Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar

8/4/2016

Had no idea this mind-blowing experience existed in SF, within the bowels of The Fairmont, no less.

Expect all kinds of silly-happy-cheesy. If older couples (and some hesitant younger couples) merrily dancing to the cover band's rendition of "September" (Earth, Wind, & Fire) or "All Night Long" (Lionel Richie) doesn't warm your heart, you're a fucking vampire, begone upside down to your coffin.

Decent margarita.

8/4/2016

It was as campy and extravagant as I imagined. I was trying to coordinate a large group on a Saturday so I was worried we would be turned away. We lucked out and got there before the large crowds, around 8pm, when the band started, and we were able to stand around the bar just fine. Drinks are expensive but well-mixed and strong.

Some helpful tips:
- Band starts at 8pm. If you just want to stand by the bar, there's no cover. If you want a table, there's a $10 cover after 8pm.
- Sharing a scorpion bowl,or any bowl, is more cost effective with one other person, if you're planning on drinking several.
-My coworkers were able to find parking, but it is not easy. There's basically no easy way to get up the giant hill ,except the trolley. It's overpriced, but a nice tourist attraction. If you're taking public transit, be prepared to use those calf muscles and stop after each block to catch your breath.

I'd like to come back here with my grandparents and try some of the food. I think it's a pretty fun environment for most ages, since it's such a novelty spot.

7/4/2016

I felt a little out of place at this tourist hangout but Tonga Room turned out to be surprisingly fun. There was a live band on the boat in the middle of the "pond" playing great music. People of all ages were enjoying their evening on the dance floor. Even though the artificial rain is cheesy, I still loved it. The thunder and lightening were a nice touch as well.

We didn't try the food and only had drinks. Since this is a tiki bar, I decided to go with the pina colada. It felt so tropical with a slice of pineapple and a paper umbrella. I had a wonderful time on a weeknight evening.

4/4/2016

Maybe the dumbest place on earth, and f**ka I love it!

THE TONGA ROOM & HURRICANE BAR!

"If you have no love in your heart for this place you are a sick twisted lonely f*ck with too many cats." - Anthony Bourdain (on the Tonga Room episode of The Layover)

Hmm, okay! Back in the day I lived on "upper" Nob Hill with my ex-wife, well we were married then, and we have lots of fond memories of our old neighborhood, including me passing by the Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar almost daily, but never going in. I mean c'mon now, I'm part Hawaiian, I was born in the Pacific, and wouldn't this excessively gaudy & cheesy place just offend someone like me? And yes, I also dig Anthony Bourdain...

On proper tiki bar etiquette: "You don't drink, like, scotch on the rocks here, man. It's girly drinks with umbrellas and sh*t, and you drink them proud." - Anthony Bourdain

Why to my surprise my ex-wife held a surprise birthday for me here! Of course, I would have chosen elsewhere, but let's toss all those stereotypes and reruns of Gilligan's Island in the bamboo toilet and give it a whirl! I mean the worse scenario would be kissing a tiki, right? Unless my ex was being vindictive?! Oh boy, what a f**k'n night!!

THE TONGA ROOM & HURRICANE BAR!

This retro-glowing-bar is located in the very ritzy Fairmont Hotel on the top of Nob Hill. Upon entering you will get hit, like a tsunami, with that contagious island fever, hey in a hella good way, brah! You feel that island jive! Fishermen's glass globes hanging from the ceiling, between the fishing nets, ferns, and other South Pacific decor! Of course faux tiki, hula girls, and glowing fires everywhere! Hey, maybe I should scope-out for Ginger & Mary Ann! Oh baby!

The decor seems gaudy, but actually quite historic, having been originally built in 1945 by a set designer from MGM Studios. The star of the restaurant is the aquamarine lagoon, installed even earlier in 1929, as the "Fairmont Plunge" and popular with celebrities of the day. There is no swimming in the lagoon today, but instead a live band on a floating platform. And O M G even hourly tropical storms! Yup, you had to be there! Now realize you're witnessing this while sipping signature umbrella drinks - vintage strong! Some island-style pupus, and a surprise ice-cream birthday dessert thingie, too! So after a few...

