Serrano Hotel Rating: 3.0 Pearls

Union Square, San Francisco, California

Bright colors and patterns abound.

The theme of the Hotel Serrano is "fun and games," which is why the room colors aren't subtle, Scrabble boards are at the ready, and upon arrival, guests can take the "Check-in Challenge" -- a game of 21 where winners get free drinks, appetizers, or upgrades, and losers are encouraged to donate to the SPCA on behalf of the house. It's cheeky, but not forced. About half the guests play blackjack, some by their request, others by the clerk's guestimation of who would be into a bit of front desk gaming. (Honeymooners, yes; weary conventioneers, not so much.)

Every afternoon, the hotel opens a bottle of red and a bottle of white wine for guests in the expansive lobby. Like its nearby sister property Hotel Palomar, the happy hour is lively and well attended. And while the library of vintage board games may walk a kitschy line (apologies to Sorry! fans), there were two people at the free happy hour playing chess, so it isn't entirely a gimmick. (However, it doesn't take a psychic to predict that dropping $20 on a "mini" tarot card reading at the wine tasting only portends future bankruptcy.) Sitting down in the playing-card chairs while sipping free vino in the spacious, ornate lobby is a nice way to wind down (or get started up), even if nobody breaks out the Jenga.

The rooms, however, have some problems. They're either colorful or garish, depending on your point of view, and a bit worse for the wear. If visitors are simply looking for a centrally located San Francisco crash pad, the Handlery is cheaper and has a pool, if not the whimsical ambience. For a true boutique, though, the Serrano is less expensive than other Kimpton hotels in Union Square like the Hotel Palomar and Sir Francis Drake. Keep in mind, it's more or less in the Tenderloin, which is rarely the home of fun and games, at least the respectable kind.

The service at the Serrano is terrific, from the front desk, to the room service, to the happy hour wine steward.

• Friendly front desk plays cute "Check-in Challenge" with guests but won't push it on them.
• Room service available 24-hours from attached restaurant
• Overnight valet parking is typically pricey; hybrids get 25 percent off.
• Free limo to the Financial District available in the morning, book ahead.
• Loud piano music played as the wake-up call is a bit much in the morning, though it gets the job done.
• In-room spa services are available

View on a Larger Map

Part of the appeal of the Serrano's fantastic lobby is that it provides a respite from the Tenderloin, the down-and-out neighborhood the hotel adjoins. The porters do a good job of keeping tabs on the street in front of the building, but right around the corner are massage parlors, seedy motels, and homeless congregations. There are also a few lower-end youth hostels in the general vicinity, so there are a lot of street-roamers at night.

Union Square, three blocks away, is known for couture shops and not much else. With enormous outposts of Niketown, Saks, Tiffany, Macy's, Louis Vuitton, and Neiman Marcus, among others, Union Square is to San Francisco as 5th Avenue and Rodeo Drive are to New York and L.A., respectively. Locals don't hang out here, but the square is great for people-watching, nonetheless, and occasionally plays host to small festivals and demonstrations. Still, if shopping isn't a priority, you might prefer a neighborhood closer to the city's biggest attractions, like Nob Hill or Fisherman's Wharf.

• Fairly dead after dark, except in the Tenderloin, but you're on your own then.
• A few blocks from Union Square, a major transportation hub and known for high-end shopping
• Far from the Presidio, the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, and Haight-Ashbury
• Discount day-of theater seats available at the Union Square ticket kiosk
• Two miles from Fisherman's Wharf and the ferries to Alcatraz
• 30-minute cab ride from San Francisco International Airport SFO

Deluxe rooms feel a bit small.

You might have to adjust your eyes upon entering the 240-square-foot standard queen room, as the yellow walls and red-and-white striped curtains certainly live up to the hotels' purported "fun and games" ideal. It takes a bit of getting used to, but these rooms are vibrant in a way hotel rooms rarely are. The silly accoutrements, like the deck of Bicycle playing cards, wee Etch A Sketch, and branded yo-yo are a kick, but the smiles they elicit didn't make up for the room's shortcomings. Though they're not much smaller than average for a San Francisco hotel, rooms haven't been renovated in almost a decade -- stains, rust, and nicks in the woodwork are prevalent. Some aging is to be expected, but the pet hair on the desk chair should have been vanquished by housekeeping.

• Comfy Sealy mattresses made specifically for Kimpton hotels
• Bathrooms are tiny -- the end of the toilet seat is just 15 inches from the facing wall -- even for an urban building constructed in 1926, it's a tight squeeze; at least it was clean with strong water pressure.
• The minibar includes the great local beer Anchor Steam.
• Free Wi-Fi (with Kimpton membership sign-up)
• iPod docking station and a 32-inch LCD flat-screen TV
• Coffeemakers available only on request
• Decent city views

Solid, 24-hour fitness center

For a boutique in the heart of San Francisco, the Serrano does a good job with its amenities. Be it the practical (an impressive fitness center with sauna and free Wi-Fi) or the whimsical (vintage games and tarot card readings), the hotel has a lot to offer.

• The 24-hour fitness center is a cut above most with five Precor cardio machines, a Paramount trainer, dumbbells, exercise mats, a massage room, a well-stocked magazine rack, and a sauna; no bathroom
• The "Wines of the World" happy hour each afternoon is livelier than expected.
• Free limo to the Financial District available in the morning, book ahead

Vintage board games at the Serrano

The bright colors and sense of silliness may appeal to the young, or young at heart, but the small rooms, lack of kid-friendly features, and Tenderloin locale keep the Serrano from being a prime family spot.

• Free cribs and playards; no rollaways
• In the 450-square-foot Wicked Suite, a promotion tied to the play Wicked at the nearby Orphem Theater, kids can sleep under Elphaba's green gaze and bathe in Glinda's bubbly glow.
• No pool; the Handlery in Union Square includes a pool.

Kimpton Hotels pride themselves on being very pet-friendly. Pets are allowed at the Serrano with no restrictions.

• No fees or deposits required for pets
• Guests can fill out a "Pet Preferences" card to ensure their furry guest gets the most out of its stay.
• Food and water dishes are outside the hotel entrance.
• The desk chair in the room Oyster stayed in on the pet-friendly 12th floor was covered in dander.

Laid-back Jasper's Corner Tap & Kitchen, pre-renovations

Like many boutiques, the Serrano doesn't have an eatery right inside the hotel, but guests can access Jasper's Corner Tap & Kitchen through the hotel lobby. The restaurant serves up Californian cuisine, using local ingredients to give visitors "a true taste of San Francisco."

• Room service is available 24-hours a day.
• Limited dining options in the immediate area

Though generally clean overall, there are some maintenance issues. The standard queen room had a handful of stains on the wall and rust on the ceiling. There was also a lot of dog hair on the desk chair, which should be a cleaning priority in a pet-friendly property.

• The upholstery on the playing-card chairs in the lobby is faded and wine-stained.
• Like a sagging cougar, the tiger-print bathrobes for hotel guests are worn out.
• The fitness center is particularly clean.