My husband and I will be visiting SF for your 20th anniversary. I have made reservations at two Kimpton hotels, the Hotel Monaco and the Villa Florence. The price difference is $60 per day which adds to $240 in total. The Hotel Monaco is a 4 star and the Villa Florence is a 3 star.

I am more for clean, comfortable and friendly service than I need to be pampered.

Your feedback would be helpful to make my final decision.

You can't go wrong with a Kimpton hotel IMHO but I absolutely adore the Monaco. Haven't stayed at the Villa Florence so can't comment on that hotel. Just love the Monaco!

Hi JazzSilver, personally I would stay at the Villa Florence (in fact that is where I usually stay when in am in SF).

It is in a better location in my opinion. I do not stay at the Hotel Monaco as I do not like to walk to it from Union Square when it is dark whereas the Villa Florence is right there on Powell St., just a half a block south of the Union Sq. There are many more people around etc.

The Villa Florence has wonderful beds, the size of the rooms depends on what you reserve of course. The staff is wonderful. I have always found the rooms to be clean (that is very important to me). They have a beautiful lobby and serve wine etc. to their guest every evening. Whatever you decide have a wonderful visit in SF and congratulations on your 20th wedding anniversary.

I would weight LoveItaly's opinion of SF hotels more than mine. So, I will (somewhat) change my opinion and vote for saving $240 at the Villa Florence. Having said that, I'll TRY to stay at VF next time I'm in SF but don't know if I can be in the city and not stay at the Monaco. Maybe I'll do the Monaco in another city to help with the process!

Hi Starrsville, the Monaco is a beautiful hotel. Do you like the Grand Cafe? I suggested the Villa Florence as JazzSilver explained she did not need a lot of pampering (I could sure use some right now, LOL).
Kimpton's have wonderful hotels.

It is always scary though giving a recommendation as one never knows if the other person will like what you do.
True with restaurants also.

One thing I would do JazzSilver is this; go on the Kimpton website and check out both hotels. That will give you a better idea of which hotel would be suitable for you.

Starrsville, the next time you are in SF let me know if you would like to get together. I would love to meet up with you.

LoveItaly & Starrsille:

Thank you for your responses. I have researched both hotels extensively, however I needed to find someone who has actually stayed at either to make a final decision.

LoveItaly you stated that you would rather walk around the Villa vs Monaco in the evening. Do you agree Starrsville? I have reserved a standard queen room, in the back, at the Villa. LoveItaly, what size have you stayed in?

JassSilver, in response to your question about the rooms at the Villa Florence I have pretty much stayed at each type they have available, from a smaller room in the front with 2 beds (doubles I think) to a room in the back with a King (or maybe Queen) with a sitting area with a sofa etc. to a suite. I don't spend hours in the hotel room, do enjoy the lobby during the wine hour. Kuleto's restaurant is attached. Their dinners are fine but not my absolute favorite restaurant but on a rainy night etc. is is wonderful to have Kuleto's there. Their breakfasts are really good.

I will let Starsville address her experiences with walking back to the Monaco at night.

My experience with walking west on Geary St. after dark is that there never seems to be very many people around except for the homeless and they get to aggresive for my comfort level. Last December it was dark and I tried to enjoy some of the art galleries on the first block west of Union Sq. (just off of Powell St.,) and finally gave up and left. I was not scared but it was not enjoyable.
On Powell St., there are people everywhere and although there are homeless they are more laidback and do not badger you as they do on Geary St. Or at least that has always been my experience. Of course if you spend the evening in another part of the city than taking a taxi back to the hotel would solve that problem. Geary St. has the theaters etc, art galleries etc., so I don't mean to give you the impression it is terrible.

This is amazing timing, LoveItaly. I just got back from a phone call and I had this thread loaded. Before the call there wasn't a chance I'd be in SF in the near future. My TX friend wants to meet up and SF, NYC and Vegas are in the running. So, if I get out your way in August, let's definitely have a mini-GTG!

Jazz, as LoveItaly has guessed, I usually took taxis back to the hotel at night or parked a rental car nearby. I walked around the hotel during the day without any problems. The homeless can pester you anywhere in the city. If you plan to do a lot of walking at night, follow LI's advice - she knows the city better than I.

Yes, I do love the Grand Cafe. The decor is amazing and I feel like I've stepped back in time when I'm there.

Jazz, you can't go wrong with either so it's a win-win whatever you decide.

Be sure to order a goldfish for your room. I think we named ours Jo-Jo!

We had a mani-pedi at the hotel too. Of course, had my cards read in the lobby. Walked to a pretty good Thai restaurant around the corner for lunch. Ate dinner at the Grand Cafe. We were adding on a few nights after being in the city for business (at a different hotel) and headed out to Napa after picking up a rental car from Hertz nearby. So, once again, I didn't walk much around the Monaco at night.

Hi Starrsville, if you get out to SF in August that would be wonderful!! And btw, a manicure and pedicure is what I really need right now. After my kids come back from Rome maybe I should just check myself into the Monaco for two nights and never leave, LOL.

