monterey bay risotto, saut ed spinach, and oven-dried tomatoes. Finish the evening with an assortment of cheeses

On the fringes of the less-than-pleasant Tenderloin District, monterey bay this retro 1950s-style choice is a gathering place for visiting rockers, writers, monterey bay and filmmakers monterey bay who crave a Southern California vibe during their San Francisco visits. The focal point of the pastel-painted Palm Springs style hotel is a heated, paisley-muraled pool in a modern-sculpture garden. The rooms, while far from plush, are currently monterey bay being updated but are comfortably outfitted with bamboo furnishings and original local art. In addition to the usual amenities, the inn s own closed-circuit channel shows films exclusively made in or about San Francisco. Services include on-site massage and woo hoo! free parking. A hot restaurant and lounge, Bambuddha, revitalized the hotel s reputation as a hot nightspot with Southeast Asian cuisine and cocktail lounge flair. 601 Eddy St. (at Larkin St.), San Francisco, CA 94109. & 800/248-9466 or 415/776-1380. Fax 415/885-3109. www.thephoenixhotel.com. 44 units. monterey bay $149 $169 double; $185 $205 suite. Rates include continental breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking. Bus: 19, 31, 38, or 47. Amenities: Bar; heated outdoor pool; concierge; tour desk; in-room massage; same-day laundry service/dry monterey bay cleaning. In room: TV, VCR on request, dataport, fridge and microwave in some rooms, monterey bay hair dryer, iron on request.

risotto, saut ed spinach, and oven-dried tomatoes. Finish the evening with an assortment of cheeses or a warm chocolate truffle torte with hazelnut ice cream, orange cr me anglaise, and chocolate sauce.

CHINATOWN California Street to Broadway and Kearny to Stockton Street are the boundaries of today s Chinatown. San Francisco is home to the second- largest community of Chinese in the U.S., but the majority do not live and work in these 24 blocks, although they return to shop and dine here on weekends.

With the downtown ballpark open, a roster of hotel projects is hot on the heels. At the head of the list is the new Omni San Diego Hotel, 675 L St. (& 800/THE-OMNI or 619/2316664; www.omnihotels.com), the only hotel connected (via skybridge) to a Major League ballpark. The Omni s rooftop terrace with its swimming pool, Jacuzzi, and fireplace is a snazzy perch for sunning and socializing, and 12 rooms even offer ballpark views. Then there s 500 West, at 500 W. Broadway (& 619/234-5252; www.500west hotel.com), which opened following a $9-million makeover of downtown s old YMCA building and offers 260 rooms geared to the budget traveler, with an eye-catching price-range of $69 to $89 for doubles. monterey bay