Fairmont San Francisco

The Fairmont hotels are known for their fairly conservative, traditional bent. But that’s not necessarily a criticism. The Fairmont San Francisco, in particular, is a historic gem, one of the original Big Four luxury hotels atop Nob Hill, at the confluence of the city’s remaining cable car lines. It dates back to the days immediately following the 1906 earthquake, and it’s been a fixture ever since, a proper old-fashioned luxury hotel in a town that still knows what luxury is about.

There are flashier-looking places in this city, but few that are plusher. Here the room décor stays out of the way of the views, which, given the prime location, are rarely anything short of extraordinary, especially in the suites. Opulence is the order of the day, and the style is a distinct throwback to the golden age of travel.

As for the services and amenities, they’re every bit the picture of the modern business-luxury grand hotel — there’s a spa, a fitness center, meeting facilities you could get lost in, and a handful of swanky bars and upscale restaurants. One of these nightspots, it must be said, is perhaps the Fairmont’s secret weapon; the Tonga Room, a tiki bar complete with indoor pond and artificial rainstorms, steps well over the line into kitsch territory, but it’s a delightful sort of kitsch, and a genuinely unique experience.