Cornell Hotel De France, San Francisco

We first stayed at the Cornell in the fall of 2010. Being a French teacher who has lived in Europe, I found this charming hotel delightful and reminiscent of small French hotels. The room, a "cozy queen", was small by US standards, but adequate, with a stall shower. The mattress was exceptionally comfortable. We enjoyed the full American style breakfast served in the very cool Restaurant Jeanne d"Arc. We returned this fall (2011) and had a somewhat larger room with a clawfoot tub/shower. Showering in the tub was a little bit tricky, as we are not as young as we used to be: the floor of the tub curves a bit and the side is quite high. (This was the only negative in our experience.) This visit, we also enjoyed a delicious dinner in the restaurant. AND..we enjoyed TV5, a French cable channel! (Nancy & Gary, Michigan)

Unfriendly snooty services by the hotel french woman personnel. Rooms was supposedly large. Largest room was the smallest room we ever stayed in, pretty shabby. Decor covers up old walls of entire hotel. Pretty sure we had bad case of bed bugs and not too mention spooky noisy sounds coming from bathroom window. Never ever again!

Dinky rooms; old clawfoot bathtubs too high for older folks to use; right next door to a male strip club; snappy personnel; photos of rooms distort size/comfort; mattress shot; no refers in rooms; just a low grade old place painted up to look like something special

I went to the Cornell for one night because my wife had to go to UCSF and we wanted a nice and affordable to stay. We feel lucky that we choose this hotel. It was in a great location and everyone at the hotel from the owners to the employees were all friendly and accomodating. The French Cuisine in the restaurant was amazing. The artwork was very beautiful. I went back there 2 more nights even though I had to drive back and forth to UCSF Parnassus because I felt 'comfortable' there. We will surely go back and stay a night or two and would recommend this to anyone!

The hotel is darling. French and romantic. The location is great and the price is perfect. The decor was very pretty and the food was good. The service was nice too. Great choice for a romantic weekend or a cheap trip to the City. We highly recommend it.

We had never been to San Francisco and found this hotel listed in Frommers. We read good reviews and bad, and after four nights in the hotel cannot understand the negative ones at all. The hotel is ideally located near Union Square and only steps from the Powell cable car line. The rooms were quaint, and smallish, as expected in an older, European style hotel, but they were very clean, the towels were thick and luxurious, and the glasses were not plastic! We stayed three nights and then came back for a night before our trip home. Both rooms had claw foot tubs with showers. The restaurant is like a trip to a side street in Paris. Complementary breakfast is included in the fare. The staff was friendly and helpful, contributing to a great time. We would not hesitate to go back, or send our friends there.

We've stayed in many different kinds of hotels/motels in the US & in Europe, from luxury to hostel. The minute we entered the Cornell, we knew we'd found a gem. Location: perfect. Welcome: warm. Room & bath: comfortable & immaculate. Breakfast: plain, good, quick (excellent coffee). Not a decor for everyone: fussy, cluttered, sincere but overdone. But if you're looking for something out of the usual "decorator" cookie-cutter mold, a place with a point of view & a personality but with all the basic amenities, you'll get a kick out of the Cornell.

I had had the pleasure of staying in this hotel on several times during the past four years. I have recommened it without hesitation to friends traveling there as well. All have the same comments: "A wonderful small hotel in the big city. We enjoyed it greatly. The breakfast and the evening meals are outstanding. The location is perfect, close to the cable car line and then to the street cars. Close to shopping as well." Each stay has been fantastic and I hope to return soon.

I loved the Hotel! it's avery simple, classic French hotel. THe location is perfect, near the China town, Union Square and you can walk anywhere from there.

My husband and I were guests at the Cornell Hotel for 4 days in early Spring 2006. This was one of the best experiences we had in a boutique hotel. The room was pristine with an old world charm. The bed was very comfortable. The staff was warm and helpful. Breakfast is included and is served in a hidden away gem of a restaurant. It is located right off Powell and access to the Cable Car is a stones throw from the hotel. We will definately be back. I highly recommend this little jewel.