Fairmont San Francisco Hotel Review

Internationally Welcoming Entrance

The Fairmont is located at California & Mason on Nob Hill -- a steep hill overlooking the Financial District & Union Square. The hotel's intersection is a major and convenient cable car stop to both popular neighborhoods. This hotel (and the Mark Hopkins) are nicely secluded from the city's hustle and bustle, yet convenient to many key attractions. The hotel's service is also impeccable.

We visited the Fairmont personally and it was an excellent hotel. The service is friendly and efficient. The hotel has the true historic feel of SF and is very classy. The rooms had been well renovated but were not a typical generic style. A place with class & style -- highly recommended.

Rooftop Garden Relaxation

The hotel was built to honor silver baron "Bonanza Jim" Faiir in 1907, with a Julia Morgan design. This hotel was the first to reopen after the 1906 earthquake destroyed every hotel in San Francisco. Renovated recently for $80 million, the marble floors and golf-leaf lonic columns are amazing.

The Fairmont is highly recommended by our editors for San Francisco's legendary elegance on Nob Hill.

While hotel prices fluctuate rapidly -- for June -- prices quoted ranged from $251-$729 with a median price quote of $340.

Located in one of the most spectacular parts of San Francisco, the Fairmont Hotel is a grand yet secluded place to stay. It is situated on the top of Nob Hill, an exclusive and sophisticated neighborhood, with sweeping panoramic views of the city and the Bay everywhere you turn. Built in 1907, the Fairmont is a true luxury hotel. Its impressive entrance features several international flags and opens up into a huge, elegant lobby. With high ceilings, gold swirled marble, big columns, balconies, and tons of couches and chairs, the lobby at the Fairmont shows just how grand the hotel is. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing, and the hotel is filled with all different types of guests - friends, family, business travelers, etc. Its location, décor, and ambience make it one of the most sophisticated and elegant hotels in San Francisco, and a wonderful place to stay.

The Fairmont is great for all types of travelers. With plenty of shops, services, restaurants, and other attractions within the hotel, guests can simply relax and spend the day in the Fairmont and never get bored. There are plenty of conference rooms and a full business center to accommodate business travelers, too. The hotel also provides tourist information and packages, and has an affiliation with Hertz so guests can get out and explore the city. The Fairmont is central to all the Cable Cars in San Francisco, too. Tourists should keep in mind that the Fairmont is in Nob Hill, so while it is in one of the most beautiful parts of the city, it is set apart from much of the hustle and bustle of San Francisco. This can be really great because it feels more exclusive than most other hotels (and it's amazing to peacefully look out onto the chaotic streets below), but it also means that it is not that close to many tourist attractions or events. Guests either must drive or walk a bit to get places (and the hike back up is exhausting!).

The Fairmont is an ideal mix of elegance and service. Its 591 rooms and 62 suites are decorated in classic elegant style, and feature modern technologies combined with timeless romantic ambience. The hotel's location provides some of the best views of the city and the Bay, which can be seen from all the suites and most of the rooms. The hotel has two restaurants and lounges: the Tonga Room, which features Pacific Rim Asian cuisine in a tropical setting with mock thunder and rain storms, and the Laurel Court Restaurant and Bar, which provides an elegant atmosphere and is crowned by three domes. The Hurricane Bar and Cirque provide both fun and beautiful places to sit and enjoy cocktails. The Fairmont also has Roof Gardens, which are oases within the city that provide an escape from - and beautiful views of - the paved streets below. The hotel features several conference rooms and an expert staff to make events easy to plan and hold. There are several luxury stores within the hotel: Christine Foley of SF, Kashmir (authentic oriental clothing), the Fairmont Logo store, Tobacco Gifts and News, Michael Anthony (flowers and event design), S. Bernstein and Co. (jade and oriental art), and a men's clothing store. There is a beauty salon within the hotel, along with a spa and health club with daily classes such as spinning, pilates, and aerobics. Its business center is open Monday - Friday during the day. Overall, the Fairmont is a mix of pleasing aesthetics and excellent service with plenty of things to do and see within the hotel.

RJ writes, " While it is the elegant historic Hotel that first brought us to the Fairmont. It is the service and attention to detail that brings us back visit after visit. From a simple weekend trip to spending Holiday's with the Fairmont and her staff - this Hotel defines quality. We just spent Easter there and are already planning for our next trip over July 4th. The Fairmont redefines what Hotel accomodations should be. Make your reservations and make them often. "

Bob writes, " We first stayed at a Fairmont Hotel on Maui and were absolutely delighted with the Kialani and its very personal service, so when we planned our first trip to San Francisco the majestic Fairmont on Nob Hill was a no brainer. That being said we were not as impressed with the service at the Fairmont in SF but in all fairness we probably just got lost in the shuffle of the Presidents Cup brewhaha, we were just tourists and not celebrities. We wanted a room with a breath taking view and we got it but considering the lack of any personal attention I seriously doubt we will ever go back to the Fairmont. "