Hotel Adagio, Autograph Collection

On first glance, Hotel Adagio seems like a fairly standard mid-range hotel in Union Square, but it's actually one of the area's best options for its price. The hotel especially stands out for its smart decisions about where to put its money: Rather than being one of those mid-range places where everything feels just good enough, the Adagio makes sure the basics are first rate, especially in the 171 guest rooms which were completely renovated in 2012.By far the best part of the hotel is the rooms. They start at a spacious 350 square feet and have some of the most comfortable beds in their class, with pillow-top mattresses, Egyptian cotton sheets, and down comforters and pillows. Rooms feature a color palette of deep purples, whites, and bright greens; dark wood furniture and stainless steel accents; and up-to-date technologies, including iPod docks, 32-inch flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. There are full minibars and mini-fridges with space for guests' own groceries, and the generously sized bathrooms are equipped with full sets of Lather toiletries.In all other areas, the Adagio is solid. The lobby features stylish decor akin to the rooms, with dark woods, white flooring, and red accents. There's a fitness center and business center on site, both small but well equipped and open 24-hours. The Mortimer Bar serves both classy bar bites (flatbread pizzas; artisan cheeses) and hearty entrees (burgers; grilled skirt steak), and the Green Room serves breakfast daily with a farm-to-table approach. The property also features 5,500 square feet of event space, including a rooftop terrace.

Hotel Adagio sits two blocks west of Union Square, which is famous for its couture shops. Home to enormous outposts of Niketown, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany, Macy's, Louis Vuitton, and Neiman Marcus, among others, Union Square is to San Francisco what 5th Avenue is to New York. Locals don't hang out here much, but the square is great for people-watching nonetheless, and occasionally plays host to concerts, small festivals, and demonstrations. If shopping isn't your priority, you might prefer a hotel in a neighborhood closer to some of the biggest tourists attractions, like the Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf.- Five blocks from the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde cable-car lines, which run to Lombard Street and Ghirardelli Square or to Fisherman's Wharf, near Pier 39; a 20-minute ride

• Far from the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, and Haight-Ashbury
• Discount day-of theater seats available at the Union Square ticket kiosk
• Plenty of dining nearby, though the area isn't really known for its epicurean flare (Cheesecake Factory is the most visible restaurant around)
• 30-minute cab ride from San Francisco International Airport
• While Union Square is a safe area, be careful of wandering into the neighboring Tenderloin district (southwest of the hotel), an unsavory area with a reputation for drugs, prostitution, and other crime.