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Categories: Hotels, Restaurants
Neighborhood: Nob Hill"Absolutely adorable hotel. I stayed here this past weekend for a quick little vaca to SF. I was looking for a cheap, decent hotel, in a…" read more »
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This is one beautiful hotel, in the most beautiful city.
I actually felt like James Bond when I pulled up and the immaculately turned out concierge opened my car door, it's just got this international grandness about it. Good evening Mr. Bond...
We had an 'Executive room' very nicely turned out, crisp white sheets on the bed, I always like that. The staff are super friendly and the whole hotel is very well presented, some hotels just feel grimey, not the Mark Hopkins.
While visiting you must go to the 'Top of the Mark' bar at the hotels top floor, the sunset views of the City and bay are incredible, you can even get a glimpse of the Golden Gate bridge between buildings. Make sure you tip the piano player, he's a hard worker.
The Mark Hopkins has a very beautiful exterior (situated at the top of Nob Hill) and definitely has you walking into it in awe.
Unfortunately, the feeling didn't last. I was rudely awakened out of my trance by the super unfriendly front desk.. I seriously thought he was going to throw my credit card and a pen at my face.
The room was a decent size by SF standards.. The decor was classically plain but that was somewhat expected. At least the bedding was fluffy and comfy, and the bathroom was marbled and large!
I got this room since I was spending Halloween in the City and thought it'd be nice not to have to drive back home. My second unfriendly experience was the guy hailing the cabs for the hotel. It was taking FOREVER. I walked over to see if I could find a cab on my own, and he rudely told me that I'm on my own and I'd need to go across the street and to the other side if i wanted to get one. uhh..ok? I thought we were waiting for YOU! He finally got us one, actually. .someone else one. He said they were ahead of us.. um. sure. My last staff experience was the concierge. . he was helpful and gave us info.. too bad it wasn't 100% correct.. but hey, we still managed to get what we wanted, so thanks.
For a 4-star hotel, I really expected friendlier service. The venue alone met my expectations, too bad the service completely killed it.. I'll only be coming back for the Top of the Mark.
The service here is the reason the low rating.
1. There weren't any door people to open the door for us and we waited forever for a taxi because the staff told us to just wait outside the doors.
2. The front reception person (David) was super unfriendly - not even a fake smile
3. The bathroom would make loud thumping noises whenever a neighboring person would use the shower. (Took a second to realize what that weird sound was)
4. The fixtures feel outdated - maybe on purpose?
However, the linens were luxurious and the bathroom had granite and marble throughout.
The location is right on Nob Hill - very beautiful area.
I would give it 2.5 stars - because it doesn't even come CLOSE to the Westin St Francis. (another SF hotel)
Great clasic old hotel with large rooms and wonderful beds. I would much rather stay here then at one of the new modern hotels. Skip the breakfast though as it is an outrageously priced buffet with no menu to chose items from. Great views of the city though while you eat.
Mark Hopkins is an absolutely beautiful hotel situated at the top of Nob Hill. I've enjoyed every stay at this place. The staff is friendly enough and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the club lounge with the snacks and the computers. The concierge people in the club lounge are always extremely helpful and seem friendlier than the front-desk staff. The rooms are very nice; big fluffy pillows and clean sheets and comfortable mattresses. I am especially fond of the bathrooms; big tubs and marble walls and the free shampoo samples aren't total crap like they are at most other hotels.
I do have one complaint, though. THE ELEVATORS. They are ridiculously slow, tiny, and always jam packed because so many people line up during the typical ten minute wait for an elevator. They REALLY need to replace those elevators because I think their slowness is a major inconvenience & is the reason why I took a star off. I can't really comment on the affordability of this place because I never paid for my lodging when I stayed here. I imagine that it's pretty darn expensive.
