Located in San Francisco’s bustling theatre district, the Donatello is an elegant hotel exhibiting the spirit of Italian 15th-Century Renaissance art. The interiors combine marble, Venetian stained glass and European inspired antiques. Don’t think it’s boring or stodgy, the classic scheme is a nice contrast to all the ultra-modern upscale hotels.
The guest rooms are very luxurious - decorated in pastels, and are a soothing contrast to the activity of the streets outside. The rooms are spacious as well, slightly larger than the equivalent rooms at the mark Hopkins or the Mandarin. While lacking the opulence of a lobby consistent with the other exclusive hotels, the Donatello makes up for that with its location.
The Donatello is located in a fantastic area for walking, with Union Square and all the fantastic shops (Macy’s Neiman Marcus, Armani, I. Magnin, FAO Schwartz and Tiffany & Co.), as well as the Museum of Modern Art and Chinatown. Be warned, however, walking North to California Street is not only a workout, but it demands walking or athletic shoes.
We did not try the dining room, as there are so many great restaurants close by (Bardelli’s, Masa’s, Tadich Grill) for either a walk, or preferably a short cab ride at night.