We are traveling to San Francisco at the end of August, my boyfriend and I. We tend to like staying in "hip" neighborhoods with great restaurants, bars, and boutique shops within walking distance.

We have narrowed down our choices to the Hotel Drisco or the Hotel Monaco.

(The Ritz and The Fairmont have great online prices at the moment as well which may trump all else)

We would appreciate any input.

Thanks!

I don't know the Drisco Hotel, but it's definitely in a "hipper" neighborhood than the Monaco (which is a wonderful hotel). The Monaco is just off Union Square, which is the main shopping district in San Francisco (2 blocks from Macy's, for example).

The Drisco is walking distance from both Union Street (Cow Hollow area) and Chestnut Street (Marina District), both of which are filled with restaurants, bars, and both boutique and chain store shopping. If you do stay in that neighborhood, Betelnut (on Union) and Ristobar (on Chestnut) are very good restaurants.

The El Drisco is a lovely, small, elegant, boutique hotel in an beautiful residential neighborhood. It is close to, but not in a "hip" neighborhood (though I'd personally kill to live there!) While I am glad I experienced it once, I found it quite expensive, and don't think I'd repeat the experience.

Hmmmm....I lived in SF in a apt. on Pacific near the corner
of Pacific and Baker, on the same block as the Hotel Drisco-
(which is on Pacific on the corner of Pacific and Broderick)
This is a very quiet, residential neighborhood.

Yes, as the crow flies it is close to Union St.,-4 blocks- but do know that Pacific is the high point in the area and you will be walking down, then back up some really steep hills.
The same would be true if you wanted to venture the opposite direction down to Sacramento St. which has restaurants and shops as well.

Just FYI, you know.

R5

Loved staying at the Hotel Drisco; loved walking to the shops on Filmore & some restaurants; did drive to the Marina district - a little too steep for walking back to the hotel.

Loved the Hotel Monaco in Chicago, so I'd assume the one in SF would also be great; probably a bit more of a "hip" boutique hotel, the Drisco was more of an upscale/elegant boutique hotel style.

You want "hip" neighborhood, try Hayes Valley--limited lodging options however

http://www.sfgate.com/neighborhoods/sf/hayesvalley/

hard to know what you mean by "hip".

The Monaco is on a street corner. Right across from it on the other corner is the Clift Hotel, which is totally "hip" - but a different kind of "hip" from the Monaco. Monaco - "old hip"; Clift - "new hip".

762 reviews of the Clift on google:

http://www.google.com/search?client=...=Google+Search

love the monaco...stay every summer and spring. adore location, fitness room, service, rooms, wine gathering in library every evening...just all round super place

Click on the Fodor's GOLD LIST (right on this site)and the Hotel Drisco is listed as one of the top ten "Best Urban Escapes" by the Fodor's editors. It got a good rating, and there are also a couple of "reader reviews". Happy Planning!