Tonga Room Reviews

We were there for Friday dinner. The waiting time was appr 1.5h, but after 1h they texted that they had a table available. You can easily spend the time reading the history of Fairmont hotel and looking around the shops in the lobby. The vibe inside is nice, there is a dance floor/bar space and the restaurant part. People were dressed from jeans to suits and dresses, and there were singles and families. The decoration is unique (Tiki bar with pirate boat elements). There is a band singing on a floating surface inside the pool. Many people were dancing, either dance floor or between the tables in the restaurant part. Unfortunately we left when the nice songs start playing. The drinks, that we had, were not as good as we expected - the waiter was willing to change them but we felt strange asking for it. The food was amazing and a lot! The appetizer (pork tacos) a must. For main we had the grilled salmon with cauliflower rice and the pork at wok - both excellent. Note: there is an extra charge for the live music if you are seated, which is worth the money. As touristic and under the Fermont hotel, it is a bit pricey but worth the experience. We will go again soon, to test the appetizer shared plate and the shared drinks.

Some friends and I were on a work trip and stopped by for drinks and maybe dinner... party of 10. The bar was steady, but not busy, yet it took 15 minutes of standing in front of the bar staring politely at the bartender before he asked me if I wanted a drink. After getting drinks and enjoying the indoor rainfall over the indoor pond (complete with lightening!), I asked the hostess about a dinner table for 10-15. She advised there was going to be an hour and a half wait, so we decided to sit in the bar and enjoyed our drinks and waited for the rest of our party to see if everyone wanted to eat here. The manager seated us at a bar table and told me we had to at least order appetizers if we were going to stay (because drinks in the bar apparently don't pay the water bill). There was also going to be a cover charge if we stayed for the band. Lots of rules and money to enjoy the nice Hawaiian atmosphere. I sat down with my coworkers and my $30 drink, and within 60 seconds had two separate bartenders stop and tell us we couldn't sit there. I should add that I was holding the menu in my hand reading the wildly overpriced menu when they came up to us. I intended to order appetizers for the table, but quickly decided I wasn't giving them any more money. We quickly drank our drinks and left for better service. If you're looking for overpriced fare and unfriendly service, definitely go to the Tonga. If you want great service and terrific sushi, go to Maru Sushi just down the hill.

Dropped in just before 7 for a Happy Hour drink and had some coconut prawns. Both the drinks and the food were good - but not great value outside of happy hour. Nice atmosphere - busy and buzzy.

This is surreal bar and restaurant in the heart of the city. Live band on a boat thunder storms grass roofed huts, what’s not to like! The food was okay, we had edamame beans and the plantain with avocado dip to start. This was followed up with the pork tenderloin, and earth and surf, which I personally found a little small but ultimately satisfying altogether. There is a dance floor too. When the band is on you get charged $15 each for the privilege. Also if you are seated by the band it is quite loud. The drinks were quite strong too, and well made

The Tonga Room is a blast. The room looks like it was done by Disney with the themeing just so - not only are you surrounded by archly camp Polynesian decor, it periodically rains over the pool as thunder and lightening add ambiance. The menu nods back to the first era of Asian cuisine in America - I haven't seen a Pupu platter on a menu in over 40 years! There are also more contemporary dishes like a poke salad. The cocktails are in on the joke too - a variety of old and new school tropical beverages. Our food was a mix. Portions were generous. Some items were good - the poke being a stand out. Some were mediocre - the vegetable dumplings were served mostly cold and almost inedible. Cocktails were large and delicious and left us a bit stunned after two. Desserts were good. Service was excellent. It was all very expensive and very relaxing and very fun. Not something to do often but definitely something to do once.

Live singer and band floating on a pool in a boat! Great drinks, everyone dancing, fantastic atmosphere - and It was a mid-week night! What more could you ask for?

Were part of Cruise group staying at Fairmont which included breakfast. The hotel used the Tonga Room given size of group. They provided a "buffet" consisting of scrambled eggs, bacon and potatoes with peppers and onions. Some fruit was supplied, choice of one of only two juices along with selection of 2 pastries. No hot or cold cereals, no breads/toast, no eggs/omelets to order, no cheeses/cold meats or salmon/smoked fish.... A very plain jane, rather skimpy buffet compared to most buffets we have experienced. More like a Hampton Inn. It was not refreshed towards end of available hours so those who came down in last 30 minutes found the food to be picked over. The venue itself was a rather poor impression of a Disney like restaurant and the decor was tired, dusty and rather dank. It was exacerbated by the dimly lit environment and the phony but loud thunderclaps every once in awhile. Disappointing at best and would not return.

Had a blast here! Band was upbeat and campy, old and young alike enjoying the music at the tables and on the dance floor. The decor was apparently done by a Hollywood movie set designer - almost feels like a small theatre within which a south seas production could be filmed. People watching was super fun! Lots of happy people here either with business groups, girls’ weekends, adult family getaways and singles all enjoying themselves. Dress was everything from dressy jeans and tops to dresses and suits. Pricey drinks but par for the course at a top San Fran hotel. As hotel guests, we were able to get a table.

We were the third family to arrive on a Monday night so we got in pretty quickly. It’s a total blast from the past. We left before the band started playing but we were there for one rain shower. The food and drinks were fine, nothing I would be excited about at a regular restaurant. What you are really paying for is the experience and while our teens were not really into it, as a child of the 80’s, who remembers being taken to the “fancy” restaurant with a shtick, I really enjoyed it. I hope it never changes.

Wish we had gone here for a drink rather than food. The service was good and the entertainment was really good but the food was overpriced and quite average. Glad we went to experience this but would not return for food.

It’s a fun place to go to. It is in the Fairmont hotel. The food is alright but the drinks are very good. The service is really great and when you stay at the hotel they know you by name. There is music that plays in a tiki hut and are absolutely hilarious and fun. They play at 8:15-8:30. People are either at the bar, dance floor, or sitting or just having fun.

Our server was cool. The music was alright. I'd rate them high for a nursing home event. Cheesy. Food wasn't great. The drinks were REALLY stiff though so a trip just to the bar might be worth it.

The tropical atmosphere and the rain make you feel like your on vacation. The food is average. And brings you back to reality that you paid to much and it was just fair.

I’m am so confused after our evening at Tonga! Everything about this place wreaks “out of date Disney” and we can’t for the life of us work out the appeal of this kitsch, tacky and outdated place. We are from New Zealand, close to Tonga, and pride ourselves on amazing fresh food and natural beauty... and this place is the antithesis! The fried food was terrible (forgetting the extortionate price tag), periodic fake rain and thunder reminiscent of an old school Disney ride and atmosphere non-existent. We are staying at the gorgeous, old Fairmont Hotel and vote to BRING BACK THE SWIMMING POOL! Tonga is an embarrassment to the hotel... and the country.

I will preface this by saying I just went here for a drink and enjoy the ambience so I can't speak to the food. My wife and I were visit SF and were told to enjoy the Tonga Room. The room is great! We stayed for about an hour and half, enjoyed the ambience, enjoyed the band (Which started at 8pm on Sat) and generally had a great time. The truly bad part were the tiki drinks. They were served in rocks glasses from premade mix. I understand this was almost necessary with the amount of people waiting for drinks, but it made for truly AWFUL drinks. I couldn't even finish mine and I've drank some bad stuff in the past. For $16 a drink, I expected A LOT better quality. I would definitely only go back to enjoy the ambience, but not to drink!

