Tonga Room

In the early 2000s, this was my favorite tiki bar I had ever visited. During my first visit, I witnessed a "thunder storm" (which I did not expect), followed by a band on a little "barge" in their faux "lagoon," starting off with a cover of "Girl from Ipanema." I was sold. While Fairmont management seems to have it deteriorate a bit (perhaps due to its impending doom), it is still a wonder to behold. As far as tiki environments are concerned, this is right at the top in regards to the lighting, the decor, the drinks, and the music. The drinks are overpriced (even for tiki drinks), but this has still got to be seen or experienced to be believed. Check it out before it's too late!

I just visited the Tonga Room last week. Rushed to get there before it closed (whenever that might be). Stopped by the night before on a Tuesday and it was closed so not sure if they're just cutting back on hours? But it was very impressive. Didn't care too much for the kids in bad leis playing on the dance floor but the Tikis were beautiful, the lagoon and the rain made me feel like I was in a Martin Denny video. Very dark, moody, and jungly. Wish the band was a little more exotica oriented but...I had a Scorpion which was very good, but kinda small especially for the price. I'm hoping it will still be open when I come back in September for a Tiki Tour. The bartender (does he know something??) said it wouldn't be closing for at least 2 years. I'm still very excited to have been there and can't wait to get back.

Ah-Oooo-GAH! My wife and I had cocktails and dinner at the Tonga Room a few days ago and were very happy with the experience. The room has been around since 1945 (it was the pool in the earlier part of the last century) so it's been around for a while; and is in great shape / under great management.

POSITIVES: The ambience is wonderful, with the small lagoon and floating stage that resembles a boat. I loved the tropical downpour / thunderstorm effects that presage the beginning of the evening's entertainment. The Mai Tais were good & strong, so they do not skimp on rum. The food was also good, but not great. I loved the decor: with the thatched roofs, "lagoon" and the dance floor that looks just like the deck of a ship- complete with rat lines, block(s) and tackle etc...

NEGATIVES: The music, while pleasant enough had nay neither a surfing tune nor a lounge lizard song anywhere in the repertoire! Alas! The songs were mostly old disco tunes (Donna Summer, Bee Gees etc...) so that marred the ambience somewhat. And as wonderful as the decor was / is, there weren't enough tikis! To those tiki aficionados looking for a kitschy tiki experience- this may not be the place 4 you! There are no Japanese glass floats, dried blow fish etc...

NEGATIVES: Almost forgot! While the Mai Tais were good, the taste of the canned pineapple juice lingered somewhat unpleasantly. I know- if they used genuine juice the price would go up 20% or more so there is that :-) And I wished the wait staff had more colorful / tropical attire. Dressed as they are / were in standard black / white uniforms they did nothing to add to the Polynesian theme.

This was one of the first restaurant/bars I was able to get into when I was 16 in the late 70's (although the people I was with were a little bit older than me and it was the disco era. Probably the same music that Patio Daddy-O heard above). The whole theme is what brings people back here over and over again. Although I havent been back in probably 10 years, I'd hate to see it go away. Its a bit of that nostalgia that SF is known for. But to be honest, it really isnt a restaurant for the Fairmont caliber(never has been) but it does make for fun and good times. Dont expect a great meal but do expect to have a great time. Its a must see for SF visitors.

Just went to the Tonga room. It is DEFINITELY worth seeing. As far as atmosphere goes we give this place two thumbs up. The management and wait staff seem to be under the impression that this is a fancy restaurant so we felt a little funny when we showed up in jeans and tshirts but it seemed there was a variety of people there. The dim lighting, surplus of thatch and bamboo, the cool old pool/lagoon and the floating band barge can't be beat.

The drinks were super expensive ($12 on the cheap end) but they were well garnished and served in fun tiki mugs or pineapples! The service was good but formal for the place and the food was quite tasty and tropical themed (but also pricey).

The music was horrible. Nothing tiki about it and that was a disappointment but other than that it was suprisingly good for being located on top of "SNOB" Hill is SF in the most fancy-pants snooty hotel I've ever seen.

The atmosphere is amazing, but the entertainment is jarringly non-tiki. The drinks are overpriced and the staff tends towards resistance, as If you're wasting their time by being there. My friend, who is wearing a leg cast, was scolded for leaving her unsightly wounded in view of other guests. While I still like the venue, the experience and value is much better at Trader Vic's.

