When it comes to business travel, it's true that San Francisco has some drawbacks. Earthquakes, for one. Traffic on the Bay Bridge. The maze of one-way streets in the city proper.

But if you let Californians' typically positive attitude rub off on you, you'll see that every negative has a silver lining. If it weren't for the earthquakes, San Francisco might not have become a hub for such innovative architecture; the iconic Transamerica Pyramid, for example, is the tallest building in San Francisco, and still earthquake-proof.

And though the traffic might occasionally be nightmarish, public transportation in the Bay Area—while not at the same level as, say, New York City's—isn't all bad. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) gets over 350,000 passengers on average every weekday, and the number of riders on Caltrain is increasing significantly year over year. The city's adorable cable cars and streetcars aren't just for show—they're part of the Municipal Railway network, the country's seventh largest transit system, and are convenient as well as cute. Plus, taxis that were once comically scarce are now relatively common.

The hotel industry in San Francisco is also going strong. Many cities saw post-recession hotel growth in 2011, but San Francisco's hotel market was the strongest in the country, with revenue per available room rising close to 20 percent—and growth of another 6.1 percent is predicted for 2012.

But San Francisco earns the most bragging rights for its beauty. This charming city on the Bay—home to multicolored houses huddled together on the rolling hills, grand Beaux Arts buildings, steep streets, a bustling Chinatown, Coit Tower, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf, Presidio beaches, and, of course, Golden Gate Bridge—is postcard perfect. The fact that it's also one of the country's main economic centers almost feels like a happy accident: It's not all the time that business travelers get to wheel and deal in one of the world's most picturesque spots. It's also more than possible to schmooze with clients and take in the sights at the same time. For inspiration, take a look at the suggestions below.

AT&T Stadium. More than a few important business decisions have been made with the accompaniment of beer and baseball. AT&T Stadium, with its sweeping water views, is arguably the country's prettiest ballpark. And the Giants were the 2010 World Series champs, in case you missed it—the proud locals here sure didn't. Expect to see plenty of fans wearing fake black beards, in honor of Brian Wilson, panda hats, in honor of "Kung Fu Panda" Pablo Sandoval, and "Got Lincecum?" T-shirts, in honor of, um, Tim Lincecum. Tip: Don't miss the stadium's signature garlic fries. Yankee Stadium sells them now too, but make no mistake—they were here first.

Lunch at the Ferry Building. The Ferry Building, one of the city's most popular tourist sites, is right on the eastern border of the Financial District. Dine on Vietnamese at The Slanted Door, excellent burgers and fries at Gott's Roadside, Mediterranean at MarketBar, farm-to-table fare at Boulette's Larder—the list goes on. This is an especially good spot to go if your company is picking up the tab as meals here tend to be on the pricier side. No corporate account? There are more casual lunch spots as well, including Cowgirl Sidekick and Il Cane Rosso, plus great options for coffee and dessert. Or head to the Farmer's Market on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and pick up some free samples.

A Bar with a View. It's no secret that making a business proposition can be a whole lot easier over cocktails. Head to Top of the Mark at The InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco or Harry Denton's Starlight Room at Sir Francis Drake for phenomenal city views.

Now that we've given you the rundown, click to the next page to get the recommendations from Oyster.com's editors on where to stay.