We went here last Thursday at the end of the night because we were staying at The Fairmont and if you do, you get a free table and the reason I'm mentioning that is because they wanted to charge us $10 per person just to even sit at a table and that didn't include our drink. I got a pina colada and it was so tasty! Yes it was $18 but it was one of the better drinks I've ever had. My friends got the rum fish bowl and they said it was tasty. This place has live entertainment too and the vibe is so neat; I already want to go back!

Enjoyed delicious Asian food here. It was expensive but it was a nice treat. Everybody enjoyed their meal. I would recommend

I recommend the mai tai. The live band was good and were playing their hearts out for a small, less than enthusiastic crowd. The service was extremely slow considering there were very few patrons. The fake thunderstorm is entertaining. If you're not a guest of the hotel, you have to pay a cover charge to sit at a table. Also, the hotel rents the Tonga Room out for private parties, closing it for paying hotel guests and visitors. We discovered this prior to staying at the hotel so made sure to check out the Tonga Room as soon as we arrived just in case it happened whilst we were guests.

Over priced and overrated, drinks expensive and hostess was rude and her manager did not care. Do not go and please find a nice place to visit.

Although a little bit corny, the overall impression is quite impressive - pirate ships in the bar, the rain showers every 30 minutes and the band playing in the middle of the pool. The bar is lively and a nice place for drinks and cocktails. Finally, although I seem to be in a minority here, I found the food really quite excellent. The service was also first rate and our waiter very friendly and efficient. I will be back next time I'm in SF.

Loved loved the tonga room. One of our highlights of our visit to San Fran. Tacky but fun. Music was great and we were pleasantly surprised with how good the food was. Drinks are a bit expensive but the great band made up for it. We loved it so much we went back again!!

Our party of 4 ate dinner here one night and this was the least favorite place out of our whole trip! If you are not staying at the hotel attached don't even bother coming here as they charge a $10 per person cover charge even if you are just planning on eating. I can see if we were just going to stand and drink at the bar to listen to music then a cover would be ok but I have never been to a restaurant that charges you a cover if you are eating there! We decided to just pay and go in anyway since we walked up a huge San Fran hill to even get there so there was no turning back. The food was mediocre at best and the prices were ridiculous. We decided to share one of the bowl for 4 people cocktails that was $55 and that was probably the worst drink I have ever tasted in my life. We started ordering mixers like sprite and cranberry juice to help it but nothing worked, so finally decided to say something to our waiter how nasty it was. Still being a full drink he was gracious enough to take it off of our bill for us. I am a avid trip advisor reviewer and rarely do I ever say anything negative about a place because I am laid back, however I would not go back there. The atmosphere itself is pretty cool but that is all it has going for it.

We tried to get a table on Saturday night (booking on Friday) but they were sold out. The food was nice but could have used a larger range (at least fries).

We were so excited for our visit to the Tonga Room, but were sadly disappointed from the very first moment. The website and reviews here and on Google painted a really fun and iconic picture, but the reality was just sad. The cheesy pop music killed the Polynesian atmosphere immediately. We were also warned at check in that if we stayed past 8 pm at our table, we would be charged $10pp to watch the band. The menu was shallow and WAY over priced. At least the drinks had alcohol In them for $17, that was a relief! There were kids everywhere and I couldn't shake the feeling we were at Disney World, not in the historic Fairmont Hotel. Oh well, we laughed a lot and made the best of it. Can't win them all!!!

We were staying at the hotel and looked thru the doors before they opened. Let's give it a try, we came back about 7pm and this place was busy. Hour wait so we went in bar and had a drink and looked at menu. We had a great seafood dinner and then music started. We drank and danced away. No wonder it was busy. A must.

Not for food. Great service. Really exciting atmosphere for kids. Not going to lie, the food was over priced and pretty bad....I enjoyed the mixed drink!

Terrible experience, poor quality food, expensive drinks from staff that really didn't care. The rain showers and entertainment is corny and unfortunately the stage broke down and the power failed the night we were there so we really had the full experience!

This place... is..... AWESOME! The live music is accompanied with rain showers int eh open water. Dining and an open dance floor with specialty bar cocktails. Thunder and lightning make you feel magical indoors and simply a must see after all the ordinary attractions in SanFran.

Somewhat dated but no less iconic, this Polynesian bar is a must-see while touring San Francisco. Lots of fun and activity in this bar.

The Tonga Room is absolutely magnificent! The environment is quite entertaining in itself. Located in the beautiful Fairmont Hotel, take the time to enjoy the views before entering the Uber cool and slightly campy Tonga Room where the drinks are fantastic, the people are laid back, and the vibe is happening! Best Mai Tai anywhere!

We went in spur of the moment. The music was loud but good variety. Not alot of dance space but everyone made due. Pool in the middle of the bar was cool to see. Drinks were on the strong side so didnt take much to get buzzed. Live band that was there was pretty good. Not sure if that was there house band but the dj mix of music was a good playlist.

We were staying at the Mark Hopkins across the street and noticed the sign. Dropped in on a whim on a Saturday night. We sat In the bar and had delicious mai tai’s. Shared spring rolls, poke salad and basil chicken. The food and drinks were excellent. Live band on Saturday night. Super fun evening. Very pricey because there was a $15pp cover on top of expensive good but it was a great experience. Go at least once!

Well - if you fancy an Alton Towers or Disney meal out, then you’ll still Be disappointed. Cheap nasty food at exorbitant prices. To be honest - if it was 5$ a head it would still be shocking value for money. I’m not a frequent reviewer but if it’s fab or utter rubbish then i will and unfortunately this is the latter. Give it a huge wide berth.

This is a fun bar to drink at. It’s tiki themed and they have rain over the pool that’s in the middle of the restaurant. After 8:15pm they charge you a $10 cover charge, even if you’re eating dinner that’s when the live music starts. The food was just ok, we shared a PuPu platter and the food was lukewarm. The drinks are strong! We shared a Monk walks into a luau and then tried their signature drink Mai Tai and a zombie. Would definitely go back to drink and listen to music.

Floating band, rain showers. Playing the Hawaii Five-O theme. I actually came here for my senior prom! We loved it! And it is just as fabulous today. Food is hit or miss, but the band & everything else makes up for it. Busy nights there will be a line to get in (?!), so you’ve been warned. A gem.

We were staying at The Fairmont and walked down to have dinner, but hadn’t made reservations. Big mistake. They had a line and it was very crowded. We had a drink and walked around a little, but didn’t stay to eat. Recommend getting reservations.

What a brilliant salvage job they did with the old pool area. It used to look like an old sailing ship, very Art Deco around the edges. Times change, and look at it now! A delightful tiki bar, dripping at times (no joke). The drinks are the stuff of legend, how much rum can one hold? The pupus (nibblies) are just perfect, sweet and tasty and good compliments to the drinks. The service is great, live music sure gets the crowd moving. C'mon and have a great time!

The Tonga Room is a hoot! It's like waltzing back into the 1930s to 1950s and height of night club life. The main attraction is the lagoon in the cocktail lounge with its floating bamboo bandstand. The highlights are the thunderstorms with accompanying rain pelting the roof protecting the musicians. Yup. They really do that!

