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Cents and an S.F. sensibility
By Beverly Beyette

Hotel Diva

In the sidewalk outside, celebrity guests (Tony Curtis, Stevie Wonder, Joan Collins) have done the Grauman's Chinese thing. The 116-room hotel in a 1915 building sells sex appeal. (The in-room safe yielded a condom and a "Safe Sex" reminder.)

My standard king room, No. 407, faced a wall and a parking lot. The floor-to-ceiling headboard was stainless steel, the carpet cobalt blue. The charcoal bed cover was lined in orange, and there was an orange shower curtain. (A do's and don'ts primer in the room endorsed wearing orange. It also suggested that one can be too rich or too thin - "L.A. is the exception.") The room had an iron and ironing board, a TV suspended from the ceiling and a smallish bath with shower-tub combo, stainless-steel sink and designer fixtures. I chose not to apply the "Diva!" temporary tattoo placed on my bed.

Price paid: $147.06

Parking: $35-$40

Amenities: Free wireless Internet throughout the hotel. Business center with free high-speed Internet open 24 hours. IPods for rent in the reception area. Free 24-hour coffee and tea. Bellman and concierge. On-site fitness center. Air conditioning. No room service, but delivery is available from Colibri, an upscale Mexican bistro nearby. Pet-friendly. Nonsmoking.

Pros: Location - across from Curran Theater and close to Union Square. Connects to a Starbucks.

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