Drisco

Drisco

Hotel Drisco occupies a 1903 Edwardian on a hilltop in Pacific Heights, a residential San Francisco neighborhood about three kilometers from downtown, where the Baker Street Steps, the Lyon Street Steps and the Swedenborgian Church are all a walk away rather than a taxi ride. It also sits within reach of the Presidio and Union Street, so the location works for someone happy to spend a morning on foot in a quiet, hilly part of the city and less well for anyone who wants to walk out the door into downtown nightlife. With only 45 rooms, the place runs on a first-name basis, with a doctor on call, a concierge desk, and staff who speak English, Spanish and French. Rooms come with a king bed, heated bathroom floors and soft linens, a 42-inch flat-screen with cable and a DVD player, a fridge, bathrobe and slippers, and designer toiletries rather than the usual hotel-issue bottle. Breakfast is continental, served between 6 and 10am, and there's a daily complimentary reception where guests mingle before heading to the restaurant or the bar. What sets Drisco apart from other upscale downtown hotels is free on-street parking arranged by the bell staff, where nearby garages can run past 80 dollars a night. Accessibility is handled properly, with roll-in showers, accessible elevators and a clear route from entrance to guestroom. A 250-dollar deposit per room applies, and photo ID plus a credit card are required at check-in. Families get playrooms and a fitness center; anyone without a car, or without patience for hills, should look elsewhere. A 45-room Edwardian on a Pacific Heights hilltop, three kilometers from downtown San Francisco, with free on-street parking that upscale hotels downtown don't offer. Good for a quiet, residential stay near the Presidio; less so for anyone who wants nightlife outside the door.