Hello,

I'm researching for a show called "World's Weirdest Restaurants", being produced by Paperny Entertainment for Food Network Canada. The show travels around the world profiling unique dining experiences in an entirely positive and celebratory manner.

We will be shooting a segment at the Tonga Room in late November. I loved your reviews on the restaurant. We're looking to profile people who are die-hard fans of the Tonga Room and can talk about why it's such a San Francisco institution.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and possibly feature you in our segment. Please give me a call at 604-873-9777 ext. 260, or email me at leanne.yu@papernyentertainment.com

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Leanne Yu
Researcher, "World's Weirdest Restaurants"
Paperny Films, Inc.
2043 Quebec St., Vancouver, BC
V5T 2Z6 Canada
O: 604.873.9777 ext. 260
F: 604.873.9778
www.papernyentertainment.com

Upscale Tiki... I didn't think such was possible until I went to the Tonga Room. Enough Mai Tai's and it's easy to picture the San Francisco socialites and Hollywood elite of 60 years ago sitting at tables beside you and having drinks at the bar...

I grew up in San Francisco and used to run around the Fairmont Hotel just scouting out places and riding the elevator up to the Crown Room...great kid adventures! Didn't get to the Tonga Room often, but I recall my friend Steve having his 30th Birthday celebration there. Then as now, they had that very un-Tiki band playing on the floating raft. It's really my only thumbs down comment re. the Tonga Room. If I was in charge (ha!) there would be traditional Hawaiian tunes being played....with a touch of Exotica...that'd be the perfect music for one of the world's most unique dining destinations. The food and drinks are fun....but it's the total vibe of the place that makes you love it. Sure hope they can keep it alive there at the Fairmont. Our last visit was in 2009. We live in Nasville and only get home to CA every 2 years. Hope to visit the Tonga again soon.

Before my gripes, let me say there is much to love about the Tonga room. It is a relic of a bygone era, and has a lot of history. So much so, that when the Fairmont hotel wanted to renovate it into a "hip" new place, the local community rallied to save the institution. It really is beautiful to look at. It probably ranks as one of the top ten traditional "tiki" polynesian restaraunts that are still standing. The pool in the center is beautiful, and the thunder and rain are definitely a nice touch to the atmosphere. The food was great, I had the Chicken Satay, and the Tonga rice (some of the best rice I've ever had. Now on to the negatives: In a place this historic, it is disappointing that they only have one created coctail. My waiter told me that the Ginger Mojito that they served was created there. Regardless or not, it was very tasty. The Tonga room also has some tiki mugs, but they all say made in china on them and do not denote that they are specifically made for the tonga room, they are probably plain mugs you could get through a supplier, but pay extra because you get them at the tonga room. Also, a band started playing retro 70's and 80's music. It got some old people on the dance floor, but I was looking for an exotic dinner. Still if you are in San Fran and appreciate polynesian tiki places, be sure to visit this historic place just to say you have been there.

It’s a joke the Tonga Room is not currently in the Critiki Top 25. This is a vintage tiki gem. See it while you can! A few practical notes from my visit: The place is only open for dinner and only five nights a week. It can also occasionally be completely rented out for private parties. It helps then to do a little homework. Call ahead of time and make some plans. If you want to have dinner and wish to dine before 9pm, you’ll need to make a reservation and likely several days in advance at that. Alternately, go for the happy hour (5 to 7) but get there EARLY or expect to wait. The prices are HIGH. Take a look around at the Fairmont Hotel as you make your way down to the Tonga and you’ll get the idea. But don’t miss this one.

come for happy hour drinks but avoid the buffet. drinks can be hit or miss but in general are very strong.

I have been here a bunch of times. I think the place is great. Awesome atmosphere, great crowd and the music floating in the pool while it rains is incredible. The drinks are good, not as good as Trader Vic's, but what can you do. The only think I don't like about this place is the food. It is really bad. It is a shame that such a great place has less than mediocre food. Anyway, I come back for the drinks.

The Tiki ambience of the Tonga Room is amazing. This is a historic gem. I will say that the drinks are not very good. If you know your exotic cocktails, there will be disappointment. But it is what it is. But hey! Your at Tonga Room. :)