The French Hotel, Berkeley

Calling this place a fleabag hotel is an insult to fleas. And bags. Unless you only other option is the streets, it's not worth it.

The hotel is disgusting. Don't ever stay there. There are plenty of cool hotels and motels around Berkeley. This one is dirty, smelly, moldy, and distasteful. The only good thing is the location. Room is like a hole in the wall. Bed was so old you could feel the springs poking through the mattress. Bathroom is carpeted and dirty. If you have a choice, don't do it.

The location is superb. Price, right. Coffee shop at least as right. Everything within easy walking distance. All in all, swell deal. Hygiene, well, how to renovate with us paying what we paid? Accommodating "staff." If it had a concierge, was a "real" hotel, couldn't stay there more than a night. Solves a heap of problems by being what it is, where it is. Storage system clever. For those young enough at heart to overlook the odd glitches, stay for a week or so. Brings back the 60's in the heart of the Millenium. Could live there.

My daughter lives in Berkeley. So I wisited her couple times this year. First and last time I stayed in a "French Hotel" Great location and that only good about this hotel.Coffee you can have without staying in a hotel. Room was dirty with mold in a bath.I was bitten at night by some bugs in a bed. Brrrrrr.

The hotel is almost more like a hostel than a hotel, but not in a bad way. The prices are really reasonable and the location is great, right in the heart of the Gourmet Ghetto. We stayed there in October of last year, and when we walked out the door in the morning, a food festival was happening on Shattuck. The cafe is always bustling as it serves great coffee and the staff are friendly as well. The rooms are decent, not luxurious, but provided a clean, quiet and safe place to spend the night. We were on the 1st floor and had metal roll-down blinds (like the type they use on retail stores)for the balcony, but it did not bother us. The bathroom was very clean and well-supplied, though the towels were a bit worn. Closet space is lacking and it tends to run to IKEA modular dorm-room style. But to reiterate: the room was cleaned and well-maintained, as was the bathroom; it was safe; staff was extremely friendly and helpful; rates are great. If you're looking for an inexpensive funky place to relax and sleep, this is it. If you're looking for luxury and 1000-thread count sheets, go stay in SF.

The 25+ year old product of a renovated dry cleaning establishment, according to the "front desk" manager. The furnishings are at least that old with torn upholstered chairs, desks and armoirs at least that old and somewhat the worse for wear, faded carpeting, sagging bed. What is available is clean with no bugs seen. Security seemed questionable with doubtful door and window locks. The location is good for at least some parts of the University.

You haven't seen anything until you have to "roll" the metal drapes down, and then you have thousands of lights from the street lamp in the parking lot... If you like the smell of coffee - then this is the place for you, as you don't need to drink it...

it was just the thing i was looking for. the service was great the people were ausome. they made me feel at home. the cleanliness was the best!

I'm a Berkeley native, love north Berkeley! I was in town visiting friends a couple of weeks ago and planned to stay at the French Hotel for two nights. As was noted in an earlier review the hotel is extremely run down, dirty carpets, stained furniture, burnt out bulbs. But, because I love the area I decided to give the French Hotel a try. I was first placed in a room that had a leak in the ceiling in two places. The staff very helpfully moved me to a room down the hall. I awoke after my first night at the hotel to find that I was covered with bites from the middle of my back to the backs of my knees. I believe it was either fleas or bed bugs. I immediately checked out and was told by the desk staff to contact the management during the week to notify them and see if they could adjust my charge. I called and the manager indicated that he had checked the room, seen nothing, had had another guest stay in the room and had no complaints about bug bites. Since he didn't have first hand knowledge about the bites, he wouldn't adjust any charges. Hmm, I could not in good conscience, for any reason (even if the location is great) recommend staying at this hotel.

So much potential (location and style) but so run down. Dirty and torn carpets, burned out light bulbs in the room, broken furniture and sagging beds. That's too bad because I had high hopes for this hotel because of its location and advertised European charm. (The failure to provide my requested wake-up call didn't help either.) The owners should invest some time and money to bring it back. However, the coffee shop on the first floor is great.