Once a motor lodge, then a touring rock band pitstop magnet, now a timeless hip hotel, this property has had several incarnations since its 1950s beginnings. Quirky best describes the vibe. Forty-four rooms are laid out to surround the centerpiece, a heated outdoor pool maintained at 85 degrees with an eye-catching mosaic tiled design. Complimentary Wi-Fi, coffee and tea, and no resort fee. The neighborhood is borderline to both the Tenderloin and Civic Center.

Photo: Courtesy of Phoenix Hotel