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Dreamin' San Francisco-Style
By Nicole Meoli

Feeling a little "diva-ish" my first day in San Francisco, I venture to the Hotel Diva, managed by Personality Hotels - titled as such because each of the five hotels under its management appeals to a different type of person. The hotel's location alone could bring out the diva in just about anyone.

The hotel is 100 feet from Union Square - home to some of the most exclusive shops in the city, such as Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Escada, and Salvatore Ferragamo, to name a few. A mere jaunt directly across the street will put you at two of the best performing arts theaters in downtown - the American Conservatory Theater and the Curran Theater.

Before entering the circa 1915 hotel building that until the mid-1980's was the Somerton Hotel - home to many returning World War II soldiers - I notice "The Diva Sidewalk of Fame." Scribbled in the concrete are the signatures of celebrity guests such as Tony Curtis, Danny Glover, Lily Tomlin, Anjelica Huston and Stevie Wonder. The new-meets-old facade juxtaposes an ultramodern glass wall surrounded by steel and marble with the typical San Francisco Building front of painted brick and visible fire escapes. After walking into Diva's super-chic lobby, I half expect to be greeted by Mariah Carey. A smiling gentle man behind the illuminated front desk greets me instead.

What stands out about this boutique hotel is that architect and designer T. Olle Lundberg managed to preserve the Old World character of the building while adding just the right amount of modernity to make it sleek and sophisticated, yet not at all pretentious. The 115 guest rooms feature cobalt-blue carpets, black leather sofas, funky odd shape light fixtures and beds with fluffy comforters backed up to very tall, sculptured, rolled steel headboards parted at the top to make a "V".

The Diva is in the process of getting a facelift - which will be complete next month. Nothing major, just a few touches to update the interior, such as flatscreen televisions, new artwork throughout, a few more light fixtures by local designer Pablo and some hip Italian furniture in the lobby.

Visitors will enjoy the swanky "Diva Boudoir" - on floors 2,5,6,and 7 - where you can grab a snack, rent a movie or check e-mail (at no charge) on one of Diva's iMac computers. Ipods are available at the front desk for a small rental fee and come already loaded with special Diva music mixes.

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