The Orchard Hotel

This is the classic case of a hotel that markets itself well but isn't exactly what it promises to be. The hotel's website is full of words like "chic" and "stylish" -- as well as an award from TripAdvisor for being "one of the top best luxury hotels in the U.S.." The hotel identifies itself as a "luxury boutique," but that's a pretty big stretch, especially in San Francisco, where "luxury" is a designation reserved for the city's grand old dames like the Fairmont, and "boutique" requires a level of real design originality. If you ignore the Orchard's hype, you'll find it to be a decent hotel with a great location. 

Its most impressive feature is that it's a LEED-certified hotel (its sister property, the Orchard Garden Hotel, was the first to be certified in San Francisco), which means it was designed to meet exacting efficiency and materials standards laid out by the US Green Building Council. 

Conveniently situated between the high-end shops of Union Square and scenic, ritzy Nob Hill, the Orchard puts most of the city's tourist attractions in easy reach without being smack in the middle of a major tourist area. Similar hotels in the area include the Donatello with its large suites and kitchenettes, and the Galleria Park, which has a free wine hour and a 3rd-floor public terrace. 

• Chinatown is two blocks away.
• Guests can hop on a cable car directly outside the hotel and get to Fisherman's Wharf, which has ferries to Alcatraz and Sausalito.
• Far from Golden Gate Park and the Golden Gate Bridge
• 30-minute cab ride from San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

The 104 rooms are far from chic or stylish, but they're spacious and clean, and each has a comfortable king-size bed with a pillow-top mattress and soft linens. Black-and-white prints of San Francisco landmarks or Asian artwork decorate the walls. Perks include free Wi-Fi, two terrycloth robes, a flat-screen TV, in-room safe, and a "Deep Sleep" CD to lull insomniacs into getting some shut-eye, and a stocked minibar. Bathrooms have either showers or shower/tub combos and bulk Gilchrist & Soames toiletries. 

There's very little about the Orchard that goes beyond the ordinary: The gym is a converted guestroom with three machines -- a treadmill, an elliptical machine, and an exercise bike -- and the "business center" consists of one laptop in the lobby. The restaurant and bar, Daffodil, serves local and organic food (not uncommon in San Francisco), and is open for all three meals. Unlike at other boutique hotels such as Hotel Rex, there is no free wine hour. There's also no pool or spa. Guests can purchase discounted day passes to Club One Fitness at Union Square which grant access to a pool and a larger variety of fitness equipment. The gym is a five-minute walk from the hotel. Discounted day passes are also available to any 24 Hour Fitness facilities in the area. The closest is a ten-minute walk from the hotel.