Fairmont San Francisco

The Fairmont San Francisco sits at the corner of Mason Street and California Street on Nob Hill and consists of a nine-floor main building and a 29-floor tower in Beaux-Arts style. The complex occupies an entire city block and displays a symmetrical façade with large windows and classical columns at the entrance.

The building opened its doors in 1907, only months after the great earthquake that destroyed San Francisco. In 1945, meetings took place here where delegates from numerous countries drafted the United Nations Charter.

A bronze statue of Tony Bennett stands outside the building, marking the spot where the singer first performed his song about San Francisco in the Venetian Room in 1961. That song later became the unofficial anthem of the city and connects this place with an important moment in American music history.

The building sits directly on the California Street Cable Car line, which makes the climb to Nob Hill easier. Several restaurants and bars are located inside, including the Laurel Court Restaurant and the Tonga Room with its tropical setting.

The Tonga Room uses the former swimming pool of the building, which was transformed into a lagoon with tropical plantings. A floating stage in the center holds a band, and at certain times an installation simulates artificial rain over the water.

Location: San Francisco

Architects: Reid & Reid, Julia Morgan

Official opening: 1907

Architectural style: Beaux-Arts

Email: sanfrancisco@fairmont.com

Website: https://fairmont.com/san-francisco

GPS coordinates: 37.79240,-122.41020

Latest update: December 14, 2025 20:31