"This place is completely, completely awesome!" - Anthony Bourdain (on the Tonga Room episode of The Layover)

The night came, the night went. My third pineapple tasted way better than the first. The live music was Grammy Award worthy, well really Gramma, but who really cares with long straws dangling from our lips. Matching heather gray shirts to be proud of, and certainly no God Complex here, you dig?!

So after a few more...

"This is like, the greatest place in the history of the world." - Anthony Bourdain (on the Tonga Room episode of The Layover)

Well maybe not, but it sure brings a smile to us adults tired of Disneyland & Chuck E. Cheese. It really makes you feel alive, so in a way, this is nearly the greatest place to be! ;)

THE TONGA ROOM & HURRICANE BAR!

"With my sunglasses on, I'm Jack Nicholson. Without them, I'm hella fat..." - Jack Nicholson

Haha I love Jack too! Happy Birthday to me! And I love my ex-wife too, who btw, even though we went our separate ways, still knows how to put a smile on my face. No, silly... Tiki drinks! I am so glad I dived-in and will always hold her dear to my heart. Hey, we only live once in this lifetime, right?!

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  Hanging with the ex... Hey, it's okay, it was my birthday, and several pineapples later...

  Hanging with the ex... Hey, it's okay, it was my birthday, and several pineapples later...

4/4/2016

This place is a blast. Try the following mindset prior to entering:

"I'm in San Francisco, a modern city filled with amazing musicians and artists alike. Now I am entering some sort of  Disney - Hawaii vacation-like alternate universe."

It's fun. The drinks are tasty. The live music is free! and great. There's a dance floor. Where else can this be found in SF?! No where I tell you!!!

1 - 1.5 hours is probably enough time to spend having a drink and getting your dance on before heading home or going to the next spot for the evening.

5/4/2016

My boyfriend surprised me here on one of our dinner dates.
This place is located inside the beautiful upscale and classy Fairmont Hotel. Everything from the architecture to the bathrooms in this hotel is elegant.

--Okay so moving on to the actual restaurant bar itself...Love love love the atmosphere here! The live band was playing great oldies music and the coolest part was that they were floating on the water! Every few minutes a "rainstorm" effect would come on. The vibes definitely made me feel like I was somewhere tropical. The crowd seems to be in the mid 30s+ considering we were probably the youngest couple there aside from the families.

Food and drinks are "Hawaiian/asian" themed. Not much to choose from and sorta pricey. Can't complain, you're inside a pricey historic hotel.

Would definitely come back here for the vibes to dance and drink ;)

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  Awesome live band playing the classics

  Awesome live band playing the classics

8/4/2016

One of my favorite places to visit. The history behind this place is amazing.  For tourists this place is a must, as well as for locals. Make a reservation!!! The deinks are really good. For food, I ate the platter and something with chicken cor the entrée. Spend a extra 10 dollars for the seasoned rice with coconut.  Look for street parking, local garages are expensive ($30 for 3 hours!?).  The water fountain in the Nobhill park is great for photos.

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  Nice view

  Nice view
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  Awesome

  Awesome
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  Great food

  Great food
• See all photos from Francisco F. for Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar

29/3/2016

Oh the TONGA ROOM. Where do I even begin with you? You're so unsuspecting... living inside the gorgeous, iconic Fairmont Hotel. You wouldn't think kitschy, tiki bar would be inside the Fairmont.. but oh, it is. It's like you're transformed to a tropical paradise with a pool and a boat floating around. Sometime, the boat will move around. Sometimes, there will be live music on the boat. WHAT? I know, it's crazy. Then, every hour or so, you'll hear lightning, thunder, and rain. Not actual rain, but just water coming from the top into the pool. (I'm trying my best to describe it here..).

Anyway, it's a nice tourist spot to visit.. but definitely not a place for me to go on the regular. Not only is it not close to BART and up a huge hill, but also the drinks are also expensive... too expensive. I can get my piña coladas a lot cheaper elsewhere. Also, get ready to wait if you want to sit a table. They were able to let us in if we stood, but I hear sometimes there's even a line for that too!  

(19/100)

11/2/2016

Loved it, loved it and loved it!
Unique and amazing interiors and experience. Live music. Casual and loud - so me!

Loved the cocktails especially my Zombie!
You HAVE TO reserve way early. It's always full.
They don't take reservations before 7 though. You can walk in; although there is usually a 1/2hr wait.

