A visit to San Francisco, always appealing to design travelers, is even more exciting right now with the Victoria ∧ Albert Museum’s art deco show in town. For a heads-up on the city’s other design lures, consult the sleek StyleCity San Francisco from Hip Hotels publisher Thames ∧ Hudson. The book is arranged for use either as a neighborhood-by-neighborhood look at the city, or as a sourcebook for lodgings, shops, etc. Author Deborah Bishop includes lots of background about the city and is very descriptive, mentioning a cafe’s "buttery yellow walls" or referring to one arts center as the "hipper, more alternative cousin (the one with a pierced brow)" of another. With its tantalizing photos and well-written copy, this is one travel guide I couldn’t wait to put down so I could head for the airport.
