Monday
Depending on the exact time of your departure, you can set aside Monday to
check out a neighborhood you hadn't sufficient time to explore, such as
SoMa, home to outstanding San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). Or
perhaps spend a little time browsing Macy's, Gump's, or any of the
hundreds of fine shops around Union Square. You can break for lunch at the
super-cruisy Wolfgang Puck Express Cafe in the cellar at Macy's or enjoy a
more substantial meal at Town Hall, a superb contemporary American
restaurant set inside a vintage SoMa warehouse, where you might sample
duck-confit enchiladas with tomatillo sauce, or a poached-shrimp club
sandwich with bacon and heirloom tomatoes.
Where to Stay
A splendidly restored 1909 Edwardian mansion straddling the Castro and
Mission neighborhoods, Parker House is the Castro's most spectacular inn.
Guests make considerable use of the lavish public areas and appreciate the
antiques, rich fabrics, and modern conveniences (WiFi, voicemail) in the
21 sun-filled rooms. Paths wind through extensive gardens and lawns. A
more affordable Castro option is the Willows Inn, whose 12 cozy, warmly
furnished rooms share four bathrooms and four separate shower rooms but
have all the other charms and comforts you'd expect of a far pricier small
hotel. Both properties draw a mix of lesbians and gay men.
If you'd prefer to stay downtown, consider booking a room at one of the
several hotels run by the gay-friendly Kimpton or Joie de Vivre hotel
chains. Favorite Kimpton properties include the richly furnished Serrano
Hotel, which is decorated in Moroccan and Spanish style, and the more
moderately priced Hotel Triton, a hip and whimsical property that's also
one of the most eco-friendly hotels in the country.
Joie de Vivre has hotels in all prices ranges, from the bargain-priced
Commodore Hotel, whose basic but pleasant rooms come with Aveda bath
products and deco-inspired furnishings, to the ultra-chic Hotel Vitale,
which opened in 2005 across from the Ferry Building Marketplace and is
best-known for its nifty Panoramic Suites, with 180-degree views of San
Francisco Bay. A mid-priced option that's noteworthy for its stellar
Cortez restaurant and stylish contemporary interior, Joie de Vivre's Hotel
Adagio occupies a restored 16-story building just up the street from the
high-end shopping of Union Square. In this city known for its swank and
sumptuous hotels, the biggest challenge you may face during a three-day
visit is finding the motivation to leave your cushy guest room.
The Hunk
