Clift, A Morgans Original

Location. The historic Clift, A Morgans Original, in San Francisco, Calif., blends old-world ambience with modern glamour one block from Union Square's dining and shopping venues. This hotel is one-half mile from the Moscone Convention Center and Nob Hill. Both Transamerica Pyramid and AT&T Park are one mile away.

Hotel Features. An eclectic collection of modern furnishings provide contrast with the hotel's Italian Renaissance exterior, which was originally constructed in 1913. Guests receive preferential access to the hotel's legendary restaurant, Asia de Cuba. Silk curtains, mahogany and leather banquettes, hand-blown Murano glass lamps, and a communal dining table fashioned from hand-etched Venetian mirrors define this elegant setting. Appetizers include lobster pot stickers and coconut-conch ceviche, while popular main dishes feature roasted lime and garlic duck and Hunan-style fish stuffed with crab. Legend claims that the bark from a single California redwood comprises the walls of the Redwood Room, the hotel's renowned bar. The 30-foot ceilings, digital art, subdued lighting and leather and velvet furnishings attract celebrities and local trendsetters. Additional hotel amenities include a business center with high-speed Internet access for a fee. Recreational offerings include a fitness center with cardiovascular equipment.

Guestrooms. The Clift, A Morgans Original, offers 372 guestrooms with sumptuous bedding consisting of down comforters and 400-thread count cotton linens. Custom-made white-birch furnishings complement rich velvet, leather and silk fabrics. Guestroom décor features sleigh beds and Venetian-glass lamps and desks. All accommodations include coffeemakers, minibars and laptop-compatible in-room safes. Tech-savvy enhancements include flat-panel televisions and mp3 docks.

Expert Tip. Check out works by worldwide artists and furnishing collections, including the Louis XVI chair, staged throughout the public areas of this hotel as evidence of a major 1990s reconstruction.