Fairmont San Francisco

• Hollywood has helped make the Fairmont synonymous with San Francisco. It appeared in movies like "The Rock" and "Vertigo." Director Alfred Hitchcock stayed at the Fairmont whenever in town. Forbes Traveler said, "The Fairmont has been San Francisco's leading lady for years." Musicians and politicians have also added to the Fairmont's fame. Tony Bennett debuted his tune "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" at the hotel's storied nightclub, the Venetian Room. The Fairmont, which opened in 1907, has been called the "White House of the West" because many Presidents have stayed at the hotel. The writing of the United Nations charter occurred at the hotel in 1945, and it hosted an important 1990 meeting between President Ronald Reagan, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and South Korean President Roh Tae Woo. The hotel is in the affluent Nob Hill district of the city.
  
  

Hotel Mark Twain

• The Hotel Mark Twain honors the famous author, who once lived in San Francisco. It was originally called the Linden Hotel, but changed to Mark Twain during the Great Depression. After another brief name change, it went back to paying tribute to the writer. The hotel gained attention in 1949 after jazz singer Billie Holiday was arrested for drug possession in room 203, now called the Billie Holiday Room. She was later acquitted. The hotel is located downtown, blocks from Union Square and within walking distance from landmarks, museums and shopping.
  
  

The Westin St. Francis

• You might find yourself saying the famous "Meet me at the clock" to your companion if you stay at the Westin St. Francis. The famed hotel was built in 1904, but had its interior destroyed in the fire following the Great Earthquake of 1906. The St. Francis was reopened in 1907 and had a grandfather clock erected in the lobby. It became a symbol of the hotel and a great meeting point for guests and residents of the city. The hotel gained notoriety for two infamous events. On Sept. 3, 1920, silent film comedy star Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle was accused of killing a young actress during a sex act. It was a huge scandal at the time. The first two trials ended in hung juries, and he was acquitted in the third trial. On Sept. 22, 1975, Sara Jane Moore tried to assassinate President Gerald Ford outside the building. The hotel is the only lodging to be located in Union Square.