BTW JazzSilver (sorry for highjacking your thread) daytime is fine on Geary St., it is just after dark (and again west of Powell St.) that I don't like unless I am with other people and going to the theater etc. Let us know what you decide.

Starrsville, I hope August works out.

And JazzSilver, I am sure that you two will have a beautiful 20th anniversary in SF. It is a beautiful city for celebrations and I am sure you will find everyone will be so helpful and kind. Let us know about your visit. And welcome to San Francisco!

LoveItaly & Starrsville -

If I had to make a decision right now I would keep my reservation at the Villa. However, I must tell you that the reason that I made the second reservation at the Monaco was a recent review via Trip Advisor. The review stated that ne/she saw a roach in or around her suitcase. Remember I said I do not need to be pampered but I do want to stay in a CLEAN room. The Monaco has a 5.0 rating and the Villa a 4.3 which isn't too far off, but NO complaints at the Monaco.

What about friendly service? When was the last time that you checked into the Villa. It sounds like you are there frequently.

We reserved a quiet room in the back. I just check my paperwork and it is a king room.

Your thoughts please.

By the way I hope that the two of you can get together in August.

There's always a chance the visitor brought the roach along with her suitcase.

Hi JazzSilver, a roach? Oh my, well I have never encountered one in my life & certainly not at the Villa Florence. So don't know what to say but it certainly is a possibility the guest brought one into the hotel in her luggage.

Last stay at the Villa Florence was a few months ago.

JazzSilver, I would strongly urge you to make the decision based upon your thoughts, not mine or anyone elses. I merely gave you my experiences. Whatever you decide I sure wish you a beautiful time in San Francisco and am sure it will be. Take good care.

My thoughts were that the visitor brought it via their travels as well!

I agree that I need to base the selection upon my needs and not the opinions of others. The experts always say to pick your first answer that comes to mind and my first selection was the Villa Florence! Great price, great location, comfortable, friendly, and CLEAN!

Thank you ladies for responding to my concerns and questions.

Another question, have you tried the North Beach Restuarant?

Jazzsilver-

I have stayed at both-

The Monaco is way more upscale-the rooms are gorgeous! The Grand Cafe has great food....

Villa Florence- we stayed in a Jr Suite ( it is really a regular room on steriods-) room faced a wall-
Not fancy at all...actually stayed there twice.
Restaurant in the lobby is TERRIFIC italian for breakfast...

If I had to choose between the 2- I would go with The Monaco. It is much nicer esp. for a 20th anniversary!

Kuletos is not in the lobby of the Villa Florence, it is attached to the Villa Florence. The lobby does have a complimentary wine serving late afternoon (either 5:00pm or 6:00pm). And yes, Kuleto's breakfast's are wonderful.

The North Beach Restaurant is a fun place to go to JazzSilver and a SF institution. I usually go to another restaurant in North Beach but have no problem going to the North Beach Restaurant. Think for a visitor it would be a good experience.

LoveItaly -

What restaurant would you recommend in North Beach?

Andy:

One of the concerns regarding the Monaco was it's location when walking in the evening.

Since you have stayed at both hotels can you give me a brief comparison of each? What are your likes and dislikes for each.

Thanks.

Hi JazzSilver, actually I think the North Beach Restaurant would be great. And old SF institution. I have often taken houseguest there. The other restaurant which visitors always loved was the FioriDe'Italia which claimed to be the oldest Italian restaurant in the US but unfortunatly it burned down a couple of months ago.
That made me sad.

If you are looking for a restaurant for brunch etc. there is Moose's, which is across the street from the park in NorthBeach. You might want to take a look at St.Peters & Paul's church which is right there also.

I often go to the MonaLisa. It is casual, run by a man from S.Italy. All the staff are young people in their 20's. They speak English but with a very delightful Italian accent. Food is good and my SIL and daughter are friends with them so for us it is a good place to go to.

I never expect a true "Italian meal" in the US. Even the MonaLisa has had to prepare their dishes with the American taste in mind but they do prepare dishes "Italian" style for my SIL who is from Rome as they know what he wants.

There are lots of restaurants in NorthBeach. There are a ton of restaurants in SF.

If you have time you would probably enjoy going to the Ferry Building at the end of Market St.,it is a nice way to spend some time and the shops there have the most wonderful food items you could buy and take home with you. There are restaurants too, the Slanted Door is highly recommended but I have never been able to get a reservation as usually go to SF spur of the moments. But there are other restaurants/cafes and the plaza behind the Ferry Building is a wonderful place to have something to eat, to enjoy a drink, to just sit and relax and enjoy the SF Bay, the boats and people watch etc. You can walk down Market St., to the Ferry Bldg. or take the F line and get off at Market and the Embarcadero. The Ferry Bldg is right there.

If you like Mussells and French Fries (on the appetizer part of the menu), Scala's on Powell St., serves wonderful ones.

Only problem with SF is there are to many wonderful places to visit and to many wonderul restaurants. Such a problem, LOL.