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I've recently been looking for an rental and one option is to rent a room within a small house. The price and location are perfect. However, the guy who owns it won't let me know the address or visit. Instead, he's show me pictures of the place and and met with me at a Starbucks to get an introduction.
What would you do? Have you rented in a similar scenario?
What would I do? I wouldn't rent it because there is no way I am going to rent any place without seeing it.......period. But that is just me and not you. But, the question you need to ask yourself is, if he is being this weird/strange PRIOR to ever renting, what is he going to be like if and when you actually make the commitment to rent and get stuck there until you can give proper notice to leave/vacate? There is absolutely no reason he should not be letting you see the place in person unless something is wrong or suspicious at best. You must feel the same way or you wouldn't be here asking.
I have rented a number of places without seeing them (I moved long distances frequently- I had 13 addresses in 7 years during one stretch). While many wouldn't do it, it always worked out for me.
That being said this situation sounds sketchy, I would expect to be able to see the place if I was currently located in the same area! Many red flags there, run away!
Your situation sounds sketchy and not unlike one that I experienced when I first moved to Oahu . . . I had a "landlord" and his wife who wanted me to pay first and last months rent as well as a security deposit (to be paid at a McDonald's in town), but who WOULD NOT let me see the property until I paid them at the McDonalds (at which point they'd give me the keys and send me on my way). He claimed that he didn't want to give me the address beforehand as he didn't want me/my friends driving by and "harassing" the other tenants he had in the area While I wasn't on island yet and was quite desperate for housing, I wasn't so desperate as to be foolish. His number got blocked and I found a place the day after I arrived on island.
Now, as far as renting sight unseen, generally, while I try to avoid it, I have done it before. Specifically, when moving to New Orleans, I couldn't afford to house hunt before the move and was desperate for a place to stay. Thankfully, that time worked out. However, another time, I was ripped off when trying to book a place, sight unseen, in Australia. Its a risk that you take.
Lots of scams here in the SF Bay Area collecting rental money for homes that happen to vacant...
Unless it is a corporate rental with a relocation firm I wouldn't get involved.
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While I wasn't on island yet and was quite desperate for housing, I wasn't so desperate as to be foolish. His number got blocked and I found a place the day after I arrived on island. 
