Named after the south pacific nation of tonga, this dining and entertainment venue opened in 1945. San francisco, california after world war ii, american appreciation of tiki culture blossomed like a mushroom cloud over a pacific atoll. In 1929, fairmont san francisco added the indoor swimming pool, known. Tonga room offers a tropical and festive atmosphere with live entertainment, dancing and a rain storm. Tiki and dine with a side of rain at a san francisco goto since 1945 please note that tonga room will be temporarily closed through april 7, 2020. Best books set in san francisco score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Famous tiki lounges of yesterday include don the beachcomber, trader vics, the islander stockton, ca, shanghai lils chicago, mai kai ft. At each destination, enjoy free time away from your group, so you can explore at your own pace. Your health and safety, along with the wellbeing of our team, are of paramount importance to us. Stocked with breathtaking vistas, sultry fog, and a boomandbust history, it has. At some point you have to let go of the big, lavish singlescreen movie houses, the quaint shoemaker on the corner, and the tonga. San francisco s most important events have transpired at fairmont san francisco for 100 years and counting.
A list of books about the history of san francisco, its people and its landmarks. The clift hotels redwood room, which unveiled a refresh this january, has special occasion written all over it. He has lectured before many groups, including the california historical society, the san francisco museum and historical society, and the san francisco history association. The tonga room started as an indoor pool on the terrace level of the fairmount san francisco. The themed bar with a lagoon in the center of the room and periodic rain water and thunder to complete the tropical feel. To say theres history here would be an understatement. San francisco s diversity of cultures along with its eccentricities are so great that they have greatly influenced the country and. The tonga room san francisco, california atlas obscura. Yet with the rebirth of the cocktail culture, the tonga room is a history book of the tiki culture, with its mai tai served in a ceramic coconut shell and just about every drink sporting a paper. Lauderdale, the luau beverly hills and the tonga room san francisco. Skip to main content 950 mason street, san francisco, ca 94108 415 7725278. Gabrielle lurie gabrielle lurie special to the chronicle.
Best cockatail bar san francisco tonga room fairmont. Sep 08, 2009 instead, im sitting in the fairmont hotels tonga room, wondering whether its lava walls, thatched roofs and poolturnedlagoon add up to a future san francisco landmark. Open since 1945 in the fairmont hotel san francisco, you wont find anything else like it in the. September 23rd, 2015, the famous tonga room celebrated its 70th anniversary. Rallying around a tiki bar in san francisco the new york. The tonga room is a restaurant and tiki bar on the fairmont san francisco hotel. Apr 03, 2019 but san franciscans, global travelers and tiki devotees all find themselves drawn back to the tonga room, the only one of its species, for a potent dose of the past. The tonga room is still a beloved sfestablishment, faux hurricanes. Tonga cruise ship theme restaurant in 1945, and transformed into the polynesianthemed tonga room in the 1960s.
Sep 01, 2011 two of his books are local bestsellers. Yes, the sfweekly blog staffer not even sure if hes on the payroll who usually writes about sports or community events wrote a number of articles slanted heavily with his opinions about the tonga room and its impending doom. The tonga room is part of the fairmont san francisco hotel. Apr 07, 2020 950 mason street, san francisco california, united states 94108. Theres a 73yearold tiki bar hiding in this hotels basement. Famed san francisco chronicle columnist herb caen, a documented fan of tonga room, wrote in 1946, well, it finally happened. Group reservations we accept reservations for parties of 10 or more. The socalled fairmount terrace plunge was a hangout for local crowds and celebs alike from 1929 until 1945 right at the start of the tropical bar trend, when infamous mgm set decorator mel melvin was brought on to transform the pool into the. It was, in many ways, a typical saturday night at the tonga room. The band island groove playing during one of the indoor thunderstorms at the tonga room inside the fairmont hotel in san francisco. Tiki mug buying guide vintage and modern tiki cups.
The tonga room in san francisco national trust for historic. Leslie sbrocco, host of kqeds taste this, cozies up next to bartender matthew elia to learn the history of this tikithemed landmark and the cocktails associated with it at the tonga room. Anthony bourdain once described it as the greatest place in the history of the world. A world of fauxpolynesian clubs and restaurants helped create our current collective fetish for rustic island bars, carved idols and sweet drinks with umbrellas. The culture of san francisco is major and diverse in terms of arts, music, cuisine, festivals, museums, and architecture but also is influenced heavily by mexican culture due to its large hispanic population, and its history as part of spanish america and mexico. Fairmont, preservationists at odds over tonga room sfgate. California postcard 1950s cards january 1, 1950 by unnamed publisher author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. You really get a sense of san francisco history when staying in this hotel, and a visit to the tonga room is a must cons. Those joining us for dinner will be seated on a firstcome, firstserve basis based on party size. The tonga room in san francisco national trust for.
