I don’t bother with the hotels proliferating the landscape around the airport when I fly into SFO. I immediately throw myself onto the nearest north-bound BART train and jump off at the Powell Street stop and hoof it for two blocks until I get to Union Square. Once there, my bags in tow and feeling a distinct need to shower and shave, I press on, heading north for another block.
I make a left at Sutter Street, and there it is: the Cartwright Hotel. Though, of course, it is no longer called the Cartwright — now it’s the Larkspur Hotel. Whatever they call it, it’s my home away from home, my Union Square hotel par excellence. I breeze in, confirm my reservation, and it’s off to the shower. I tend to fly into SFO from Newark, New Jersey, so tend to be pretty tired. A nice shower is followed by a quick call to room service, a delicious Cobb salad, and then a nap.
Eight hours later, I’m ready to meet the San Francisco morning. A quick shave and I’m out the door. The beauty of staying so close to Union Square is that I’m only minutes from my favorite bakery, Cafe Madeliene, on O’Farrell. A restorative mocha and croissant quickly sets the pace for the rest of my morning, which tends to see me hop the MUNI bus for North Beach.
In North Beach I tend to spend hours at City Lights Bookstore. The book store the Beats built is still home to some of the best literature available in North America. And if you manage to think of it, head upstairs and see some of the original Beat books, poetry and art on display. Don’t be intimidated by the attitude — this is San Francisco, after all.
Time for lunch! Italian, perhaps? While any of the spots on Columbus Avenue are decent enough, they tend to be tourist traps. You’d be better served trying one of the establishments on Vallejo or Mason Streets. Of course, this primes you for an after-lunch cappuccino at the world famous Caffe Trieste. Ah, that’s the life!
If you find yourself needing a cozy Union Square hotel, follow me to what used to be the Cartwright.
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