Top of the Mark

Went for drinks and live music and we’re hoping to order some dessert. The place was empty! They charge a $ 10 cover per person for some 80’s cover band. Definitely not what I expected. We walked across the street and into the Laurel Court at the Fairmont Hotel. Nice piano music playing, no cover and we were able to order great drinks and dessert.

Yup, 2 stars for this icon. Why? It definitely shows it age (and not in a good vintage fashion). We waited about 5 mins for a table around 4:30 and got a pretty bad seat with limited views. I wish we had known that before we took the table. Drinks wise, I did not like my drink; too bitter and when I wanted a different glass as there was lipstick on it the server was very hesitant to replace it. This is supposed to be a luxurious, upscale place and it didn’t feel like that.
Anyways, once I got my drink in a clean glass, we were ready to order. There are over 100 drinks so I can’t remember exactly what was on the menu, but they are categorized by type: martini, mai tai, etc.
We also got the soba noodle spring rolls with peanut sauce. Those were tasty.
Service was ok; attentive but I didn’t like being in the corner. Total price for 2 drinks and an appetizer with tip was $ 60. Ouch.

I was so looking forward to meeting my friend at the Top of the Mark, a place I’ve heard of but never been to in the 60 years I’ve lived in SF. Expectations were high — an iconic place, immortalized by Alfred Hitchcock in «Vertigo». I expected elegance and a beautiful experience of sipping my cocktail with the sensational view. What I got was sipping my martini in an atmosphere that reminded me of a Ramada Inn breakfast room. The place look dated and tired and the piano music was loud with the worst selection of background music I’ve ever experienced. The martini was ok, the service was ok. On the plus side, our hostess had a charming smile and seated us promptly. I think it was the saddest place I’ve ever had a martini in.

Gorgeous view! Drinks were small (but good), and the desserts were really tasty! You are definitely paying for the view, but the view is worth it. They had a live jazz band when we went (Saturday night)

The drinks were average to undrinkable, impressive for chocolate martinis. The service was pretty much non existent, when it finally did arrive it was rude. They don’t let you take pictures of the view if it is away from your table.
You can go to a chain restaurant anywhere and have a better time. I would not go even if someone else was paying. The entire experience was unenjoyable.

Hubby and I San Francisco natives! With that said, we finally partook at the Sunday Champagne Brunch yesterday. Our reservation was for 11 am but my pregnancy brain thought it was 12. We arrived around 11:45 am and despite that (they only hold reservations for up to 30 minutes) they were able to get us a table (minus a table view but we still had an amazing view from our table). Our server was Robert who came by pretty frequently to check on us and refill our coffee, water, and OJ. Since I couldn’t have champagne, I just stuck to their OJ which was sweet and freshly squeezed. My husband said their coffee was great. I didn’t try their prime rib was it was rare, hubby had it and said it was good but a little tough. We both don’t eat lamb so we skipped that. He had the caviar and foie gras which again was excellent. We both really liked their devil eggs and beef brisket (the fat was the best part)! Dim sum looked dry but we’re also Chinese so our high standards are high! Their fruit was sweet; they had raw oysters amongst other seafood like shrimp and crab legs which my husband helped himself too. Other meats included cooked chicken and fish like salmon. Of course they also had regular breakfast items like bagels, pancakes and eggs. They also also served Canadian bacon, sausage, and ham which hubby enjoyed! Just looking at their desert table could give you diabetes but they had all different kinds of cakes and raspberry/​chocolate mousse. Honestly, their carrot cake looked dry and store bought. We opted for their raspberry mousse and sweet potato cheesecake. Cheesecake was fluffy, tasty and soft. They also have an ice cream station that served only chocolate ice cream BUT you can get it with liquor which is why I suppose is the reason why you can only get chocolate.
Including tips our bill came out to be around $ 225 for the two of us.
It seem like a lot but at $ 89 a person it’s one of the «cheaper» brunch buffets amongst the fancier hotels in San Francisco. It was definitely worth it and we’ll be back again!

