RtS: The Fairmont Hotel

[Snowflake]

Rank the Swank - Restaurants and Bars


Overall Swank Rank

The Fairmont Hotel
950 Mason Street (top of Nob Hill)
San Francsco, CA
October 15th
http://www.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco/


The Lowdown
Afternoon Tea with the old gang of mine

Food
Decor
Service

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The Gig
Afternoon Tea

The Grub
Nob Hill Decadence Afternoon tea

The Scene
A group of former co-workers get together to dish about 4 times a year for an afternoon tea.

As a newly returned former co-worker this was my reintroduction to the annual afternoon tea dish and bitch fest. I was not dissapointed.

This was my first visit to the venerable grand dame The Farimont at the top of Nob Hill for an afternoon tea. No question, this venerable lady has one of the most spectacular lobbies in the city. It was a pleasure just to arrive and pause and await my companions in splendor. The Fairmont was completed shortly before the 1906 earthquake and the photos of the hotel perched at the top of the hill looking much like the Parthenon (while everything around it was flattened) is incredible.

I ordered the Nob Hill Decadence tea (glass of house champagne artisinal cheese plate and assortment of sandwiches, smoked salmon on pumpernickel, cucumber with goat cheese and egg salad, assortment of pastries and scones with lemon curd and devon cream)

Now, you may be thinking this sounds like a load of food. It's not, but I always walk away from a tea feeling full (must be all the tea). This was no exception. The choice of teas was, I felt, on the skimpy and unadventuress side (the Ritz offers at least a dozen, including several fruit tisanes; as does The Four Seasons) The pastries were very good, though I felt the scones were overcooked.

Service was top notch and there was a harpist playing all sorts of tunes, from classical to the odd musak kind of pop arrangements that sort of made me laugh. More at myself because I realized I could name them all.

If we go again, I might spring for the Nob Hill Deluxe tea, only because the sandwiches offered differ in that there is a dungeness crab sandwich. but it also comes with caviar, and call me a philestine, I'm just not fond of roe, of any sort.

Of the hotels in SF that serve afternoon tea, I'd rank this lower, but only because I'm probably too picky. There is always Lovejoy's tea room in Cow Hollow and The Ritz and The Palace and then there is the Top of the Mark which really is my favorite (happily, just across the street and on the menu for the Xmas tea)

[katiesue]

Sounds great, I'm totally jealous.

[Strangler Lewis]

Hotel-wise, I prefer the Ritz scene because it's well, ritzier. Tea-wise, I prefer Lovejoys. However, unless it's moved in the last six months, it's deep Noe Valley, not Cow Hollow. It's not as expensive, and I always feel pleasantly batty going there, especially as I am generally one of the few gentlemen in attendance. There's also the sister shop across the street, the downside of which is I'm the one in charge of keeping the kids from breaking things.

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Hotel-wise, I prefer the Ritz scene because it's well, ritzier. Tea-wise, I prefer Lovejoys. However, unless it's moved in the last six months, it's deep Noe Valley, not Cow Hollow. It's not as expensive, and I always feel pleasantly batty going there, especially as I am generally one of the few gentlemen in attendance. There's also the sister shop across the street, the downside of which is I'm the one in charge of keeping the kids from breaking things.

Ugh! You're right, Noe Valley....(down the pike from my favorite bakery, NOE VALLEY Bakery...duh)

I do love Lovejoy's (my boss's sister founded Lovejoy's), it's my favorite place. I loved the Ritz back east, I've not been here in years. I've always had a lovely tea at Top of the Mark (fantastic spread).

I was just doing some research and found a few other places to try, all sound very interesting.

Samovar Tea

The King George

The Secret Garden Teahouse

and in Pasadena, there is Rose Tree Cottage and The Huntington (they do a fabulous tea)

[Strangler Lewis]

I'm sure Top of the Mark does a fine tea, but the feng shui strikes me as all wrong. Afternoon tea is comforting, grounding; it should be enjoyed at ground level. Rooftop bars are for contemplation, floating away and maybe a sense of grandeur. That means alcohol.

The Huntington in Pasadena is now a Ritz Carlton. I try to stay there for court appearances when the government will pick up a chunk of the tab.

[Snowflake]

edited to delete the double posting

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

I'm sure Top of the Mark does a fine tea, but the feng shui strikes me as all wrong. Afternoon tea is comforting, grounding; it should be enjoyed at ground level. Rooftop bars are for contemplation, floating away and maybe a sense of grandeur. That means alcohol.

The Huntington in Pasadena is now a Ritz Carlton. I try to stay there for court appearances when the government will pick up a chunk of the tab.

Oh, the Top of the Mark is great. It's wonderful for Easter if you have children. I really do recommend it.

Oops, I meant The Huntington Garden/Library in Pasadena. It's great.

I just checked out Rose Tree Cottage's website and apparently, the city of Pasadena is doing some affordable housing zoning and they may raze this lovely group of cottages to build 80 condo units.....if you've not been and are heading to Pasadena soon, I say check it out (locals too)