road warrior's » San Francisco, CA

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The glamour of the 1920s is still very much alive at the Sir Francis Drake; this hotel was opened the year before the Crash of ‘29, and its décor is still redolent with the lavish optimism of the Roaring Twenties. Gilded ceilings, dazzling chandeliers and a curved marble staircase make the grand lobby truly grand. The marble staircase leads to a mezzanine that overlooks the Powell Street cable cars and Union Square itself. The Sir Francis Drake was designed in homage to the European Renaissance during which Drake lived. Opulent details like its gold-leafed and vaulted ceilings represent an early 20th-century take on the late 16th century. The lobby contains two murals painted by W.F. Bergman that depict Drake’s life and times. Guest rooms and suites are elegant and uncluttered. Crisp details (bold, vertical stripes of celadon and white) bring life to carved headboards, tufted pillows and other traditional touches. The Sir Francis Drake is also home to the award-winning and very hip Harry Denton’s Starlight Room, a San Francisco institution. The atmosphere is all ‘30s opulence, and dressing the part is encouraged. If you know how to lindy hop, this is the place to strut your stuff. You never know – Sharon Stone or George Clooney may be watching.

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