World-renowned, Fairmont San Francisco hotel presents an awe-inspiring picture of historic San Francisco. The grandeur of the hotel coupled with its reputation for impeccable service promises a truly memorable experience. Known for turning moments into memories for leisure and business travelers alike this luxury San Francisco hotel has been host to some of the most influential meetings and events, breathtaking weddings and personalized special occasions of the century. Fairmont San Francisco hotel provides accommodations that are a testament to luxury with 606 individually furnished and decorated guest rooms. The 62 elegant suites offer impressive views of the City and Bay. The hotel combines classic ambience with modern amenities. For business travelers, Fairmont San Francisco hotel accommodations features include a spacious work desk, multi-line telephone with voice-mail and High Speed Internet Access. Each of the hotel's spacious guest rooms and suites have been elegantly updated including flat screen TVs, luxury linen ensembles and pillow top beds. Several of Fairmont San Francisco’s most sought-after amenities are bundled into a daily Urban Experience Fee, eliminating multiple individual charges and providing a discounted value for services. Please visit our website for more information.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Accor Hotels.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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The Fairmont San Francisco hotel boasts spacious rooms with stunning views, nestled in a location celebrated for its cleanliness and access to local attractions. While the hotel exudes a blend of historical elegance and modern luxury, guests have noted that some areas appear tired and in need of an update.
The range of amenities, including upscale toiletries, is generally appreciated, yet travelers have expressed concerns about additional charges and the value proposition of the hotel. Service experiences are inconsistent, with commendations for staff demeanor tempered by occasional reports of inefficiency.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Well-appointed
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A “grande dame” hotel lovingly preserved, showing a few wrinkles but still gracious and beautiful. The service was uniformly top-notch, especially Sean at the door and Christian at the front desk. Our room was surprisingly large for an old hotel, and everything was immaculately clean. The bed was very comfortable, and the e-connectivity was quite adequate. High-end bathroom amenities were included, along with safe, ironing board, padded hangers, and full-length mirrors. Housekeeping quickly swapped out the feather pillows for foam pillows, to accommodate an allergy. Dining was expensive, and the food quality in the Tonga Lounge was poor, although the live music was excellent. Recommend having a drink and enjoying the band, then going to any of the excellent nearby restaurants for dinner - Le Parc Bistro, for example. The hotel's location at the top of Nob Hill offers spectacular views from most guest rooms. Pro tip: you can walk down Nob Hill to Union Square etc., but unless you’re into mountain climbing, take the cable car back up to the hotel. It’s the San Francisco way!
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Date of stay: September 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Everyone knows the Fairmont and it is the ultimate destination hotel in San Francisco. A whole chain has been named after it… and I’ve stayed in quite a few of their hotels. However, though I’ve been in and around the flagship for decades, I never stayed here. I just figured it was so big and popular I might have a better time somewhere else that’s smaller and lower-key. And while I’ve enjoyed the other hotels in town I’ve been to, it turns out the Fairmont deserves its reputation as the ultimate, classic hotel on top of Nob Hill. It has the best location in a city that is so beautiful but which has so many issues in some neighborhoods currently (not this one, fortunately), you kind of have to re-think where you want to spend your time. (I’m thinking of Union Square in particular). I definitely felt safe up here and it was a nice feeling. Check-in was easy and quick (amazing considering there are over 600 rooms). Cameron at the front desk was just the best… charming, friendly, efficient, welcoming, with a lot of great tips and insights about the hotel. I came here for the vistas and we got them. We stayed in a suite with incredible ones. The room was in excellent shape and nicely decorated. And did I mention the views? Okay. I did. They are really stunning. (You might get a little fog... we did... it was atmospheric but ultimately, I prefer a clear day). If it’s in your budget, definitely spring for a Bay View in the Tower. You will be wowed. I also want to thank Lucas, whom I spoke to a few days before check-in to request a high floor. We got one and we appreciated it. Very much. Dinner was via room service, which was incredibly fast, friendly and pretty tasty. Best hotel pepperoni pizza I’ve ever had, in fact. Breakfast was very good as well. Check-out was easy, too. Cameron was there so we got to thank him in person for being a great ambassador for the hotel from start to finish. All in all, we had the best time here and I look forward to coming back and spending more time roaming the public spaces. This place has amazing history and you can feel it… there’s a book in the room which explains it all… fascinating stuff. And so many performers and dignitaries have come through here, it’s remarkable… it’s still where presidents stay when in town. There aren’t too many historic, classic hotels in such beautiful locations operating at this level anymore… in fact, I can’t actually think of one this big and well-run at a relatively affordable price point. It was worth the wait and I will definitely be returning soon.
