member and we enjoy going to the Lodge.

Really professional guys by front desk. They are going over and beyond

It's my favorite place to stay in SFO. Close to shopping, dining and Chinatown. The staff is friendly and welcoming as well!

Location, location, location!

Very cute hotel! Very "vintage." Friendly staff. Location, right across from Union Square and within feet of bus and cable car lines, was not to be beat!

I

Pleasantly surprised. The room was spacious and very clean. The water pressure was less than desirable, but I still got wet. Front desk staff was very kind and hospitable. I liked having the ceiling fan. Very conveniently located ½ a block from Union Square. I would stay here again.