3 stars for the view alone! Food pricey and tasteless for tapas! We ordered only one «Surf Flat» and the portion was literally for one small child at a ridiculous price of $ 29/​ea. Ridiculous !! Although they had live music it was sooo loud you can’t hear your own voice ! The band playing was great but the acoustics are made for a larger venue or club!!! WAY TOO LOUD! Disappointed !!

You come here for the view, the drinks and the 90 year history. Our solders going off to war came and had a drink before they left and wrote on a bottle left it at the bar for the next guy to pay it forward.

I would say this is the best place for brunch that I have ever been. The view is fantastic, on the top of San Francisco with the whole city view. The food selections are tremendous, and everything is prepared meticulously. The oyster are so fresh with best quality (way better than the 2 restaurants we just been in Monterey). The lamp chops are so tender and delicious. All the food are amazing. Even though the price is not cheap, $ 85 per person. But it do provide the best quality food and abundant selections, which are even better than some of those $$$ dinner places. And here is all you can eat with champagne and fresh squeezed OJ. What more can you ask for a brunch to start a happy and beautiful Sunday.

The food is what it is, in the context that they’re a hotel and they have to serve a varied customer bases. Tjat being said kt was good. To start I ordered the crab nachos, cheese was a bit hard but that okay. Next I ordered sliders 3: kobe beef, crab, and falafel, it came with chips which were good but a bit oily. The cocktails were good. Manhattan, mojito and their la Miami drink.
But most importantly the view that is offered by this dining room is un matched. You could not find a better spot to share time with friends. It is the factor that draws the crowd. Also I need mention the server Jillian was very nice and professional. To her admiration she had been working there for over 10 years. Also with live music it makes for a great way to dinner on himp day.

We went to Sunday brunch last week,
The ambience was great, as well as the views and live music, but looks like there’s been a turn to the worse in terms of food.
First, there was no salmon caviar (no sturgeon caviar is ok but salmon should be present at a brunch of this class). Second, crab legs were, well, tasteless, as if not quite fresh (frozen more than once).
And where the event definitely lacked was people’s attire.
Come on, folks, you don’t just happen to get hungry when close to Top of the Mark, you come there on purpose, mostly for the ambience! Then put on your Sunday best!
White table linen, numerous flatware –they contribute to the fine dining experience, but they way you dress contributes too!
I think. The restaurant should be more strict with «smart casual» dress code –no torn jeans, sneakers, baseball hats and jersey bottoms, please!

A must stop for tourists. Great views of the city and wonderful service. I recommend the Garlic Rock Shrimp flat bread + a local Anchor Steam.

You need a fancy place to chill with friends, date night, drink and dance the night away?
I definitely love this place! From the hotel to the Top of the Mark, ambience is on point! Plus the view of the city? I mean, how romantic and special can this place be?
Friday and Saturday they have live bands. Cover charge is $ 10 pp. No reservations needed, first come first serve.
They have a good space for the dance floor and I love that there is a variety of different ages.
Drinks– hmm careful I ordered a lychee martini and it was a bit too strong for me. Ordered a sex on the beach and that was good. Sweet just like me! Hahah!
Can’t wait to go back to this place and dance the night away…

Best view in the city w/​drinks + good food.
We came on a Saturday night at 6pm, 30 minute wait for a table. We had the veggie sampler plate, it was good and worth it. Dessert was not so good, like cake that was just taken out of the fridge :(
A definite must for locals and visitors alike. Plan for 1.5 hours +/-

great place to chill in sf.
Atmosphere, view, server, food. all great.
a little too loud, less refined interior compared to the westin bonaventure skylounge in LA though.
Lucky day! I didn’t see any fog.

The guy and I dropped by Top of the Mark prior to dinner in the area, and I’m baffled that our experience wasn’t as fabulous as many other Unilocalers seem to have had.
THE OVERVIEW.
— You pack into the narrow elevators after passing through the gorgeous lobby
— You can either opt to be herded into the long line of people waiting for a window seat, or be seated elsewhere without a wait
— The drink menu is extensive, but the cocktails are poorly executed and expensive
The appeal here seems to be primarily the view and nothing more. Don’t get me wrong, the view is fantastic, but I’m not eager to wait an hour+ to sit next to a window.

