Our place in the city

Bruce Kelley, Photography by Mona T. Brooks

As one who loves, but doesn’t live near, downtown San Francisco, I occasionally wish (is once a week occasional?) that we had a city pied-à-terre. But as a salaryman who hasn’t yet put the kids through summer camp, much less college, I accept that as a dim dream. So instead, we settle for strategic stays at the small, three-year-old, Chip Conley–founded Hotel Vitale (hotelvitale.com). “Settling” should always be so diverting and urbane. The design combines what you might call SoMa Simple and Napa New Age, but with true élan. The location, at Embarcadero and Mission, puts the hotel steps from the newer corners of downtown, including the Saturday-morning lineup for Blue Bottle Coffee at the Ferry Building Marketplace. And the streetcar you can hear out the window makes a trip to a Giants game an urban adventure. When the homers have all been hit, we find it a pleasure to return to such a perfectly located and mod-comfy hotel, where the service is superlative, beautiful families from every country wander through the lobby, and the breakfasts at arty Americano are just right. Walking onto Mission Street on a sunny morning after a fine bowl of oatmeal, we feel like it’s our town.