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• See all photos from Sowmya S. for Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar

15/2/2016

Anthony Bourdain approved, so we had to check it out!

What an awesome place! A live band was playing amongst an indoor tropical storm while we sipped mai tais and ate delicious Asian/Hawaiian inspired food. We asked for the drink that came in a skull, like the one we saw on The Layover and our waitress laughed and said that everyone asks for that, yet they don't serve that type of drink! No problem, we enjoyed the Lava Bowl and other delicious concoctions.

The location is a little difficult to find, it's literally in the underbelly of the hotel, but the ambiance and service is definitely worth experiencing!

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  Dranks!

  Dranks!
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  Tonga's Baby Back Pork Ribs, Small Lava Bowl & Shiitake Egg Rolls

  Tonga's Baby Back Pork Ribs, Small Lava Bowl & Shiitake Egg Rolls

26/1/2016

Seriously such a cool spot. Highly recommend this place for a fun night out!

I had been wanting to come here for awhile now and finally got around to it. We came here on the Sunday night before MLK day and it was bumpin'. SO many people. We wanted to get a table but we also wanted to be in the fun part of the bar so we decided to just walk in and wait for a spot at the bar, which we luckily found after about 5 minutes of hovering.

There was live music when we came, which I am pretty sure they have every night of the week (besides Mondays and Tuesdays when they're closed). The band sits in a little hut in the middle of the pool (that's right, there's a pool in this place!). Extremely Instagram worthy I would say.

The bartenders were all super friendly too. They helped us when we had no idea what to order.

DRINKS:
PINEAPPLE ROYALE ($13) - insanely delicious! I ordered the cheaper version of the drink, which comes in a ceramic pineapple vs. a real pineapple ($24). Perfect mix of pineapple, rum, and brandy. I would 100% order this drink again and again
SCORPION BOWL ($20 for 2 people) - love how this drink is served...in one big bowl with multiple long straws.
SMUGGLER'S GOLDEN PUNCH BOWL ($22 for 2 people) - tasted like a moscow mule but with rum...it was amazing. I liked it better than the scorpion bowl. so much happiness

FOOD:
EDAMAME - Can't go wrong...always a great snack.
SLIDERS - so yummy! perfect amount when we weren't too hungry and needed some light bites

VIBES:
After we finished our (many) drinks, we headed to the dance floor. I felt like I was at a wedding/bar mitzvah. It was a hilarious group of people...most of which were on the older side (probably because this restaurant is in a hotel) but regardless we had so much fun!

Head to Tonga Room ASAP. You will not be disappointed.

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  Pineapple Royale and The Hurricane

