San Francisco Vacation: An Insider’s Guide - 3

Orchard Garden Hotel. In the heart of San Francisco, just steps from the shops at Union Square, the Orchard Garden Hotel is another recent addition, in 2006. [Read our Eco-Vacations article for more information about this hotel and other green places to stay.] 466 Bush St., tel. 888-717-2881. www.theorchardgardenhotel.com. Rates begin at $315 per night for a standard king room.

InterContinental San Francisco. Newly opened in February 2008, the InterContinental is located in the South of Market (SoMa) area, near the Moscone Convention Center. The cool aqua tower is easy to spot, and holds 550 elegantly styled guest rooms. Check out the hotel’s Luce Restaurant or Bar 888, or relax at the luscious spa. 888 Howard St., tel. 888-811-4273. www.intercontinentalsanfrancisco.com. Rates begin at $269 per night for a standard room.

Larkspur Hotel Union Square. Also located near Union Square, the Larkspur Hotel Union Square just finished a renovation in 2008, resulting in comfortable rooms at a reasonable rate. Rooms include LCD flat screen TVs and free wireless Internet. Bring Fido along, because the hotel is also pet-friendly. Bar 1915 is a welcome haven from cold and foggy days. Larkspur Hotels & Restaurants has other hotels in the Bay Area focused on personalized service, including another newly renovated San Francisco hotel, the Villa Florence.  524 Sutter St., tel. 800-919-9779. www.larkspurhotelunionsquare.com. Rates begin at $160 per night for a traditional queen room.

• The historic buildings of Cavallo Point are north of San Francisco at Fort Baker.
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Cavallo Point. Opened in June 2008, this is my new favorite hotel right outside the city. At Fort Baker, just at the other end of the Golden Gate Bridge, the lodge offers historic rooms in renovated military barracks as well as contemporary lodging—all with green elements, such as sustainable fabrics and re-use of historic materials. Cavallo Point is situated around the 10-acre parade ground, and is surrounded by the majestic Marin Headlands and nearby waterfront town of Sausalito.

Activities include walking history tours, a cooking school, yoga classes, kayaking, bike rentals and spa. The hotel’s Farley Bar is a comfortable place to relax and enjoy the parklike scenery—or grab a bite at the Murray Circle restaurant. Light lunchers can choose a sandwich or salad at the spa’s Tea Bar. 601 Murray Circle, Sausalito. Tel. 888-651-2003. www.cavallopoint.com. Rates begin at $250 per night for a double room.

• Delfina, in the Mission District, is a sure bet for fans of Italian food.
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Eating in San Francisco

The wealth of quality restaurants in San Francisco makes it a rich food city. With nearby small farms, artisanal food communities, and world-class wineries, the challenge is deciding where to eat.

On the city’s waterfront, Epic Roasthouse and Waterbar lock up the meat and seafood fans. Italian food is done just right at Delfina in the Mission District. Tried-and-true Zuni Café with its yummy oyster bar has lived in the Civic Center for more than 20 years. And farmerbrown offers “farm-fresh soul food,” supporting local and African-American farmers. Try their All-U-Can-Eat Brunch on Sundays, which includes live music.

For a change of scenery, cross the Bay Bridge to Berkeley and the Alice Waters empire. Her Chez Panisse restaurant opened in 1971, and Waters’ focus on organic and locally-grown ingredients continues to serve as an inspiration for chefs and restaurateurs. While the restaurant, with its fixed-price menu, is worth a visit—I prefer the casual upstairs café, which offers an à la carte menu at lunch and dinner.

Epic Roasthouse. 369 Embarcadero, tel. 415-369-9955. www.epicroasthousesf.com. Waterbar. 399 Embarcadero, tel. 415-284-9922. www.waterbarsf.com. Delfina. 3621 18th St., tel. 415-552-4055. www.delfinasf.com. Zuni Café. 1658 Market St., tel. 415-552-2522. www.zunicafe.com. farmerbrown. 25 Mason St., tel. 415-409-3276. www.farmerbrownsf.com. Chez Panisse. 1517 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. Tel., 510-548-5525 (restaurant) and 510-548-5049 (café). www.chezpanisse.com.