Few hotels are as sensual, glamorous or as purely beautiful as the Hotel Monaco in San Francisco. The public spaces are breathtaking on a large scale, yet they have none of the cold austerity that mars some luxury hotels. Giant sprays of flowers, delicately carved woods and marble staircases (in a chic smoke) are oh-so French. The Grand Café and Petit Café recall the Belle Epoque grandeur of Paris’ Grand Palais and Petit Palais. The Hotel Monaco doesn’t shy away from bold strokes, as evidenced by the painting of the Celestial Lady that crowns the grand staircase. The French have a way of effortlessly combining high style with lighthearted charm – a mode the Hotel Monaco has embraced fully. The lobby fireplace, with its whimsical frescoes of hot air balloons, is a visual bonbon. Rooms are as visually stunning as the public spaces, often pairing bold patterns (black and white stripes; red and gold fleur-de-lys) with classic design elements. The effect? A charismatic mixture of Cirque du Soleil vibrancy with French country chateau elegance. The location is as perfect as you’d expect from such a beguiling hotel. The theater district and Union Square shopping are nearby, as is the Powell Street cable car stop.