Nob Hill Hotel

The Nob Hill Hotel’s ornate, gilded lobby instantly transported us to the glitzy days of Victorian San Francisco. Rates at this three-star gem can soar far out of cheapo territory, but they’re quite affordable in low season, and the taste of old world glamour may just be worth a splurge.

Each of the hotel’s 50 rooms is uniquely decorated in a plush Victorian style that pays homage to the 1906 building. Here it’s sumptuous velvet, sparkling chandeliers and exquisite carved wood galore. Large paintings hang on walls painted rich orange, green or red (we especially loved the walls painted in textured patterns), which contrast beautifully with original molding and ceiling medallions.

Rooms are equipped with coffee and tea facilities, a television and phone. Air conditioning, mini-fridges, microwaves and iPod docks are also available in some rooms (ask ahead). Some pricier rooms also look onto a pretty interior courtyard.

In a happy anachronistic twist, bathrooms in this restored historic building are renovated and modern. They are on the small side, but comfortable and clean, with painted walls, shower/tub combos and large marble tiles.

Those concerned that all that hill-walking won’t be enough to counteract mass quantities of crab and sourdough will be pleased to know that the same 1998 renovation that brought rooms up to date also introduced a fitness center, a rare thing among San Francisco’s smaller hotels. That same renovation also restored the elegant lobby to all its Victorian splendor. Guests can mingle among its stained-glass windows and intricate gold-and-white detailing during a complimentary wine and cheese social, every evening from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Continental breakfast is included in the room rate. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.

The Nob Hill Hotel is located just a few blocks downhill from a pretty stretch of Hyde Street, populated by fashionable bars and eateries. Union Square and the Theater District are also within walking distance, and MUNI and cable cars are easily accessible.

Do note, however, that while the hotel is just downhill from Nob Hill and all its “posh-ness,” the immediate area is sometimes referred to as the “Tendernob” for its close proximity to the unsavory Tenderloin (it’s not unsafe, but proceed with caution). One fun neighborhood note: The gorgeous building next door to the hotel is one of only two Nob Hill buildings that survived the 1906 earthquake (look for the plaque).