I won't hate on this place for not flying the flag at half mast on 9/11. I know the Mark Hopkins is not some anti-american business that hates the county and doesn't "respect" the tragedy that took place 8 years ago. Maybe they honored the events with another form of symbolism that the previous reviewer knows absolutely nothing about because she was too busy focusing her energy on being the flag police.
Came here for a bachelorette party. All show and no go. The building itself is gorgeous but the lack of amenities (and the beds weren't anything to write home about) just made it an "eh" experience. Especially for what we had to pay for the room!
What can I say... The Mark Hopkins is my second favorite home in San Francisco. My first favorite home is my own, no one does it better than me.
Everything from the front desk to the staff who clean the rooms, the service is superlative and worth every penny. I am a repeat guest in my own beloved city, and will continue to be - it's a tradition to excellence!
This place has awesome views. I was put into a smoking room since they didn't have any non-smoking rooms available. I generally don't smoke, but once in a while I would socially. I think I started getting a bit antsy in the room.. and for some reason when I open the window all sorts of weird noises starts occuring. It's like I walked into a ghost room. Either that or I need to stop smoking. Period.
The room service kind of sucks.. pizza for $20 that was bland. Valet parking was a whopping $50 a night. Room was $179. Wasn't a place I feel like I would come back to.
Note to travellers:
With the Great Recession affecting travel the way it is, this is the time to find great rates on hotels you've always wanted to stay at, but didn't want to fork over $500 a night. The Mark Hopkins happens to be one of those places.
The review:
I booked the room for a weekend work/fun trip (not billing it all back to client), figured that was a place I wanted to stay at after staying the the Fairmont across the street. The room rate was fair ($160 range), and there was no way I was going to pass that up with most of the four stars in SF in that range, but none of them as nice as this place.
It is really nice. Sure, the decor is a bit old school, but that's what I expect in San Francisco, especially looking at the building from the outside.
I got to the desk, and changed my room to a different type. The checkin process was painless (try checking in at a Vegas hotel, they want a note from your mom).
The rooms themselves are wonderful. The king bed was large, comfy and a great sleep. The wifi was strong and consistent. The bathrooms are a bit small, but that's like complaining about the color of the leather (it's the wrong kind of black) in a Rolls Royce. They haven't upgraded to a plasma or LCD TV yet in the rooms, but if you're complaining about the TV here, you're not spending enough time in the city.
Everyone says the views aren't all that great. I disagree. I'm on the fifth floor, and while it's slightly obstructed, I do have a view of the Transamerica Pyramid on one side, and most of Nob Hill on the other. The Top of The Mark (The restaurant at the very top of the hotel), has the best 360 views that I've seen anywhere in the city -- complete with a view of the Golden Gate, the Bay Bridge, and most of downtown.
Additionally, the California Line and Powell Line intersect down the block, so the ultimate SF experience is to hear the trolleys go by, and you have that. I was able to catch a game at AT&T Park by taking the trolley and the muni from the hotel.
Stayed here last Saturday evening as I was a bridesmaid at a wedding that took place here. I wanted to give 3 stars since they did not offer room service between 2pm and 5pm (WTF?? BOO!) and I was starving. Luckily the bride's wedding coordinator pulled some strings and got us some afternoon tea w/ mini sandwiches, scones and cakes. Hit the spot... although I was craving a burger!
I have to add a star because I left my flipflops in the room. [trust me, if they were "any pair of flipflops", I wouldn't have bothered, but this was my favorite pair purchased during a trip to Maui!] and the housekeeping folks were great about saving them for me until I picked them up the next day.
Beautiful, classic San Francisco hotel. I definitely recommend it for tourists who want the complete SF experience.
I recently stayed at the Mark Hopkins InterContinental and am giving it 3 stars. It's a beautiful hotel on Nob Hill, so the views were great; however, I arrived late on my check-in night and was disappointed to learn that they had no more nonsmoking rooms.
