Someone within the Campton Place organization, it seems, understands that attention to detail is the sine qua non of a successful hotel - though far too many San Francisco venues, sure of trade in a city that’s always full, forget the lesson. As one approaches and enters the building, Jeeves-like doormen and concierges appear; the desk staff is a marvel of efficiency and quick check-in, and pleasant besides. The overall feel is one of warmth and welcome, and a drink at the exquisitely retro bar does nothing but enhance the mood.

The rooms Sure, the price is usually more than $300 a night, but you’d pay that much for a broom closet in Venice. The Campton Place wouldn’t feel at all out of place in the Veneto, with its Italianate decorative themes, richly polished wooden furniture, and double-glass windows that confine the roar of bustling Union Square to mere white noise. Renovated by famed local designer Sylvia Chang, the rooms range from doubles to floor-sized suites, but all share the same fine-details, nothing-missing elegance.