Originally Posted By crapshoot <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco/GuestServices/Restaurants/TheTongaRoomHurricaneBar.htm" target="_blank">http://www.fairmont.com/sanfra...eBar.htm</a> I have been visiting a lot of Tiki Bars lately, Frankies Tiki Room and Trader Sam's come to mind, then I heard of the Tonga Room at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Okay Nor-Cal LP'ers, spill it!
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Tonga Room is very cool. Old school tiki lounge, with a pool in the center featuring a live band. It "rains" every so often. There is a partial ship deck and mast, lots of tiki hut decor, and quite an assortment of tiki drinks that really sneak up on you, the way good tiki drinks should. The food is mostly Asian/Hawaiian fusion. Pretty expensive. There are some good appetizer/happy hour deals on some nights. It has been rumored to be closing for the last couple of years, yet so far, it is still there. Part of the Fairmont was going to be redeveloped and the Tonga Room was going to go away -- there was some outcry from fans of the place but probably not enough to save it forever (I suspect the real estate downturn has more to do with the delay in construction than anything). So if you're considering a visit, probably the sooner the better to be safe. It's the real deal.
Originally Posted By DlandDug We've been a couple of times. It started out back in the 20s as an indoor pool. When that proved to be less of a draw than expected, it was converted into a glorious tiki themed restaurant. So a lot of valuable real estate is taken up with the pool. The band plays on a floating barge!
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan The Fairmont is a beautiful hotel. Lots of great old photos and menus framed along the walls detailing the hotel's history. There was once a Carrousel Lounge there, the unique feature was a rotating bar. Alcohol plus spinning customers = well, a mess. It didn't last long. The Fairmont's beautiful lobby was used for ABC's series "Hotel" in the early 1980s. The glass elevator ride to the Fairmont's Venetian Room is spectacular.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >> The glass elevator ride to the Fairmont's Venetian Room is spectacular.<< Alas, no more. It's been closed for a couple of years, I understand.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Thanks for letting us know! It reopened last October with a special cabaret performance by Marvin Hamlisch. <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco/articles/referencematerial/bayareacabaret.htm" target="_blank">http://www.fairmont.com/sanfra...aret.htm</a> I also note that Anika Noni Rose (Princess Tiana) performed there in May.
Originally Posted By dshyates If you make it to SF and are into Tiki, Trader Vic's is a must and get the classic Mai Tai and ask them to not use the mix.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<Okay Nor-Cal LP'ers, spill it!>> Hey toots. You come up to SF and I will gladly take you to the Tonga Room. The Mai Tais are excellent, and the Happy Hour (M-F 5 -7) has one of the best finger food buffets in the city. And the California cable car line just re-opened a few days ago after its six month rehab, so you can travel from Embarcadero up to the Fairmont in smooth style. And good news to all who love the Tonga Room! The City rejected yet again the condo project proposal for the back section of the hotel were the Tonga Room is located. Looks like this one is going to stick, and the owners/developers will stop trying to push this through. I would hate to think what would happen to this area of Nob Hill during construction, where Powell and California cross at the busiest tourist intersection for the two major cable car lines. Not to mention the relocation of the Tonga Room to a less desirable location.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<If you make it to SF and are into Tiki, Trader Vic's is a must and get the classic Mai Tai and ask them to not use the mix.>> Trader Vic's is no more. The location near the Opera House was closed years ago. Emeryville is the only Vic's still open in the Bay Area.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 The NY Trader Vics in the Plaza Hotel was over the top, horribly overpriced, and over the moon cool. When Trump bought the Plaza, he closed it. Just another reason to hate the Donald.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS We went a few years ago for Ursula's.birthday. We enjoyed it but it was a tad pricey. The floating band sang happy birthday to her. Nice place to visit once in a while.