I am not a smoker so I was really hesitant, but after some persuasion and a guarantee that I would be move first thing in the morning I stayed. I was tired after a long day, and at midnight I did not want to move to another hotel. Needless to say a smoking room is a smoking room and I slept very little. You'd think they'd be able to project their rooming needs and tell customers if they cannot guarantee the type of room being requested. Oh well - so much for technology here.
I was moved to another room the next morning; however, the bed was sunken in and really uncomfortable. For a 4 star hotel I think a nice bed is a must.
A great feature of the Mark Hopkins is their lounge on Top of the Mark, which features various live musicians on most nights. So, this may be a great place to stop by for a night out, but not necessarily a place to stay at if you're ever in San Fran.
A pretty hotel and nice looking rooms, but the details don't match up. I have been in two rooms, and the toilet in both rooms had issues. One room had problems with loud plumbing that kept me from sleeping. Some other minor issues.
We stayed here for a bachelorette party, when we arrived we were impressed with how the outside looked, very grandiose but a little too old school stuffy for my taste. The place is beautiful and has a great location but I just don't think it's worth what it cost to stay here. I much prefer hip & happening hotels, but don't ask me for advice on where those hotels are in SF because I have no idea.
Do not park here unless you are willing to pay $50 a night, instead go to State Garage and pay $15.
This hotel is not as nice as the Intercontinental down the hill, but it's decent - a bit older, but has more historical character. They've got a good car service and being on nob hill, that helps.
The Mark on the Top is great for the live music and great views. Like all hotels in San Francisco, price is dependent on availability. I book through http://hotels.com to get the best rates for this hotel.
Lush old feel to this place sitting atop Nob Hill, vaulted ceilings like I LOVE, plush pillowy beds (down feather everything), beautiful views (at least from the 16th floor), well-stocked mini-bars (of course).
I love their entrance. It's grand in every sense of the word.
The only drawback is that the rooms (not suites) are tiny as was customary back in the days when this dinosaur was built. That aside, it's quite lovely.
My favorite part: It's another tall building in SF that does not have a 13th floor.
NOTE: I stayed here over night, but did not fully check out the entire building, its amenities, and only observed the counter agents at check-out. They were the resolute. To contradict Al I., they did have a coffee station set up in the lobby this morning. It was way too early, so I didn't bother to try it though. I can see how the bathrooms may not be big enough for ladies to spread out with their makeup, etc. For the price, there may be some place better--but I was pleased with this place. I'm just a hotel sleeper, not a hotel user. In other words, I judge a hotel based on the bed, the counter agents, and level of noise I don't hear at night. View is a bonus.
This is what you get for a $500+ room at the Mark Hopkins:
1. A cold reception unable to answer simple questions to assist or offer an alternate method of assistance
2. A very long wait without a wait. Meaning...we were the only two checking in and it took 10 minutes...what are you typing a short story??
3. Welcome to grandma's house. Have they considered remodeling?? We were laughing all the way to our room. We did like the hallways though...it really reminded us of Nana's in a good way...lol.
4. A very small, standard room decorated worse than the Holiday Inn with :NO TELEVISION, a dirty bathroom, a locked liquor fridge (lock with a key - I thought those went out with the typewriter??) , and broken iron and steam board. We called the front desk to ask about the liquor key and broken equipment and we were told to come down and get it in a half an hour. WHAT!!!?? Are you kidding me?? We are regulars at the W hotel and we were so pissed that we wasted a dime or minute of our time even considering another location.
5. Made reservations at the Top of the Mark and when we reported we were told to stand in a small corner and wait for 45 minutes. The stupid woman really told us to stand in the corner. WTF!!?? Of course we left and I went to talk to management. He thought we wanted something for free so once I refused his "FREE BREAKFAST" that already came with the $500 room and told him that I assumed management would appreciate notification of customer dissatisfaction and the level of service we are used to at other SF hotels, he apologized and shrugged his shoulders. He did nothing.
