Hotel San Carlos

United States , Phoenix Area - AZ
PHOENIX, 202 N Central Ave
Show on Google | Map

100 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jun 2026

Lara

Helpful staff, clean and cool room

Self

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jun 2026

Juan

The rooms were clean and comfortable. There was a curling fan and it made the room cool.

Family_with_children

2/10

Poor

29 Jun 2026

James

AVOID!!! The only good thing about this place was the front desk staff. The bldg is in very poor condition, walls paper thin (you can literally hear every convo or anything else happening), bathroom were very tiny and not very functional, the shower is very strange and dark, no constant water temp. Wifi was slower than just using cell network. I had holes/rot in wall near baseboards, unfinished area in bathroom walls, cable was spotty at best, carpet in room was old and very very worn/packed with dirt. This place needs to be gutted, do yourself a favor and skip it.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jun 2026

Angelica

Nice interesting hotel. Gull of interesting history

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jun 2026

Nagajyothi

very good staff and clean premises

Family

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jun 2026

Michael

Nice stay and great price. It was close to my event, which was helpful

2/10

Poor

27 Jun 2026

Rowan

Not a safe hotel, homeless people are on every corner of this hotel, and they do some dangerous activities during the day and night, and try to interact with us, but we ignored them. The location of this hotel is the main street for all homeless people. We were recommended a parking lot behind the hotel, which is cheap; however, it's next to an alleyway that's filled with dangerous activities, which we witnessed at night. If you want to feel safe walking in and out of your hotel, go to another area. Also, there was no AC, which is crazy not to have in Arizona. They offered a fan, but it did not help. The staff were very nice and accommodating; however, it's just not a great area.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jun 2026

Peter

Great staff. Hotel needs a bit of TLC but the staff was amazing.

4/10

Poor

23 Jun 2026

Devarajan

Rooms are really old, no ac. The only thing is big fan and that too didn't work fine. I wouldn't recommend this hotel.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jun 2026

Jeremy

Fun historical hotel. Walking distance to anything you need.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2026

Ruben Angel

Very Vibey. Location is great.

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

20 Jun 2026

John

dated and somewhat unclean. pool is still not open, perfect say though to attend concert az financial center

Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

18 Jun 2026

Gisselle

average hotel with basic amenities although the pool and the gym were not working when we went which is the reason why we booked this hotel. not much air conditioning which was horrible in the phoenix heat. overall it was a place to stay at, but nothing more than that.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jun 2026

Marilyn

Love this place staff was very helpful and understanding about everything

Self

8/10

Excellent

12 Jun 2026

You can tell the hotel is a little dated it has a charming vibe in a great location if you need to be downtown. It’s close to a couple light rail stops so you immediately have access to places beyond Phoenix proper. There’s a great restaurant/bar below and across the street. The convention is nearby if you’re attending an event there.

There is no way to control the air conditioning but my room was very comfortable when the temps outside were around 105°. Sheets and towels were very clean. The bathroom was nice, clean, and bright. The furniture is dated but some would consider them classic and it definitely fits the aesthetics of the building. Replacing the chairs should be considered since it didn’t feel like both in my room would be sturdy.

There is no parking so you will have to pay for parking in a garage nearby or drive at least a 0.5 mile away for free street parking. Considering the area, make sure not to leave anything valuable within view inside your vehicle.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jun 2026

Meri

My daughter and I stayed here 4 nights. The staff was wonderful, very friendly and informative. The hotel is an old hotel, but still very nice. We enjoyed the sundeck very much.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jun 2026

Xavier

The hotel is a little run down, but they try their best to keep it clean given the age of the building. The room was smaller than usual, but expected

4/10

Poor

11 Jun 2026

Hanna

No parking, you have to park in a separate parking garage and the small walk there felt completely unsafe. The pain was chipping off the walls in our room and there was a smell of sewage that permeated the entire hotel. Not a safe area of Phoenix as there were people smoking drugs and screaming in the alley next to the hotel. The room was small. I feel like we paid too much to stay here given the condition of the place! The only redeeming quality was that the staff were kind to us at check-in and check-out.

Partner

4/10

Poor

10 Jun 2026

Stephanie

The bed is absolutely rock hard. And the headboard is against a mirror so if you move in the slightest it bangs against the mirror. The bathroom is extremely small. I felt like I was showering in a motorhome. You cannot adjust the AC, there is a ceiling fan. We could hear the person in the room next to us talking very clearly.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Jun 2026

Marilyn

The only complaint I have is the pillows r super hard other than that I totally recommend

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

10 Jun 2026

Debra

Perfect for a little get away!

