Location. A sanctuary lofted atop a historic San Francisco, Calif., building, the Hotel Palomar places guests within one block of Market Street, the Yerba Buena Gardens and the Sony Metreon. One of the city's most conveniently positioned properties, this 2005 Conde Nast Traveler Gold award winning hotel stands two blocks from the Museum of Modern Art and the Moscone Convention Center. The Powell Street Cable Car Station is also two blocks away.
Hotel Features. Plush velvet furnishings, animal print carpets and fine art introduce guests to the acclaimed Hotel Palomar. Serving French cuisine at its finest, the Fifth Floor restaurant offsets dishes such as Fennel Crusted Venison and Tasmanian Ocean Trout with pairings from a fine selection of 1,400 wines worldwide. A chef's wine tasting menu is also available. Complimentary business offerings at this hotel include transportation to and from the Financial District, one half mile away, and wireless Internet access throughout the hotel's public spaces. Revitalizing spa and massage treatments are available in guestrooms. The fitness room provides cardiovascular equipment overlooking the San Francisco bay.

Guestrooms. The Hotel Palomar's 198 guestrooms provide premium bedding with down comforters and pillows, polished glass and wood armoires, animal print rugs and plush lounge chairs. High speed wired and wireless Internet access is complimentary in all rooms. Cable television, DVD players and CD players also await guests in each room. Bathrooms are stocked with L'Occitane products and terry cloth bathrobes. Upon request, the hotel delivers "companion goldfish" during the stay.

Expert Tip. Hotel Palomar brought back the Flights and Bites program, featuring tips on fare preparation and wine pairings in a class setting, held in the Lounge on Five each month. Subjects catering to my favorite interests included "sensory evaluation," "entertaining with wine" and "joy of bubbly."