  Pineapple Royale and The Hurricane

5/4/2016

Had heard about this place on the Travel Channel's - 'Anthony Bourdain's-'The Layover-San Francisco' and hiked up Powell Street from Union Square to the posh Nob Hill neighborhood to check out this historic hotel, and home to the infamous Tonga Room: Hawaiian Restaurant and Bar.
To give just a little backstory on the history of this amazing building I was interested in its original owners the Fair sisters, who have a Rhode Island connection where I live. (See this info later in the review.)
The Tonga Room is located in the hotel's basement, or what they call the 'Terrace Level.' The 75-foot pool was added in 1929 and dubbed the Fairmont Terrace Plunge. In 1945 the hotel hired well-known Metro Goldwyn Mayer's set designer Mel Melvin to create a tiki-style themed experience. It does not disappoint. The pool is surrounded by bamboo railings and Tiki tables and kitschy art work and accents. You feel like you're in a 1950's Hawaiian bar....  or quite possibly on the set of Gilligan's Island. Riggings on the perimeter of the dance floor create the feeling of being on a schooner, and apparently the dance floor was constructed of wood from the S.S. Forester, a schooner that once sailed back and forth between San Francisco and Hawaii. Every half hour or so rain falls from the ceiling creating a humid air reminiscent of the South Pacific.  Thunder erupts from somewhere in the corner of the room. It's just plain fun!
The band, the Island Groove Band that I saw on Friday night are really entertaining. They perform on a slowly floating barge in the middle of the pool. Playing everything from 1970's Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Lookin' Out my Back Door,' to 1985's hit 'Kyrie, 'Lionel Richie's classic 'All Night Long' to the more contemporary Michael Buble's 'Sway.'Giving waves and shout outs to the many tourists and locals alike throughout the sets, they're the perfect band for this setting.
A fruity Scorpian or Lava bowl is a must if you're going to really take the plunge. Not cheap, but well worth the experience. The glass wear is of course voodoo themed & coconut shaped and 1950's style glasswear, just classic! We did not eat here, but there was a wait for dining and there seemed to be numerous couples, and larger parties dining there. One was a large group with a couple celebrating their 50th anniversary. Though they had mentioned a $10 dollar cover we decided to wait for a table at no charge and then somehow they said just told us to head into the bar at no cost. Dress code seems to be dressy casual. After all, this is the Fairmont. The Venetian Room right upstairs is most famous as the place in which Tony Bennett first sang 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco.'
Speaking of the Fairmont, let's get back to the history of this amazing property. Built in 1902 by female architect Julia Morgan, the first female graduate of Paris's  E'Cole Des Beaux Arts the lobby of this property is on par with architecture in Europe.  According to the Fairmont's web site. ...'It was already completed, and the interior furnishings had been delivered and were awaiting their various places in this Palace on Nob Hill. The hotel had just been sold on April 6th, less than two weeks before the conflagration that was to all but level the City. The story however, goes back earlier than that. Tessie and Virginia Fair were the daughters of James Graham Fair, one of San Francisco's wealthiest citizens. 'Bonanza Jim' had struck it rich in a Nevada Silver mine, and his daughters were determined to construct a grand monument to their father, who had passed away in 1894. In 1902, construction began on The Fairmont Hotel, but by 1906, it had become too much of a burden for the Fair sisters, and they sold it to the Law brothers, Herbert and Hartland, in exchange for two existing office buildings at Mission and New Montgomery streets. How could anyone know that the 'great San Francisco fire,' as locals referred to the disaster of the earthquake and what followed, was just days away.' While the Fairmont was shaken by the great quake, it faired better than much of SF that was devastated by fire. The sisters not only honored their father with the flagship for the Fairmont properties 'FairMont' atop this most scenic hill in SF, they also took some of his fortune and built Rosecliff Mansion built by McKim, Mead and White on Bellevue Avenue in Newport, RI.  Both were prominent society members on Bellevue Avenue. They both married well to New York society members Hermann Oelrich's,  and William Vanderbilt III. Oelrich of steamship fortune, and Vanderbilt heir to Steamship and Railroad fortunes.
If you like history and Scorpion bowls in an interesting setting, don't miss the Tonga Room!
History pulled from of the Fairmont Hotel web site & Wikipedia.

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  Virginia Fair, socialite, builder of the Fairmont and summer resident of Rosecliff Mansion, Bellevue Avenue Newport, Rhode Island.

  Virginia Fair, socialite, builder of the Fairmont and summer resident of Rosecliff Mansion, Bellevue Avenue Newport, Rhode Island.
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  Early days in the Tonga. Is that JFK at the bar?

  Early days in the Tonga. Is that JFK at the bar?
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  Virginia Fair 'swimming' at Bailey's Beach Newport, RI.

  Virginia Fair 'swimming' at Bailey's Beach Newport, RI.
• See all photos from M D. for Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar

20/11/2015

This place gets a 5/5 for its atmosphere! It's inside the Fairmont Hotel. There's a beautiful lake in the middle of the restaurant and you are seated around it. There is a band that floats on a boat and sings/plays music while you eat. The music was too loud so it became difficult to hear the people around you/speak. Because there was a band playing while we ate, we had to pay a $5-7 surcharge (I can't remember the exact number) for it. This was automatically added onto our check per person. During our meal, there was fake rain that started falling alongside the lake which was pretty cool. It really felt like we were eating in a tiki hut right by the water, enjoying some nice music in the rain.

I got the kahlua pork and mm, the sauces that came with it were good! Can't really remember much from my dining experience foodwise, but it was overall a unique dining experience :)

There were a lot of random fees on our receipt that we didn't really expect. Like for example, I think they charged for alcohol..or idk..the way the receipt was formatted was so confusing.