We figure this must be a tourist location so TOURIST BEWARE!!! This was hands down the worst night of my life in San Francisco.
Since I don't seem to sleep much anymore (ha ha), I am eagerly approaching my 50th review! WHOO HOO! I am pretty backlogged but I am determined to catch-up.
I have been a Yelp member since 2005 but may I please be honest here? I only signed-up to read reviews and to look at other Yelper's pictures.
Actually, I didn't start writing reviews until 2007 during my first vist to NYC when the 3-hour difference kicked my butt!
With that said...
Mark Hopkins is absolutely one of my favorite hotels to stay at in the city! Besides the fabulous location and neighborhood, it's a gorgeous hotel!
The service and staff are efficient and first-rate! I stayed in one of their suites and the accommodations were "quality" through and through. I must confess that I jumped on the bed for several minutes and danced around the living room for several more. I have pictures.
Dinner and dancing were memorable and I tip my hat to Chef Depuichaffray! If you're planning a wedding in the city, look no further!
Since I have several friends who live in the city, finding a place to crash is easy. Albeit, staying at the Mark Hopkins is extraordinary!
I work for the Intercontinental company so I got a great discount here. As soon as I walked in I got a 1920s old school bougie feel. Hah hard to explain. Anyway. Got a nice room on the eighth floor. Nice huge king size bed. View was OK. Nothing spectacular. Two things I REALLY liked about this place.
1. lobster bisque at 1AM. gotta love 24/7 room service. must satisfy my drunk cravings for lobster bisque.
2. The valet captain guy. I really wish I knew his name because I would like to send the hotel a nice comment about him. So my friend and I wanted to go out for drinks after a failed attempt at the Top of the Mark (the bar/restaurant at the top of the hotel. 10 dollar cover after 10pm. GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!! and we got there at about 945p.They said the wait was about 10-15 mins. they just wanted our money!) Anyway... we mentioned to the valet guy what happened and that we were going to take a taxi to Embarcadero instead. The valet guy was nice enough to have the house car take us there and pick us up. Excellent service!
I'd probably stay here again the next time I come up.
Another hotel Erik and I have stayed at while he is in town for business...
Rooms: Clean, comfortable beds (I wish my bed was this comfortable at home! Love the pillows, love the sheets, and duvet!), size is not small (considering other hotel rooms in SF are much smaller) I think they are just the right size, awesome walk in closet!
Top of the Mark: $10 cover charge for non-hotel guests. View is nice, but not spectacular. A bunch of old geezers dancing away, but live music. It guess it could be worth the $10 cover charge if you are older (45+ yrs) otherwise I would recommend else where.
If you are considering a wedding reception - the prices for the food is reasonable (starting at $90 pp for a dinner buffet). The main room has no view though (if you care about that).
We did priceline again and got the room for about $120 plus taxes. It's worth it. I would never pay $500 to stay here though, unless we had unlimited funds then maybe.
Last weekend we stayed at the Mark Hopkins for the 3rd time, and this time had the pleasure of attending a wedding on premise as well. The wedding was magnificent. I am sure my cousin and her new hubby were happy with the service and food.
Previously I have found great deals for the Mark Hopkins on Priceline of all places. I have now decided I will not stay any where else in the city because of the view and romance of the establishment.
Even if we are just going to see a show at the Warfield, why not stay at a 4 star hotel located on Nob Hill. Why not take your loved one up to the grand Top of the Mark and sip a cocktail while overlooking the best view in the city? $140-180/night is cheap for the fun times I have had here. We always go across the street to the Fairmont and relish in the over-the-top Tiki bar The Tonga Room. We even saw Joan Rivers in front of the Fairmont one time! There is a cool karaoke joint about 5 blocks away also. Good times....
