Globalista

What the Guidebooks say

Travel Intelligence call It, ''A restrained and elegant oasis in a fabulous and funky town.'' Frommer's write, ''This luxury boutique hotel offers some of the best accommodations in town -- not to mention the most expensive.'' Fodor's says, ''Highly attentive service remains the hallmark of this small, top-tier hotel.''

What the Press say

Travel & Leisure writes that it is a "Business-oriented hotel with a residential feel, steps from Union Square...."

What the Guidebooks say

Wallpaper describe this, ''luxury venture'', as a hotel that, ''seems geared towards helping guests relax in a serene environment.'' Lonely Planet writes, ''The ugly exterior of the Vitale disguises one of the city's sexiest, most fashion-forward hotels, with echoes of mid-century modern design complemented by up-to-the-minute luxuries and soothing colour palettes.''

What the Press say

Tatler say "The Boutique hotel on the Embarcadero waterfront offering fantastic views of the Bay Bridge.'' Town & Country called the interior "serene...offering lots of natural materials and a muted color scheme." The hotel was also featured in the Telegraph's San Francisco city guide on 26 January 2009. It says that the hotel " – in a spectacular waterfront setting opposite the Ferry Building – is the perfect place to relax. Rough-hewn stone, warm wood and muted shades of earth and sky combine to great effect. Highly recommended."

What the Guidebooks say

Frommer's write, ''Nobody does French provincial like the Petite Auberge.'' Fodor's however write, ''The hotel was much less than expected.'' Lonely Planet says, ''The inn isn't fussy or pretentious, and depending on when you come, rooms can be a bargain, given their quality and location just below Nob Hill.''

What the Guidebooks say

Wallpaper write, ''Located in the heart of the burgeoning cultural quarter SoMa, setting new standards in pared-down opulence.'' Mr and Mrs Smith describes it as, ''Sophisticated, tasteful, refined, glamorous...this San Francisco boutique hotel will not disappoint.'' Travel Intelligence write, ''Savvy and stylish five star with a smart, contemporary feel - a refreshing departure for a city filled with old-world hotels.''

What the Press say

Fab Search writes, '' Elle Décor picked this old grande dame, citing its well appointed rooms, spa and fitness center, and its ideal location, smack in the middle of SoMa's art scene. The magazine also liked Ame, the restaurant in the hotel.'' The hotel was also featured in the Telegraph's San Francisco city guide on 26 January 2009.It says the St Regis ''offers butler service and luxurious spa and leisure facilities, next door to the Museum of Modern Art.''

What the Guidebooks say

Travel Intelligence describe it as a, ''Trendy,High-tech, designer bolthole right next top San Francisco's MOMA.'' Frommer's describe it as, '' Sophisticated, slick and stylish.'' They add, ''Epitomizing urban chic both in design and clientele.''

What the Press say

Tatler has made this hotel one of their "Tatler Picks" and in a recent Where to Stay article (June 08), The Telegraph recommends the W for its "cool rooms and hot views". They go on to describe the hotel as "funky" several times, and recommend also that rooms on the 14th floor and above have the finer views, making them more expensive. The only drawback to this hotel was possibly the service, although the bedrooms and bathrooms get a big thumbs up.

What the Press say

The restaurant was featured in the Telegraph's San Francisco city guide (26 January 2009). They write that, the "restaurant is a great place for lunch. The daily changing menu includes soups, salads and light mains".

What the Guidebooks say

Andrew Harper has recently written on Coi in his Hideaway Report (New Developments in the Food Capital of America, March 2009); "Although the dishes are unmistakeably from Northern California, the presentation is almost Japanese, with each course offered on a different style of plate." He goes on to describe the food in detail, "We began with Patterson's signature pink grapefruit mousse seasoned with tarragon, ginger and pepper. It is unconventional but utterly delicious. For our main course, we selected the "Field to Family" chicken stew. This may sound plain, but Patterson and plain do not exist in the same kitchen, and the silken broth was rich with added flavors of matsutake mushrooms, wheat berries and thyme".