Partner

2/10

Poor

09 Jun 2026

CHRISTINA

No pillows…bed had 3 very flat small pillows. Asked front desk for additional pillows…she said they didn’t have any extra pillows for guest…bed is old and very hard.
Light from hallway illuminates entire room from open air vent above door. No way to block light out. Side walks outside hotel …drug deals going on. Parking garage closest to hotel ..homeless sleeping in doorways. Stickey urine in all stairwells.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

09 Jun 2026

George

Charming. Historical. Interesting - like each floor was a museum and a window to Phoenix’s past! This hotel is 98 years old and very boutique. I actually invited family and friends downtown to come see how cool it was. Not just a hotel, an experience! Side note: the staff were super helpful when it came to checking in, and keeping my luggage after hours. PS delicious pop up bar/pizzeria in the lobby. We had a fun time for Phoenix Fan Fusion - super easy walk from the hotel to the convention center, light rail, Dbacks baseball, it was all right there. Cornish Pasty across the street was amazing!

Self

6/10

Pleasant

08 Jun 2026

John

The room was ok however a previous guest wrapped the smoke detector in plastic. I can only speculate as to why. The soda machine needed to be refilled but that’s fair considering it was Fan Fusion weekend. The beds were comfortable, room was cool and it was a great experience for an old hotel. The staff was awesome and I do highly recommend staying here for the downtown Phoenix experience!!

Family

2/10

Poor

08 Jun 2026

Luis

Dirty room. It smells.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

08 Jun 2026

Madison

Clean room. Super nice staff.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

07 Jun 2026

Les

Very cool and old hotel, they should open the pool though.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

07 Jun 2026

Rhian

The hotel is in need of refurbishment, it looked shabby and rundown. Make sure you don’t have a room near the lift - it kept me awake. The room itself was spacious and clean but again needs refurbishment. The location is great for downtown. The hotel has a lot of history

Self

6/10

Pleasant

06 Jun 2026

Adrienne

Staff was very helpful. No parking on site and I should've read that in the description so that was my fault. Beds were not very comfortable, bathroom was not much bigger than an airplane bathroom with a shower and you can't adjust temperature in the room but cute old fashion charm of a place built in 1928. We only stayed one night so it was okay but I probably wouldn't stay more than one.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2026

Ruby

Obviously this is an old, antique property, so it is hard to compare it to some of the newer properties in the area, however it has a charm you will not find in newer places. It is filled with uniqueness from the past. The rooms are small, the bathroom smaller, but clean. The temperature was kept constant and nearly perfect and the room had a ceiling fan to help with temperature control.
The only negatives were a lack of electrical outlets, incredibly uncomfortable pillows and a bathtub with questionable pipes.

Business

4/10

Poor

30 May 2026

Kevin

Our first time there and we had the worst room. Loud AC and tiny. Upgraded to another room, but not much bigger. Nice sheets, matress lopsided. Wife wanted to use the pool, but it has been in "renovation" for three years. C'mon, it is abandoned. We looked at it. The antiquity of the hotel is cute and felt like I was in the 30's. Many movie stars stayed here, so if you book one of those rooms it might be worth it.

Partner

2/10

Poor

30 May 2026

Karen

This is a very old hotel and it is on the historical list. The furniture in the room was worn off, the desk chair had the fabric wearing away, and the Internet was awful. No matter what time of day or night you tried to log on, you may not get on or it was very slow. Also, the Internet would try to log you into the hotel down the street. There is no pool, no breakfast room, and when I asked the clerk if there was a Catholic Church nearby, they said they didn't know. This hotel needs an update as much as they can being a historic hotel. I certainly will not stay there again.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2026

Aaron

The staff were incredibly helpful and courteous

Self

8/10

Excellent

30 May 2026

philip

Friends

8/10

Excellent

29 May 2026

Fred

“Historic,” but located downtown. All amenities in the room including coffee maker and hai dryer and Kleenex tissue and soaps and shampoos.

Self

8/10

Excellent

28 May 2026

Mary

Could not get on the Wi-Fi for the four evenings I was there.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

27 May 2026

James

This is an historic hotel... that is still historic. The rooms are small, the bathrooms are so small you can barely turn around, climate control is central rather than room by room, the televisions don't have basic channels (espn, cnn, foxnews, etc.) and wi-fi is incredibly slow.