I stayed here a while ago and it was very nice. We found it a bit difficult to maneuver, its on a hill, small driveway, but once inside you forget all that and simply relax. Its an old world charm but does not miss the comforts and amenities of newer hotels. The views are great from up top, (forgot the bar and dinning room name on the upper floor) I liked the lounge area. The rooms were spacious enough and interesting floorplan, unlike the boring newer hotels, that go =door, bathroom, closet, hallway, bed. This hotel has different types of room set ups and floor plans. Great happy hour.
We were excited to stay here but left with a "it wasn't bad but it wasn't excellent" feeling.
Plus:
Exceptional service by the doormen & bellhop
Good service by front desk and room service
Great location
Nice views
room came with two free drinks at the top of the mark for each night's stay
Minus:
Rooms were average, expecting a little bit more from a "luxury Hotel"
The bed was lumpy and gave me a sore back
you can hear everything from the rooms next door
Before I'd even stayed at this hotel, I'd seen it many times. I lived down on Sutter st., and whenever I walked up to the park at night I'd always gawk at the beauty of the Mark Hopkins hotel. I always assumed that it was expensive, and very plush.
Well, on March 21st of 2009 I finally got to see for myself. My parents and I made reservations to stay for one night (I no longer live in SF), and since it was during the off season the price of rooms were half of what they usually are. I was excited to see what the hotel I've admired from afar looked like inside. I must admit that I was disappointed, but that does not mean that the hotel isn't nice. They have a parking garage that is $45 dollars a night, which really isn't all that horrible for San Francisco. The lobby does look as if it should be updated, but it wasn't so bad that I felt the need to comment on it aloud.
The people at the reception desk were friendly and worked quickly, and they gladly upgraded our room last minute. Something that I took note of was that the elevators are extremely fast- I have a strange dislike for slow elevators, so I was pleased with this. Our room wasn't all that big, but it was clean and the beds were amazingly soft. The restroom was nice, and the view wasn't so bad. If we leaned close enough to the glass, and looked to the right we could see the bay, and Alcatraz.
Some things that make me give this hotel 3 stars instead of 4 is that a small bottle of water was $6.50. My father and I walked to a nearby liquor store and got the same brand, and a bigger bottle for only $1.25. Also, the walls are ridiculously thin. I could hear what everyone around me was doing, and at one point this caused a painfully awkward moment when my parents and I could hear the people next door having... fun. That really annoyed me, but I won't hold it against the hotel.
Overall I'd say that the hotel isn't bad at all, it just isn't great. I probably wouldn't recommend this hotel to a friend simply because I know of better hotels in the same vicinity.
Got an awesome daily rate on Hotwire. The value far exceeded the cost we spent. They treated us like we spent $1,000/night.
The business center is a little pricey. I take online graduate courses and needed the internet while I was there. It was about $75 for some printing and about 1.5 hours online. Not sure what they price for bringing your laptop and using their wireless. The deadlines I had overrode any cost.
Wonderful staff. They offer a free week-day limo service to downtown and financial district. Definitely take advantage.
We recently had our wedding reception at the Mark Hopkins and it was excellent. Working with Christigale in catering was great. Everything from the food to the staff was amazing.
We did have quite a few issues getting people booked into our block of rooms, but everything was finally settled before any of the guests arrived. The rooms were great. Our honeymoon suite was unbelievable (it had a sunroom! and was bigger than our apartment!)
All of the guests who stayed there couldn't give enough compliments about the service - including free towncar service on weekdays to take them to all the touristy spots. Overall, I can't say enough about our wonderful experience.
Unbelievable hotel. Service, staff, and room were fabulous and charming. Great accomodations. They gave us a suite for a queen price. Wonderful experience. Would go again and again.
Booked blind on Hotwire and were happy to find out it was the Mark Hopkins, a SF landmark. Unfortunately it turned out to be resting pretty hard on its laurels.
