There are some things that are great about Tilden Hotel. Cleanliness, the wifi, the hummingbird garden, the beds, food at the hotel bar, most of the staff...
And some things are pretty bad. While there have been some renovations, this is a very old building and it shows. Plenty of dust and rust. But the most bothersome is the standard old building smell. The air in the room is stale and musty.
And yes, the neighborhood is bad. You should know this when you're making a reservation here, so it's hard to deduct points for it. But doesn't change the fact that there will be yelling and screaming outside your window. A peaceful sleep is unlikely.
Bottomline is that this is not a 4 star hotel, as other reviewers said. Yes, certain bits feel 4 star-like, but poetry on my pillow doesn't change the fact that my room smells like a gym bag.