Cheap hotels in Nob Hill & Russian Hill, San Francisco

Neighborhood Description

In the late 1800s, Nob Hill was populated by wealthy railroad barons escaping the masses. Their mansions were leveled in the Great Quake, but the area still drips with privilege. At its heart, Huntington Park sits across from Gothic Grace Cathedral, surrounded by upscale hotels, elegant architecture and genteel cocktail lounges that recall a bygone era. (To hobnob with the blue bloods, drink in a cocktail—and 360-degree views—at the Mark Hopkins Hotel’s pie-in-the-sky bar, Top of the Mark.)

Venture west to Lower Nob Hill or north to Russian Hill and you'll find funky shops and popular bars and restaurants, especially along Hyde and Polk Streets. Do note that the southern portion of this area, sometimes referred to as the “Tendernob,” blurs with the unsavory Tenderloin neighborhood. It’s worth a visit, but keep your wits about you, especially after dark.