I love history and great coffee. When we visit the city and stay at the Fairmont, we will visit to…read moreget some coffees in the morning and usually a pastry or two! Since it is in the Fairmont, this spot has allot of history: It is told this was the first bar celebrated in San Francisco to open following the 1933 repeal of Prohibition. The walls are designed with gold-leaf murals by the Bruton sisters (Esther, Margaret, and Helen) depicting circus scenes. This art deco style is was popular at the time and has tons of charm. If you look closely, you might see some unique things in the gold leaf - such as a Mickey Mouse! He looks a bit different here than we are normally see on TV. Rumor is this might have been done to avoid copyrights, but who knows! When you're there, I recommend just sitting down, enjoy good company, and admire the history, and great views of the city!!!

I loved Caffe Cento (used to be on the bottom floor, next to the Fairmont garage Powell St…read more 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.

The holiday season is crazy. It is exponentially crazy at the Fairmont. I just was in town for a…read morefriends bday and n ew it was gong to ho late . So in stayed the night and missed breakfast. But the late tea and food service is pretty decent. The only time I've ever done something similar is at the Dorchester in London but that was intentionally scheduled by a friend. This was just me happening to be there. Struck up a conversation with someone from Washington state who had kissed their flight and wad also just chilling. I think this would be better on a non holiday time but hey it was cool to experience out of luck too

Disappointing, child-hostile experience and by no means worth the money. We were on time (a few…read moreminutes early) for our reservation and among the first parties seated. In the first half hour, we received water, glasses of Martinelli's, and a small scone and a small biscuit. There was no opportunity to place a tea order for about half an hour, and our table was one of the last to receive their tea. We saw other, adult-only parties enjoying their sandwiches and sweets long before ours arrived - more than 45 minutes after we sat down. The food was decent, but nothing is worth that long a wait with two young children. Save your $$, tour the gingerbread house, gawk at the holiday decor, and patronize a less child-hostile establishment.

The good: valet and wait staff-excellent. Bottomless champagne worth 5 stars, high tea food looked…read morepretty The bad: cost to valet, you only get to pick 1 tea flavor and the high tea items were just ok. The looked better than they tasted.

Came here for Valentine's Day. The ambiance was great. There was a pianist playing music while we…read moredined and he even accepted requests. Our waiter was very attentive and made great suggestions. Now, onto the food. It a disappointment. We ordered the house salad and it really wasn't impressive at all and not enough dressing or something. It was missing something. Then we had a flambé crab dip. The dip was way too cheesy or too much mayo. Not very appetizing. Onto the entree, we had the tomahawk steak. The steak was a little on the tougher side and there was absolutely no seasoning on it whatsoever. We had to depend on the sauce that was on the side for the taste.

This review is specifically for the Gingerbread House located in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel…read more For more than a century, Fairmont San Francisco has enchanted guests with its joyful holiday festivities and exuberant seasonal ambience. From our life-sized Gingerbread House and Holiday Tea to staying in Santa's very own Suite, we have something for everyone to cheer. What is 22 feet high, 23 feet wide and full of thousands of bricks, a ton of royal icing and candy décor? Our famed and much beloved two-story-high Victorian Gingerbread House which will be back this year in our lobby. Each October, painter Larry Walton puts down his brush and embraces a new temporary role: gingerbread house animator. He's part of the engineering team that spends 520 hours each year building, lighting, and outfitting a life-sized Victorian gingerbread house in the lobby of Fairmont San Francisco. More than 8,000 baked bricks cover the two-story structure, which stands at 25 feet high, 35 feet wide, and nearly 11 feet deep. Pastry then dedicates 450 hours to decorating those bricks with icing and sweets. By the numbers, it's an astounding feat -- and just as impressive to marvel at in real life. Builders introduce new details each year, and families build holiday traditions around tours of the awe-inspiring display. "This year, I made a model Lombard Street and cable cars that move over the Golden Gate Bridge," shares Walton. "It's a whole new structure that took five days to build." Visits from Santa and a champagne bar round out Fairmont' San Francisco's engaging schedule of seasonal events, and through it all, the gingerbread house remains central to every celebration. Here's an inside look at how it all comes together.

Worst place EVER you'll never get a good nights sleep here with a nightclub below you that is open…read moreuntil 1 o'clock however, my other choice was the other wing facing the freeway . The windows are not sound proof therefore you cannot get a good night sleep. I rather sleep in my car..

This was me and my best friends first time here. I give the vibes 5 stars. The service was great,…read morefood was beautifully presented, little heavy food but flavors were delicious. The price is expensive for the food and drinks it's not a budget friendly place if you are looking for one. We were surprised that there is a $20 per person** entertainment fee which I honestly believe the restaurant needs to pay for not the customers so that was annoying. The music was amazing a great vibe and they do song requests as well. I would of course come back to try other items. Also quick note the drinks are extremely strong. I'm not a fan of it I like my drinks enjoyable and smooth. You could say you get your moneys worth but it was painful to drink our drinks.