The room was tiny, as was the bathroom. They were clearly putting their worst rooms up on Hotwire. Pillow index was very low. Mattress was covered in a vinyl protective cover, I guess in case we peed in the bed (?). The bathroom door latch got stuck and I had to wrestle with it for a while to get the door open. The curtains (heavy striped taffeta, ugh) were filthy - one of them had a huge dark spot on it. We had a view of the roof of another part of the building, so we just kept the sheers pulled closed. We were at the end of the hall, and the wind whistled up the emergency stairwell next to our door all night. I complained (nicely) when we checked out and they didn't seem to care.
We went up to the Top of the Mark and waited with a lot of other people (most dressed in jeans and sneakers) for more than 20 minutes to get in, despite the place being nearly empty. They seated us near a window and that was the last we saw of anyone. My BF finally went up to the bar to get our drinks but the bartender wouldn't serve us because we weren't at the bar! In order to get a drink we had to sit at the bar, so we did, then moved to an empty table. The place never filled up - a really boring vibe despite the view.
The only good thing was that we lucked into a parking spot on the street instead of paying to valet.
This review is not for the hotel, but for their jazz lounge. I have never stayed here. I've been here twice to their jazz lounge on the top floor. My sister had recommended the place and I am glad she did. First, you get a great view of the city while you listen to some very cool jazz. This is a great place to chill, grab a drink, have some dessert, and even put on your dancing shoes if you're in the mood, or just relax and enjoy the fanstatics views of SF. One thing to note, there is a $10 cover if you're not a guest at the hotel and the valet parking is expensive so park on the streets.
This hotel is a legend and very very nice. Number One Nob Hill is a few blocks above China Town and near everything. I had the pleasure of a week here two summers ago and really enjoyed it. Everything was nice but I will say that the top floor bar (Top of the Mark) generates a loud last call exit from the hotel so when you check in demand that you not be placed on the California Street side-too too noisy when you are sleeping. Higher floors suggested.
Another really nice hotel next door where I have stayed is The Stanford Court so make that your plan B is this hotel is booked.
I love this place for the classic feel of Old San Francisco.
Booked direct through their website for a so so price. Upon arrival I was upgraded to a suite! WOWSA...Not trying to look a gift horse or whatev but I just have to say, the suite gave me anxiety. All these doors opening in all these directions and the room was on an angle, yikes. I honestly would have preferred a regular square or rectangled room to this.
On the upside, fresh bromeliads in my room! And pretty nice stately type decor...The living area was pretty comfy, not incredibly so. The bath products were plentiful and great as well.
The bedroom was sort of overstuffed and the bed and the bedding were lumpy. Plus, I could hear the elevator running what seemed to be all night. Did not get the best night's sleep I ever had or anything.
The views and location are of course spectacular. A short super hilly walk to anywhere, so overall, not bad!
PS-The staff in the "Top O da Mark" need to lose the attitude, big time
This place was great! I got a wonderful deal last-minute because I was only going to be in San Francisco for one night. This place made me want to stay longer. The staff was awesome and helpful and the location of the hotel is excellent.
I checked-in early which was very helpful (and the staff didn't bat an eye when I asked despite the fact that I had booked off of a "discount" website). Got a room on the 7th floor with an great view of Alcatraz and the Bay, broken up by the cityscape. The room WAS a little small, and the bathroom smaller. Part of the reason "the Mark" did not rate 5 stars in my book. But the room was super clean, with a wonderful bed (which I really appreciated because I was sick). The location of the hotel was also a bonus, about 1 STEEP block from the Powell/California trolley stop and certainly within walking distance of some great places to eat. Additionally, the hotel is very close to Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf so it's a prime location.
Really the only detraction are that the rooms are small, the hotel really requires some strong legs, and the price. If I had to pay full price I'm not sure that the hotel would have been such a great deal. But I would definitely recommend a stay, if for no other reason than it's a San Francisco institution.