«I can’t go to the bar at the Top of the Mark, but there are plenty of street level bars in this town.»
Scottie Ferguson, VERTIGO.
I tried to get to visit this bar for many years, but each time I visited it was closed for a private function.
Years later, and after many failed attempts, I finally got to ride the elevator to the 19^th floor!
The décor was a little disappointing, (it made me think of an upscale Denny’s) but the 360-​degree views of the city were spectacular.
They had music playing that was kind of pleasant but forgettable .
Drinks were expensive and tasted fine.
Our server was extremely slow. So slow that I went directly to the bar to order our second round of drinks.
It was getting near the closing time and things were pretty mellow at the top.
I was getting a little tipsy and decided to take photos from every angle the bar had to offer.
I politely asked other quests if they minded that I take photos, and they obliged me.
I’m a sucker for bars with views and this one didn’t disappoint.
Would I come back? Sure, if it was on your tab.

My first time at this amazing spot! The views are incredible and the ambiance and food are a perfect match…
This was a perfect spot for a Sunday buffet brunch and the options and quality were incredible. Some of my favorite items were the dim sum, roast beef, which was tender and perfectly seasoned, a great omelet station and some of the best waffles I’ve ever had (while I usually don’t get excited about waffles, the batter here was amazing!).
This is a perfect spot to splurge or to celebrate a special occasion. The bottomless sparkling wine/​mimosas were also very good. This is nice place so dress appropriately… I saw a handful of people in t-​shirts and sneakers and I was embarrassed for them.

I would most definitely have to say that Top of the Mark is top of the line.
This 4 star InterContinental Hotel rests on the peak of Nob Hill across the street from the Grace Cathedral. The entrance to this hotel is grandly adorned and
decorated. It looks as if you are entering a French Château of some sort. I even felt like royalty as I passed through the revolving doors.
The foyer was amazing. Marble floors glistening, deep mahogany wood counters polished to a shine, and elegant furniture delicately placed for guests to rest or chat with friends and loved ones.
I asked one of the attendants which floor was the Top of the Mark located at. He smiled and advised me
that it was on the 19^th floor and that I should return later in the week because they would have a piano player and live band for dancing. He assured me that I would have a great time.
I stepped into the cute little elevator and whizzed to the top floor. As I exited the elevator, a large window to the right of me displayed the Financial District. The Transamerica building stood out magnificently in this
striking view. To the left of me, attendants asked how many were in our party and then immediately lead us to our seats.
Large open windows allowed us to see all of San
Francisco’s iconic structures; the Sutro Tower, on towards Twin peaks, Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, and onward towards the bay waters. The sun was beginning to sink behind the mountains which set the stage for the perfect twilight ambiance.
Our server greeted us and asked what we would like to drink. I went for the Lychee Martini. The martinis here are a little stiff so be careful when ordering.
Their menu hosts a variety of options including vegetarian and gluten free dishes.
I decided to go with some of the classics such as the
charcuterie board and Kobe Beef sliders. The charcuterie consisted of pickled red and pearl onions, cornichons, mustard seed spread, chicken pâté, various cuts of meat,
along with a bread basket. This was one of my favorite dishes because every flavor was perfectly balanced by the other accompaniments on the plate.
The Kobe Beef Sliders were presented tastefully. The bread was soft and slightly sweet, the bacon tomato jam gave a smoky flavor that went well with the medium rare Kobe beef. The white cheddar gave just enough punch to
give the slider a well-​rounded feel. Truly an appetizing dish.
I felt like getting a little fancy, so I order the 1 ounce Trout Caviar. When this delicious delicacy arrived, I was extremely excited. It consisted of small pearl trout caviar, chives, hard cooked egg, crème fraiche, diced red onions, and warm, freshly made blinis. I enjoyed every single bite. I love the fact that the blinis that were served alongside this dish were plentiful. Oftentimes, I don’t have enough blinis to finish the dish at other restaurants.
We also ordered the tacos. Three tacos came in one order served in traditional style corn tortillas. The first being black bean, avocado, pico de gallo, and queso fresco. This taco wasn’t as flavorful as the other two, but still tasty.
The second was my favorite of the three, which was the chorizo, lime, cilantro crème, with shaved radish. The combination of ingredients here left my palate satisfied.
The third taco was the garlic rock shrimp with
Cajun slaw. The garlic was not as pronounced in this taco, but I still enjoyed the freshness of the shrimp.
We decided to try the tuna poke and then our server suggested we try the Dungeness crab bites as well. The tuna poke was served on wonton chips with seaweed
salad and sesame dressing. The poke was extremely fresh and wonton chips were crisp. The sesame dressing with its slight sweetness, gave some pizazz
to this dish. Perfect little bite.
The Dungeness crab cakes were served with a Cajun Remoulade, Spring tender lettuce, and heirloom cherry tomatoes. These babies had tons of crab in every bite. They don’t skimp!
After alllllll that, I was pretty stuffed and satisfied.
I watched the sunset and toasted to a relaxing time at Top of the Mark.
This place has STUNNING views of the city and is a must visit for anyone looking to have a good time. You can seek the best views of SF icons here.
Service was satisfactory and the food was served quickly. I will return soon as the attendant has suggested for the dancing with dinner; Thursday (piano player), and Friday, Saturday, Sunday (live band).
4.75 StARz!