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Date of stay: September 2024
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:This is the ultimate, classic San Francisco experience. Enjoy it at least once.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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What I Like: The Fairmont San Francisco is a first-class venue. It’s by far the most elegant, luxurious hotel we’ve ever stayed in over years of 4-5 star establishments. The mid-line room was spacious, comfortable, & well maintained. Every staff member we encountered was courteous, friendly, & went out of their way to help us with anything we asked.
Hotel Industry Weirdness: So why am I awarding only 4 stars? It’s not simply because a $35/night “Urban Experience Fee” was added to the quoted room price on our bill. It’s standard practice in today’s hospitality industry to tack on such an additional charge, enabling them to quote lower rates up front (sometimes called a “Resort Fee” or something equally vague), despite objections from customers & reviewers. I understand it’s just part of any hotel stay now (though I don’t get why high-end operations, where people *expect* to pay more & get more, find it necessary).
Fairmont’s Impementation: After seeing the charge on our final bill, I looked up this fee. At various Fairmont hotels, it covers different selections of useful services & amenities that are a fair value. I didn’t object to the charge.
What I Don’t Understand: Why weren’t we informed upon booking &/or checkin that these considerations we were paying for were available to us, preferably in writing? We shouldn’t have to hunt for this info; it should be volunteered freely. Aren’t you proud of the high value services you provide to guests? We didn’t use some of them (gym) because we assumed they’d incur extra charges, unaware we’d already paid. Others we would have used (movie) if we’d known they were available. It took a 10-minute phone call to the desk to get room internet access, which should have already been active. I didn’t receive the $10 credit at the coffee shop, didn’t know I should have asked for it, & shouldn’t have had to.
Our time in SF was part of a multi-destination trip that also includes a stay at the Fairmont Century Plaza in LA. Their Urban Experience Fee covers a credit for laundry services, which we paid for in SF. Had we known, we easily could have waited a day. Fairmont, is this what we get for brand loyalty?
I’m *not* accusing the Fairmont of deliberately hiding these benefits. That wouldn’t be consistent with their high level of quality & service in every other area, or my aversion to conspiracy theories. It seems an easily corrected omission in communication. We plan to return to the Fairmont, & hope this inconsistency will be resolved by then.
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Date of stay: July 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:When your stay begins, make sure you know what benefits are included with the Urban Experience...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stay was to engage other West Wing alumni attending a wedding. In general, a lovely hotel, the details need consideration. The only place to eat or grab a bite is the lobby restaurant, seemed understaffed to support such guest volume. The coffee shop is wanting. I kept feeling touch points needed to be cleaned, especially obvious in the room. I overheard guest talking admirably about the history or events at the hotel and I recognized our past POTUS events in pictures. Would stay again, but plan to engage more support outside the hotel. The WiFi access was tedious, seeming ancient in performance, turned it off. Several of the outlet plugs did not work unless jiggled. Small items that are frustrating.