If you're a historic building person, this is the place for you. But if you're into the modern touches, this is certainly not the place for you.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2026

Amber

Was a very cute hotel with a great atmosphere

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2026

Jonathan

The hotel is very old . So the AC wasn't the best. It was a vent on the wall . Other than that , we're was plenty of ice to cool off.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

26 May 2026

Julienne

Very convenient location, very clean. Staff very nice.

Self

8/10

Excellent

26 May 2026

Cynthia

It was located in central phoenix which was great for our travel plans located

4/10

Poor

23 May 2026

Lenina

The main reason for my low rating is the mattress had no cushion. It was the worst mattress I have ever slept on.

8/10

Excellent

22 May 2026

Bryan

Self

10/10

Exceptional

21 May 2026

Anita

Charming historic property with friendly staff.

Self

4/10

Poor

20 May 2026

Sid

Really old rooms, clean but there is a striking sting in the carpets that’s bothersome, the shower either pour boiling hot or cold water and really tough to adjust temperature, the internet was not working during my entire stay, and staff was not doing much to help despite of my repeated requests

Self

10/10

Exceptional

20 May 2026

Scott

The staff were friendly and accommodating. My room was very clean. The internet connection wasn't strong in my room so they allowed me to work in a space downstairs. The history of the hotel is fantastic.

Self

8/10

Excellent

20 May 2026

Earl

Great old hotel with decent AC and lots of history. Pool being renovated for ages it appears. Nice deck though. Bed and pillows were hard. Good location.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

17 May 2026

Douglas

Positive Things:
The staff was friendly and helpful.
The location was within easy walking distance to many things in central Phoenix.

Negative Things:
The AC at this hotel did not keep up when the outside temperature was above 100F.
The exit of HVAC for the room is a vent above the door into the hall. So, when another guest used a cell phone in the hall at midnight (maybe to not disturb someone in their own room), everyone on the floor could hear it.

Self

8/10

Excellent

16 May 2026

Courtney

Could use some updates (such as a thermostat in the room) but the staff was great!!!!

Partner

2/10

Poor

16 May 2026

Roberto

Don’t bother here. Find a better place.

6/10

Pleasant

13 May 2026

jing

the service is fine but facility is some kind of old

Self

10/10

Exceptional

13 May 2026

Terry

A historical hotel with many original items that are labeled and explained. Staff is polite and friendly. Rooms are clean and comfortable. Near downtown.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

12 May 2026

greg

historical hotel that all the quirks were charming great location

10/10

Exceptional

11 May 2026

Tyler

Good distance from my convention

6/10

Pleasant

10 May 2026

Hailey

No visible thermostat to control temp, bathroom was very small and out of date, shower seemed kinda gross, lots of light from hallway came into room at night, construction in the early morning but good price

Partner

8/10

Excellent

09 May 2026

Jose

Really cool vibe and staff were nice just having to pay for parking off site was a little annoying but nothing too hard to do.

Self

2/10

Poor

09 May 2026

Andrea

We didn’t even spend the night, we walked in and out

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

09 May 2026

Kimberly

The San Carlos is a historic hotel that is well-maintained and in a perfect location downtown. It is simple, clean, and comfortable. Always our first choice for an affordable place to stay during events when we want to have easy walking or light rail access.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

07 May 2026

TOHIET

oldest building in the middle downtown and easy access to anything there.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

07 May 2026

andrew

Not boring standard big brand . Kind staff great location

Friends

2/10

Poor

06 May 2026

Tim

No parking, misinformed by hotel staff, told one thing by staff member and called back and got completely different information which ended up costing me over $100. Don’t waste your time or money here!

Self

8/10

Excellent

06 May 2026

Leonidas A

Very good experiencie. It was peaceful and quiet while I was there. I recommend it for all travelers.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

05 May 2026

Jaysen

Interesting historical property.

Self

8/10

Excellent

05 May 2026

Debbie

My daughter stayed there was disappointed that she didn't see any or hear any ghosts other than that the place was nice nostalgic.

Self

8/10

Excellent

03 May 2026

Anna

Great stay in the heart of downtown Phoenix — very convenient for getting around.

The staff were really nice, and a lovely touch: I mentioned it was my partner’s birthday and they left a card in the room.

That said, the facilities feel a bit outdated, and there was no fridge in the bedroom.

Parking not on site, but around the block.

Partner

2/10

Poor

02 May 2026

CHAMETRA

I purchased cancellation rights, but they refused to honor my request. This experience has been frustrating—I'll definitely think twice before using their services again!Ever again!!!!

