San Francisco Home

Guest: R and G (Germany)
Date of Stay: 10/24/10 Review Submitted: 10/20/11

We came back to this apartment and stayed again some weeks to see our relatives living a few blocks away. So, this is our San Francisco home! Why? Gracie and Dana are great hosts and have done a fantastic job equipping the apartment with anything one would need. Bouquets of fresh flowers are an especially nice touch. The spacious and luxury bed helped us a lot to overcome the jet lag. It was a pleasure to cook in the fully equipped kitchen and the deck overlooking the garden invited us to have breakfast or just to relax in the sun. The cosy neighborhood with its restaurants, cafés and shops invites to stroll around. Off-street parking is very convenient, but basically San Francisco is a great walking town. The Church Street car (J) stopps nearby and provides a fast connection to the city with access to the whole transportation system. Overall, we highly recommend this gem in Noe Valley.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.

Lovely, beautifully furnished apartment in a great neighbourhood.

Guest: MrsJ (Crystal Palace, London)
Date of Stay: 09/17/11 Review Submitted: 10/03/11

We decided we wanted to experience San Fran from the perspective of the San Franciscans, so wanted to stay in a nice friendly peaceful neighbourhood where we could explore from. The apartment does not disappoint on any level, it is spacious, homely and the decoration in a period style true to the age of the building is stunning. We loved sitting out on the terrace with a bottle of local wine. We went at the beginning of September and the weather was wonderful, very hot and sunny. The kitchen is better equipped than ours at home, with everything you need. There are also some nice cafes and take away places nearby. The enormous bed was extremely comfortable (one of us is 6ft 5inches tall so that was much appreciated) and the area is very peaceful and quiet at night time. Once we had worked out the local transport system, it was easy to get in to town and to the airport using the J Church Muni street car line, which was a 5 min walk away from the apartment. Michael and Gracie were very helpful and booking was very easy. Sebastian the dog kept us from missing our two dogs too much (who were staying with family in the UK) when he came to say hello from downstairs a few times. Definitely the most relaxing way to see San Fran and feel part of the local culture. We would highly recommend.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Gem in San Francisco

Guest: Travelbug1 (Smithfield, RI)
Date of Stay: 09/04/11 Review Submitted: 09/16/11

Beautiful apartment in a quiet neighborhood with off-street parking just minutes from anywhere you want to go in San Francisco and accessible to public transportation. The apartment is elegant, yet comfortable and breakfast out on the deck in the California sunshine was wonderful. We were there for our honeymoon and everything was perfect. Could not ask for more.

Owner response:A "perfect honeymoon stay".... that's what we like to hear! All the best to you both, Gracie & Dana

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.

The perfect temporary apartment

Guest: Laurie Bernstein (Swarthmore, PA/USA)
Date of Stay: 07/27/11 Review Submitted: 08/12/11

Having lived in this apartment for two weeks (July 27-August 10, 2011) and had an excellent experience, I'm very happy to recommend this rental to others. My husband and I found it clean, well-appointed, comfortable, and extremely well located. The bedroom was quiet and featured a plush king-size bed; closet, drawer, and shelf space abounded. The living room was also nice, but of particular quality were the kitchen and dining area. The owners supplied high-end appliances (a Subzero fridge, Asko dishwasher, and Viking stove), Dansko dishes, and plenty of (granite) counter space. (Sorry if this is sounding like product placement; it's not - I was just struck by their investment in quality products for the property.) Our 22-year-old son inhabited the alcove next to the kitchen for one week of our stay. With privacy and access to the flat-screen TV and other electronics, he was quite comfortable. All of us liked the enthusiastic visits from Sebastian, the owners' dog, who would bound in from downstairs to greet us when we left the backdoor open (which signals how secure the back area is). With the J Church half a block away and a parking space right outside the door, we felt very lucky: we could get on the highway easily from Cesar Chavez or San Jose Ave, or we could hop on the trolley to go straight downtown. Nearby were also some great restaurants (La Ciccia is a standout), and 24th Street just a 10-minute walk. Best of all was the deck: jasmine covers the fence; Bernal Heights is in the distance; peace and quiet reign. One last remark: the scent of jasmine greeted us when we arrived, the owners thoughtfully having filled three vases with flowers. We'd go back to this place in a heartbeat.

Owner response:We're so glad that you had such a great stay with us! Thank you so much for detailing all of the high end appliances in the kitchen and bringing attention to the quality furnishings that fill the apartment. We take great pride in these details...down to the placement of flower filled vases :-) Looks like you took full advantage of the flat, neighborhood and public transportation. We look forward to you seeing you again next year. All the best, Gracie & Dana.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.

Home from home

Guest: Mary and Denis (Glasgow, Scotland)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

Have just returned after a wonderful week in this beautiful apartment. It had everything you could want, in fact so well equiped that it felt like home. We enjoyed sitting on the little terrace enjoying the beautiful sunshine and a glass of wine. If I could have taken the very comfortable king size bed home with me I would!!! Nice to stay in a residential area and see the real San Fransisco, but, only a short streetcar ride from everything you would want to see and do. Noe Valley has some lovely coffee shops, shoppping and restaurants if you don't feel like being in the busy town centre. Gracie and Dana were so helpful and informative in giving us information about the area and places to visit. Thank you for making our holiday a memorable one.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.