We spent an enjoyable couple hours savouring the dinner and taking in the music and atmosphere. It was interesting to learn that here was formerly a swimming pool called the Terrace Plunge that in the mid 1940s morphed into today's lagoon.

Went hear because we heard it was a classic. It’s down in the basement of the fairmont. They’ve created a fun almost vacation/resort experience in the restaurant. Drinks are fun and watch out they are stiff. Food is good. Everything is overpriced but you are paying for the history, music and experience.

We were staying in the Fairmont so had to check this place out. The Happy Hour deals were good although the drinks were not too tasty. I can't comment on the food as we decided to go elsewhere.

Started out rough with a rude host, but the Tonga Room was everything I had hoped for. Pricey drinks -but where else do you find indoor rain showers. Perfect place for pre dinner drinks.

The great cover band on a float was amazing as everyone was dancing is such a great place to party. So happy I stumbled into the Tonga room. Truly awsome

Totally overrated. Food is bland and live band played and sang music that started tropical (Girl from Ipanema) and then went on to Miley Cyrus, Backstreet Boys, etc. On top of that the regular music still played making it difficult to hear the lead singer when she was speaking between songs. The thunderstorm effect is basic, some grocery stores have better sound and lighting. The food lacked flavor, and the menu was kinda basic. I was very disappointed and thankful I have regular access to multiple Tiki bars and restaurants in Southern California.

Stayed at the Fairmont and found ourselves without a reservation on Dec. 25. What to do? As any sane person would, I decided to get into the Christmas spirit by going for Polynesian fare and order colorful cocktails with tiny umbrellas. What a fun evening! While the food and drinks are on the pricy side and the place itself is stuck in pseudo 50s Tiki culture, the quality of the food and the friendly service were better than expected. Careful: heed the warnings about the ‘Zombie’ cocktail on the drinks menu :-)

We were staying at the Fairmont so decided to eat here on our first night. The kids loved the live entertainment and rain shower. Good kids menu but our only complaint would be that service was slow. Definitely worth trying at least once.

We had dinner here with family who live in San Francisco. Could not fault the experience. Food was perfect and the band made the evening really special. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting San Francisco. The fairmont is a beautiful hotel

Go for drinks. Food is okay. Opened in the 20s on the deck of the then indoor pool. The band sits on a boat in the pool. You will bump into people who were married there throughout the past. Great stories. You will also bump into a younger crowd as well. If you are in town ... it's worth a few drinks! And the Fairmont is iconic as well.

The wait was worth it. We had a great waiter (Bash) and the food was outstanding. But the rain storm is why we go. Make reservations if you can.

We went here for happy hour- if you can, try to arrive a little early as there is a line. The service was super quick and friendly. The drinks are well crafted and delicious. We ordered the edamame to snack on and it was awesome. Definitely family friendly and a cool atmosphere! It’s worth the extra cost on their cocktails too!

My friends and I put on our grass skirts and Hawaiian Shirts and we went to The Tonga Room so we could experience a Pu Pu Platter. We all wore these Big Buttons that said “ We Are Here to Eat Pu Pu’s! We ask our server if one Pu Pu Platter was going to be enough we were a party of 10 so we ordered 3 Pu Pu Platters. We all had a Tropical Drink like a Planters Punch or a Pina Colada. We loved the boat moving through the water playing festive music. We asked if we could sing a song that we all had practiced. We sang it accapella (without music). The song was called “We Just Love Pu Pu’s.” Everyone loved it! We will definitely be back.

I was looking for a fun place to have dinner with friends for my birthday, and this places aesthetic was quite fun but nothing else. The food AND drinks were EH, and keep in mind I’m usually not very picky when it comes to alcoholic beverages. I would suggest only going to the show portion and eating dinner somewhere else before.

10 of us went and had a ball, from my 23 year old nephew to my 89 year old mother. My brother chose it thinking it was the Fairmont's fancy restaurant, perhaps with a view of San Fran. No, it's in the basement and a bit hokey with the band playing on a float in a pool. I live in Hawaii and this is supposed to be Hawaiian-themed. That aside, the drinks were flowing and my nephews and their friends were sharing crazy-assed huge drinks with 2 feet long straws while the other end of the table was sipping wine. There's an undeniable party energy and you just have to go with it:-)

We stayed in the Fairmont but only visited once, Happy hour is great it was busy so make sure you get in early! Real quirky bar not really what you would expect to be there so worth heading to if you can to tick off the list!

The Tonga room. its living history Food is ok.. service is fun the room is wonderful. I remember going to this place for my senior ball dinner, Then my first romantic dates as an adult. Loving visiting it.

My review is based on the service that David provided to me and my husband on our anniversary night. From the moment we met david he was fun, informative, knowledgable and positive about the food, drinks and atmosphere of the restaurant. I cannot express how exceptional david was with his service and care and attention. This restaurant and wider, hotel, would be a lesser place without him. Thank you david for your service, personality and wonderful hospitality in what you do ….

I had been very much looking forward to visiting the Tonga Room on my first trip to San Francisco but was somewhat let down by the ambience of the place. I was ready for Polynesian kitsch but was left with a distinctly decorated function room feeling. Having said that, the mai tais were great, as was the coconut shrimp. The place just didn't live up to my expectations sadly.

Love it! It is a unique bar in a town were you kinda know what to expect... they have a huge queue right after opening so get there early! Only the in house guests can book for dinner, but the bar is all you need, with a couple of fantastic cocktails and a taste of the pacific!! A fabulous experience!

The Tonga Room is an awesome restaurant inside the Fairmont Hotel in Nob Hill. The menu has plenty of options, there is a large selection of cool drinks and plenty of beer choices. The tables are arranged around a body of water where a small boat sits that the live entertainment performs from. The motif is one of Polynesian essence and quite fun....oh yeah it 'rains' in the restaurant every half hour with thunder and lightning. Very enjoyable experience if visiting San Francisco!

The Tonga Room was so fun and a great way to end our spring break trip. We went on a Wednesday a little after 5pm and got in with no wait. I had been told the hotel wasn’t very full and it was the first sunny day after several with rain so maybe people were enjoying the outdoors. The staff was all so gracious and attentive. When we were seated the host asked if we were guests at the hotel and we were seated at a prime table next to the lagoon. Our kids loved their mocktails, the rain and the musical band on the boat. There is a kids menu with chicken tenders, coconut shrimp, salmon or grilled teriyaki chicken. My husband had the beef dish and really liked it. I had the basil chicken and it wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped but I did really like the spring rolls. We definitely recommend checking it out!

A must go to when your in San Francisco. So much fun! Be careful of the Mongolian drink it will make you and your friends have a real fun time!!!

It's a one of a kind tiki bar, let it surprise you (they have great cocktails, too!). Their Mai Tais really kick in ;-)

When you walk into this place you are transported to a different world. Throwback music. A real rain and thunderstorm. A boat in the middle of a pool. Tropical drinks. Very kitschy but a worthwhile experience.

This is a fun thing to do once. Drinks are strong. Pupu platter has variety and filled us up. Nothing crazy good though. We stood in line 25 mins ahead of time on a Saturday night and got a great table at bar. Loud and fills up fast! Standing room only if you didn't get a table at the bar.

Always wanted to go here and finally had the chance but found it very underwhelming. Very crowded, the drinks are expensive and the rain shower is lame. The Rainforest Café is way cooler. If you go, make sure you enter through the lobby of the Fairmont as it is quite beautiful.

