San Francisco-Walking in Union Square area
 

We're taking BART from SFO to the Powell Street station, then walking to our hotel in the 500 block of Geary. This will probably be around 7-8 pm on Tuesday evening.

The Bart site says this is a little over a half-mile, which sounds fine. Should we have any concern about doing this? Is there a specific route between the two that you recommend?

Thanks,
Liz

What hotel are you staying at?

I just checked so I would know exactly which block is the 500 block of Geary -- the Hotel Monaco is on that block. You have no worries. This is a busy area at all times. Do keep your purse/valuables close to your body, but don't worry about general safety. Just walk up Powell Street from the station to Geary (4 blocks) and turn left, then walk a block or two on Geary.

The path with lots of people on it would be to go straight up Powell Street and to take a left on Geary. You may run into a panhandler--that's about it.

Hi elberko, you will be fine but be aware you could get homeless people bothering you for money, cigarettes etc. Do not make eye contact and do not respond to them. And have a beautiful time in SF!

Thanks, dmlove.

We staying at the Hotel California (it's a lovely place...), it was, until recently, I believe, the Savoy.

~Liz

Liz, that's just the other end of the same block. It's not a problem AT ALL. In case you're looking for a good place to eat, there's an excellent "small plates" (meaning you get multiple dishes and share) restaurant on that block too - Cortez. Very chic/trendy (looking) and great food.

Thanks everybody! Sounds like the plan is good.

dmlove, thanks for the restaurant info-that was going to be my next thing on the list. We flying from the east coast, so will probably be hungry and a bit jet-lagged. Cortez might be just the thing.

~Liz

Walking along Powell and up Geary is no problem, just don't take any shortcuts like Cyril Magnin.

Be prepared for a loud restaurant at Cortez.

Stu Dudley

<i>Be prepared for a loud restaurant at Cortez.</i>

I'm pretty sensitive to noise in restaurants (meaning I hate loud restaurants) and I haven't noticed Cortez being particularly loud.

Which of course may mean that I wasn't there at the height of the dinner rush!

The Chron gives Cortez a 4 bell noise rating - which is 1 bell short of the noisest rating. I suspect if you arrive around 6:30, the &quot;din&quot; will not have started yet &amp; perhaps they haven't started the noise audio either.

We were at a restaurant on Halloween (not Cortez), and at precisely 9:00 they turned up the music - which was not music but noise.

Stu Dudley

Cortez is a pretty lively place, particularly as they have a bar in the front part of the property. I found it noisy but not hellish (hellish would be LuLu). I like the ambiance and food at Cortez - I would not be overly put off by the volume.

If you are interested in a nice wine bar before or after your meal, the Hidden Vine is my favorite in that neighborhood. It's on Trader Vic Alley, which can be a little hard for a newcomer to find - near the intersection of Post and Taylor streets. The easiest way to find it is by going through the Andrews Hotel on Post Street, since it is actually in the rear lobby of that hotel. Hidden Vine has some very interesting wines on offer and usually has three-taste flights at a very reasonable price. And it's quiet.

<i>hellish would be LuLu</i>

For me its Town Hall and Bacar!

I'm with you dmlove. Although Bacar can be a little more bearable if you're up on the mezzanine and not down on the &quot;pit&quot; level.

I guess it just all means that we should shut up and eat (drink too).

There was an article about noise several years ago in the NY Times (I think), and discussed on the AOL travel board. The article claimed that it's well known that the louder the place is, the more people drink and the quicker they eat. Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys) was quoted in the article.

We don't dine at 5 bell (actually a bomb) rated places. We almost left the restaurant when they turned up the misic on Halloween.

Stu Dudley

Stu, I try to avoid 4 bells, too, but it's not easy!

For anyone else coming to this post for info:

The walk was fine, but getting OUT of the BART station was a bit confusing. I didn't see an exit marked Powell St., but I think the exits are all on that side? Anyway, there is a short flight of steps (grrr) right outside the exit, then an escalator up to street level.

We ended up eating at Cafe Claude just off Sutter near Union Square. It was just right.

Thanks to all!
~Liz

Thanks for the report.