Fairmont San Francisco

With its commanding position at the top of Nob Hill, at the confluence of San Francisco’s legendary cable car lines, the Fairmont offers extraordinary views of the city and bay area. But it's inside that truly triumphs, showcased firstly in the lavish lobby, a foretaste of the grandeur to come. An enormous vaulted ceiling, frescoes, marble features and gold-gilded edges dwarf the centre's plush velvet sofas; it's a stunning introduction to the 606 rooms and suites that feature flatscreen TVs, luxury linens, pillow-top beds and marble baths. The most spectacular vistas undoubtedly lie in the contemporary Tower rooms, with unparalleled views of Alcatraz and both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridge, while the suites particularly impress with a telescope to explore the panorama. Back in the main building, suites have their own sprawling balcony with a wonderful view of the city, while grey and marble bathrooms cement the sense of luxury.

The hotel's crowning glory is easily the unexpected joys of Tonga – a sprawling Tiki Bar and restaurant on the bottom floor, a wonderful paradox to the rest of the hotel's understated opulence. Tropical palm trees line a shimmering blue pool that serves as the centrepiece, complete with gentle rainstorms every half hour and a live band. Expect delights such as ahi tuna tacos, coconut prawns and potstickers (dumplings), and their signature Mai Tai cocktail. For something more refined, head to the Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar for fresh seafood from San Francisco Bay or Caffé Cento, one of the country’s best hotel coffee bars, serving Ghirardelli chocolates and a selection of pastries, breakfast and lunch items. Be sure to enjoy a pre-dinner drink on the outdoor patio, where palm trees and fountains are the backdrop year-round, enjoyed with open outdoor firepits, blankets and a bottle of wine. 

Guests can enjoy one of San Francisco’s best health clubs on the Terrace Level and a full-service spa with a range of massages and beauty treatments. There's even a rooftop culinary garden, with fresh herbs and four nascent beehives that provide honey for the hotel's restaurants and its signature craft beer. Explore the surrounds with bike rental stations, with the Cable Car Museum, Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf and the eight hairpin turns of Lombard Street, the ‘crookedest street in the world’, just moments away.