PRICE:
Frommer's Recommended

Complete with bustling conventioneers and a line to register that resembles airport check-in, the Hilton's lobby is so enormous and busy that it feels more like a convention hall than a hotel. The three connecting buildings (the original 19-story main structure, a 46-story tower topped by a panoramic restaurant, and a 23-story landmark with 386 luxurious rooms and suites) bring swarms of visitors. Even during quieter times, the sheer enormity of the place makes the Hilton somewhat overwhelming. After you get past the sweeping grand lobby, jump on an elevator, and wind through endless corridors to your room, you're likely to find the mystique ends with clean but run-of-the-mill standard-size corporate accommodations. That said, some of the views from the floor-to-ceiling windows in the main tower's rooms are memorable. All rooms have flatscreen TVs, bathrooms with walk-in showers (no tubs), Serta Suite Dreams beds, and a pillow menu that ensures you get a pillow that suits your firmness preference. Still, the overall feel and decor of the hotel are impersonal and plain -- perfect for conventioneers, but not for a romantic weekend. One bonus is the 13,000-square-foot health club and day spa. The Hilton has four restaurants: Cityscape, on the 46th floor, offers classic California cuisine and a breathtaking 360-degree view; Intermezzo serves Mediterranean-style food; the Café offers a buffet; and Kiku of Tokyo offers -- you guessed it -- Japanese food. The Lobby Bar also offers bar snacks.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's San Francisco 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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