30/1/2016

I will say that parking for this place on a rainy Friday was an absolute nightmare. We ended up parking on Vallejo on the other side of Chinatown and just walked it. This has nothing to do with the Tonga Room itself and won't affect it's star rating.

You walk into this beautiful hotel from the California Street side to get to Tonga, (though I highly encourage you to look at the lobby before heading home if you just came here for the Tonga Room, photo attached). If you REALLY want to enjoy the Tonga Room, MAKE A RESERVATION! So many of the low ratings on here are because people have had to stand in line just to stand at the bar.

I made my reservation a week prior on Open Table and requested a spot by the water. When we arrived, we bypassed the line, and were immediately seated by the water.  This may have just been the next open table, but I'm an optimist and will just assume they read my request.  Also, on Friday and Saturday there is an additional $7 entertainment fee.

The wait staff is amazing. Our waiter was quick and polite.  The manager even stopped by our table to give the history of the bar. We ordered our food and drinks and they were served promptly.

As a vegetarian, I didn't try much of the food, but my husband was IN LOVE with his food.  The complimentary edamame was good for me. Drinks were strong and tasty and come in mugs that are fun to take pictures of.

Our bill for the Pupu Platter and two drinks each was about $84.  Our reservation was at 6:15pm and we left before the band started so we didn't have to pay the entertainment fee.

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• See all photos from Cori G. for Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar

4/3/2016

SCAM! They charge a $10 per person fee for a table if the band starts playing (at 8pm) while you are seated even if you are seated before 8pm and the dinner service is slow. It will be added to your bill without you knowing beforehand. And they call it a cover charge even though they don't take it at the door and charge you after for it!

This is for Friday and Saturday nights.

11/9/2015

Kitschy fun, it is worth going just to see the band launch themselves on the lagoon barge at 8 pm and play a set. Not a cheap night out, but where else can you experience a tropical rainstorm every 15 minutes? The Hurricane drinks are the best deal. Service is very pleasant and on island time, so you can sit, sip, and overlook the lagoon with no worries.
My husband and I love tiki bars, but next time we will come early and grab a seat for happy hour rather than make  dinner reservations as we did this visit, (which are a must, otherwise you are standing in a long line). For dinner, we enjoyed the large serving of tasty calimari appetizer, the green beans and the pork. Either way, it is a fun night out. Plus, wandering through the Fairmont lobby and gardens is a must.

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  Humungous amount of crispy delicious calimari. Ask for siracha sauce to go with.

  Humungous amount of crispy delicious calimari. Ask for siracha sauce to go with.
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  Lime creme brulee with rum ice cream. Mai tai in a dessert

  Lime creme brulee with rum ice cream. Mai tai in a dessert
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  Live music

  Live music
• See all photos from Debra R. for Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar

21/1/2016

Here for cocktails with my band. It's pretty dark in here but that's mood lighting. Every once in a while it starts "raining" and has lightening in the middle of the plane. Pretty cool. Like rainforest cafe but fancier without all the gorillas and smelly children.

I opted for the buffet which was minimal but is $10 and totally worth it.

The pinch bowls to share are not worth it. They're pretty small. Just get your own drink. All in all I liked it. Our waitress is bomb!

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  Scorpion bowl

  Scorpion bowl

5/3/2016

It was raining and what better way to lift our spirits then to get away at the Tonga Room? When we arrived, there was a line to get in however if you pay an extra $10 fee per person you can bypass the line and get a table. Zipped to paradise the whole experience is unreal especially with the band on the boat in the pool in the middle of the room. It was a blast! And the night we went there was a guy who stripped down to his skivvies and jumped in to the pool.

21/9/2015

I wouldn't be back for the food. I had the sliders on the appetizer menu and that was enough for me to know that I won't be trying their food again.    I will probably make sure I eat before I come next time. The drinks are strong. You have been warned.

There is a $5 surcharge for the entertainment.  Also the sporadic rainfall is unique.  The night I went the music wasn't popping like other reviews have mentioned.  Was I not drunk enough? Do they start slow and get better as the night continues? If I'm back in the city it wouldn't be the first place I rush to come back but if I'm the neighborhood I probably will drop by for some drinks.

7/4/2016

Food is average and really at a 50% discount I still really couldn't recommend it. But it's a fun spot nice atmosphere and good times ...