Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [34]
Inflation at the Clift
When it first opened in 1915, the Clift Hotel charged a mere $2 per night.
Grand Hyatt San Francisco ★ If the thought of a 10-second walk to Saks Fifth Avenue makes your pulse race, this high-rise luxury hotel is the place for you. The Grand Hyatt sits amid all the downtown shopping while also boasting some of the best views in the area. The lobby is indeed grand, with Chinese artifacts and enormous ceramic vases. Thankfully, the well-kept rooms were recently renovated and they also added 23 “Pure” rooms for guests with allergies (specially treated to remove bacteria and viruses; $25 extra). Overall, rooms are swankier than they used to be and now feature the Hyatt’s signature Grand Bed with pillow-top mattresses, ultraplush pillows and down (or down alternative) duvets. Each room has a lounge chair as well as a small desk and sitting area. Views from most of the 36 floors are truly spectacular.
345 Stockton St. (btw. Post and Sutter sts.), San Francisco, CA 94108. www.sanfrancisco.grand.hyatt.com. 888/591-1234 or 415/398-1234. Fax 415/391-1780. 685 units. $199–$379 double; Regency Club $50 additional. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $44. Bus: 2, 3, 4, 30, 38, or 45. Cable car: Powell–Hyde or Powell–Mason line (2 blocks west). Amenities: Restaurant; bar; concierge; health club; limited room service; free Wi-Fi in public areas. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, hair dryer, high-speed Internet access ($9.95 per day), minibar.
Hotel Monaco ★★ This remodeled 1910 Beaux Arts building has plenty of atmosphere, thanks to a whimsically ethereal lobby with a two-story French inglenook fireplace. The guest rooms, which were upgraded in 2006, follow suit, with canopy beds, Asian-inspired armoires, bamboo writing desks, lively stripes, and vibrant color. Everything is bold but tasteful, and as playful as it is serious, with nifty extras like flatscreen TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi. The decor, combined with the truly grand neighboring Grand Café restaurant that’s ideal for cocktails and mingling (but also serves breakfast and lunch), would put this place on my top-10 list if it weren’t for rooms that tend to be too small (especially for the price) and the lack of a sizable gym. Your stay also includes a complimentary wine and cheese tasting accompanied by shoulder and neck massages. Tip: If you were/are a big fan of Jefferson Airplane, inquire about their Grace Slick Shrine Suite.
501 Geary St. (at Taylor St.), San Francisco, CA 94102. www.monaco-sf.com. 866/622-5284 or 415/292-0100. Fax 415/292-0111. 201 units. $139–$279 double; $279–$539 suite. Rates include evening wine and cheese tasting. Call for discounted rates. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $49. Bus: 2, 3, 4, 27, or 38. Pets accepted. Amenities: Restaurant; concierge; exercise room; Jacuzzi; room service; sauna; spa. In room: A/C, TV, CD player, hair dryer, minibar, free Wi-Fi.
Prescott Hotel ★★ It may be small and lack common areas, but the boutique Prescott Hotel has some big things going for it. The staff treats you like royalty, rooms are attractively unfrilly and masculine, the location (just a block from Union Square) is perfect, and limited room service is provided by the in-house restaurant, Postrio. Ralph Lauren fabrics in dark tones of green, plum, and burgundy and crisp white Italian linens blend well with the cherrywood furnishings in each of the soundproof rooms; the view, alas, isn’t so pleasant. The very small bathrooms contain terry robes and Aveda products, and the suites have Jacuzzi bathtubs. Concierge-level guests are pampered with a free continental breakfast and evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
545 Post St. (btw. Mason and Taylor sts.), San