Visitor's Guide

Hotels:

Richard with Shawn, our host for the party

One reason we wanted to do the wedding in November is that hotel prices are good.  Still, hotels in San Francisco are expensive and small.  Expect anything over 200 square feet to be large.  After visiting many, many hotels between us, Richard and I have a few favorites.  We decided on The Hotel Stratford as our designated hotel because it is clean, pleasant, in the middle of Union Square and a very good price.  We have a guest discount and a code:12% discount from their best available rate. When booking a reservation just log on to  http://www.hotelstratford.com/ , choose you arrival date and Enter the Group/Corporate Code: FOS242

We do have other favorites, though.  Anything by the Kimpton group: Kimpton Hotels will be either a four star, or a very nice three star.  We love the Sir Francis Drake: Sir Francis Drake and it is right on Union Square.  You may also find The Chancellor  pleasant and more reasonably priced.  The grand lady, The Fairmont, is always a good choice for those who want to see the best San Francisco has to offer.  

Good restaurants within walking distance of Union Square:

1. Cheap, decent. clean and comes with oodles of San Francisco history, a block away from The Hotel Stratford: Tad's Steakhouse  and for a coupon, try this: restaurant.com

2. Il Pollaio  The chicken is the best you will find anywhere.  Family style or individual. A short walk to North Beach.

3. Mo’s Grill:   Second favorite in North Beach for cheap dining.  The chicken place isn’t open on Sundays, so we have to have an alternative.  

4. Cafe Jacqueline a great, if a bit pricey, place for a complete souffle meal.  

5.. Sears Fine Food:   Nice sit down restaurant-- a little more than the top two, but the food is good and the price is right.  Right across the street from the Sir Francis Drake and a block away from The Stratford..

Is he scheming and plotting or is he just ordering dinner?

6. Mortons:   Expensive, but worth it.  Call ahead if you want them to reserve a prime rib for you. 

7.  Great Japanese food

8. Nowhere near Union Square, but worth the walk or the taxi drive is Tadich Grill.  It isn’t cheap, but the history and the vibe of the place is unbeatable.  If you find your waiter is slightly surly, it is just a  part of knowing you are  working at the oldest restaurant in San Francisco.  

9. And a non-recommendation: Chinatown... well, there really aren’t places to eat there that we like except, for novelty’s sake, there is one place that looks like it used to be the hangout for those who planned well-financed, if not socially acceptable, activities.  If you want the name of it, I will ask Richard.  The inside is cool.  The food is American Chinese and average.    If you want real Chinese, ask Richard.  If you want American style dim sum, ask Richard. 

Parking:

Parking for the reception will be free.  If someone is at the entrance to the parking lot, just tell them you are going to Red’s.  

Parking in Union Square is expensive.  The one good place to park is the one on Stockton and Sutter  that has a $34 daily maximum most days except Sunday, when the maximum is $18.  The Hotel Stratford has inexpensive valet parking, though you should call ahead for rates.  This site is a really nice tool for visitors.  

Walking tours:  

If you are staying in Union Square, if you can, find the time to walk from Union Square to North Beach for dinner.  It isn’t a long walk, but you go through three distinctly different neighborhoods.  If you want to buy stuff in Chinatown, just keep in mind that most of the goods are sold at many, many stores along the way.  The stores closest to Union Square are the most expensive and the ones closer to North Beach are cheaper.  Kind of.  As an adventure, get off of the main tourist street, Grant, and go over one street to Stockton.  This is where most who live in Chinatown do their shopping.  There is a wonderful little store that sells oddities and necessities of all kinds called, Stockton Bargain Market.  It is quite something to see.  

If you are brave and want to try the walk from the hotel to Red’s, it isn’t a hard walk.  It is mostly flat and fascinating.  You will go through the Financial District, through the semi-permanent art fair, next to the Ferry Building, and then a lovely walk along the Embarcadero.  Since the party will be partially outside next to the Bay in November, comfort is imperative.  It is perfectly fine to do this walk in flats and slacks and show up to the party that way.  It is easy enough to call a taxi to pick you up after the party.  They will be all over the Embarcadero that time of night.  

Last, if you want a massive challenge, walk up to Coit Tower.  Nighttime is a great time to see it.  You can also drive up