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.

Laurel Court is exactly what you'd expect from a restaurant tucked inside the Fairmont, polished,…read morecomfortable, and a little elevated without trying too hard. For dinner, we started with the Niman Ranch Steak Tartare. The flavor was solid and well balanced, but the portion was very small for the price. It felt more like a tasting bite than a true appetizer. The steamed muscles, however, were a win. Great flavor, well executed broth, and a portion size that actually felt worth it. Easily the highlight of the dinner. For drinks, I opened with an espresso martini, much needed after traveling all day. It was good, smooth, but not particularly memorable. The dirty martini was better in my opinion, nicely, balanced, and exactly what I was hoping for. Breakfast The next morning I came back and the experience shifted into classic upscale hotel, breakfast mode. I ordered a bloody Mary with blue cheese, stuffed olives, honestly perfect for the morning, and probably my favorite drink of the whole stay. Fresh orange juice was bright and flavorful. The veggie omelette was exactly what you'd expect, solid, cooked properly, nothing over the top. Vibe It's definitely still a hotel restaurant at heart, but for dinner, they dim the lights and make a real effort to create a comfortable, intimate atmosphere. It transitions nicely from daytime elegance to evening lounge. Overall, they delivered a reliable experience with good service, not revolutionary, but a solid option.

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 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.

We came to Tonga Room as a stop when we were tiki bar hopping around Union Square. Without a…read morereservation, it's open to walk in, grab a drink and stand in their bar area. I got the Divine Dragon which was super yummy. I love POG and dragonfruit and this was just a really great tropical drink that wasn't too sweet or artificial tasting. I also tried the classic mai tai and wiki wiki which were both great. Drinks are on the pricier side but with the live band and fun rain showers, you're definitely paying for the atmosphere as well!

I had a deeply disappointing experience here that completely ruined my night. After a long drive…read morefrom San Jose, my lower back began severely flaring up in the middle of dinner. Anyone with chronic back pain knows that sometimes you just need two minutes to lie flat to reset the spine. Since we had already been waiting about an hour for our food, I stepped away to lay down on the front bench for a quick recovery. Instead of a manager checking to see if a guest was okay, a staff member named Shrami approached me. Without even asking what was wrong, he aggressively insisted I get off the bench right away. Even after I explained I was experiencing medical pain and just needed two minutes, he completely lacked any human empathy and refused to listen. The way I was treated made me feel dehumanized and cast aside, as if my physical well-being didn't matter as long as I wasn't "disrupting" the aesthetic of the business. We are all human, and a little basic compassion goes a long way. To top it off, the food and drinks are overpriced for what you get, and the live band was just mediocre. Between the long wait times, overpriced menu, and the completely cold, disrespectful management, I will absolutely not be returning.

We visited Top of the Mark recently with our kids, and it was a very nostalgic experience for us…read more My husband and I used to come here often for dates when he lived in California, so returning years later--and bringing our children to see where "mom and dad used to go"--made it feel special. The views are still absolutely beautiful, and that alone makes it worth a visit. That said, the experience feels quite different than it did 20 years ago. It's very much a landmark now and seems to be running more on its history and reputation than the current atmosphere or service experience. It felt more tourist-focused and less authentic than we remembered. The drinks were still good, though I do miss the old 100-martini list that made it feel more unique. The food was decent overall. The kids enjoyed their hummus, pita, and potato chips, which was an easy win for them. In many ways, this is one of those classic San Francisco stops--similar to Buena Vista or Ghirardelli--where you go more for the history and the experience than the food or service itself. Still glad we went back for the memories and the view.

Bartender is clueless. Three attempts and finally…read moreaccomplished a simple, no recipe cocktail. Service is schleppy. Attitudes on all fronts. The view is the only reason to come here.