HOTEL MONACO SAN FRANCISCO
501 Geary St., San Francisco, CA 94102, 415-292-0100; monaco-sf.com
Rates: The basic queen canopy and queen deluxe rooms start at $149 a night and can skyrocket up to $459 during peak periods. Impress your friends by springing for the themed “Grace Slick Suite” starting at $329. Overnight parking starts (yes, starts) at $49 a night, but there’s a 25 percent discount for hybrids.
Stay here if you: appreciate whimsical design — from brightly striped room walls to charming sculptures and stunning artwork in the public areas — attentive service and funky flourishes like in-room goldfish (by request).
It’s close to: Union Square and the theater district. Chinatown and the financial district are just blocks away, and there’s a nearby cable car line giving you quick, though crowded, access to Fisherman’s Wharf and other touristy spots.
The rooms are: cute and cozy. The standard queen canopy room is charming though not overly spacious. Bright colors, sumptuous fabrics and massive mirrors make the space feel bigger than it is.
They put all of the money into: the building and decor. The 1910 beaux-arts building radiates charm, and everything from the artwork to the inviting lounge is designed to appease the eye.
The bottom line: The Hotel Monaco is everything a boutique hotel should be. It’s cozy and fun, and the staff is eager to help. A warning for allergic types — it’s a pet-friendly hotel, so you shouldn’t be surprised to find playful doggies doing laps around the room during the hotel’s nightly wine reception.
Kristi Arellano, The Denver Post