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Date of stay: October 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
From the moment I checked in and until my check out, I was very well looked after by the friendly and professional; Reception and Concierge Teams at the Fairmont. Special thanks to Charlotte, the Concierge for your advice and for charging my electrical items. Thanks also to Diana and Rahene on the Reception Team who arranged a bottle of sparkling wine to be delivered to my room and a tour of the Penthouse and Fairmont Suites plus public function rooms. You all went that extra mile to make my birthday extra special. My room was a Signature King, (1907), located in the Tower Building of the hotel with spectacular views of the ocean and famous city landmarks. The room was spacious, comfortable and clean with complimentary daily water and a Nespresso machine, plus luxury bathroom products from Le Labo. I only had breakfast once in the main restaurant which was of very good quality, and an attentive and efficient service was provided by the staff. As I have Platinum Membership, I redeemed my two Welcome Drinks in two separate locations. The first in the Tonga Rooms, which I recommend you book a table for drinks or dinner as it's popular and there was a queue already formed before I visited just before opening. The other drink I redeemed in the main restaurant bar, no queue at all. In both places, the service was friendly and efficient. I also sat outside in the Roof Garden which was a very pleasant escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and the hotel lobby. The main parts of the hotel are like stepping back in time to a bygone era, and the corridor leading to the Tower Lifts captures on photographs some of the famous guests who have stayed here over the years. I didn't use the Cirque Bar, but I had a look inside. It's a very sophisticated place to have coffee and parties from 6am-12am. There was also a gym and spa facility but I didn't use either. The location of the hotel is great and you can easily walk to Union Square and Pier 39, as both locations are downhill. The return journey uphill can be a different story, so be prepared, although the cable car does come up the hill near the hotel if you want that novelty value. I thoroughly recommend staying at the Fairmont when staying in San Francisco, in terms of location, accommodation and above all its great staff.
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Date of stay: January 2024
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Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Tower Building highest floor end of corridor, ocean view.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Fairmont SanFrancisco, Guest Services / Front Office at Fairmont San Francisco
Responded Jan 28, 2024
Andy, Thank you so much for taking the time to send us your feedback. We are thrilled to hear that you had a great birthday and that our team helped make it a memorable one! We hope to welcome you back soon!
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This hotel is running purely on the reputation it has build over the decades. Right from the start we could see the misses - inattentive valet, long lines at check-in, staff did not seem to be properly trained. The lobby is extremely crowded as it seems the Christmas tree and gingerbread house are a major attraction. My 10 and 8 year olds were unimpressed.
Rooms - Be warned that the Junior King suite does not have a king bed, and suites do not have any view - just a concrete block. This applies to all suites.They earned one star for agreeing to move us to a room with a better view and an actual king sized bed. Rooms are a bit dated and bathrooms are extremely tiny. The Ritz has much nicer amenities and larger rooms / bathrooms.
Now for the biggest cash grab ever - The "Holiday Tea" experience - stop right here, save your money. I am embarrassed at the amount of money we spent on a few bits of average sandwiches, cold biscuits, terrible service and we waited 90 minutes for our first tray of food to arrive. 20% Gratuity is conveniently added even for smaller groups. We left starving and poor. When we checked out of the hotel, no one helped with our bags. Granted we stayed there over new years eve, but how does a hotel of this caliber not prepare itself for the guests coming their way ?
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Stay at the Ritz instead.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was once a great hotel and still has the best views in SF. It is now shabby and old and badly in need of refurbishment. It is heavily used as a hotel for business conferences and the like so is always very busy. Even if you are a guest, you will have to wait for breakfast on most days as there tend to be queues of conference attendees. Although the breakfast is reasonably good, the food served up in the restaurar is atrocious. The people in charge of making beds and cleaning the rooms cut corners; make sure to pull all your bed clothing back every day or it will just get patted down. The people in the room next to ours left a glass on the floor outside their door and it sat there for two whole days (we were in suite 9).
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Date of stay: October 2023
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Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Do not go there. There are plenty of wonderful hotels in SF even if they haven't quite got the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Spencer M, Other at Fairmont San Francisco
Responded Nov 18, 2023
Good day, Thank you so much for staying with us and providing your detailed feedback about your experience. I am so sorry that your experience fell below the exceptional level of service we are famous for offering. It is truly unacceptable that a dish was left in the hall for such a long period of time without being removed and I will ensure we investigate internally as to how this could have taken place. I want to assure you that we take cleanliness extremely seriously at Fairmont San Francisco - Like most hotels, we do not change the linens every day of your stay unless requested but we are very happy to change the linens based on your preferences in the future. Thank you again for your time in providing your feedback, and I do hope you will give us another chance in the future.