Cosy and bright apartment

Guest: Anton (Ottawa Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

We stayed in this great apartment on the second floor for a week in July, admittedly a foggy month of the year in SF. However, the apartment, at least in the kitchen with lots of windows facing south and in the bathroom with a sky light have lots of light! The king sized bed is uber comfortable, although in a dark room, but with lots of track lighting. The old fashioned sitting room next to the bedroom is also dark and not inviting, but with great furniture. The kitchen has a high end fridge, stove and OK microwave and old dishwasher, but a cosy place to eat. The room next to the kitchen with the television needs a new coach to sit comfortably, although there is a nice leather chair for reading. The balcony off the kitchen and reading/TV nook is just awesome, when it is warm enough with flowers and trees! Within easy tram travel to the rest of the city, and even longish walking from the Castro for glbt folks, this is a great place to stay for a week on holiday.

Owner response:Hi Anton, We are so glad you enjoyed the high comfort of our spacious East Coast King bed, and we appreciate you bringing attention to the wonderful natural light that fills both the bathroom and the kitchen with its high-end appliances (note: the dishwasher is only 5 years old). As can been seen in the room photos, there are tall windows in the bedroom and living room that provide ample light on a typical sunny day. It was unfortunate that the weather presented you with lots of fog during your stay. In addressing your comments about the living room (referred to as an ‘old fashioned’ sitting room), we beg to differ. Those who appreciate a renovated living room with finely crafted furniture, 20th century art, Bradbury & Bradbury Art Deco wallpaper and gold leaf Lincrusta Wainscoting will find this room very welcoming. The living room photo definitely reflects the spirit of the room. Thanks for sharing your experience. All the best! Dana & Gracie

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers.

Our San Francisco home away from home!

Guest: Marty and David (N. Charleston, SC)
Date of Stay: 07/04/11 Review Submitted: 07/16/11

My husband and I recently spent a wonderful week at this lovely apartment in Noe Valley. Dana and Gracie were great hosts and have done a fantastic job equipping the apartment with anything one would need. The place has ample room and is very comfortable and nicely decorated. We also loved the deck with the fragrant flowers and the panoramic view of the nearby hills. The location is really convenient to great dining, nearby corner grocery shops and the Muni. No need for a car. We really enjoyed walking around the neighborhood and soaking up the local environment. Thanks Dana and Gracie for providing such a relaxing place that we called home for the week. We look forward to future stays for sure!

Owner response:We are so glad that you had a great stay in our apartment and got to spend time on the deck enjoying the sunshine and views. Even though we provide our guests with off-street parking, I think you were smart to take advantage of public transpo and explore the neighborhood on foot. All the best!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.

perfect retreat

Guest: Martina (The Netherlands)
Date of Stay: 05/10/11 Review Submitted: 07/08/11

We stayed 7 weeks in the apartment ; we assisted our daughter with her two babies and in between used the apartment as our refuge , which suited very well , almost every afternoon we were on the sunny deck enjoying the nice view of a.o.Bernal Heights.Occasionally we went for a good lunch/diner at the Thai restaurant or the Chinese, all close by and good. The apartment is spacious , tastefully decorated, a fantastic bed , we love to come back and would definitely recommend it to other people

Owner response:We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed our flat and the neighborhood. I, too, think the king bed is 'fabulous' -- it's a high end East Coast King (which is wider than a California King) -- extra spacious. We look forward to having you stay with us again next year. Cheers!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.

Home in San Francisco

Guest: R and G (Germany)
Date of Stay: 11/08/10 Review Submitted: 01/31/11

We spent a full month in this beautiful and charming apartment. It was wonderful – spacious, immaculate, not to mention the quiet deck for sunny days and off street parking. The fully stocked kitchen makes it easy to eat-in, although the neigborhood is full of wonderful restaurants, all within walking distance. You feel right at home, in your own Noe Valley apartement! Would we come back? Anytime!

Owner response:We are so glad that you had a wonderful month-long stay in our flat. We pride ourselves in making our guests as comfortable as possible, so it is very reassuring to hear that our efforts are appreciated :-) Looking forward to your next stay with us. Gracie & Dana

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.

Enjoyable stay at Noe Valley

Guest: glekusz (Barrie, ON)
Date of Stay: 10/24/10 Review Submitted: 11/05/10

We stayed at Noe Valley Oct. 24-31/10. The flat is very comfortable for a couple, lots of room, high ceilings, all amenities included, etc. We appreciated the large bed and tub/shower combination - judt had to sort out logistics in the old-style small bathroom. Location is convenient and surprisingly, very quiet - no traffic noise. Easy to get around the city from this location, once you sort out the highways and main roads. Driveway parking is a bonus, especially in San Francisco, given the difficulty of finding on-street parking. Lots of restaurants and small shops close by - a Safeway grocery store is just a few blocks away. Do yourself a favor and get their customer card (save money every purchase). All in all, an enjoyable stay.

Owner response:So glad we were able to make your stay a comfortable one and that you were able to appreciate the sense of space our flat offers with it's high ceilings and natural light. As you mention, off-street parking is a real plus - considering that there is restricted street parking throughout most of San Francisco. All the best to you both - Gracie & Dana

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.