San Francisco

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Conference in San Francisco

A June 2005 trip to San Francisco by s2artr

I attended a 3-day business conference held at San Francisco Hilton, plus I had two free days to enjoy the city.

  • 8 reviews

Conference in San FranciscoBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Sightseeing on foot through the Embarcadero and Ferry Building, Chinatown, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli Square. Great food in North Beach and the Wharf area. Shopping in Union Square. Riding the Cable Car.

Quick Tips:

Local event listings are available in many tourist magazines and flyers available in all the hotels. Discount coupons are also available. There is no need to rent a car in the city. Parking is very expensive and difficult to find.

Best Way To Get Around:

Public transportation is abundant and easy to use. San Francisco Muni has day passes and 3-, 5-, and 7-day unlimited passes, all reasonably priced. For senior citizens (age 65 and over), the fare is 35 cents, with free transfers that can be used for unlimited rides for 4 hours. The BART is clean and efficient and is available for travel between both San Francisco and Oakland airports for or less.

Hilton San Francisco Fishermans WharfBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Hilton"

The hotel is very large, with over 1,200 rooms. Yet the staff is very personal and attentive. We stayed on the Executive floors in a deluxe room with a beautiful view of the city and had access to the Executive lounge, which included complimentary continental breakfast and evening hot and cold hors d'ouevres, both of which were beautifully presented and delicious. The room rate was only $30 a day higher than the regular rooms and well worth the difference, given that continental breakfast in the hotel restaurant cost $15 per person. The hotel has the most extensive health club I have ever seen in a hotel and a full-service spa.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by s2artr on July 6, 2005

Hilton San Francisco Fishermans Wharf
2620 Jones St. San Francisco, California 94133
(415) 885-4700

Asia de CubaBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

This restaurant has a most unusual cuisine. Preparations fuse Asian with Spanish influence. The restaurant is located in the Clift Hotel, which is a five-star establishment.

The portions are extremely large, such that two or more persons can easily share a dish. We shared a calamari salad, which is a signature dish of the restaurant. It was absolutely amazing, and I believe could be shared between three or four persons. Our main course was a 2- to 2 1/2-pound whole striped bass stuffed with a mixture of fresh crabmeat and red and green peppers. We also had ordered a side order of fresh vegetables but cancelled that order because there was already too much food for two of us. Lighting in the restaurant is subdued and most romantic. Service was most attentive. The wine list is quite large and has a large variety of wines available by the glass. The desserts were most unusual and impressive, but we were too full to consider ordering any.

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by s2artr on July 6, 2005

Asia de Cuba
495 Geary at Taylor San Francisco, California 94102
415-929-2300

PostrioBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

This is a beautiful restaurant owned and inspired by Wolfgang Puck. There is much variety on the menu, including meats, pasta, and seafood. The wine list is extensive, with many wines available by the glass. Service was very attentive. For my main entree, I had a halibut dish with a sauce made with coconut milk. It was very delicious.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by s2artr on July 6, 2005

Postrio
545 Post St San Francisco, California 94102
+1 415 776 7825

Citiscape Bar & RestaurantBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Citiscape"

This beautiful restaurant is located on the 46th floor of the San Francisco Hilton. It is a beautiful restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows all around, with a magnificent view of the city. It is open for both luncheon and dinner, and in the evenings, it has music for dancing with a disc jockey. The menu includes both meat and seafood items, as well as a vegetarian choice. Service is very attentive. I had a very unusual entree--a brochette of fresh salmon and ono, served on rice and accompanied by Prince Edward Island mussels and a bouquet of fresh vegetables.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by s2artr on July 6, 2005

Citiscape Bar & Restaurant
Hilton San Francisco & Towers, 46th Floor 333 O'Farrell Street San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 771-0720

Trattoria ContadinaBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

This is a small restaurant in North Beach with wonderful Italian cuisine. Open kitchen and complete bar. Respectful wine list with wines by the glass. Very delicious food, including meat items, seafood, and pasta, reasonably priced. I had a swordfish dish in a puttanesca sauce. My wife had rack of lamb. Both were outstanding. This is one of our San Francisco favorites, and we always make an advance reservation and look forward to dining there.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by s2artr on July 6, 2005

Trattoria Contadina
1800 Mason St San Francisco, California 94133
+ 1 415 982 5728

McCormick & Kuleto'sBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "McCormick & Kuleto's"

We had Sunday brunch here. The restaurant has a magnificent view over San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge from large picture windows. The restaurant is located in Ghiradelli Square, which is a favorite for browsing the many shops and people-watching. The brunch menu is simple and reasonably priced and includes various egg dishes, including crab Benedict and Crab omelets. Service was very attentive. The restaurant also offers its regular menu with chowders, salads, and many fish and seafood items, as well as a few "landlubber" items.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by s2artr on July 7, 2005

McCormick & Kuleto's
Ghirardelli Square: 900 North Point St San Francisco, California
415-929-1730

Beach Blanket BabylonBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This is a wonderful show which is presented Wednesday through Saturday nights, with two Sunday matinees. Adults only for the evening shows - 21 and over and ID required. Beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks, and snacks are offered. Sunday matinees are open to all, and the show is edited to be acceptable for children. The show is colorful, very funny, and has very unusual costuming and acts. The show is famous for its colorful and unique head coverings. The show has run continuously for 32 years, with every show a sell-out. Advance reservations are imperative, and tickets are available by telephone or online. Internet website is great: www.beachblanketbabylon.com. If visiting San Francisco, don't miss it!
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by s2artr on July 7, 2005

Beach Blanket Babylon
678 Green Street San Francisco, California 94133
(415) 421-4222

About the Writer

s2artr
s2artr
Woodland Hills, California
  • "My hobby is travelling. My asperation is to see the world in my lifetime, to learn of the different..."
  • 7 journals
  • 0 photos
  • 29 reviews

Get the Word Out

Share this travel journal beyond IgoUgo with your favorite sharing tools.