We are looking into lodging in the Union Square area. We will be driving from LA and going to SF to celebrate a couple of milestone birthdays. Does not need to be a 5-star hotel, but something nice and CLEAN. Also, is anyone familiar with the Millennium restaurant in that area? Any other restaurant with good, vegetarian fare?

From Hotwire Travelticker this morning: "What was once the Monticello Inn in San Francisco's central Union Square is now the renovated Hotel Abri. And Travel Ticker readers stay from $89 (reg. $229). Valid now-March 31." I booked for one night in February.

Link to Travelticker:

http://tinyurl.com/a9aoj8

Link to Trip Advisor reviews of hotel:

http://tinyurl.com/a9aoj8

Needed to phone the hotel to ask a question, and Belinda, who answered the phone, was delightful. No, I'm not related to her.

I love Hotel Monaco http://www.monaco-sf.com/. It is 2 blocks from Union Square, beautiful, has a nice free wine tasting at the end of each day and has a good bar and restaurant.

I always stay at the SIr Francis Drake which is very central; it is the same hotel group as the Hotel MOnaco. Any of the Kimpton hotels would do fine.

We loved Millennium, and were also quite happy with our stay at Hotel California, which is in the same building. Just a warning that some people might find the location, at the edge of the Tenderloin, a problem, but we had no trouble walking to and from the hotel from Union Square.

~Liz

Millenium is at the very edge of the okay area, so if you turn TOWARD Union Square, it's fine, but you don't necessarily want to turn AWAY from Union Square. It's fine, though, and you shouldn't not stay there because of its location. (That said, I don't know anything about the hotel....I do love the rooms at the Monaco, though)

I've stayed here twice www.andrewshotel.com on the edge of Union Square

My favorite restaurant row nearby towards the financial district is
www.belden-place.com

Parc 55 just around the corner from Union Square, next to Powell St. station of cable car, very nice indeed

I always recommend the Westin Saint Francis on Union Square. I have never had a bad stay.

Matt
Traveler
Geogad.com

hi, I had a gorgeous meal at the millenium & I insist you go! the atmosphere is very seductive like the menu!! loads of imaginative dishes at good prices. more evolved than Greens. I also enjoyed Out the Door which is the off shoot of Slanted Door if you are in a hurry for asian food located in the westfield shopping ctr of all places! even their wholefoods is amazing due to SF being so near farmers.

My favorite hotel (just about anywhere) = Hotel Monaco

FWIW, there's an "Out The Door" in the Ferry Building too.