Rates here at the Sir Francis Drake are a good $100 less per night than its Nob Hill cousins. Allow their ebullient and legendary Beefeater doormen to handle your bags as you enter the elegant, captivating lobby and live like the king or queen of Union Square. Scala's Bistro, one of the most festive restaurants downtown serves good Italian cuisine in a stylish setting on the first floor; the Parisian-style Caffe Espresso does an equally commendable job serving coffees, pastries and sandiches daily in its spot adjacent to the hotel. The superchic Harry Denton's Starlight Room on the 21st floor, offers cocktails, entertainment and dancing nightly with a panoramic view of the city.