InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco

After staying at the Proper Hotel the last two years for our annual Nutcracker Ballet trip, we decided to change course and stay at the Mark Hopkins. The two experiences couldn't be more different location and "vibe" wise, but I'm glad we chose the Mark Hopkins. We had a wonderful stay in rooms 1525 and 1507. Gorgeous views. The rooms were very clean, and the beds were comfortable. The favorite part of our stay was the friendly, helpful customer service we received from David at the front desk and Ric, the concierge. Coffee and dining recommendations in the Nob Hill area were spot on. We also enjoyed drinks and appetizers at Top of the Mark, make a reservation!

Another reviewer described this hotel as a relic of a bygone era - this feels generous. I’m kind of astonished at how poorly kept the space is. One elevator is out of service (it happens). The remaining 2 elevators took 5-10 minutes to arrive at the parking level (and cancelled themselves multiple times), the electrical outlets in the room seem to be falling out of the walls, one of two lights in the bathroom is burned out and the other buzzes worryingly. the in-room fridge has been unplugged and left locked (why? I just needed a fridge). The facility feels like it’s actively falling apart, to the point where interacting with lamps and outlets feels unsafe. And unfortunately the repair effort is being invested in the outer facade, not the interior it seems. Which translates into loud skill saws outside the window until well into the evening. Soundproofing is non-existent - I can clearly hear my neighbor’s conversation at 5am, as well as street noise transparently. I’m here on business - I’d be deeply frustrated if I paid for a room here as part of a personal vacation. There are other, better options to explore in SF that will make for a more pleasant trip. Until the hotel invests in the experience rather than the facade and curbing criticism in the history of the building, I’d avoid staying here.

Although the service was great - the room could have been better as well as the options during breakfast and dinner. We came during Christmas and it was a solid 9/10 for the decorations but again, the room didn’t really have a good price to get ratio.

The hotel seems to be a relic of a glamorous past. The exteriors are beautiful, and the lobby is welcoming, but the room itself is old. There is wallpaper peeling and odd spots on the carpet. While the service at the hotel is friendly, the actual “amenities” seem to be lacking. In-room coffee service was suspended, which somehow translated to the in-room refrigerator being locked. There are also no complimentary water bottles offered, and any basic toiletries must be requested rather than provided proactively. But most concerningly: I saw a mouse at the Nob Hill Club while there for some tea and cake. (The Black Forest cake was, admittedly, quite good.)

We have stayed at the Mark Hopkins many times. This time we are giving it four out of five stars even though some of you might think this is a little crazy… It’s a beautiful hotel and normally always a five star experience. The service and staff are always fantastic! But sometimes it’s the little things. We upgraded to a suite, corner room with impeccable views of the city. It’s nearing Christmas time and it’s beautiful. The room was fantastic with one minor exception, no slippers and no robe. I know it sounds a little crazy, but those are things that we expect when we upgrade and we are staying in a five star hotel. We asked at the front desk and they kindly obliged and added them to our room. It’s just surprising that we had to ask when in the past this is an amenity that was given to us each time we were there without asking. One of the best features of the hotel is the Top of the Mark bar and restaurant. It offers panoramic views of the entire city and the service there is also fantastic! It is, of course, in high demand for seating. Walk-ins are allowed but a suggestion we have is that they give priority to patrons who are staying in the hotel and not just anyone who walks in. One other note, the bar opens at 3 PM but they don’t start serving food until 4 PM, rather odd. There you have it my reason for four stars out of five. All in al a great stay. But it’s the little things that count.