Restroom Ratings » California

Hidden Springs Cafe

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Rating from 1 – 10. It gets a 20. Done in a theme for the forest. Always very clean and smells clean. Hate to get up and leave. So cozy. Everyone that uses this restroom has very much respect the way it is kept and helps to keep it looking so nice.

Good Samaritan Hospital

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Not only are there not enough bathrooms, the one I finally found was really in desperate need of attention… STAT

The toilets look as if they are cleaned on a biweekly basis and there was toilet paper scattered too and fro (which was a pretty good place for it considering I’ve used softer things to sand my floors)…

It’s really a shame…

IKEA

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The IKEA in Emeryville, CA is a bustling place. Everyday it has the same atmosphere and population of any mall on the day after Thanksgiving. You would expect there to be a long wait at the ladies room. However, the women’s restroom, upstairs in close proximity to the cafe, boasts a long line of stalls, and I have never had to wait. There are plenty of places to change your baby’s diaper, and even (I have never seen these anywhere else) a little fold-out seat (with seatbelt, of course) on the inside of each stall door where you can place your babe-in-arms while you use the jane. It is clean, bright, spacious, and efficient. Though not charming or memorable for its decor, it is a fine, predictably clean rest stop in your IKEA shopping adventure.

ESPN Zone

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Of all the nice restaurants that I have been to, this is the one with the best restroom. It is very well kept up and very clean.

Although I expected it to be decorated in a sports theme, it was just a plain restroom, which is fine. The best part of this lavatory is the mini flat screen tvs right above the urinals and on the ceilings above the stalls. This way you can keep up with the game no matter what your bodily functions for the time are. I give this bathroom an 8 because it is very nice, but it could use a few sparks to lighten it up.

Holiday Bowl

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This bowling alley/lounge was built in the late 50’s. They have not changed much in 54 years, sporting the same pink tile and what looks to be the same crappy toilets. The horrible smell throughout is truly unbelievable.

Hell’s Gate

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Fade in to a scorching bright sun in a cloudless sky. Pan down to the bleached white cattle skull resting on a barren landscape. A scorpion jitters from it’s shadow while vultures shriek overhead. A scraggly bearded barefoot man with tattered capri’s emerges among the shimmering mirages over the horizon. Stumbling left and right, he slowly opens his mouth. Nothing comes out. His eyes grow large in desperation. This man has been stranded in the desert for days, he’s probably dying of thirst. Actually, he has to use the restroom. This restroom must look like paradise to him. Hell’s Gate? More like Heaven’s Gate.

Texas Spring Campground

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Located just south of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, this small campground has a large fieldstone-encrusted restroom building containing 2 mens and 2 womens restrooms. On first glance I thought the relatively large restroom would contain shower facilities (a truly rare and heaven sent feature when camping in Death Valley) but alas, it was just a mirage. The polished metal mirrors hardly functioned as mirrors; placed perhaps more as a creature comfort than as an aid for applying your makeup or plucking your eyebrows. The large wooden doors were propped open for the duration of my stay – which served as a ventilation aid and provided much needed light. Headlamps are a required item for night pees.

Badwater Basin

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Death Valley is known as the land of extremes. The lowest, hottest and driest location in North America. The pit toilet restrooms at Badwater Basin are the lowest restrooms in the western hemisphere sitting at around 260 feet below sea level (the basin itself is at -282 feet while the restroom is perched higher up near the parking lot). While marveling at the vast salt lake bed surrounded by Telescope Peak, the Panamints and the Funeral Mountains, you will have to drink about 1 liter of water in order to stay hyrdrated. Your only respite is the sole minimalist building offering single mens and womens restrooms. And by restroom, what I really mean is a single pit toilet mounted on the floor of a large concrete room. Corrosion spots are speckled everywhere, no doubt a result of the salt being tracked in on people’s feet. The toilet paper is gritty, stiff and thin.

During busy times (i.e. if there is a tour bus in the parking lot), you may be in for a wait.