Thanks to bourdain and to a collective desire to preserve just a little more of that historical san francisco feel the tonga room should be around for years to come. Today, the tonga room is still a destination for anyone visiting or living in san francisco, who has a love for a kitchy and old fashioned type of tiki bar. The san andreas fault pictured begins to form in the mid cenozoic about 30 million years ago. The tonga room creates an atmosphere that is only enhanced by the tropical rain showers that delight restaurant guests every 30 minutes. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. He subsequently called tonga room the greatest place in the history of the world. The 7 best hotel bars in san francisco 7x7 bay area. If you drop your phone in the tonga room pool, a manager will grab this pool skimmer to fish it out. The tonga room was on the verge of extinction several years ago. Named after the south pacific nation of tonga this menu is from the late 1940s the tonga room is a historical resource menu is 11 x 8 and is in mint condition posted with ebay mobile. Jun 03, 2016 if youre going to be visiting san francisco, why not stop in at the tonga room for a quick drink. The tonga room is part of the fairmont san francisco, and it took over the ground floor swimming pool when the restaurants lagoon was built. The 26room, midrange white swan inn in san franciscos nob hill district offers a cozy and intimate atmosphere, with rooms featuring fireplaces and ample sitting areas.
The tonga room is so retro its modern inside scoop. San francisco hotels the fairmont hotel san francisco. The hotel can be very busy in peak hours, with long lines for the. Easily visit both mustsee locations on this guided tour from san francisco, which includes skiptheline access at muir woods and a hasslefree stop at the charming waterfront town. Opened in 1945, one year after the worlds first mai tai was poured in nearby oakland, ca, the 75yearold tonga room continues to pack its richly decorated interior with regulars and firsttime visitors alike. A selection of excellent novels about san francisco. A novel by ambrose bierce armistead maupin and his popular tales of the city series evolved from a mid1970s column in the san francisco chronicle and, over the next decade, attracted a loyal following. Situated in the basement of the swanky and storied fairmont hotel, the renowned restaurant and tiki bar is, for some of the citys residents, woven just as deeply into the urban fabric as cable cars and the coit tower so when mai tai fans in the bay area first got wind of the possibility of their favorite historic watering hole becoming a casualty of. It tells of the indians and the spanish missions, the arrival of thousands of gold seekers and gamblers, crackbrains and dreamers, the building of the transcontinental railroad and the cable car, labor strife and political shenanigans, the 1906 earthquake and fire, two world wars, two worlds fairs. Tonga room does not accept reservations for parties of fewer than 10 for nonfairmont hotel guests. The lava rock landmark embodies the history of tiki culture, and has inspired a burgeoning tiki revival in san francisco and beyond.
Drink, dance, listen to music and remember how fun it was, and how fun it still is. By booking with parking panda you can avoid the hassle of parking in downtown san francisco. San francisco s first glass elevator carried people to the crown room at the top. The manufacturing company also adds depth to a vintage mugs pedigree. You cant visit this place without cracking a smile. The owners of san francisco s fairmont hotel say a city reports recommendations for saving the popular tonga room as part of a major renovation clash with their proposal for.
Senator james graham fair 183194, by his daughters, theresa fair oelrichs and virginia fair vanderbilt, who built the hotel in his honor. Yet with the rebirth of the cocktail culture, the tonga room is a history book of the tiki culture, with its mai tai served in a ceramic coconut shell and just about every drink sporting a paper umbrella. San franciscos tonga room is still a tiki staple imbibe. The pool was transformed into the tonga room s lagoon. Tonga room serves exceptional pacific rim asian cuisine in a tropical setting. City of san francisco planning department called the tonga room a historical resource. Tonga room island groove band plays during thunderstorm. The tonga room at the fairmont san francisco youtube. You can visit the restaurants official website here. The hotel was the vanguard of the fairmont hotels and resorts chain. This is the story of san francisco, a unique and rowdy tale with a legendary cast of characters. It can be found in the basement floor of the upscale fairmont hotel in san francisco. This worldfamous tiki venue serves exceptional polynesianfusion, family.
We love serving you, our neighbors and our san francisco community. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Registered hotel guests may book reservations through the front desk or concierge. The house band floats on a thatchroofed boat at the.
The large basement level room started as the fairmonts swimming pool. Cocktails and the story behind san francisco s legendary tonga room duration. The cocktail lounge takes its name from the 800yearold redwood tree that panels its. A concise history and guide and historic walks in san francisco. The fairmont san francisco is an aaa fourdiamond luxury hotel at 950 mason street, atop nob hill in san francisco, california. Situated in the basement of the swanky and storied fairmont hotel, the renowned restaurant and tiki bar is, for some of the citys residents, woven just as deeply into the urban fabric as cable cars and the coit tower.
Nov 20, 2010 the tonga rooms history goes way back to the prewar era when it was the ss tonga. Yet with the rebirth of the cocktail culture, the tonga room is a history book of the tiki culture, with its mai tai served in a ceramic coconut shell. The tonga room has gone through several incarnations over the years, themed initially in 1945. Apr 06, 2016 thanks to bourdain and to a collective desire to preserve just a little more of that historical san francisco feel the tonga room should be around for years to come.
The tonga room is a great example of an old, classic polynesian restaurant. Its only 7by7 miles, making it americas tiny urban treasure. Jun 15, 2014 our lovely day in fog city continues with a stroll around north beach chinatown, then a cable car up to the fairmont for a maitaisoaked visit to the tonga room. Leslie sbrocco, host of taste this, cozies up next to bartender matthew elia to learn the history of this tikithemed landmark and the cocktails associated with itat the tonga room in san francisco. Vintage tonga room fairmont hotel nob hill san francisco. News politics election 2020 education housing immigration criminal justice california more. San franciscos tonga room is still a tiki staple imbibe magazine. Feb 12, 2015 here are some classics of san francisco history books worth a trip to green apple to find a copy. The evolution of tiki culture in san francisco fairmont. Above ground, san franciscos esteemed fairmont hotel is every bit.
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