500 West

Spartan Hostel... NOT a hotel

It's a odd place really... it has so much potential to be really cool. This "Hotel" is located right in the heart of the city. Not too far from the Gaslamp and not too far from the bay. It is in a neighborhood that's pretty much dead at night. It's right in the financial center of downtown... So plan on walking at least 3 or 4 blocks to get food. The lobby is clean and the staff are very pleasant and professional looking. I stayed on the 6th floor. A floor they "just opened up again". What does that mean? I expected it to be redone or something. But it was a little drab. Nothing to write home about. The details in the place need some polish. The floor numbers near the elevators are stickers from a hardware store. The paint makes it look like a government institution. The rooms have old 90's floral bed coverings and a tiny TV in the corner. If the establishment went to IKEA and made the furniture modern.. put maybe a modern color pallet to the place and hung a flat screen on the wall the place would be great. The carpet is a bit old to... not gross but... industrial. But here's the real difference to this place. The rooms are really small. No big deal if you're just planning to sleep there. They're private with a either a twin or a full size bed. But be prepared to walk down the hall to use the bathrooms. It seems that on each floor there are 4 areas that have 4 private bathrooms. A key accessed and locked room with a sink, toilet and shower. This is why I said it was a hostel. You get a private room and a bathroom that while you're in it... it's all yours. But earlier that day someone else may have been there. Very old school European.

Unique Quality: As stated above, be prepared to walk down the hall to use the bathrooms. It seems that on each floor there are 4 areas that have 4 private bathrooms. A key accessed and locked room with a sink, toilet and shower. This is why I said it was a hostel. You get a private room and a bathroom that while you're in it... it's all yours. But earlier that day someone else may have been there. Very old school European. For the price ($49-59) you should know what your getting for your money. For a hostel it may be expensive to average... for a hotel (which it's not) it's a cheap alternative.