I hate the drive up Nob Hill!! I always get terrified, and than slightly dizzy as we arrive....I have only stayed in club suites, so my review is for them, Nicely appointed, though some are laid out a little weird, its all older themed, crown molding, really ornate the club room is a good things for the free snacks and drinks (saw a man filling a 2 liter pepsi bottle with rum)....the parking fee is a pisser though! I really feel like when spending almost $500 a night, do they have to nickle and dime another $50 out of you
This was truly a disappointment. I have stayed at many other Intercons, Four Seasons, Fairmonts, and the like, and I have never experienced the degree of crappy service that I have at this Intercon.
The daytime Bellman was horribly rude, not so much to us as he was to other guests. We also tipped him extra to keep our car in the drive so as to expedite our almost imminent departure from the hotel shortly after our arrival one afternoon, but he went ahead and put the car away anyway, adding 15 minutes to our departure time.
Additionally, when I asked the concierge for the address of the restaurant we were going to, he insisted he look it up in the phone book instead of on the computer sitting right in front of him, and another morning when I called to ask for limo services he gave me 2 recommendations, even though I asked for more.
Since I forgot my beloved trench coat in the hotel upon my departure, I called the hotel which transferred me to housekeeping which told me they would keep my coat until my return into the city on Tuesday. When I returned to retrieve it, I had to wait 5 minutes while the guy at the front desk puttered around doing god-knows-what- he even put his finger up and told me to wait. Wow. That's terrible service if I've even seen it. It also took housekeeping 25 minutes to get me my coat ( they are only 2 floors down) and then I was chastised for giving the wrong date for the pick up of the coat, even though that clerical error was due to the person taking down the info, not the one giving it (me).
Our room was slightly dingy looking- E Todd (Scuba Steve's bro) and his grilfriend Beth even changed rooms because they said theirs smelled "like old people". The bed was comfortable enough, and the bathroom was nice, but the overall look of the room seemed worn and tired.
The ONE bright spot (which was marred by terrible service) was the Top of the Mark. I have rarely seen a better sunset out their window- that is until the waiter came over and promptly drew the shades. Moreover, getting into the place was like getting into the Pentagon- they made Scuba Steve go in first to assert that our party was indeed present, and then, and only then, would they let me pass. Almost not worth the fuss for their $16.00 martinis. Which were good. But still, come on, I'm an ex-bartender and can make the same, but better. I guess I was paying for the view, but in the end, I suppose it was worth it.
And when all was said and done, when I asked if they had comment cards so I could report to a manger what I had experienced, the guy at the front desk (same one that told me that I needed to wait) simply handed me hotel stationery and said I could write. I had to ask him twice for the manager's name (apparently he had gone hard of hearing).
I was extremely disappointed in my stay, and I would NOT recommend going back.
There once was a princess who lived in a castle on top of a hill. She didn't have long blond hair. She wasn't married to the prince, nor was she waiting for the king. She was in love with the city, the views, the electric atmosphere, the multicultural people, the city by the bay unlike any other city in the world. Her romance flourished during the spring and fall. Summers were easy, while the winters gray. Everything had a purpose, a meaning, and life was memorable like a well lit sky.
I wish I was this princess, living in this castle.
In modern times, my castle would be located at the Mark Hopkins. It's the perfect place to grow such a historic romance. Lush grounds nearby, a church, restaurants on every corner, what else does a girl need?
However, BUT, and WAIT a second...
The reason this joint is not getting 5 stars from me: food. food. food.
No problem with my accommodations or the staff.
I stayed on the 8th floor with an awesome view that could make any young girl jealous. Funny that I attended a business conference in the same room I had a senior prom. Temperature varied from cold to freezing, but the staff was very helpful meeting our requests promptly. Fine, no problem here. Even check in was smooth, valet parking, the works. All fine, fine, fine. The kicker came during our meals. Although catering to a large group, wouldn't you figure that oatmeal, fruit, cold cereal/milk, is cheaper than 100% pastries. What in the world?