The atmosphere is definitely unique, a floating stage is super cool and a good set up. KEEP IN MIND: If there is a band it’s 15$/ person. Not for the table but per person. It’s a little extreme considering the band is nothing special. DRINKS: beer is about 10-11 dollars. The specialty drinks are 20-27$ and are nothing special. But they are strong. FOOD: the food looked like they got it from a pre made section of the grocery store. It was 5 minutes between order to our table. No exaggeration. It wasn’t that good considering the 35-40$ price tag. The service is just fare. You have pay an automatic 18% tip. Regardless if the service is worth it or not. Overall, I would avoid this place.

We went here really for the live entertainment and experience but the drinks, although expensive, were very boozy. The food was just OK and portion small.

The Tonga Room, with its incredibly preserved TIKI decor dating from 1967, is one of the last places in the USA testifying to the incredible American enthusiasm for Polynesian style during the post-war period. This cult place, cherished by San Francisco residents, has enormous cultural significance and must never disappear. Although quite basic, the menu nevertheless offers quality dishes and excellent cocktails. So yes, it’s expensive, but the trip in this time machine is worth it.

Visited here a couple of times while staying at the Fairmont. The lounge is fantastic, creatively designed, with good drinks, food and entertainment. The house band were the highlight, extremely talented folks! Staff were mostly friendly and helpful. The only downside was that the prices were quite steep.

Who can pass up a tiki bar? This place has it all, great drinks in fun barware, grass huts, bamboo chairs, island music, a rainshower, thunder and lightening and the food wasn't too bad either.

We went with three generations for a family birthday dinner, choosing this place since some of us had never been there before and it had such a reputation that we thought we should experience it. The drinks were great, the service was great, the decor and the atmosphere were worth experiencing, but the food was not. None of our meals were what I thought they should be in terms of flavor or texture. The appearance was good, but eating (the ultimate test) was definitely a negative experience. Very disappointing!

Just had the most amazing evening at the Tonga Room. PJ, our server, was absolutely fabulous, huge personality and an expert in every respect. If you want a fun and cool atmosphere with just a touch of the islands this is a must in SF!

The Tonga Room is based within the Fairmont Hotel. What a fantastic experience both for food and drinks. The thunderstorm effects are a unique experience whilst dining. Great food and drinks. Would recommend for great food and service.

Its a fun shill and very diverse atmosphere. from the really touristic to the locals celebrating something to the graduation friends just having fun. Nice set up inside the hotel a Hawaiian set up with a band playing all kind of international hits. The food is delicious the cocktails a bit overpriced.

Located in the fairmont hotel. This is a fun and unique restaurant , with live music entertainment. Came here on a Saturday. The food and drinks are good. They have a little dance area which is fun. The only downside I think was when we came we had to pay a $15 dollar cover charge each, even if we had dinner and drinks there

Had to go here after viewing Tony Bourdain's visit on No Reservations and hear his recommendation. It's in the Fairmont Hotel, so it's pricey. We went for one of their signature tropical cocktails (Mai Tais) and to enjoy the indoor rain shower and thunder/lightning. If you want a table, you'll probably have to queue up before opening time, since we got there shortly after opening and all tables were taken (no reservations, appropriately). It's a nce, fun tiki bar from another age. Serves food, but we didn't have any. Also note that you can get a drink at the main lobby bar and take it to the garden terrace, which is also very nice.

What a blast from the past! Mai Tai’s, Fog Cutters and Hurry Kanes on the menu. Last time I had one of those it was the early to mid eighties, inflation since then has soared, I guess as the prices, at least, at this place is north of $20 a pop. Anyway a great nostalgic trip, well worth it

Fun cocktails and great music at this fabulous San Francisco landmark! A little pricey, but one of the few wonderful S.F. experiences that has survived the test of time!

We were excited to visit here with our mid-20 children due to the history and unique theme. Overall, it was just OK. The food and drink prices were really high (even for SF) and they were just OK. If you are not a hotel guest, they also require a $15 pp cover fee. The band was good especially if you like throw-back 70's and 80's. The decor is just as pictured but just overall was not worth the money spent. Not as a judgment but as an FYI, this was the only place in SF (or the entire 10-day drive of the PCH from SF to SD) where we were asked to show our vaccine cards for entrance. The highlight of this stop was being in the Fairmont which we do highly recommend.

What a let down, but that goes for the whole hotel, other than the lobby. The band was so loud we could not talk nor communicate with the waiter, we ate our kung po chicken which had no trace of heat and left, I was really looking forward to this restaurant, but it was below average. Many reviewers seem very impressed by the rain and thunderstorms, but there are far better themed restaurants in the US that maybe they would need to visit to see how average this was. I love theming, we don't get too much in the UK, but this was underwhelming.

We went down after our dinner/dance party with some friends and had a great time. We had to wait 10 minutes in line because it was really busy but it was worth it.

We LOVED the Tonga Room restaurant. It tends to get mixed reviews, but we had no complaints. You might be able to get better food for the price elsewhere, but you won't be able to find a place that can mimic a tropical rainstorm! The experience alone is worth the price. I thought the food was absolutely delicious. I had the braised short rib. Service was very quick as well.

It’s been ages since I’ve been to the Tonga room and wanted to check out what it looks like after all these years. Since it’s a Saturday night at around 8pm, they charged us a $15 entertainment fee. The bar was packed so we got a table. There’s a very good cover band who played music from different eras. We ordered mai tais which is their specialty. As for the food , we ordered the pupu platter. The kahlua pork buns was our least favorite. Overall food was just ok. Go there for the drinks.

We have been to the Tonga Room several times throughout the years but I seriously doubt we will return. There were three of us and took a chance that we could get into the bar. Even though the line consisted of about 30 people, it only took 15 minutes for us to enter. Wait time for a table was 2 hours. The bar was crowded with people ordering $13-15 cocktails. There was a standing room only area for people to go with their cocktails. I felt sorry for people seated at tables close to the standing room only area because people were crowded around them. A large pool was in the middle of the room. Occasionally,there would be rain falling from the ceiling with thunder. It was really quite lame.

Welp, they've ruined it. Taken away a lot of the fun drinks, menu, and drink glasses. Taking away everything special about the place may increase profits in very short term but they're cutting it off at its knees. Maybe new owners will come in and rescue it. Or ruin it even more.

Who knew that below this beautiful, historic Fairmont Hotel is an island themed restaurant? It's pricey, drinks are strong and not to my tasting, but the entertainment value and atmosphere were amazing! We ordered the Tonga pupu platter and the appetizers were really great! Would definitely recommend if you want to experience something very different.

Our first night in San Francisco was always going to be the Tonga Room. We headed in for one drink, (you can only stand and not take a seat if at the Hurricane bar). Fairly long wait for drinks, as only two were serving and the lines were deep. However decided to stay for a 2nd Mai Tai and order some food. Therefore we had to go back out front to arrange this. All goo, in 15mins or so they texted us when our table was ready. It ended up being a share table (our first experience at share tables, by the end of our vacation we'd shared many tables at many restaurants!) We went to the Tonga Room during happy hour and left before 8am, our way of minimizing costs and still had a great time! Will go back - drinks are awesome!

