First of all, this hotel is like staying in a living beat writers museum. It's got a great central location in North Beach, and you feel like you are genuinely a part of the beat scene while staying there. The room was decent- the mattress was acceptable, but not much more than that. The bathroom was tiny but did the trick. It did have what I would refer to as a museum quality picture of the great beat writers of the day- Kerouac, Ferlinghetti, Cassady, Corso, Orlovsky... with a handwritten note about the picture from Allen Ginsberg. How freaking cool is that??? It was absolutely amazing, and it made the hotel worthwhile for me.
That said, if you want to sleep- especially on a weekend night- DO NOT GET A ROOM FACING COLUMBUS AVE. When I tell you that it sounded like a riot was taking place outside our room, I am not exaggerating. At various times during the night (and I'd taken a sleeping pill to counteract potential street noise), my girl and I heard shouting, fighting, ambulances, police cars, sounds like bombs going off, screams, laughter, singing, more bomb sounds... I swear to you, no one could have been more surprised to look out the window the next morning and see... a street. Just a quiet, calm street. Amazing.
Anyway, if you love character, this is the hotel for you. If you really want to be in North Beach, it's the place for you. However, if you are into pampering or quiet solitude, Boheme is probably not a fit. That said, I would go back- I'd just bring ear plugs next time.
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