The Ocean Park Motel
in San Francisco

Stay by the beach in San Francisco!

The Ocean Park Motel is a charming Sunset District motel, just one block from Ocean Beach; a great alternative to staying in the downtown hotels in San Francisco.

Frankly, the reviews of the motels out by the beach are pretty discouraging, so I was happy to find this little gem of a motel to share with you!

An Art Deco Motel in the Sunset District

This adorable San Francisco motel was built in the same year as the Golden Gate Bridge: 1936. It was San Francisco's first motel, and even won an award from the Art Deco Society of California.

It has the retro charm of the 1930's and is maintained in excellent condition. The management is helpful and friendly, and the rooms and grounds are lovingly cared for. The Ocean Park Motel has been family-run for two generations.

The entrance is through a little garden courtyard, and jacuzzi is available for the guests, as well.

The decor of the building is unique: deco/nautical, with porthole windows, cruise-ship railings and ship steering wheels on the doors.

Many of the rooms arranged around a pretty courtyard, with separate room entrances.

There is another Japanese-style garden in the back, with a slide and swing set for the kids. Very peaceful and quiet.

The rooms are small, characteristic of the era, but very clean and cute, with the original tile in the bathrooms.

Some of the rooms are on the second floor: stairway (no elevator).

Bathrooms are retro, with the original tile. All the bathrooms have showers.

Some rooms have little kitchenettes, with small appliances and cupboards that look like illustrations from a 1940's Betty Crocker cookbook. 

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Who is this motel a good match for?

If you're not looking for a standardized, impersonal motel with huge beds and a giant TV, this could be a good match.

There are small, flat screen TV's and little coffee-makers in all the rooms, and most of the rooms have a microwave, fridge and free WiFi.

Dogs are welcome, but no cats due to allergies. All rooms are non-smoking.

Free, off-street parking is available. Garages in a San Francisco motel...pretty cool!

I haven't stayed here, but I lived nearby for many years, so I'm very familiar with the neighborhood; it is generally very safe and quiet. I looked at five of the rooms and was quite taken with this unusual little motel. I wish I could stay there! I would gladly recommend it to friends and family.

The L-Taraval streetcar goes right by one side of it, but the manager said you can ask for a room away from that side if you are concerned about noise. So it's an easy trip to downtown San Francisco on the street car which goes all the way to Market Street and the Embarcadero and Ferry Building on the bay.

After midnight, it switches to a bus, so it's quieter. You'll be lulled to sleep by the foghorns!

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Room Rates

All of the rooms have queen-sized beds (1, 2 or 3 beds available) and some have little kitchens.

The rates: $165-260, depending on the season and room size.

Rooms with kitchens are $10 extra.

Call 415 566-7020 for reservations or questions. Their website is www.oceanparkmotel.com.

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Restaurants in Walking Distance

The Java Beach Cafe is one block from the motel, across the street from the Zoo on Sloat Boulevard at 45th Ave, by the Doggie Diner head.

Another good choice for breakfast or lunch. Lots of sandwiches and salads, beer and wine. Soft ice cream, too. Sidewalk tables and free WiFi, but folks with laptops seem to fill up the indoor tables.

There is also a pizza place (take-out, mainly) next door to the Java Beach Cafe.

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Getting to the Ocean Park Motel

The motel is located at 2690 46th Avenue in the Sunset District, just one block from Ocean Beach and the San Francisco Zoo.

Public transportation: The L-Taraval Muni streetcar goes right past the motel, all the way to Embarcadero Station.

It's about a 30 minute ride to get downtown from here.

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Map of Ocean Park Motel

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Nearby Attractions

The motel is in the Sunset District, the western area of the city that faces the Pacific Ocean and is a quiet, residential area.

See my guide to the Sunset District to see all there is to see in this area, including some amazing views, and our pretty, tiled-stairways.

Ocean Beach is only one block from the Ocean Park Motel. Step out the door, look down the street, and there's the Pacific Ocean. San Francisco's biggest beach is convenient for walks, picnics, surfing or just hanging out.

The San Francisco Zoo is also one block from the door. Check out the lemur habitat and the meerkat village. Kids will love the little steam train, petting zoo and vintage carousel.

Golden Gate Park is not far away; a paved path, and now the Great Highway's Sunset Dunes Park, runs along Ocean Beach for walkers and cyclists, all the way to the park. There are loads of things to do in there: walking, biking, boating on the lake, and visiting the museums and gardens.

The historic Cliff House restaurant at the northern end of Ocean Beach has a striking setting and gorgeous views. Closed now but scheduled to reopen later in 2025.

Explore the ruins of the Sutro Baths and have dinner while watching the sun sink into the Pacific.

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