We were in line when they opened at 5:00 for cocktails (it gets busy!), and enjoyed an "Adult Swim" cocktail (highly recommend!) under our thatched palapa, while occasionally, over the central pool, there was a friendly thunder storm. There was a feeling of history in the ambiance, and the service was great. It felt fun for any age. We had the Coconut Shrimp Skewer app, - yummy - followed by Cauliflower Rice Stir Fry (fantastic, fresh and crunchy including edamame) and Cashew Shrimp (delicious and light sauce - not too heavy, and paired well with the cauliflower rice stir fry instead of regular rice). Manager, Rod, came by and inquired about our experience and we appreciated his attention and welcoming hospitality. Would go back any time!

My third time visiting this restaurant and it’s still great. It is such a unique place and can’t believe it has been there for the amount of time it has! I was disappointed that they no longer take bookings (unless you are staying at the Fairmont), however we only had to wait 30 minutes to get a table for four and this was on Saturday night. Food is great, but it’s the atmosphere and history that make this place so special. Highly recommend.

I’ve heard a lot about the Tonga Room. When I travel I search out Tiki Bars. It is a stretch I give it a 3. The drinks were meh and the atmosphere not what you would expect from a tiki bar. Personally I would not waste your time or money.

To be fair, my family just went in for a drink, following an event elsewhere in the Fairmont Hotel earlier in the evening. We got there just before 11:00pm and were surprised to be told it was due to close at 11:30pm. It was therefore annoying whebn they started to turf us out at 11:15pm. Some the party were actually staying at the Fairmont, but this made no difference. Dark and dreary throughout. I suppose the concept has some potential but poorly exectuted and is simply cheap and nasty. Not worth the trouble of visiting - there's much better in the immediate vacinity.

- We initially came to see the Christmas decoration, the Gingerbread House in Fairmont Hotel but ended up having dinner at Tonga room located downstairs. - It was my 2nd time revisiting this restaurant in the past 15 years, I found nothing has changed but the price. - They charged $15 dollars per person just for dining in. *** Be advised: Those who want to see varieties of items and many choices on the menu, this restaurant is Not for you. - We ordered 2 items, chicken fried rice and grilled miso salmon. Chicken fried rice was terrible but grilled salmon was reasonably good ! - The Live music band on the boat played danceable 80's top hits and they were good. However the band was very tightly fit in that little boat with 2 small speakers so the sound came out lousy ! - Cover charges, plus 2 menu items without alcohol, plus tax and tips, it came out to $92 bucks. - It was pricey for what we received. - Will I revisit it again? The answer is ---> Not in another 15 years, thank you !

Classic Tiki Bar, maybe the best in the world. Just wait for the rain to start to fall! Too crazy! Very stylized interior, should be a landmark. Been here forever. Classic old school hotel bar.

On a friends trip to San Fran, this was our first stop for happy hour. It was perfect for a casual happy hour in a new city. Our friend who picked it didnt tell us anything about it, so it was a fun surprise to step into this tiki-paradise. We got there for happy hour pricing, which was pretty affordable for a cocktail bar and for San Fran. Between the five of us, we tried most of the cocktails and enjoyed them all! The service was quick, despite a busy bar. It was standing room only when we got there (tables for dinner only), but for just a drink or too, it wasn't a problem.

Poor service, limited ability to make reservations, gimmicky waves and thunder around pool. Cocktails not great and food menu low end and limited

This one is tough to rate. It’s a must do for everyone. The atmosphere is great and the service is very good. The food is well below average. I mean well below. Drinks are pricy but are good and they are strong. There is a live band which is mediocre at best and usually has a bizarre playlist. Come and have appetizers and some drinks. It’s a great experience.

When in San Francisco, you kinda gotta go to the Tonga Room. Have one tropical cocktail (they're stronger than you think!), wait for it to rain and don't take it too seriously.

I love the Tonga Room - it's a tiki paradise, with a menu and cocktails to match. Zombie, Mai Tai, Fog Cutter, all the classics. Come for happy hour, and there are great food and drink specials - $10 Zombies!

Classic old fashioned tiki bar in a 5-star hotel. Come here for the regular rainstorms. There are little rivers of rainwater. Very good drinks, but high prices, no surprise.

The Tonga room was such a unique place. Plan on waiting upwards of 1.5 hours on weekends for a table. They do not take reservations unless you have more than 6 people in your group. Drinks were approx 12 for any of their signature mixed drinks. The food menu was not huge but what we got was delicious ( from the wok— the beer entree). If your there on the weekend and the band plays they automatically add $15 per person to the tab for the cover of the band. So that’s an added cost we were not aware of at the time. Although it was an expensive evening, you pay for the experience. The band was great. Played music that the crowd sang to. The atmosphere was great for even stopping in for a few drinks!

A good friend recommended this place as one of the best tiki bars in California so we thought we'd check it out for him since he's never been here. We've been to tiki bars before, but never like this one. He said it had "great spectacle." We didn't know what he meant by that until it started to rain indoors, with lightning and thunder! From the beginning, we got there right at 5 p.m. when they opened (after not being able to find street parking and searching for 30 minutes). We finally parked in a nearby garage for $16. So at 5 p.m. we figured we'd get there right when the doors opened, we'd be first in line. NOPE. We were about a dozen people back from the head of the line. We didn't know this was an attraction that people actually line up for in advance. So as more people got in line behind us, the maitre'd stands up and yells to the whole line, "If you just want to go in and look around and get a drink, raise your hand and you can go in now, but you can't sit at a table! I repeat, you can't sit at a table!!!" We raise our hands and scoot right in. People who had reservations were already in there and seated at tables, only about 10 people or so. We went right to the bar and ordered a pina colada, just one for both of us since they were pricey ($26.07, plus tip came out to $36.07. Add on the parking charge for this 20 minute stay and it came out to $52.07). We walked around the room and saw everything, including the floating band boat, where it docks, and the band gets on and then it floats to the middle of the pool while they play their set. It only took about 20 minutes for us to take in the sight and drink our drink, so as we were about to leave, it started to rain and lighting and thunder inside. We were impressed before that happened, so that was the spectacle our friend was talking about. As we left, we bought our friend one tonga-inscribed glass ($57) as a gift. All in all from the time we hit the hotel neighborhood, it was a 50 minute experience for a little over a dollar a minute, not counting the glass. Worth it for our friend.

On a whim, we came in late at night for a cocktail. Still dressed, in our suits - we hit the dance floor. It's really hard NOT to dance here with the band and large dance floor. The drinks were great, ask the bartender to make it less sweet if you like.

We stayed at the Fairmont where the Tonga Room is locates. Best food in San Francisco. Service was superb. Well done Tonga.

This is a San Francisco institution but I never could afford when I was young and lived in SF. Now, 40 years later, I brought my husband and kids and we had a great time! The pupu platter was better than we expected, and the shrimp and short rib dishes were decent. Over $220 for drinks for 4, pupu platter and two dishes, but worth it for the rain, thunder, lightning, and excellent service.

We never did eat here. We just had drinks and enjoyed the band on the pool and the ambiance. Mai tais are required drinking!

It’s an iconic Tiki Bar. Strong drinks, tiki decor and cheesy waterfall/thunderstorm “show” on their indoor lagoon. Just go. You’ll love it.