Classy, romantic little place. The drinks were great and the views, amazing.
There was live music when I went and although a little loud, was pretty good.
Would definitely be back soon :)

We came here on a Sat night for the view and the music. There is a $ 7.00 per person cover charge after 8:30pm and we arrived around 9pm. We were seated in a corner behind the bar so no view of the band. Surprised when the waiter said the kitchen is closing so if you want anything from there order quickly. We quickly got a desert which was just eh and overpriced as were the drinks but I guess to be expected. It was a nice experience but I wouldn’t run back here.

The overpriced food and drinks are worth it for the view. This is the best place to take a tourist, in my opinion.

Came here for the (pricey — $ 90 per person) Sunday brunch — it was a phenomenal experience.
As soon as we were seated our kind server, Michael, came over to fill our glasses with champagne, water and orange juice respectively. Tea and coffee were promptly offered as well. Our glasses were never empty the entire time we were there.
The food selection is incredible, you’ve got your typical breakfast items like eggs, french toast, omelet bar and such, but then you also have all sorts of fun things like fresh salads, meat dishes, crab legs, shrimp cocktail, caviar and a full dessert table with all sorts of cakes and treats. There’s an ice cream Sundae bar as well. ;)
The live piano player was elegant touch. It was a clear day and the view was unbelievable, probably one of the best in SF.
Well done on the attentive, kind and generous service. Food quality isn’t 5 star per say but it is a brunch buffet after all and there were so many fresh delicious offerings that there’s no complaints. And of course it’s all you can eat so indulge. Well worth it, I’ve recommended it to all my friends already!

Well… this has got to be the most gorgeous view of San Francisco I have ever seen.
I love SF and was pleasantly satisfied after visiting Top of the Mark.
I didn’t order any food, just drinks. I found the view the #1 reason to come here. If you can land a window seat, do so.
The drinks were good and the service was friendly, but it took a long time to GET THE DRINKS. It has a very dark ambiance. I would imagine so since their view is their main selling point. The drinks were fairly pricey but what’s the harm in getting a drink or two and taking in the beautiful view!
I’m glad I put this location on my list of places to see. I would go back if I visited SF again, with someone who hasn’t been, otherwise I could do without. So if you’re headed to
SF and have never been here… put it on your list!

Beautiful views and 100 yummy Martinis to choose from. I would recommend coming here during the day you can see a lot of San Francisco on a clear day.

Overall four stars, however, I’m taking back one star today because they let the desserts run down. Even when I asked two staff to restock the desserts, they still did not.
The hosts and hostess we’re very welcoming as usual. Our waiter was exceptional. Everyone was in a festive mood. Lovely ambience.