Charcoal Kilns

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Despite following the same cookie cutter layout as most other Park Service restrooms in Death Valley, this higher altitude offering located just across the road from 150 year old charcoal kilns offers the softest most refreshing toilet paper for miles. Maybe this was out of respect for the Chinese laborers who built the kilns in order to provide charcoal to nearby silver and gold mines. Maybe it’s a reward for those willing to drive the remote road up to Wildrose Peak. Maybe the higher elevation is kinder to absorbent porous material. Whatever the reason, cherish the moment – because soon enough you will be back to the gritty transparent tissue paper that is so common everywhere else in this god forsaken valley.

Aguereberry Point

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Famous Death Valley gold miner Pete Aguereberry built the access road to Aguerebery Point just so he could show his friends the spectacular view. As you ascend the 6.2 miles leading up to the point (elevation 6433 ft.), you will find a single plastic outhouse at a corner just short of the peak. This positioning was probably chosen to keep the rather unattractive vessel far enough away from the glamourous lookout point while still maintaining a certain level of convenience.

The outhouse was, from what I saw, the only fixture of it’s kind within the park. More permanent structures where usually opted for in the more heavily visited areas. While the floor was soiled, the seat was sloppy, and the smell was a bit overbearing – I was impressed by the existence of a small plastic urinal. Even more impressive was the view that you (okay, men) are treated to as they use the urinal. Two eye-level portholes look out directly to the snow-capped Telescope Peak, a truly breathtaking view. Women (or I should say those who go to the bathroom sitting down) are not so lucky.

Salt Creek

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Salt Creek is the only home of the rare Salt Creek Pupfish, a minnowlike fish which can be seen traversing the inch deep waters in Death Valley. Once a thriving lake, most of it’s inhabitants died off as the water levels lowered and salinity rose. But the hearty Salt Creek Pupfish found a way to survive. So, too, did the lone concrete-enclosed pit toilet at the base of the creek.

Thousands of years ago, there were hundreds of different public restrooms at this site. Salt Creek (then known as Death Lake Resort and Spa) was once a popular lakefront attraction for Incan tourists visiting from the south. Many built small cottages along the lake. Of course, dozens of restrooms began to pop up to accommodate the flourishing population. Slowly, though, the water levels of the lake began to recede as temperatures began to steadily increase. Death Lake soon became barren; dried up nearly entirely except for the small spring which fed it. As people moved out, the condos, clubs and restaurants (and their respective restrooms) fell into disrepair until they eventually rotted away.

For hundreds of years, the site was without restroom. Then, in the 20th century, a single restroom was outfitted at the space to support the new wave of tourists coming in via automobile. It was a rebirth for the area, bringing new life and vitality – as well as a place to go pee.

For now the restroom stands strong, unwavering in the sweltering desert heat. A lone survivor, much like it’s brethren the Salt Creek Pupfish.

Jewish Community Center

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The men’s restrooms at the Jewish Community Center are wonderfully clean and come highly recommended. They may even be worth a special trip.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Readers, please feel free to expound upon this review. Any photos or additional details would be greatly appreciated. Go ahead and submit some more.

Trescos

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This mens room in an old San Fransisco Bar on Columbia St. was outfitted with old to-the-floor urinals with toggle flush mechanisms. The old bar is long and narrow with back seating at old metal tables with the old rosey laminate tops. If it wasn’t for the bar barker outside to wrangle us in that Firday night, I would have missed Marilyn.

Pollard Flat Exxon

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This bathroom is very clean, but that is besides the point. When you walk in, you are treated to a female mannequin at rest in the bathtub. If you’re brave (re: stupid) enough to try and touch it, it has sensors around it that alert the entire restraunt you have done so. This rest stop is in the middle of nowhere, but there always seem to be locals there.

This bathroom was voted "Best Public Restroom" at The Life of Brian site.

P.F. Changs

Jon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

P.F. Changs restroom is one of the top 10 restrooms in San Diego. Very Clean, great Bathroom. This restroom has the contemporary sinks, marble throughout, real towels to dry your hands. Definately in the TOP 10 of San Diego. I have been to a lot, trust me. I gave them a 9 considering they don’t have the toilets that have buttons to warm or any bidets.