Lodging

The Marina Motel is a garden oasis, tucked away off Lombard Street in the Maina district.

A motel is usually just that — a motel. A low-budget place to park your car and put your head down for the night. There is no shortage of them along the noisy, traffic-choked span of San Francisco’s Lombard Street from Van Ness to Richardson Avenues.

I’ve written about a couple of Lombard Street lodgings, and while the Hotel del Sol is a colorful option (with a pool) and the Edward II is a charming work-in-progress, the Marina Motel is a true standout.

The charming Marina Motel.

The trompe l’oeil murals on the outside drew me into this charming courtyard oasis. Lombard Street is busy and loud, but within protected walls of this family-owned “motor hotel,” is a peaceful place overflowing with flowers — bouganvellia, fuschia, geraniums, poppies, lillies, succulents, and jasmine in terracotta pots, on wrought iron balconies and climbing on vines. In the places that aren’t busting with blooms, delicate murals like the ones outside, depict them. The Marina Motel was built in 1930 by the current owners, grandfather to coincide with the building of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Forty immaculate rooms range in price from $95 to $299, depending on size and season. Nearly half have good-sized, homey kitchenettes. All have private garages. Family rooms sleep up to five, and dogs are welcome in many of the rooms for an additional $10.

With the garages below, kitchens in most rooms, and little conversation areas, the airy, sun-filled suites and rooms at this Mediterranean bungalow-style motel feel more like little pied-a-terre city apartments then a motor lodge.

Amenities include a coupon for breakfast at Judy’s Cafe, a legendary San Francisco breakfast joint that serves delicious “cowboy-sized” meals.

The Marina location is convenient to the Golden Gate Bridge, Crissy field, the Presidio and great shopping and dining on Chestnut and Union Streets.

On my way out of the office, I noticed a message to staff in all caps on the office white board that said “No Dead Heads.” So, if that’s the way you roll, you might want to leave your musical predilection out of the conversation when reserving your room, but consider yourself warned. And no all-night jams, please.

Photos by Dan Dion