I live on Nob Hill, so the Fairmont is less a hotel to me than a neighbor. I walk past it most days. But walking past a hotel and walking through it with the people who run it are two very different things, and I recently did the second. Here’s what I learned, and exactly which room I’d book for you.
A hotel with a remarkable story
The Fair sisters built the Fairmont and sold it just before the 1906 earthquake, and a fire swept the city. It reopened exactly one year later, rebuilt by Julia Morgan, the first woman licensed as an architect in California. Female-founded and female-rebuilt, more than a century before that was a talking point. If you’re staying, the hotel now runs a short history tour on Wednesday mornings, 9:00 to 9:30. Go.
Two buildings, two very different stays
This is the single most useful thing to know before you book. The Fairmont is really two hotels joined at the lobby.
The Heritage Building is the original: wide hallways, high ceilings, and roomier entry-level rooms, around 420 square feet. A bay view isn’t guaranteed here, but you can request one.
The Tower, added in the 1960s, has smaller standard rooms, around 330 square feet, but far better odds of the view you came for, across the bay or over the city.
So the question I ask clients is simple: do you want space and history, or the view? You can have both, but it takes the right suite.
The room I’d ask for
For most couples, it’s a Golden Gate Suite in the Tower, on floors 12 to 22. Those floors guarantee a view of the bridge, fog permitting. Below the 12th floor, a neighboring building can partly block the view, which is exactly the kind of detail that never makes it onto a booking site.
For something more special, the Balcony Suites are rare in San Francisco: only nine, each a one-bedroom with its own outdoor terrace. These suites are always booked, so I’ve never been able to see one. But from what I've heard, my favorite would be the Buckingham Suite. To me, this sounds like old San Francisco with its wood paneling and a hidden wet bar.
Traveling as a family? The Fairmont Family Room sleeps six or seven with two queens and a bunk bed, and there are only six on the property, so they go early. The corner suites in the Heritage Building have two bathrooms, which matters more than any thread count when four people are getting ready for dinner.
One thing I always flag
Upgrades aren’t always upgrades. A complimentary move from a Balcony Suite to a larger suite can mean losing the balcony. If the terrace is the reason you booked, I make sure the hotel knows it. That’s the difference between booking a hotel and booking the room.
The Penthouse, if you’re celebrating something big
At about 6,000 square feet, the Penthouse is the largest suite in San Francisco: three bedrooms, four baths and a full kitchen. Built in 1927 as a private residence for James Flood, the recent renovation kept the original stained glass, a 1920s library ceiling, and a children’s room with its original hand-painted world map. Most presidents since Truman have stayed here. It hosts up to 60 for a seated dinner, which makes it one of the most memorable private-party spaces in the city. The moment you walk in, you feel the history, and you want to explore every room in detail. It truly is a special place on Nob Hill.
Holidays at the Fairmont
This is the season the Fairmont does better than anyone. The two-story Gingerbread Hall opens in the lobby the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and holiday tea in the Laurel Court takes reservations in October. It sells out. If it’s on your family’s list, book it early, and if you need a private room for tea or dinner, the hotel has a private dining room and veranda for exactly that.
One more local tip: rates jump during the big citywide conferences, so if your dates are flexible, ask me before you book. A week’s difference can change the price considerably.
Why I walk through hotels
Forty years in luxury fashion and beauty taught me that the details people remember are the ones nobody tells you about. Which floor has the view. Which suite has the second bathroom. Which upgrade quietly takes away the thing you wanted. I visit hotels so I can tell you those things before you arrive, and so someone at the property knows your name when you do.
Coming to San Francisco, or hosting family for the holidays? I’d love to help you find the right room, on Nob Hill or anywhere else. Explore my hotel and concierge services or book a consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Choosing your Fairmont room
Which room would you request at the Fairmont San Francisco?
For most couples, I would ask for a Golden Gate Suite in the Tower on floors 12 to 22. As I learned on my visit, a neighboring building can partly block the view below the 12th floor. Fog can still affect visibility.
Should I choose the Heritage Building or the Tower?
The Heritage Building offers the original hotel’s wide hallways, high ceilings, and roomier entry-level rooms. The Tower offers better odds of a bay or city view. The right choice depends on whether space, historic character, or the view matters most to you.
What should I flag when booking a Balcony Suite?
Tell the hotel if the terrace is the reason you are booking. An upgrade to a larger suite could mean losing the balcony, so a bigger room may not be the better choice for your stay.
