San Francisco Great Values

California’s first LEED-certified hotel stays true to its eco-friendly mission by offering en-suite recycling bins and setting up rooms so that they don’t heat or cool when guest aren’t there. Orchard Garden also happens to be one of the city’s most aesthetically pleasing lodgings with its seafoam green and pale yellow color palette and light maple furnishings. Roots, its restaurant, serves up tasty American delicacies with a touch of Mediterranean flair.

These sleek rooms are the perfect mid-range option for those who want a great spot near the shops and restaurants of busy Union Square at a more affordable price. The Palomar’s roomy, earth-toned accommodations start at 315 square feet and offer views of the Zen roof garden, plus welcome little extras like L’Occitane bath products and complimentary WiFi. The simple, yet tasteful, modern décor lives up to the hotel’s “art in motion” concept – the current standard in artsy San Francisco. Even the lobby and living rooms depict Escher drawings on their parquet floors.

Although it’s part of the Best Western chain, there’s nothing chain-like about the interior of this funky, Japanese-style inn, which is co-operated by the Northern California company Joie de Vivre. Tomo’s 125 guestrooms feature flat-screen TVs, bathrobes, iPod docking stations, bean bag chairs, wireless Internet, glow-in-the-dark desk blotters, and much more. Additionally, all rooms have colorful J-pop murals created by Heisuke Kitazawa adorning the walls. Crazy anime pillows and a stack of comic books complete the out-of-body experience.

This bed and breakfast occupies a 19th-century building right around the corner from the famed Painted Ladies row of houses and has all the traditional makings of an old-fashioned Victorian home – hand-carved woodwork, period wallpaper, oriental carpets, crystal chandeliers, antique furniture, and stained glass windows. Some of the spacious digs – nine in total – feature curiosities like murals painted on the ceilings and, in the case of the third floor Mark Twain suite, a secret room. Tivoli is lauded for its tasty continental breakfast and equally impressive staff. They even host a daily, two-hour wine and cheese reception for guests.

Most events at the gardens are free including jazz concerts, opera, spoken-word events and children’s programming. The children’s garden, public art museums and historic carousel are also worth visiting.

Oola promotes itself as an American bistro with some of the best “San Francisco”...more

Even if you tripped over it, chances are that you wouldn’t notice this gem of a Thai...more