Ahhhh the Tonga Room....A San Francisco landmark and for good reason! It’s changed very little over the years so coming here makes for a reminiscent and memorable experience. I’ve been in for dinner before and can’t really say the food is amazing, it’s the tropical drinks and the atmosphere that is truly tantalizing, and who could have anything bad to say about a boat that has a band playing on it as it rains and thunders from the ceiling all with drinking dining and dancing. The Tonga room is one of my favorite places in San Francisco and I hope it never changes.

Classic San Francisco. If you’ve never done this place it’s a must. From the music to the cocktails. You’ll be singing and dancing the night away. Don’t come for conversation as it’s loud when music is playing but you’ll have fun and can catch up with your friends in between sets. It’s pricy but worth it!

The ambiance is great, but I was very disappointed in the selection of drinks. There were only 10 drinks to choose from and at least two of those had coffee liqueur. We got there when they opened and were able to get seated at a table. The service was good and the staff was very helpful. It’s worth seeing, but don’t expect much drink wise.

This restaurant is a must if you visit SF! Fabulous food, great service and surroundings and decor like you will never see again. Not to mention the band, superb musicians who clearly enjoy the drama that is uniquely, the Tonga Rooms. We will definitely return for a repeat performance. The late great Antony Bourdain said ‘if you have no love in your heart for this place, you are a sick, twisted lonely f*ck with too many cats. What more can you say?

I had read about this Tiki bar and wanted to visit. It's very cool. A must see and the drinks are excellent (and strong).

We visited the Tonga Room after dinner. It was a great time with people of all ages dancing, enjoying a boat drink and having a fun time. The band plays from a barge in the middle of the pool and the tiki bar theme was super cool. I definitely recommend and will go again when I’m in town.

Laid back vibe with an excellent cover band. The crowd was a diverse mix of people of all ages having a great time. Such a unique venue to enjoy a drink and even some dancing.

We've been on a five-year tour of San Francisco watering holes, and it's taken us a long time to get around to visiting the Tonga Room. We miss Trader Vic's in New York - it fell victim to Ivana Trump's redecoration of the Plaza Hotel, if memory serves. The decor is highly reminiscent of a restaurant in SpongeBob's Bikini Bottom. The drinks are pricey ($15-20), but the TR has real bartenders who know how to make a real martini.

I love the ambience! I love the rain and thundershowers every 40 mins in what used to be the pool. The tables are placed around the pool and the musicians are on a boat that floats in the middle! I’ve been going for 15 years every January and I neve get tired of it.

Me and my husband went to this place for our anniversary celebration, we enjoyed their drinks and really had fun. They have their band that play a great variety of music, they are amazing. I would definitely return to this place.

The Tonga Room is quite unusual. Located in the Fairmont Hotel on California Street in the middle of downtown San Francisco. Parking is a challenge as you would expect and getting a table also a challenge. We had to use "connections" to get a table for seven at 6:30 PM. If you are serious about going, plan ahead and get there ahead of time; maybe even earlier before normal dinner time to get a table. Food is quite good, service is excellent. But prices are very substantial. Be prepared. We had Ahi Tuna Poke Tostada, coconut curry seafood, New York strip steak, grilled miso salmon, and chicken fingers for the kids. Plus some wildly different mixed drinks. An excellent place to eat, but ensure you have reservations and a thick wallet.

My sister and I visited the Tonga room for my birthday. I just want to say the hospitality was wonderful thank you Ace and Basha!

It rains inside every 30 mins and thunders and lightnings. It was a fun place to go...it is inside the Fairmont Hotel, the oldest hotel that survived the fire after the earthquake. They have fun drinks and the food is good.

As an old style Tiki bar and restaurant the Tonga room is a wonderful place for dinner or drinks. The history of the place, going back to the swimming pool at the Fairmont is fascinating. Seeing it today with the rainforest rain and the band on the boat is almost too much fun. And the cocktails and food are great!

Arrived early and had a drink at the Fairmont bar before walking down to the Tonga Room for their happy hour. We were advised to line up 30 mins before opening which is a great idea. We were first in and got a bar table next to the pool. Atmosphere was fantastic (tropical). Every so often the effects would in include lightening, thunder, and rain. Excellent. Staff eww fantastic and friend. Had the Pupu Platter which was a perfect choice. Top quality. Cost was reasonable. Will definitely go again.

Go when the band is playing is a must for a laugh....Great atmosphere and great food....not fine dinning but plentiful....The cocktails are good....A fun night out...enjoy

We Finally Found Them Open - Our Mistake We were staying at the Fairmont San Francisco, for maybe the fifth time, and were finally there, when the vaunted Tonga Room was open. This had been on our list of “must-dos” in San Francisco, and especially when we were staying on Nob Hill. Always before, we were staying on nights, when they were dark, but we felt fortunate this time - that feeling would soon end for us. Now, one of our first dinner dates, when we were still dating, was at the Bali Hai Restaurant at Pontchartrain Beach, in New Orleans. Though it, and Pontchartrain Beach are long gone, we still have fond memories of that Polynesian “tiki” restaurant, and dined there several more times, while it was open. This was meant to be a bit of a nostalgic excursion, to a tiki restaurant, still fresh in our hearts, though many years ago. We were not dining at the Tonga Room, but off-property, and wanted to see, and experience the Tonga Room for wine, before heading out to dinner. We arrived early, with about 2 hours before we needed to leave, to make our dinner reservations, and were greeted by a lovely hostess. We explained that we only wanted wine, and were shown to a little 2-top, by the active bar, and at the railing, looking onto the indoor lagoon, where a barge with musicians would later sail, and play. That was where the good ended - right there. The Tonga Room is dark - quite dark, and that is probably a good thing. My jacket was sticking to the surface of the table, and my shoes to the floor. Lots of very sticky material on both. The décor is definitely “tiki,” so there was a hint of nostalgia for us, but not that much. It now looked very tired, old and rather “tacky.” We were seated near the bar, and there was a server standing in front of it, no more than 5' from our little table. However, neither of us could get his attention, as I wanted the wine list. He would look at us waving, and just ignore us, even when my wife called to him, no response. After a bit, I finally communicated that we wanted to see the wine list, and begrudgingly, he finally brought one over. Quickly, I had made my selections, as the list is quite tiny, and unlike other bars/restaurants in the Fairmont, not much of interest on it. Now, to place my order. No amount of waving could get a response from this server, though he stood near to the table, and walked past many times - total ignore mode. We gave up, and I finally went to the bar, to order our wines, and was informed that we had been seated at one of the tables, with no service, so would have get everything ourselves. Tables with no service? This seemed odd to me, and especially as the hostess knew that we only wanted wines, and chose that table for us. The bartender went to criticize the hostess for seating us at all,, as we were not dining in the Tonga Room that night. Very strange. That was the final straw, and we left, with no wine, and a wasted half an hour, because no one had explained the rules to us. As we still had time, we left the Fairmont, crossed California St, and were promptly seated at a lovely table, with a wine list, high atop another hotel - with great views of the city, and neither the floor, nor the table were sticky! I suppose that we were unfortunate enough, to finally be staying at the Fairmont, when the Tonga Room was open - never, never again, and we have another stay at that lovely hotel coming up.

As above, the decor is truly phenomenal - there is an indoor thunderstorm every ten minutes or so, an indoor pool, floating bamboo hut where the band plays and it is similar to standing and drinking your cocktail on a pirate ship. However, it was so busy and there were so many children and families everywhere that for me, it kind of ruined the atmosphere. When I go to a tiki bar I do not particularly want to see young children, I come to tiki bars to get drunk!! Although that would be pricey as the cheapest cocktail is $18. There was no music when we were there so not much atmosphere. Loads of people crammed in and no one allowed to sit at the tables and chairs without paying an extra $15 per head. You could tell it was attached to a hotel. You're better off going down the road to Pagan Idol.

