The hotel can be very busy in peak hours, with long lines for the. You can visit the restaurants official website here. It tells of the indians and the spanish missions, the arrival of thousands of gold seekers and gamblers, crackbrains and dreamers, the building of the transcontinental railroad and the cable car, labor strife and political shenanigans, the 1906 earthquake and fire, two world wars, two worlds fairs. Book the fairmont san francisco stay at this 5star luxury hotel in san francisco.
The tonga room is part of the fairmont san francisco, and it took over the ground floor swimming pool when the restaurants lagoon was built. As an old style tiki bar and restaurant the tonga room is a wonderful place for dinner or drinks. It tells of the indians and the spanish missions, the arrival of thousands of gold seekers and gamblers, crackbrains and dreamers, the building of the transcontinental railroad and the cable car, labor strife and political shenanigans, the 1906 earthquake and fire, two world wars, two. Your health and safety, along with the wellbeing of our team, are of paramount importance to us. Skip to main content 950 mason street, san francisco, ca 94108 415 7725278. The owners of san franciscos fairmont hotel say a city reports recommendations for saving the popular tonga room as part of a major renovation clash with their proposal for a boutique hotel. The tonga room in san francisco national trust for historic. By booking with parking panda you can avoid the hassle of parking in downtown san francisco. A trip back in time to the tonga room in san francisco. If youre going to be visiting san francisco, why not stop in at the tonga room for a quick drink. Let your cares fall away at tonga room, a great san francisco spot to grab a drink or two with friends. Look at the right side of the picture by the white car. Tonga room also stocks a full bar with a variety of beers, wine, and cocktails to complement your meal.
The tonga room is so retro its modern inside scoop. Jun 03, 2016 if youre going to be visiting san francisco, why not stop in at the tonga room for a quick drink. Situated in the basement of the swanky and storied fairmont hotel, the renowned restaurant and tiki bar is, for some of the citys residents, woven just as deeply into the urban fabric as cable cars and the coit tower. The history of the place, going back to the swimming pool at the fairmont is fascinating. Senator james graham fair 183194, by his daughters, theresa fair oelrichs and virginia fair vanderbilt, who built the hotel in his honor. This is the story of san francisco, a unique and rowdy tale with a legendary cast of characters. Azerbaijan barbados bermuda brazil canada china egypt germany india indonesia jordan kenya. Back in the 1930s, the tonga room lagoon was known as the plunge and served as the hotel pool.
Anthony bourdain once described it as the greatest place in the history of the world. Youngsters are more than welcome to join mom and dad at this bar. The tonga room at the fairmont san francisco youtube. A concise history and guide and historic walks in san francisco.
Tiki and dine with a side of rain at a san francisco goto since 1945 please note that tonga room will be temporarily closed through april 7, 2020. Jul 17, 20 yet with the rebirth of the cocktail culture, the tonga room is a history book of the tiki culture, with its mai tai served in a ceramic coconut shell and just about every drink sporting a paper umbrella. Anthony bourdain has called tonga room the greatest place in the history of the world travel channels the layover. Best hotels in san francisco updated march 2020 business. The tonga room is part of the fairmont san francisco hotel. Because i had watched an episode of the layover with anthony bourdain who visited and knew if i ever went back to san francisco, i would so have to go. The oldest, longestoperating tiki bar in san francisco, tradr sam is a bit of living history dating back to the 1930s when tropical haunts were known as bamboo bars. The fairmont san francisco is an aaa fourdiamond luxury hotel at 950 mason street, atop nob hill in san francisco, california. Jun 15, 2014 our lovely day in fog city continues with a stroll around north beach chinatown, then a cable car up to the fairmont for a maitaisoaked visit to the tonga room. Feel satisfied but not stuffed with tonga rooms glutenfree and lowfat alternatives. A san francisco institution since 1945, the famous tonga room with its thatched huts and island decor is as much a delightfully immersive experience as tikistyle restaurant and lounge. Sep 01, 2011 two of his books are local bestsellers. The clift hotels redwood room, which unveiled a refresh this january, has special occasion written all over it.
This is the second great thing about taking kids to the tonga roomthe drinks. The tonga room has gone through several incarnations over the years, themed initially in 1945. May 05, 2010 the owners of san francisco s fairmont hotel say a city reports recommendations for saving the popular tonga room as part of a major renovation clash with their proposal for a boutique hotel. Yet with the rebirth of the cocktail culture, the tonga room is a history book of the tiki culture, with its mai tai served in a ceramic coconut shell and just about every drink sporting a paper umbrella. If the tonga room ever closes, san francisco as we know it would surely not survive. The tonga room is a great example of an old, classic polynesian restaurant. Yet with the rebirth of the cocktail culture, the tonga room is a history book of the tiki culture, with its mai tai served in a ceramic coconut shell. The pool was transformed into the tonga rooms lagoon. Patricia chang, visited a different iconic san francisco restaurant or bar for an eater scenes photo essay capturing it. The large basement level room started as the fairmonts swimming pool. If you dont want to walk up those crazy steep san francisco hills to the fairmont san francisco, you can always take a cable car up the hill, which also stops right outside of the hotel tsg tip. Fairmont san francisco in san francisco, ca expedia.
