I loved Caffe Cento (used to be on the bottom floor, next to the Fairmont garage Powell St. entrance), but unfortunately they're long gone. They left a very large morning/coffee/cafe void that is surely hard to fill. Laurel Court is beautiful but rather distinguished; it just doesn't take care of that bustling morning cafe niche.
Enter Cirque.
I have a soft spot for booths, art deco, & beautiful hotel venues, & this space has & is all of that. Sit in a booth at a window here, & you've elevated a simple cup of coffee or cappuccino a hundred times over. A true stunning insta moment.
And you'll pay for it, too.
9 bucks. 9 bucks for a cappuccino is certainly excessive, but this is The Fairmont, folks. This is customarily the hotel where the POTUS stays whenever he's in town (almost every one since Taft, through Biden). So, the sticker shock is par for the course.
They are only open for coffee & light breakfast fare now, 6am till 10am or 12pm daily. But at Christmas time, they're open in the evening, too. My first date with my husband was right here. We had arranged to meet up at the Christmas Tree in the lobby, walked through the gingerbread house, & then came here for hot chocolate. Yes, service can be snails pace slow, but back then, being our first date, we certainly didn't care. Lol, it's never where you are, but who you're with! We turned the tables on the slow service by nursing those hot chocolates for quite a while! The staff were totally accommodating & sweet though.
Final thoughts...
If, or when, you're in a hurry, then this is not going to be the place. But, if you're looking to turn your morning coffee or cuppa into an experience, you should definitely come here. Sit in a booth that has a window, & relish the moment.
4 stars. read more