8/10

Excellent

01 May 2026

Brad

Great for staying downtown Phoenix to attend a Suns game. The room was very clean. They have these weird vents above the doorway in the hotels rooms that dont offer a lot of sound privacy. You can see day light on the other side of the vents. So, if whisper if you dont want others to hear what your talking about while in your room

Self

8/10

Excellent

30 Apr 2026

Bobby

Although small, the room was clean and comfortable. Parking was a little inconvenient but not terrible. I would have rather have not had to pay, but $15.00 for overnight parking is not too bad either. The entire facility still has a really cool 1920's feel to it. I wonder if anyone has had any "paranormal" experiences? The cool little restaurant and bar in the lobby is pretty awesome. It is also within a very short walk to a few other bars and restaurants. We will definitely be stating there again!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

28 Apr 2026

Keri

This is an historic hotel. Of you expect modern amenities like, you'll be disappointed. We enjoyed the historical pictures and ambiance. We were disappointed that the pool was being renovated, but we understood. Overall, it was comfortable, close to where.we wanted to be, and the price was right. I would visit here again.

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

28 Apr 2026

Allen

Friendly staff

6/10

Pleasant

27 Apr 2026

joshua

They do not have parking. You heed to find a public parking structure. The area at night was not the safest or nicest at night either. Homeloss everywhere. And i mean everywhere just randomly laying around. The facility's itsrkf although understandable a historic building could use sone restoration. Night staff was very helpful although day desk operator walked a line of rude.

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

26 Apr 2026

Rebeca

Fan in the room wasn’t cleaned in idk how long. When we booked they never said anything about the pools being remodeled and out of order. We looked forward to using the pool at our stay. Front staff looked put out when we asked questions. We had to get our keys re- magnetized everytime we left the room. They don’t valet and the parking is pretty terrible as well. We ended up valeting at another hotel. Pretty cool hotel with historic value but wouldn’t stay again.

Friends_and_family Friends

2/10

Poor

26 Apr 2026

Elizabeth

NOT AS ADVERTISED. I love a good vintage boutique hotel, but this one needs some TLC. Pool closed, no restaurant, no bar. Not only are all these spaces very very shut down you aren't even allowed to enjoy the vintage space, use the tables, or sit outside at the tables/chairs - it's all locked up. Carpet in the entryway is very stained. front desk staff were not rude but weren't friendly either, giving you the impression that they are used to dealing with a questionable crowd. The room I got was very very tiny. I expected it to be dated but the furniture was mismatched and crammed in. I could barely fit into the bathroom and I am just under 5'2". The view was another roof and side of a building, both very ugly, and so many windows looked straight into my room that I kept the curtains closed anyway. Wifi was very slow. I checked out the next morning. If I was on a very very tight budget I would've stayed here when I was younger, but not at all as advertised which was a deal breaker for me.

Self

8/10

Excellent

25 Apr 2026

geo

The internet was terrible.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

25 Apr 2026

Paul

Nice hotel,nice staff,clean and safe..I highly recommend 🙂

10/10

Exceptional

24 Apr 2026

bart

The Hotel San Carlos is like a museum. It has an old timey feel to the place. Yet it is well maintained. I thought the Hotel oozed character. There was no refrigerator, and the air conditioner was on the whole time, that I had no control over. Sometimes it actually was too cold. The internet was sketchy. There was a sign on the elevator Informing guest that there were issues with the internet, particularly on the upper floors. So, you might want to try to get a room on the lower floors. I was on the top floor which was the seventh floor. But I loved the place. For the price it was a great deal. Also, the Hotel San Carlos has suites like the Cary Grant and the Mae West and Marilyn Monroe which are not available from Expedia and Hotels .com etc. etc. Those suites have to be booked directly thru the Hotel San Carlos. I had the opportunity to see The Marilyn Monroe Suite. It was really nice. Many actors stayed at the San Carlos back in that era.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

23 Apr 2026

Carrie

Very cool historic hotel in downtown Phoenix which is rumored to be haunted. Nice toiletries in the bathroom too.

Family

4/10

Poor

23 Apr 2026

Douglas

This hotel is old, no cable

2/10

Poor

22 Apr 2026

Darren

There is no reason for anyone to stay here. When we arrived the staff at the desk were not helpful at all when I inquired about parking. All I wanted to know was there a lot she could recommend….the response was “the city of Phoenix has parking”. I asked again if she could recommend a nearby lot then she tells me there is one right behind their building. She seemed annoyed from the beginning.

Our room was dirty. There was a crusty spot on the floor, stains on the bed as well as a lot of hair stuck to the sheets and pillows. The ceiling fan had so much dust on the blades that it was actually formed on both sides. The shower water kept going from warm to scalding hot.