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I love the Fairmont in SF. I stay here every time I travel for work. The staff reminds me of hotels you'd see in movies where everyone is so friendly and kind. They make it such a lovely experience. The housekeeping is so sweet - special shoutout to Mei! The bell hops are especially my favorite. The exterior rooms always have a beautiful view. Whether it's of their gorgeous rooftop courtyard, or of the city skyline, it is always nice to wake up to. I was a huge fan of the $10 breakfast credit - the cinnamon bun cappuccino was a constant re-order. Beds are comfortable, and location is in walking distance (15 min) to further in downtown. 10/10 recommend!
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Date of stay: October 2024
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Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Ask about the breakfast credit / drink tickets. I didn't know I had them the first day I was there!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I visited San Francisco (SF) with my daughter to tour several Bay area Universities and selected the Fairmont as our home base. The location is in wonderful Nob Hill, walkable to many popular areas (Cable Car Museum, Ferry Building, China Town, Union Square, etc.). Our room was on the 15th floor (room 1503) with two plushy Queen beds and a magnificent view of the bay. The bathroom was huge and stocked with high-end 'Le Labo' bath products, thick towels, and 2 fluffy bathrobes. The hotel web-site pics were exactly what our room looked like and check-in was a breeze. The only improvement would be for nicer pillows, as they seemed rather 'flat' compared to the fluffy bed and soft linens. The Fairmont staff are supremely courteous and professional. Everyone we encountered was so kind and welcoming. We definitely will be returning to the Fairmont in the near future (and probably often in the next 3 years) as today my daughter committed to begin her graduate studies at UC Law San Francisco!
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Date of stay: June 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Rooms in Tower building are remodeled & huge. For magnificent views, try rooms on a high floor in...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Fairmont SanFrancisco, Guest Services / Front Office at Fairmont San Francisco
Responded Jun 6, 2024
Dear HBMum, Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us as much as we enjoyed your company! We are so happy that you were able to enjoy all the amenities we had to offer. On top of that, congratulations to your daughter and Fairmont San Francisco wishes her nothing but the best at UC Law San Francisco! Thank you again for staying with us and we hope to see you again in the near future! Best, Lucas Yeh Front Office Manager
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We celebrated our daughter's Sweet 16t Birthday with a trip to San Francisco and a storybook stay at the Fairmont. Sweeping water views from spacious rooms in the historic main building paired with luxe linens, lush Le Labo toiletries and attentive service made our stay memorable.
Extended family arranged for the delivery of a spectacular, blush-worthy floral arrangement of roses, baby roses and perfect peonies from in-hotel florist Ornamento that was staged in our room ahead of arrival along with an elegant plate of macarons and delicate desserts with a "happy birthday" message scripted in chocolate courtesy of the hotel.
From Joan at Concierge to Antoine at the Front Desk to Bobo in the legendary Tonga Room, our Fairmont experience defined delightful. We look forward to our return!
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Date of stay: May 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Fairmont SanFrancisco, Guest Services / Front Office at Fairmont San Francisco
Responded Jun 2, 2024
Dear Trip, We very much appreciate your comments regarding your stay at the Fairmont San Francisco. It is always a pleasure to receive positive feedback. I will share your comments with Joan, Antoine, and Bobo! I am sure that this feedback will serve as an encouragement to all of our staff as we strive to continuously improve the quality of our services. Thank you again for sharing your experience, and we hope your next visit will be as pleasant as the previous one. Sincerely, Lucas Yeh Front Office Manager
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San Mateo, California49 contributions53 helpful votes
i don’t think so. but there is a way to access your streaming accounts thru the tv. note the tvs are small and very old so not super responsive or high res at all. i would guess if you want to stream an easier path would be to bring your own chromecast / apple tv / roku etc
There are more places to choose from in the San Francisco area.
PRICE RANGE
C$431 - C$679 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the fairmont san francisco hotel san francisco, fairmont san francisco, fairmont hotel san francisco, san francisco fairmont
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaSan FranciscoNob Hill
NUMBER OF ROOMS
606
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including any mandatory fees. Taxes not included. Please see our partners for more details.
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