Let's take it nice 'n easy," crooned Frank Sinatra over the sound system in the Hotel Argent lobby, as my husband and I checked in. Families toting shopping bags (returning from nearby Union Square stores), business travelers heading for cocktails in the lounge, and elegantly dressed wedding guests gliding up a spiral staircase to one of the banquet halls, passed by us as we admired the sleek design of the lobby: black and white marble floors, polished mahogany columns, lavish floral arrangements and gold-leaf domed ceilings, all blended to create an airy art-deco inspired ambience. "It's swanky," is what Ol' Blue Eyes would have said, had he been there in the flesh.

Taking a closer look around, what I found truly unique about the Argent's interior is its collection of museum quality artworks displayed in its public areas, showcasing notables such as David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Motherwell. This striking touch reflects the hotel's nearest attraction: the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, just a half a block away.

In fact, had my husband and I been in the "culture-vulture" mood, there was more than the MOMA to choose from. Also steps away are the Yerba Buena Center and Gardens, along with the Sony Metreon Entertainment Complex. The underground Metro, buses, and trams around the corner could have quickly taken us to the new Asian Art Museum, De Young, or one of the city's colorful ethnic neighborhoods. We even could have walked a few blocks and hopped a cable car to Fisherman's Wharf.

But we were in a "foodie" mood, so we set off on foot down Market Street to the Ferry Building Marketplace. There the outdoor farmer's market was in full swing - with a steel drum ensemble serenading locals and tourists as they milled about the stalls of Bay Area vendors selling their seasonal bounty - from fresh organic radicchio to just pressed extra virgin olive oils and creamy goat cheeses.

Inside, we found the Ferry Building to be gourmet heaven, featuring shops and restaurants that showcased the crème de la crème of local food artisans. We picked up souvenirs of Berkeley-made Sharfen Berger chocolates, bottles of wine from nearby vineyards, and sampled some tasty ACME breads. Restaurants offered lunch choices representative of San Francisco's cultural mix: from Italian to Latin American, Vietnamese, and French. We chose to go with Japanese cuisine at DELICA rf-1, enjoying one of their specialty bento boxes, which was filled with a delectable mix of sushi rolls, noodles, seaweed salad, and stuffed croquettes. (CONTINUE...)