What the Press say

"Incongruously set amid tacky strip clubs in North Beach, Coi is a magnet for culinary thrill seekers. The chef Daniel Patterson has garnered a bevy of honors since opening his restaurant (pronounced “kwa”) in 2006, including two Michelin stars", writes the New York Times (Save or Splurge: San Francisco, 14 June 2009). "The main dining room has a Zen aesthetic — grass-cloth walls, backlit panels of rice paper — and seats just 29. The mind-expanding 11-course tasting menu offers flourishes of molecular gastronomy, like the gelatinous orbs of milk-and-honey that pop in your mouth, and unexpected flavors like ice cream flavored with Douglas fir needles. Reservations are required in the dining room but not in the adjacent lounge, where dishes can be ordered à la carte".

What the Guidebooks say

Mr and Mrs Smith says, '' This relaxed restaurant on Mission Street has a fun, lively atmosphere and fantastic fresh grills and seafood.'' Fodor's says, ''Forget popcorn. In this hip, loftlike space, 'dinner and a movie' become one joyous event.'' Lonely Planet writes, ''with truffled swordfish and service this reliable, it works.''

What the Guidebooks say

Lonely Planet says, ''Ask a group of San Franciscans where to get the best burrito in town, then as voices rise, quietly slip off to La Taqueria.''

What the Press say

CN Traveller have included La Taqueria in their recent article on San Francisco cuisine (Golden Gateway, February 2009); La Taquieria serves authentic Mexican cuisine. No one heads here for the decor or to find comfortable surroundings: it's the great value, the hearty comida and the music which draw the crowds...Half a dozen strongly built Mexicans prepare the tacos, quesadillas, burritos (served without rice, the Mexican way) and all their different stuffings as well as the fresh drinks (the mango is delicious)... Once you are seated, often sharing a small table, it is possible to see that the far wall of the kitchen is covered with all the awards and commendations of this branch of La Taqueria (there is one other in San Jose) has won since it opened, and to enjoy the vibrant Mexican art on the walls".

What the Press say

Travel & Leisure writes, ''the city's most passionate raw-fish zealots fight for spots at the sushi bar of this small and super-traditional Japanese restaurant in Hayes Valley.''

What the Guidebooks say

Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report included The Slanting Door in their article on the San Francisco food scene (New Developments in the Food Capital of America, March 2009). They write, "A wonderful alternative for lunch at the marketplace is The Slanted Door, located at the northeast corner of the Ferry Building, where the specialty is Vietnamese cuisine. A wall of windows makes this bright spot during the day and provides a wonderful view of the glittering harbour at night. Here, chef/owner Charles Pahn produces superlative Asian food using fresh ingredients from the Bay Area. We began with the signature spring rolls of pork, shrimp and mint wrapped in translucent rice paper. And for a main course, we opted for the marvelous caramelized tiger prawns with ginger and garlic in a slightly hot chili sauce."

What the Press say

Slanted Door featured in The Telegraph's Girl's guide to San Francisco (29 December 2008), where it was described as, "A modern Vietnamese restaurant and a real must. Its ecologically farmed meat, game and poultry come from farms around the San Francisco Bay Area. The oysters, imperial rolls and black cod are not to be missed." The restaurant also featured in the Telegraph's San Francisco city guide (26 January 2009); The Slanted Door "offers fresh, flavoursome Vietnamese cuisine. Dishes such as tiger prawns with garlic and chilli speed from the open kitchen, as the lights of the Bay Bridge twinkle across the water."

CN Traveller have also mentioned the restaurant in their recent article on San Francisco dining (Golden Gateway, February 2009). "The Slanted Door serves classic Vietnamese food 'family style', which makes sharing easy even if an extremely long menu in black ink makes reading the menu and choosing equally difficult. The spring rolls with mint and peanut sauce and green papaya salad with tofu and roasted peanuts got the meal off to a good start. We then managed to maintain that momentum with a clay pot filled with caramelised catfish with ginger and coriander, rice noodles with chicken and shitake mushrooms and cauliflower roasted in the wood oven with garlic, capers and rau ram (Vietnamese coriander). The wine list, which concentrates on the lighter varieties from Germany, Austria and France, is excellent too".