An Interesting Atmosphere, but Disappointing Service and Inconsistencies…read more I visited the Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar inside the Fairmont San Francisco for a double date this past weekend, and overall, the experience was memorable, though not necessarily for the right reasons. The Fairmont itself feels elegant and upscale. Getting to the Tonga Room involved taking an elevator down and walking through a long hallway to the check-in area. Fortunately, we had a reservation, so the check-in process was smooth, and we were seated without any issues. Upon arrival, the hostess informed us of an additional $20 per person entertainment fee. This caught me off guard, as I have rarely encountered a separate mandatory charge for entertainment at a bar or restaurant. Fortunately, we were not charged the entertainment fee in the end, as the band left in the middle of our visit. While I appreciated not having to pay the additional charge, the situation was still unusual. The atmosphere was another mixed bag. The venue was crowded, with what looked like a pirate convention taking place inside, which certainly made for an interesting scene. The rain effect was a fun touch, and the pond added to the tropical, kitschy ambiance. Unfortunately, the music was excessively loud. Rather than feeling like a restaurant or even a relaxed bar, it felt more like being inside a nightclub. It was difficult to have a comfortable conversation with our group, which detracted from the experience of going out for a double date. The service was also somewhat frustrating. Only half of our party had arrived, as the others were still looking for parking--a familiar challenge in San Francisco. Despite explaining that we were waiting for the rest of our group, servers repeatedly approached us to ask whether we were ready to order. We had to explain several times that we needed more time since we couldn't place an order for everyone who hadn't arrived yet. A little more patience and attentiveness would have made the experience feel much more welcoming. Two other details stood out during our visit. First, the Painkiller cocktails appeared to be served in two different glass sizes, despite being the same drink order. I sincerely hope the actual pours were consistent, but the difference in presentation raised questions about portion sizes and consistency. When ordering the same cocktail, customers should reasonably expect comparable servings. Second, our table was given plastic cups for water, while other tables appeared to have glass water glasses. This inconsistency was surprising for an establishment with such an upscale setting. While plastic cups may be practical under certain circumstances, the difference between tables was noticeable and left me wondering why the experience wasn't more consistent for all guests. Ultimately, the Tonga Room has a distinctive atmosphere, and the indoor rain and tropical pond are undeniably memorable features. However, the excessively loud music, persistent ordering interruptions, and inconsistencies in drink presentation and water service made the overall experience underwhelming. The $20-per-person entertainment fee was also an unusual aspect of the evening, especially considering that the band left partway through our visit, although we were ultimately not charged for it. I appreciate the novelty and history of the venue, but the atmosphere alone wasn't enough to outweigh these shortcomings. For a place housed within the Fairmont, I expected a more polished and cohesive guest experience. Unfortunately, I don't see myself returning anytime soon.

Iconic bar in Nob Hill with panoramic views of the San Francisco skyline. Come catch the sunset, or…read moresee the city sparkling at night. There are a few appetizer items on the menu, and a few non-alcoholic (& zero proof) options as well. We came to kill a bit of time, and to see the sunset and a little drink before our reservation a few minutes away from this bar.

Girls night out. Top…read moreof The Mark 100 Martinis Host - Brian, he welcome us and got us to our table. Servicer - Jillian, she was great. Helped picked out our drinks. So hard to choose. They have over 100 Martinis. Lots of great bites. Spiced Trade Expresso Martini Lychee Martini Passion Fruit Martini Mission Bay Golden Martini Tuna Tartar Shrimp Taco Short Rub Slider Chef's Cheese & Charcuteria Board Margherita Noan Flatbread The deco was very elegant with an old fashion feel. Known for Great Cocktails, Live Music and Dancing. They had an amazing view of the city. A must visit.

Elegant setting off the Mark Hopkins lobby. The staff are exceptionally helpful, friendly, and…read moreprofessional. The breakfast buffet offered us a wide selection of...everything! Very hard to stay on my diet. Everything was delicious, well prepared and presented. Prices match other close by choices, but since you're on Nob Hill, they are a bit on the high side.

After many stays at the Mark, we decided to try breakfast here since it was a Sunday and not many…read moreother options on Nob Hill. Located near the lovely classic lobby near the elevators, our servers greeted us effusively and led us to a window table. The interior is classical with wood paneling, and overlooks the Fairmont and cable cars on California Street. The buffet is the best deal at $35 including tea, coffee, and juice, unless you want eggs that aren't scrambled. Their waffles and oatmeal are first rate, with quality cheeses, and sourdough toast.