If you’re looking for a cheap place to stay in San Francisco, the Embassy Hotel at 610 Polk Street certainly fits that category, but know exactly what you’re getting. The building is old, and it shows—hallways and rooms carry a musty smell, and the photos online don’t really match the reality. My room had a cracked toilet with water on the bathroom floor, and the overall condition felt neglected. There’s no air conditioning in any of the rooms, only heaters, which makes it uncomfortable during warm days. No microwave was available in the room, either. The staff were polite and willing to help when asked, but they didn’t seem especially enthusiastic, more like they were just going through the motions. To be fair, they did respond quickly to basic requests, but it wasn’t enough to offset the environment. The neighborhood is one of the biggest drawbacks. This part of Polk is rough, with large homeless encampments and a generally unsafe feeling, especially after dark. It’s not the type of area you’d want to walk around in late at night. Overall, this place is very much “you get what you pay for.” The nightly rate feels overpriced for what’s actually provided—I’d say it’s closer in value to a $25 per night motel. Unless your top priority is the lowest possible cost and you don’t care about comfort or surroundings, I’d suggest looking elsewhere in San Francisco.