Gorgeous views. Phenomenal cocktails. Impeccable service. This sums up Top of the Mark. I’d highly suggest making reservations, but we were able to walk in and only have a 20 min wait for 3 on a Friday night around 630.
Note: They do charge an «entertainment charge» of about $ 10 after 830p. If you don’t want to pay this (and I wouldn’t want to pay that lol) I’d suggest getting there early.
We only ordered a round of drinks and one appetizers (the chips — they were good), so I wasn’t able to really review the food. However, the menu does list items as «tapas» but the prices are more in line with entrees. A friend I went with had been there before and said the food «definitely wasn’t tapas» so keep that in mind when ordering.
Drinks:
I ordered a «martinez» and it was awesome. My friends ordered 2 of the featured holiday cocktails and both were pleased. No complaints with the drinks.
Service:
The service was phenomenal. Our server (forgot his name) was friendly, knowledgeable, and added to the experience of being there.
Views: The views are really the showstopper at the restaurant. We came on a clear night and were able to see how beautiful the SF skyline is. I’d love to come here during a beautiful day and take in the views during daylight.
In short, this is a MUST-​SEE spot if you’re in the city since you get to experience views, great service and awesome drinks. I’d gladly make this a stop each time I’m in the city. Next time I need to try the food so I can give a full review.

I love coming here, and this time there was a live band. They were pretty good playing holiday music and some other classy jams. The audio system failed a couple times :/
My opinion is they are reasonably priced for a nice top of the city venue. The food is good, not totally great. The salmon mousse on the Surf platter was inedible it was so thick and creamy. Everything else was great. They serve portions that are just right for accompanying a drink or two… Or three ;)

The host, who was very nice otherwise, forgot to put our name down for a table, so we waited even longer than we would have.
Fridays and Saturdays come with a cover fee of $ 10 – 15 after 830 or 9 or so.
You’re not guaranteed to have a seat next to the windows – not by a long shot.
Hotel guests don’t get any sort of priority, which sucks if you’re a hotel guest.
Service was so slow that a kind waiter from another section of the bar took pity on us and took our order. Our drinks still haven’t arrived…

Oh the people watching here was epically amazing ! I spotted Cher, Madonna, Tina Tuner and the lady who killed Selena look a likes.
The live band was pretty good but I was not a fan of a 15 cover to listen to music for less than 2 hours .
On the plus side the the drinks (each ringing in at 14.00 or more each) were potent and well made.
As others have stated you are paying for the view (and the people watching)
The tab was covered by our gracious host but even for a hotel bar in San Francisco this place is overhyped and over priced.

It’s all about that view.
It’s pretty spectacular, alright.
But I’m confident that that’s really the only reason to come here.
Please, if you’re on a date, you should absolutely come by & take it all in. Sit by the window for prime optimum effect. Order a cocktail, sip, & wallow in the magnificent city that is San Francisco.
At least once.
I’d say the view is definitely worth at least that.
And believe me, it will be a pricey indulgence.
But life is worth that too, right?
Service can be horrendously slow. It’s a good thing there’s so much fabulousness to look at.
2 stars.

We came here 2 nights in a row since we were staying at the Mark Hopkins. The service was just too slow to give this place more than 3 stars. Of course the views are great and the food was pretty good, but our server was very aloof and I noticed at least 2 other tables trying to wave their servers down as well.
Oh yeah, the first night we were told there was a 20 minute wait, but that we could go back down to our room and they would text us when a table was ready. After 40 minutes we hadn’t heard anything so we went back up to see what was going on, and the hostess claimed that she texted me a long time ago (which she didn’t). Someone who appeared to be a manager then sat us right away. Meh.
Overall, I’d stop in here to take in the views and grab a drink, but don’t try to order a second round or else you’ll be waiting a while.

