Overall a beautiful property, a fantastic location and lots to see and do besides just sleeping.
We only had 1 night here but will definitely consider the Fairmont San Fran for future stays. The property has history at every corner you turn, and the elegance is enduring. We spent a lot of time wandering the long halls, looking at all the historical pictures, and even peeking our heads into a 300+ person wedding in the ballroom.
The staff here are great, as expected at such a fine property. Shout out to Susan in housekeeping who was a fantastic spokeperson for the hotel, giving us a quick glimpse at the view on the Golden Gate Bridge side as we walked past her cleaning the room. She had so much excitement and friendliness that we would come back to stay just to see her again.
Our room was perfect and quiet. Very spacious including the massive bathroom, comfortable beds and clean. No issues at all with the rooms.
Parking is a bit of a nightmare, particularly at busy times. The road in front can be an absolute circus with buses, cars, waymos etc all going every direction. Valet was something like $90 a night so I found a local garage to park at on SpotHero ... I assume space is limited so the high price is to dissuade people from bringing vehicles.
The Tonga Room oozes history and is a great place to get a tiki drink, albeit quite an expensive one but sometimes you pay for the experience also, and the band they had playing was amazing.
Breakfast was limited to a buffet when we visited and was pitiful. I feel bad for anyone paying the $45 per person, as it was at a level of a basic hotel buffet. Eggs, sausage, bacon, some basic pastries, fruit, yogurt etc. Thankfully our breakfast was included in our stay, otherwise I would have been livid. Our comped bill came to $112 including taxes and auto gratuity and I am not exaggerating when I say the food was of a Hampton Inn buffet quality. Steer clear and find a local cafe if you get sticker shock easily.
The location of the hotel is one of the standouts I believe. It is in a very historical neighborhood, high atop a hill with fantastic views in all directions. The area is clean, right next to a cable car route and easy to navigate. If you have time, the free Cable Car museum is only 2 blocks away and is a fantastic insight into all the history of this famous attraction.
Overall, the Fairmont San Francisco is on our list to stay again on a future visit. We felt very relaxed staying here and in a busy city like San Francisco, this is an important factor.