Not sure if our company picked the wrong package, but I was hoping for at least some fruit. Wouldn't the catering manager know to offer up something a little more varied? The next morning, we had runny eggs and potatoes. ONLY. Kinda disappointing. Lunches were kinda the same. All pretty salads and mini open faced sandwiches, raviolis from the dinner before. Don't even get me started on the seafood dinner. I like seafood, but not like this. Throw in some variety!
Come stay at the hotel, but get out to eat. Mass food production is hit or miss. Long live fairy tails!
I stayed here for a week when I was in SF for a class, and thought this place was excellent - my only complaints are about the room service food which isn't the greatest, especially for the price, the wireless connection is a tad pricey ($12.95/day) and the signal isn't that strong.
A beautiful view from all three windows, very polite individuals on staff (they found me packets of yellow mustard because the kitchen only had Dijon), clean, and one of the most comfortable beds I've slept in...in possibly my life. Housekeeping was great and always wrote a note thanking me for the tip and wishing me a wonderful day.
Will definitely stay here again when I go back!
For a $99 room from Priceline, it's pretty good. The stars would be lower if I paid full price.
The room size was decent, though the bathroom was tiny; better negotiate usage times if you plan on sharing. The lighting in the bathoom is horrible; little spotlights that put your face into complete shadow if you get close to the mirror, and if you stand back to have light fall on your face, it's so direct that it creates shadows over every surface in the least flattering way imaginable. If their goal is to give you the opportunity to make scary faces like you did at 6th grade camp with a flashlight, they succeed.
The view was good enough. The tub didn't drain very well so you get to play the sinking ship game with every shower (maybe I was the only one that did that as a kid). The bed was big and comfortable, though.
~Beautiful, ornate hotel..
~Comfy bed & luxurious bedding..
~Decent price thanks to Priceline..
~Very friendly staff..
~Tiny little closet sized bathroom & rather small room overall..
~Not a lot that appealed to me on the room service menu..
~Very loud street noise on the lower front-facing floors (we were on the 2nd near the elevator)..
~No free wireless internet..
The Mark Hopkins definitely had its ups and its downs. We didn't spend a lot of time in the room as we were out & about all weekend, so overall it was a pleasant enough stay that I'll give it 3 stars. But the cons were big enough problems for me that, if they hadn't been problems, I'd have given this beautiful hotel 5 stars.
The Mark Hopkins is an enigma. Some of their rooms are among the classiest and best-appointed available in the city. Other rooms are small, apparently remodeled in a different century than the nicer rooms, and the bathrooms can be incredibly small for the price you pay.
I love the views I usually enjoy in the rooms I get at Mark Hopkins. The beds tend to be very sizable ( I like that), and the service is top-notch, especially if you are not intimidated by the employees.
Tip: ask for a room as far away from the streets that have heavy noise, or you will be listening to a lot of traffic.
Having lived in Nob Hill, it's strange to admit that I stayed here. I guess it's weird that I lived walking distance from here yet thought this place was worthy enough to spend the night. Actually I guess when you're not paying , you basically can't complain. It was New Year's Eve and my BF had booked one night to ring in the year with a special touch. The room had a killer view, very comfy bed, and the bathroom was marvelous! I thought the room had a "classic" touch and I felt like I could transport myself to the old San Francisco... perhaps when the Big 4 were still alive.
Service just topped the experience off. On a busy night like New Years Eve, they have special "cab" service for their guests. If you need it, you'll get a town car with out a fixed price. While others tried to hail cabs outside the hotel unsuccessfully (non- guests using hotels for getting cabs) we were promptly put in to a town car. When we arrived at our destination (Harris's for fabulous steaks) the driver basically told us we could pay him whatever we wanted.
The stay was wonderful, service was excellent and I felt like a local turned tourist falling in love with the view and the old nob hill charm the hotel provided. I wanted to stay here, hell I wanted to live here and never return to my humble apartment.
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