I can’t remember a more beautiful morning view of the City.
The early fog was rolling away and all that glorious natural light shone through the giant windows. It was late April and music filled the air as the pianist serenaded the guests for brunch. We were with a group of family and friends to celebrate the first birthday of a very special little girl. Let’s be honest, she could care less where her party was so this was really a treat for the adults. The spread was lovely and I still daydream about the lox with cream cheese. Though I might not come back again, I’m just glad to have had the experience!

We had horrible service and the food that we ordered came out completely cold. When we sent the food back, the same exact food platters were returned… Meaning that they were to cheap to give us a new FRESH order (keep in mind they’re price range is $$$)
Just simply «popping» food in the microwave/​conventional oven is not acceptable for the $ we are paying… Completely disappointed.

I came to San Francisco on a Business trip and I didn’t have too much time left for tourism. I asked a local of a good place where I could get a drink and a great view and she recommended this place.
Awesome view! Awesome drinks! Check the pictures!
Once we were upstairs we received an outstanding service. Unfortunately we got there exactly at 4:30 pm when the bar opens and we had technical issues. We waited more than 20 minutes and fought with a couple of other customers for the elevators… I’d say it was worth it but it could’ve been smoother.
One person was not allowed into the bar because she was wearing shorts, but there was a very clear sign at the first floor that defined dress code for the place.
It seems like San Francisco has a lot to offer but I would definitely take somebody here when I come back!

Top of the Mark is located inside the historic Mark Hopkins Hotel. It boasts gorgeous 360 degree views of the city and has over 100 different Martini’s. The space is beautiful, but a warning that it is very old. Also the martini list is crazy extensive, most of which are not actual martini’s but other drinks made into martini’s. In this day and age millennials don’t want to look through a book to find out what’s good. Maybe scale down and focus on quality more?
Overall a great place to grab a drink on a hotel bar crawl or to soak up the views.

The views are of course breathtaking here. Regardless if the skies are dark and ominous or clear and sunny, San Francisco is a beautiful site from up there.
However, the drinks and dessert (which is what brought us here) were exceptionally priced for fairly mediocre flavor. The desserts are each $ 11. The 10-​layer chocolate cake is a large portion and can be easily shared. The «cake» is layered crêpe with chocolate ganache atop chocolate sauce. Each of the 3 petit fours are topped with a shortbread cookie with hardened Carmel sugar and a fresh raspberry. The dessert was overwhelming with lots of layers that didn’t quite connect and were rather clunky. The cherry trifle was rather small (unlike the chocolate cake), but more balanced. The cherries were sweet and slightly tart, but the consistency was borderline gelatinous. The cake/​cookie layers were very nice and balanced the fruit.

An elegant classic intimate dance room (for slightly older more established people but definitely any couple who loves ball room dancing, salsa, swing… The dancing scene is intimate and unforgettable with soothing melody from live bands. Though this place is popular with tourists from afar (especially Asian countries where people want to get a glimpse of traditional western lifestyles), but it’s no place for young clubbers. An extensive margarita cocktail menu, from traditional to fruity to bubbly and stern. Folks are nice and friendly. Wait happens at times, but never too long. It’s a place where you can occasionally feel too young to be here but also at times inspired by the old traditional beautiful love around you. Definitely great for younger old souls.
Depends on Karl the Fog’s mood, you may get stunning breath taking 360 view of the city or the skyline in dense mysterious fog.
Great for visitors from out of town.
Located in the traditional landmark hotel on top of San Francisco’s formidable historic hills

I finally came back and the experience was the same but with more of a heavy crowd. Lots of people dining and drinking. Luckily my friend and I sat at the bar!
The service is still a bit stuck up as usual. I didn’t appreciate our bartenders attitude (Arman). He was a bit rude with his comments towards us. I think it’s because we were the youngest inside and that we weren’t ‘hotel guests’. I thought he needed to clean up his act and focus more on doing the drinks right. I noticed him splashing around the drinks while stirring and letting ice cubes fall off a few glasses.
They don’t allow any sort of hat here so make sure to come clean. They made me remove my fedora (thought my hat was appropriate).
* Cocktails are $ 14, Beers are about $ 8