Pacific Heights Hotels

This is the kind of place you book on your second or third trip to San Francisco as there's nothing touristy about it, especially the off-the-beaten-path Japantown location—some of Fillmore Street's best shopping and food is just a stone's throw away. This is one of Kimpton's newer properties so it has that great new-hotel smell in addition to chic, understated décor and some of the most comfortable guest rooms in the city.

There's nothing particularly hip or design-y about this old school Pacific Heights hotel, but it's classic, comfortable, and centrally located (grab a bike and explore on two wheels). They're really big on hospitality, so there are usually treats or wine set up in the lobby.