We literally stayed for 2 hours then left and got a room at the Hilton across the street. This place is not “boutique” it’s rundown and not maintained properly.

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

21 Apr 2026

Larry

No parking / none to very poor wi-fi / poor water pressure / no restaurants / no fridge in room / no microwave in room.

Good location…

Family

10/10

Exceptional

20 Apr 2026

Gilberto

I really enjoy the old hotels. History

Partner

8/10

Excellent

18 Apr 2026

Veronica

Parking was a lot around the corner no validation by hotel. Parking lot was rundown. Hotel pool was not available as it was under repair.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Apr 2026

David

Like stepping into 30's or a European hotel...nothing flashy but a sense of comfort. Front desk very friendly and helpful.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Apr 2026

Siyuan

Great

10/10

Exceptional

14 Apr 2026

April

The room was very clean and surprisingly quiet! The manager Tony was happy to tell you the history of the building and even indulged our ghost hunting stories. Over all was a wonderful experience and we will definitely be returning!

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

13 Apr 2026

Serenity

Had the pool been open it would’ve been a 5 star stay. Cool old building with lots of history

8/10

Excellent

13 Apr 2026

Monica

The staff was extremely kind. If you're looking for something fancy, this isn't the place. But, I LOVED it here. I love the history, I love the celebrity stories and the ghost stories. Walking into my room made me feel like I was transported straight back to my grandma's house when I was a kid (very old home, very old furniture, super cozy).

Self

6/10

Pleasant

13 Apr 2026

Nathaniel

Wish beds were better. Did not look like the pictures

Family

4/10

Poor

12 Apr 2026

Priteshkumar

Rooms are very small. It says it’s like ancient but it’s very old and not maintained. Pictures online are kind of deceptive.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

10 Apr 2026

Israel

Parking was available and convenient.

Self

4/10

Poor

09 Apr 2026

Evan

Check in was rude. Mattress was old as the hotel. Trashy area.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

07 Apr 2026

Lisa

My ceiling fan was full of dust. The tub had rust spots near the drain. The staff was super nice and helpful. The hotel is old and needs to be updated.

Family

2/10

Poor

07 Apr 2026

Jennifer

awsome

Self

8/10

Excellent

06 Apr 2026

Linda

The hotel was very clean. The staff is excellent, not many amenities, but lots of charm. It’s also close to pubs and restaurants. We really enjoyed our stay.

Friends

2/10

Poor

06 Apr 2026

Baoli

If you can sleep next to a running truck engine, you can stay in this hotel. I walked into the room and the "machine" noise is so loud that I decided to ask if I can transfer to another room. The check-in lady had to apologize to me because she said their central air conditioning system is so old that the same noise is in every room. We barely slept.
In addition, their bathrooms are so small (both ours and our son's rooms) that the small sink blocked one third of the bathroom entry. Also the old school style toilet, and the unstable temperature of the shower water.
We never paid so much (after factor in tax, it's $250 per night) to stay in such a terrible hotel room, and we will never go back again.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

06 Apr 2026

Kirby

Convenient location in downtown. Old hotel, If you're looking for a luxurious hotel with modern amenities,, this is not it. Wifi is horrendous at all times of day. Difficulty to even open emails

8/10

Excellent

05 Apr 2026

Calvin

Learned after my stay that the Hotel San Carlos is one of the most haunted hotels in the US, lol. We were even put into room 723 which is next to the haunted rooms of 720 and 722. The 7th floor hallways did remind me of Disneyland's Haunted House since this is an older Hotel with a lot of the original decor. I didn't see any ghosts or felt spooked at anytime although my wife kept telling me how odd it was that we never saw another hotel guest. The hotel was centrally located, close to many restaurants and walking distance to the heart of downtown. I would stay here again because of the location but will pay attention more to any paranormal activity, haha.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

05 Apr 2026

Cynthia

It’s a good hotel. It’s not fancy but provides the basics, a bed, running shower and a roof. It is small but the room was clean. The WiFi wasnt strong but there is a notice in the room about this. It wasn’t a big deal. I stood there for 2 nights with my 7 year old son. There is no air conditioner but they have central air. You can’t control the temperature in the room. However, we were not hot nor were we cold. We slept good. Overall, the staff were friendly, room is clean and it was what we needed for our stay.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

05 Apr 2026

Alejandro

the restaurant wasnt funtional

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Apr 2026

Amanda

Great clean place!