Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [42]
Hotel Milano ★ Neoclassical Italian design patterned after Giorgio Armani’s villa in Milan, elegantly streamlined rooms (with double-paned soundproof windows), moderate prices, and a central location next to the San Francisco Centre make Hotel Milano a popular choice for tourists and businesspeople alike. The hotel also has a film-production facility and private screening room to entice media types. Corporate travelers come for the spacious guest rooms, which feature everything an executive could want, from Wi-Fi to video game systems and work desks. Suites have spa tubs and bidets.
55 Fifth St. (btw. Market and Mission sts.), San Francisco, CA 94103. www.hotelmilanosf.com. 415/543-8555. Fax 415/543-5885. 108 units. $109–$199 double. Extra person $20. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $45. Bus: All Market St. buses. Amenities: Concierge; fitness room; sauna; spa. In room: A/C, TV w/video games, fridge, hair dryer, Wi-Fi ($9.95 per day).
Hotel Union Square ★★ The Hotel Union Square has achieved that rare hat trick of history, location, and style. It’s San Francisco’s first boutique hotel, built in 1913 for the 1915 Pan Pacific Exposition, and it’s only a half-block from Union Square, in the heart of the city with the cable cars passing by your window. Its 2008 renovation has juxtaposed contemporary and classic San Francisco with original 1915 Egyptian mosaic murals and opulent moldings contrasted by sleek furnishings and state-of-the-art technology. The guest rooms are like urban apartments, each outfitted with platform beds with custom-made leather headboards, velvety chaise longues, and flatscreen televisions. Many have an open, loftlike layout with exposed brick walls and floating ceiling installations, while the two rooftop penthouses are the ultimate in chic, with expansive redwood decks with city views. There’s also a custom Kids Suite, a Dashiell Hammett–themed suite, and “Sleep and Soak” rooms on each floor that feature spalike bathrooms.
114 Powell St. (btw. O’Farrell and Ellis sts.), San Francisco, CA 94102. www.hotelunionsquare.com. 800/553-1900 or 415/397-3000. 131 units. $149–$349 double; $199–$499 suite; $229–$799 penthouse suite. Rates include morning coffee and tea and weekday wine reception. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $30. Bus: 2, 3, 4, 30, 38, 45, or 76. Cable car: Powell–Hyde or Powell–Mason line. Streetcar: Powell St. station. Amenities: Fitness center access; room service (from the adjacent Tad’s Steakhouse). In room: TV w/pay per view, hair dryer, free Wi-Fi.
Hotel Vertigo ★★ Formerly the York Hotel, the Hotel Vertigo opened its doors in fall 2008 to much pressure after being dubbed the hot new place to stay and play in San Francisco by more than one jaded San Francisco critic (yours truly included). The good news: It lived up to the buzz, and its new stylistic design will undoubtedly attract tourists and business travelers looking for an alternative to the W Hotel. There’s even some colorful history involved as well—the hotel occupies the former site of the Empire Hotel made famous in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, hence the name. The movie plays 24/7 in the lobby and is available for free viewings in each room as well. Guest rooms feature playful, eclectic design features such as white tufted-leather headboards, custom wingback chairs in vibrant orange, and crocodile-patterned tiles in the bathrooms.
940 Sutter St. (btw. Leavenworth and Hyde sts.), San Francisco, CA 94109. www.hotelvertigosf.com. 888/444-4605 or 415/885-6800. 102 units. $169–$399 double; $350–$495 suite. Rates include morning beverages in lobby. AE, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $35. Bus: 2, 3, or 4. Pets under 40 lb. accepted for a $25 cleaning fee. Amenities: Concierge. In room: TV w/pay movies,