HOTEL VITALE, THE EMBARCADERO
JDV Hospitality's first ever ground up hotel has quickly become a city fixture. The earth tone rooms and absolutely spectacular views from the bay facing rooms are tough to beat. Be prepared to pay a steep price and while valet parking won't be cheap if you drive around the financial district a bit you can beat that $40 nightly rate that is oh so prominent in Union Square.

Fine dining is right outside your doorstep at Boulevard, and fine boozing is right outside your elevator door at Americano. Furthermore, there is plenty of budget food at the nearby Rincon center, oh, and if you want to get to Fisherman's Wharf you just hop on the F Market & Wharves street car, ditto if you want to get to Pac Bell Park.

HOTEL ARGONAUT, GHIRADELLI SQUARE
Yes the Argonaut is in tourist heavy Ghirardelli Square and within spitting distance of Fisherman's Wharf and the ferry to Alcatraz. However, the environment here is far more calm than that outside your door at most Union Square hotel. And if you are a tourist who desperately wants to ride the Powell & Hyde cable car, go to the Wharf, and shop at Union Square the Argonaut will help you flip the script on many tourists. Located steps away from the back end of the cable car you can beat much of the Powell queue if you take this legendary cable car up to Union Square and take a cab back. Besides, if they cable car line up gets to be too much to bear you can just drown your sorrows in Buena Vista Irish coffee while you wait for the line to ease up.

HOTEL DEL SOL, COW HOLLOW
Yes if you stay at this hotel and want to go to Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square you are taking the bus or driving. However, this fun motely hotel offers free parking and is within walking distance to Chrissy Field, The Exploratorium, and the Palace of Fine arts. Plus Cow Hollow is right behind you so you will have plenty of eating options no matter what your budget.

[Photo: barkbark]

SF ST. REGIS, SOUTH OF MARKET
This sleek SOMA hotel has no parking to speak of, but dude, if you can stay here you can afford the valet. Plus instead of dealing with Union Square shoppers, tourists, and homeless folk you get shoot across the street to Yerba Buena Gardens, with a playground, a Carousel, an interactive museum, an Ice Skating and Bowling Center the kids will thank you. Don't have kids? No worries, just head to the Metreon and catch a matinee between meetings. You will be back in time to schmooze with the rest of the St. Regis Valley crowd on the 4th floor mezzanine/lounge to hang out at when you're not talking tech-stuff with Silicon Valley peeps.

Still missing Market and Powell? Saddle up for some sashimi at Ame.

HOTEL BOHEME, NORTH BEACH
This North Beach haunt offers free in-room wifi, some of EssEffs best local cafes just steps away, and live beat poetry readings every Sunday night. C'mon, can you get any more San Francisco than that? Furthermore you can saunter down Columbus St. to Bimbos, a small venue that draws good acts, and take in a rock show.

From Hotel Boheme you can walk to Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, or to see the Puck Real World house up on Lombard Street. Oh, and if you want fine dining, Restaurant Gary Danko, offers up expensive but legendary food not far from Columbus.

There is off street parking if you are willing to fight the meter maid early in the morning.

[Photo: foggydave]

LET US KNOW YOUR FAVORITE SF HOTELS
Have a favorite non-Union Square hotel not on the list?

Speak up in the comments section below.