Beautiful, modern, cozy, new, all for you, on Cortland Ave in the heart of SF's idyllic Bernal Heights. Ideal for couple, efficient for couple plus 2 kids. Beautiful tiled bathroom, shower, and soaking tub, Japanese-touch bedrooms, and a kitchenette. Quaint shops, great restaurants, hills for hikes, four parks within five minutes walk, and a diverse neighborhood of friendly folks. Bedroom #1 has a full bed plus a single bed in Japanese capsule style which I love. Bedroom #2 has one full bed plus a foam sofabed. The tiny living "room" has a chaise lounge that converts to a single bed. A Japanese rock garden and design elements help relax you after a busy sightseeing day. It is small and efficient - the space used to be our basement so we have worked hard to give it a light feel, with creative elements so that even though there are no windows it seems like there are! We're on Cortland Avenue with its delightful small shops - everything you need is steps away. Parking is free and relatively easy - never more than 2 blocks walk. Many transportation options: carshare vehicles are 1/2 block away, Lyft and Uber are prolific, and the 24 bus passes our place with stops steps away. Easy access both to downtown and SFO.
Modern new zen getaway in Bernal Heights, 2br, 1ba, efficient, fun, shops, parks
- Apartment600 sq. ft.
- Sleeps: 4
- Bedrooms: 2
- Bathrooms: 1
- Min Stay: 2 nights
Bedrooms
Owner
Bill Shireman and Aileen Ichikawa
- Languages:
- english, japanese
About Bill Shireman and Aileen Ichikawa
We are a family of four (the two adults on the right plus our 9-year-old twins) who love SF and live right next to your apartment here. Mom is a former tech sector executive and dad runs a non-profit, Future 500, dedicated to bringing together political enemies - lots of work on our plate, as you might imagine. Our little zen apartment is also our escape and creative work area, when we are not hosting others.
Bill Shireman and Aileen Ichikawa purchased this Apartment in 2007
Why Bill Shireman and Aileen Ichikawa chose Bernal Heights
Bernal Heights is one of SF's friendliest and quaintest communities. It's a great location - close to downtown, the airport, parks, sites. If you want to focus on Fisherman's wharf or the Marina, we are a little distant, so base yourself on the other side of town.
What makes this Apartment unique
Quiet, relaxing, and zen, with an upbeat slightly funky element.
Amenities
Featured
- Children Welcome
- TV
- Parking
- Internet
- Heater
- Fireplace
Bathrooms
- 1 Bathroom
House Rules
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date. 50% refund if canceled at least 14 days before arrival date.
23 Reviews
Fantastic! Oughtta get 7 stars
I can’t say how much we liked this place. I stayed at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong when it was rated hands-down the world’s best, and I liked this more. Loved it. So did my 43-year-old son and my 13-year-old granddaughter. [Read about the location down below.]
Bill and Eileen have taken a modest amount of space and made it seem huge. There’s a place to put everything just where you want it to be, even if you’re a pathological overpacker like me. It’s really easy to find a private corner, or a space to lounge with the rest of your group. Anything you think you might need to go out and buy is probably already there, on the house: pancake mix, Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies, bottle of wine, chocolates, you name it. Yep, free.
The Wi-Fi is good, there are dozens of USB plugs (and cables!) and the appliances cover all bases.
Decor is lively, harmonious and fun, without a pretentious touch or a false note anywhere. We didn’t get a chance to meet Bill or Aileen in person, but by text and email Bill was as helpful, friendly and clear as you could possibly want.
And no, they didn’t pay me to say all these good things. With the VRBO service charge and cleaning, our stay came to $480 for two nights. You could find cheaper places, but you couldn’t find one at this price that was worth half as much. The only caveat is if you’re claustrophobic: it’s a basement flat, no windows. We didn’t miss them a bit, because everything inside was so cool.
And outside! Outside is Bernal Heights, which has to be a leading contender for the most fun and diverse neighborhood in all of San Francisco. Great bars, nail salons, a great-looking little supermarket, vinotheques, palm readers, and five minutes’ walk away is 3rd Cousin — an unpretentious (but not cheap) eatery where several dishes were better than ones we’d eaten recently at 2- and 3-Michelin-star places in Paris and New York.
Come stay here. You’ll be glad you did.
Great memories and experience!
The location was close to grocery store and restaurants. We stayed here fir a 4 say Spring Break trip with our daughter. Bill was very nice and accommodating to our check in and check out! We loved the flexibility. Apartment clean!
Great week long stay
Had a great stay in a great location, Bill and Aileen were very helpful whenever we needed any help. The place was really nice as well and very very clean. Thank you so much you two!
Awesome!
The Zen Getaway was perfect for our business trip to SF. Loved the ambience, and the owners were very nice people and responsive if we had questions, etc. The neighborhood is great, as well - lots of cool shops and restaurants. Definitely going to rent it again next time I come to SF! Thanks, Bill & Aileen!
Amazing house in a friendly neighbourhood
House was clean and functional with everything we needed. Hosts were lovely and more than happy to help with anything. We were even given free tickets to the Science museum which we loved! The neighbourhood was family friendly and all conveniences were at our fingertips. We would definitely stay again.
Great little space, in a nice neighbourhood
Stayed two nights on a recent holiday in San Francisco. Place is a basement unit, well set up but there are no windows and it did get a little stuffy. Since we spent most of the time out and about it wasn't a huge deal. Hosts were accessible and friendly.