The tonga room is still a beloved sfestablishment, faux hurricanes. Seeing it today with the rainforest rain and the band. The tonga room replaced the terrace plunge, an indoor swimming pool that was installed in the fairmont in 1929. Before alex can pursue his idea of reviving the plunge, a waiter in a hawaiian shirt arrives at our table with three cocktails the color of an equatorial sunset. September 23rd, 2015, the famous tonga room celebrated its 70th anniversary. Popular attractions san francisco museum of modern art and lombard street are located nearby. Apr 24, 2015 today, the tonga room is still a destination for anyone visiting or living in san francisco, who has a love for a kitchy and old fashioned type of tiki bar. San francisco s first glass elevator carried people to the crown room at the top.
The tonga room, in san franciscos opulent fairmont hotel on nob hill, offers an impressive old time tiki vibe. San franciscos first glass elevator carried people to the crown room at the top. Signage outside the fairmont san francisco for the tonga room. The tonga room was on the verge of extinction several years ago. The 26room, midrange white swan inn in san franciscos nob hill district offers a cozy and intimate atmosphere, with rooms featuring fireplaces and ample sitting areas. We love serving you, our neighbors and our san francisco community. Drink, dance, listen to music and remember how fun it was, and how fun it still is. The cocktail lounge takes its name from the 800yearold redwood tree that panels its walls, columns, and back of the art decostyle bar. On my recent trip to san francisco, i was hell bent on visiting the tonga room at the fairmont san francisco.
A report by the city of san francisco planning department called the tonga room a historical resource. Fairmont san francisco luxury hotel in san francisco. A list of books about the history of san francisco, its people and its landmarks. Apr 06, 2016 thanks to bourdain and to a collective desire to preserve just a little more of that historical san francisco feel the tonga room should be around for years to come. This classic san francisco restaurant is located in the beautiful fairmont hotel in the heart of san francisco.
The bedandbreakfast features a classicinnmeetsmodlondon vibe, with abundance of floral walls coupled with cheeky artwork and latticepatterned arm chairs. Thanks to bourdain and to a collective desire to preserve just a little more of that historical san francisco feel the tonga room should be around for years to come. The tonga room san francisco, california atlas obscura. He has lectured before many groups, including the california historical society, the san francisco museum and historical society, and the san francisco history association. The tonga room in san francisco national trust for. Situated in the basement of the swanky and storied fairmont hotel, the renowned restaurant and tiki bar is, for some of the citys residents, woven just as deeply into the urban fabric as cable cars and the coit tower so when mai tai fans in the bay area first got wind of the possibility of their favorite historic watering. City of san francisco planning department called the tonga room a historical resource. Stocked with breathtaking vistas, sultry fog, and a boomandbust history, it has. Best cockatail bar san francisco tonga room fairmont. Above ground, san franciscos esteemed fairmont hotel is every bit. Its only 7by7 miles, making it americas tiny urban treasure. The house band floats on a thatchroofed boat at the.
Consistently awarded for serving san franciscos best happy hour by san francisco magazine, the san francisco bay guardian and most recently, where magazine. Best luxury hotel san francisco fairmont san francisco. We will respond to your request within 24 hours or the next business day. At some point you have to let go of the big, lavish singlescreen movie houses, the quaint shoemaker on the corner, and the tonga. Tonga cruise ship theme restaurant in 1945, and transformed into the polynesianthemed tonga room in the 1960s. Fairmont, preservationists at odds over tonga room sfgate. Theres a 73yearold tiki bar hiding in this hotels basement. Named after the south pacific nation of tonga, this dining and entertainment venue opened in 1945. You cant visit this place without cracking a smile. The 7 best hotel bars in san francisco 7x7 bay area. San francisco hotels the fairmont hotel san francisco.
The tonga room, in san francisco s opulent fairmont hotel on nob hill, offers an impressive old time tiki vibe. You really get a sense of san francisco history when staying in this hotel, and a visit to the tonga room is a must cons. The untold stories of san franciscos tonga room pool sfgate. San franciscos tonga room is still a tiki staple imbibe magazine. Open since 1945 in the fairmont hotel san francisco, you wont find anything else like it in the. The fairmont san francisco is located at 950 mason street in nob hill. To say theres history here would be an understatement. The tonga room offers exceptional polynesian cuisine in a tropical setting that includes thunder and rainstorms. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Share a pupu platter and other polynesian favorites with tropical cocktails in faux coconuts, and watch the band play from the lagoon barge.
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