TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

I stayed here for 5 nights in January 2026 and I found this hotel generally excellent. The room was a little dated however the extremely spacious size meant that it was still very clean and comfortable, I had a suite on the top floor and the views were exceptional. There was very little outside noise at this level too which was great. The history of the hotel is so intersting and it is seen throughout the hotel, it is worthwhile taking the time to look at the pictures on the wall and explore the hotel to understand the history. The lobby and bar/restaurant are very grand which is nice. The only criticism I had was that there were a couple of large conferences on whilst I was there and at times that meant the restaurant and bar were completely overwhelmed and service was slow. Also room service breakfast one morning took far too long to arrive again due to the same reason. Location wise this hotel is up a hill but excellently located to get off the cable car so don't be put off by it being up a hill as you can easily reach it without walking. Overall I'd definitely recommend this hotel and I would absolutely return.

My absolute go-to hotel in SFO - it's at the top of the hill for a reason, and that's because there's literally no better hotel in the city. The architecture is gorgeous, the food is consistently wonderful, the service is efficient and professional, and let's talk about the Tiki Bar! I've forced many friends and co-workers to come "all the way up" just for the Tiki Bar and it never disappoints. I've stayed at many Fairmonts around the world, and this one is probably my top.

My reservation was made by AmEx and was prepaid. Had an early check-in and wasn’t told there was no hot water and no heat. My room is freezing. Can’t take a shower. Staff is all lovely. Had lunch, kept my jacket on thinking they had the air conditioning on. My room is nice, all staff is lovely I’m just freezing to death.

Small, dumpy room, Extremely rude front desk agent, would absolutely not stay here considering other choices available in SF.

The Fairmont is a beautiful, historic property in a great location, but unfortunately it appears poorly managed and past its prime. To start, a few minor issues - my family and I were charged for various food and drinks that arrived well beyond quoted timelines and were sent back due to being in bed, and a promised $300 resort voucher which was never applied to our final bill. Basic amenities expected at a top California hotel were either missing or unnecessarily restricted: no complimentary water in the room (we had to request it nightly), and gym access required either an Accor membership or a costly daily fee due to third-party management. Unbelievable that it would cost money to work out when spending upwards of $8000 Check-in focused heavily on upselling upgrades rather than guest information. We were told an $1000 upgrade charge was a one-time fee, but it was later applied daily, and a “third night free” promotion was not honored. While the building itself is impressive, the rooms and public areas feel tired and in need of refurbishment. Overall, a significant disappointment and not reflective of a five-star experience at this price point. On previous 1 star reviews, the made commitment to fix these issues. Be very cautious when staying here, there are much better options nearby for cheaper and better service. The Fairmont was not willing to do anything to correct the issues we had during our stay.s