We first visited the Room in 1968. It still rocks and is a fun filled place to enjoy cocktails, the floating band-raft, the rain falling around the pool, etc If in SF this an enjoyable experience not to miss!

Quiet possibly the strongest rum cocktails I have ever drank. We arrived 5 minutes before happy hour commenced and was given an excellent seat by the water. It soon filled up. We didn’t stay to eat or for the entertainment but the cocktails are well worth the $10 each as very very strong.

Start to finish this was an amazing night - atmosphere, food, service, music - all an A+ - felt like Sinatra or Tony Bennett would walk through the doors at any moment and make the night complete - it’s a can’t miss!

TIKI! TIKI! TIKI! OMG--had a blast!! THE TONGA--home of the World-famous MAI-TAI that did not disappoint me in the least! It was sooooo deelish!! Perfectly prepared just like in TAHITI!! The Fairmont is one of the best hotel properties in SAN FRANCISCO so it does not surprise me that out would have a beautifully hidden gem inside of the hotel. There was a band on a boat flatten on the water--there is simply nothing in US like it. I highly recommend this place. I cannot wait to go back! I was in TAHITI last summer and I wish there was a place like the I there or in HAWAII.

My boyfriend and I went there on a Sunday night for my birthday. We didn’t have food just drinks. I got one of the cocktails i can’t remember the name but it was average. The music and the crowd were not for us. I felt like we were in a tommy Bahama party or something. I guess I was expecting something different as far as the music. It was live music but the song selection was drab. The decor was probably the only thing I liked.

We were staying at the Fairmont so it was very convenient to have dinner here. This place was great! Aside from having really cool South Pacific atmosphere, very good food, and fantastic service, there is live band playing every night. The band “Island Groove” with lead singer Al, was so good we actually spent three hours hanging out in the place because it was so much fun. Everyone in this place was great. Our waiter made some great suggestions for dinner and helped us out a lot. Al from the band made our night a lot of fun too. If you go for dinner be sure to make a reservation. There can be a long wait if you don’t. You can also just go for drinks and listen to the band if you’re not hungry. Enjoy!

We came on a Sunday night so it wasn't too busy. Drinks were fine but the real fun was the band playing in the middle of the old pool with rain coming down around them. What a fun night with amazing atmosphere!

you sit at a table beside a rectangular indoor pool. Every 30m minutes, a wind comes and "rains" on the pool! In between an Asian band play well know pop songs to allow you to dance on the small dance floor. Situated in the historic Fairmont Hotel, this is worth a visit, particularly if you are staying in the hotel.

Everyone should experience the Tonga Room!! Have a Mai Tai and listen to the band that floats on the pool!!Great time was had by all!!!

The concept is a Hawaiian Restaurant. At 8:00 show starts so be on time. Food was really good and Alex the server was great. Try the tuna tostadas as appetizer, they are really tasty.

Okay, maybe it's not fair to say "don't order dinner." Maybe you're hungry. Maybe you need dinner. In that case, ask your waiter for recommendations. We asked for drink recommendations and the drinks were outstanding. We ordered food based on menu impressions, and it was pretty disappointing. So why five stars? Because Anthony Bourdain called The Tonga Room "the most wonderful place in the world," and we figure he should know. Also we had a great time and loved it! So overall, we agree with him. Go for the experience. One of the great, historic TIki experiences.

I felt that the ambiance was unique, but the food was decent and the wait staff was good. But in all, the room was extremely cold.

The Tonga Room is an amazing looking place. It's an experience. Like stepping into a fantasy tiki bar from another time. Unfortunately the menu is the same way. Look, I get you want to have a piña colada or mai tai or whatever. But just because there are sugary drinks doesn't mean the food should also be covered with sugar. Everything was either deep fried, or came slathered in a sticky sweet sauce, or both. Again great place for drinks.Just avoid the food.

The Tonga is a classic Tiki restaurant and we looked forward to checking it out when we visited San Francisco. It only takes reservations for parties of 10+ so we arrived at about 645pm and had to wait about 25 minutes for a table. The drink menu was fun, though it no longer offered the pineapple drink. The food menu was pretty simple but we liked what we ordered and portion sizes were good. There was live music and we were charged a cover fee. The atmosphere was very fun. It was a great experience and we are glad we went

My wife and I are Tiki-bar fans and have been wanting to visit the Tonga Room when in San Francisco. We finally had the opportunity to visit and were amazed by the room. It's a wonder to behold and is top-notch in its design and tropical feel. Sadly, the crowd took away the relaxing atmosphere we were anticipating. The drinks are old favorites for any Tiki-bar (Mai Tais, Fog Cutters, Jet Pilots, etc) and are premium priced. The bar seating fills up instantly upon opening, but the dining room doesn't open until an hour later, and you're going to wait for a table. The hosts at the entrance are battle-hardened and the lengths of rope for crowd control are evidence of very large crowds of hopefuls that aren't early arrivals. This is where tiki dreams come to die, because once the place fills up, that's where you will be. The experience at the Tonga Room is specifically tilted towards accommodating the guests of the Fairmont. There are no reservations taken for parties of fewer than 10 unless you are staying there. Expect a wait of 1-2 hours or more for dinner. Also, it was mentioned to us that when you are seated, it is expected that each person at the table is to order an entree, not just appetizers, but a full meal. There is a mandatory $10 - $15 cover charge for the live band if you are sitting down at or after 8PM, so if you are already seated and eating, settle your bill before then. Again, if you are a guest of the hotel, that fee is waived. We weren't staying there, but we could see that it would be hard to compete for a table if we weren't hotel guests. If we did finally secure a table, we were going to pay a steep price for the privilege. After one drink, we had endured enough of the crowd and decided to bow out. We bought some tiki mugs from the display case at the hostess station and then bugged out. In all, we spent about 45 minutes there after expecting to spend a couple of hours and a meal. The heavy crowd didn't lend to the relaxed atmosphere of a great Tiki-bar and no amount of alcohol could silence the pop music that was piped in. We checked the Tonga Room off of our to-visit list and escaped to another Tiki-bar nearby. Been there, done that, got the mugs.

As a local I had never been to the Tonga room in the 8 years I have been in sf. It’s a fun unique spot. If you are looking for top notch food this might not be the spot but it’s solid food and a fun time

Had wanted to try this resturant but had been closed for private parties . So in our last night in the city we took a chance to see if we could get a reservation and we could. We were so excited and very happy. We had to pay $15 each for the entertainment but we were fine with that. Our table was amazing and had a great view. Was a beautful restaurant and the decor was awesome. Cocktails amazing and the food was lovely. I had a Veggie scewers and rice which was delicious . As we were celebrating our anniversary we asked the waiter if we could get a shout out from the band and they did. So that really made our night. Was pricey but worth it. Our waiter was lovely . We stayed for about 2 hrs and had a fantastic night and made some more memories. Thank you .

OMG The beautiful music with beautiful ambience . I think it’s perfect place for any body who wants to chill and enjoy lovely music and dance and be with friends or someone special . Bar team is excellent and selection is very good . They have their special drinks which r the best u should try them .

I wasn't really sure I liked tiki bars but as this one is pretty famous, I decided to give it a try while I was staying nearby. It definitely exceeded my expectations. They are committed to their tiki theme but not in a garish way. I liked the vibe inside and the pool in the middle with the floating band is pretty awesome and unique. One of my favorite things was that it would occasionally (fake) rain, thunder & lightning inside. This place is touristy and popular and you'll definitely notice in the prices. I wouldn't say that you come here for the food, but it was quite good (I had the pork tacos and the chicken fried rice). Our waiter, Bash, was attentive and careful about a nut allergy as well, which always puts me at ease when eating out. Heads up that they do charge you a $10 cover/person if you're still seated (or come in) when the band goes on, but they're pretty up-front about that too. Overall, if you're looking for a fun, themed outing while in downtown SF, this is a good spot!

The food was not bad but the atmosphere is really neat. The thunderstorm that happens in the middle of the restaurant is really fun. I would go again.

Amazing atmosphere, excellent service, super talented and fun band, The Island Groove, and delicious cocktails! Had such a fabulous evening there!

I visited here about 15 years ago with a US President it was awesome. Now reservation staff was rude, would not answer my questions or provide guidance. Drinks and food over priced, if you are over 35 do not go.

Out of the norm, you step into a drunken tropical paradise with strong yet way overpriced drinks. the atmosphere is pretty cool, great place to people watch. very diverse clientele

The Tonga room is fabulous food and drinks and the atmosphere is amazing with the rain inside the restaurant- great place. Our waiter Bash (I hope this is how you spell it) served us this evening 30th May. He was the loveliest, attentive, professional waiter I’ve ever had on our whole trip to the states over the last two weeks. A great member of the Tonga team - such an asset!

We came here for New Year's Eve. They had 2 times, and we had the earlier time. Next time, if I can, I'll pick the later time. This was an awesome place to be in general, but for New Year's Eve it was great. There was the bar that anyone could be at, and then there was the tables around the pool with a ship in it. The ship for this evening had a band in it, that was extremely loud, and it was hard to hear the person sitting across from you. The was a rain storm that came down in the water every 20 minutes or so, like the Rainforest Cafe, and it was really pretty. The food that we had was their normal food but they had buffet for New Year's Eve. It was the best buffet and the best value for the buffet that we ever had. I mean, ahi salad mixings, sushi, crab legs, suckling pig, some sweet and sour pork, spicy tofu, and then dessert. We got Hawaiian leis at the table, along with party hats, and noise makers. Giving noise makers to families with small kids as well as some adults was a mistake as they added to the noise of the band and made it more hard to hear. The servers were good, and very helpful. We will come back here on a regular occasion, as well as make it a New Year's Eve tradition.

The first time I went to the Tonga Room, we had an amazing time... the food was great, service was excellent, and we enjoyed the live music. However, on a subsequent visit our group was seated too close to the drummer and couldn't hear ourselves think much less talk. Aside from that, the poke appetizer is fantastic, and I really liked the scallops. Atmosphere is fun and it's overall a unique experience.

I honestly hate giving terrible reviews and would never to a small mom and pop but certainly this place can handle a bad review. This was a Thursday in late September and it wasn’t very busy at all. We waited at hostess stand for roughly 10 minutes. A woman finally helped us and told us it would be a $15 per person charge to sit at a table and eat. “ I have a great table for you”. Well that table was directly behind a column so we asked to move. We now are at a different table and wait another 15 minutes for someone to take our drink order. $20 drinks really? Long story short the menu is limited and prices are outrageous. By far the worst chicken wings I’ve ever had. Zero taste. $15 per person to sit at a table, pay outrageous prices for drinks and food and listen to a cheesy wedding band is beyond disturbing. This is a huge tourist trap and not worth visiting. San Fran is a foodies paradise and so many amazing restaurants. Skip at all costs!

Was a bit difficult to find, so I walked into the lobby and asked. Impressive hotel it's housed in. The Tonga Room itself is very 1980's Tiki re-imagining. Had a blast drinking Mai Tais and making friends with strangers. Would definitely return!

I was really excited to come here but you cannot make reservations unless a hotel guest, we went along anyway thinking we can have some cocktails while we wait. The wait for a table in the bar was 2 hours and even longer in the restaurant so we just had a couple of drinks. It felt weird such a long waiting time when half the restaurant was empty the whole time we where there. The cocktails were nice and the band was great so recommend for that. We got dressed up thinking it was a classy place but half the people where in shorts, hoodies and some baseball caps on a Saturday nights so doesn’t appear to have a dress code.

When was the last time you went to a bar where it rains inside? We came here before dinner in china town and there was no wait for a table in the bar area. The cocktails are very strong. We only stayed for one drink as I feel that’s all you need, also they are not the cheapest. They do have a happy hour during the week.

What a classic! Come when the band is playing, usually after 8:30pm. The band comes out on a moving boat and plays in the old pool. It rains in the bar area, with thunder claps in the background, and lightning! Make sure to get the KAHLUA PORK TACOS.....absolutely mouth watering!

Paid $100.00 for two people, no drinks for very mediocre food, the only good part was the live music and the staff were nice.

Heard about this place online and in Lonely Planet guide! I was so pleased I came here with work colleagues and so much so we returned every night for drinks (when we could get in due to some private parties - although there was a large conference in town so understandable)! It is an experience but one worth having! The pool in the middle and thunder/lightening definitely adds to the experience! Try get here for the live music too as that was great fun! The cocktails are amazing but on every occasion I came this was a very enjoyable evening!

Came to celebrate a birthday, fun food and drinks in a setting unlike any other. If you look closely, you'll see traces of the 1930's pool decor amongst the Polynesian decor. Such great service, upbeat and warm, delicious food, and a great evening.

Great times and the food was good. If your looking to create an experience then this is a must see. Great for the fam too!

The decor is very tropical and unique, but my shoes stuck to the bar carpet! I heard someone else next to me mention it too. The wait makes it seem like they're soooo busy and packed, yet when we got seated, more the 3/4 of the tables were empty. When we left, it was only about half full - what the heck? I went out to the front twice by the host stand (we were there from 6:15 to 8pm) and there was a wait. Just ridiculously bad management. And the food is really just mediocre.

Excellent! And very San Francisco. Glad I live here and visit Fairmont often. Great food, ambience and sophistication! Thank you for being high end! Maryanne

Fun and entertaining spot with drinks and food. Everyone loves the rain shower every 30 minutes. There was a band at 8 but we didn’t stay that long. Our server PJ was darling.

Lovely food in a tropical setting. Musical entertain is good. A little difficult to maintain a conversation as it can get noisy but the food is good and the cocktails are amazing.

Whilst staying at The Fairmont we decided to take advantage of happy hour. Cocktails were really good, my daughter also wanted to have a cocktail which was lovely but I think to charge the same for a virgin cocktail as an alcoholic one is wrong. We shared so appetisers which were tasty but small in size. Fun atmosphere which was enjoyable not the cheapest place even with happy hour but San Francisco is an expensive place

We were staying at the Fairmont on check in they asked if we would like to reserve a dinner time since the Tonga room fills up fast. Food okay but the experience was so fun. Ar area was packed. Band was good and got everyone e cited our waiter Ken was on it very professional and wonderful customer service. Enjoyed the evening of fun