Intercontinental Mark Hopkins

I remember watching the 1968 classic «Bullitt» and couldn’t help but notice the nice hotel in the beginning. I didn’t really think much of it, since at the time, I thought I would probably never visit San Francisco. Well, in a nutshell, I could not have been more wrong.
My company’s travel booking site lists the Mark Hopkins as not only a preferred chain, but has «negotiated rates». I thought I was dreaming. But, using Hilton and SPG hotels most of the time, I was reluctant to try it out– until last weekend.
Long story short, I had to cancel my flight back to Denver and work an extra day. I figured, «this would be a great chance to check out the Mark Hopkins». Low and behold, I booked it for 2 nights.
When I arrived, I noticed there was a pull in up front, and a garage entrance to the side. I ended up going to the side. I was greeted shortly, and told the gentlemen I was checking in. He took it from there, and I proceeded to check in. As I got to the lobby, I was impressed with the marble everywhere. This place screamed OG– which I absolutely love in hotels (AKA hotels from the earlier part of the century– not the late 80’s). I was greeted, and taken care of. I noticed this was a AAA 4 Diamond hotel.
I got an upgrade, and proceeded to my room. I was impressed with not only the size of the room, but the view as well. For a base rate (which I will forewarn you, rates fluctuate like a mfer here) of $ 201, I felt the value was above average (with taxes and valet, it ended up at about $ 300 a night) for what I got.
The room came with a mini bar (I didn’t partake in) and a coffee machine. The bathroom amenities were plentiful and smelled decent (I didn’t smell like a European hooker for once), The bathroom was large with a soaking tub, and even though it wasn’t a separate shower/​tub, it was a nice size.
I even got a complimentary shoe shine– which came in handy, since I haven’t been able to find shoe polish around (honestly, I haven’t been looking hard enough, but I don’t have time either). There was laundry service as well, but I stuck with my team at Tower Laundromat on Stockton St.
Overall, I had decent sleep, I was not interrupted, and the staff kept me engaged. It was one of the most pleasant hotel stays I have had in a while, and if you haven’t noticed, I have been hotel hopping since November and I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon.
i cannot wait to come back, and this just opened my eyes to start using IHC hotels more in the future! If you are in town, at least come check out the beauty of the place, and look in the lobby and see the mini history exhibits they have. Also, they have a mean breakfast buffet, along with Sunday brunch on the top floor. Yum!
To me, this is the best 4 diamond hotel I have stayed at– and shows well for how old it is (1939)!

Came here for New Years and was not disappointed. Read a lot of the reviews before I picked this place. If you are getting a suite specifically the terrace suite on 15^th floor it’s totally worth it! It was a totally romantic getaway. I’m actually what we call here in San Francisco a rarity (born & raised). But this hotel and room made us feel like tourist in our own city. Literally felt like we went on vaca somewhere. This will from now on be a tradition for us. I totally recommend this place to fellow Unilocalers. I can’t speak for the bad reviews about the regular rooms but if you got the money just upgrade to the suite you will not be disappointed.
Also Carlos the hotel manager is awesome! Booked us dinner reservation at Osso steakhouse 2 blocks away on NYE. Thank you!
I saw some pictures of the Nob hill suite and that looks promising (full kitchen).

Had a very nice stay here but it didn’t completely wow me or anything.

THIEVES!!! Had to put one star to access site but this hotel deserves NO STARS. Three night stay in three rooms resulted in rude staff (PLEASE AVOID THE TOP OF THE MARK UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE TREATED LIKE TRASH). And my room was ransacked with Christmas gifts being stolen. Night manager Jose Pineda was no help and blamed us for leaving the door open.
AVOID THIS HOTEL AT ALL COSTS.

Great hotel. Valet parking only so be prepared to pay 55 $ for that. The room was beautiful. We were given a room on the 6^th floor with a very nice view.
Went with the hubby to celebrate an intimate Christmas together, and was not disappointing. The staff were all nice and patient. The lobby was beautiful and the bed comfy.
I am an employee with the brand so I got the room at a great price. I am not sure what the normal rate is, but I’m absolutely sure it is way beyond what I make in a week.
I would definitely return to this hotel. But I would take BART to save that 55 $.

As someone who lives in San Francisco and has been to Top of the Mark, I thought this would be a nice place to stay when I had a few family members in town. I was completely wrong, one of the worst hotels I have ever stayed at with extremely poor customer service.
1) Rooms are small and extremely outdated.
2) I called the concierge eight different times and never once got through.
3) Claimed I would get free wifi for being a member but they charged us regardless.
4) Never sent the bill via email as they said they would. I was charged so I called the hotel to have them send the bill. The first time, after picking up the front desk transferred me to a voicemail. I left a message, no one has replied. Called three more times to the front desk, no answer.
5) $ 50+parking is a total rip off. Expected, but still over-​priced.
6) It was the weekend before Christmas so the hotel was extra busy but getting a reservation at Top of the Mark was nearly impossible, even for hotel guests.
7) Elevators are fast but small so you have to wait a long time to get one.
I will never stay here again. There are much better hotels in SF (the Clift, the Fairmont.)

Even though we live close to SF we like to stay in the city from time to time. The Mark Hopkins is now the only hotel I will stay in when I visit. The room rates can’t be beat for this caliber hotel. I’ve stayed three times since July and each visit has been perfection. The valet, front desk staff and gorgeous rooms all contribute to an amazing experience.

This review is specifically about the bar in the lobby, not top of the Mark. The lobby bar is cozy and intimate. I love it. The bar tender Arman however is incompetant in drink mixing, doesn’t know basic alcohol’s and rather than say I don’t know, provides erroneous information. He is paranoid afraid of chit chatting asking if we are with management. If you don;t want to chit chat, don’t be a bar tender. His ways are very flippant and disrespectful, walks away from you as you’re talking to him. I couldn’t beleive an SF landmark hotel would hire a such a person for such an important position. He even spoke poorly of his employer’s business decisions.
Besides that, it’s a quiet bar and top of the Mark is very loud which is how we ended up in the lobby.

I stayed in the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins in early November on business. I was excited to stay here, but was left ultimately disappointed. The location is great, right on a corner. There are plenty of banks and shops nearby, and it’s about 1.5 miles away from the financial district. The lobby was grand and there was no line at the front desk. The best part: the wifi was super fast!
Now, we get to the negatives. The room I stayed in had only a couple accessible plugs, I had to unplug a lamp to charge my phone. The room was small and the tiny bathroom had no shelves or storage at all to place my toiletries — they kept the hairdryer on the toilet which may have been the only flat shelf in the bathroom. The only thing smaller than the bathroom would’ve been the tiny elevators — which were almost charming in their aged look, but ultimately to small for people and bags.
The room was just in need of a renovation, with worn paint and an overall dingy feel.
It wasn’t terrible, but not up to par with some of the other business level hotels in the area.

Very nice and clean hotel. I love the architecture and comfort. If you can give it a try, well worth it!
It is close to food and has great scenic views!

Love the charm, vintage, and views, but when comparing this hotel to it’s counterpart Intercontinental San Francisco, Mark Hopkins unfortunately falls flat!
Service here mediocre, definitely below expectations for an Intercontinental hotel. The elevators are problematic — a side effect of being of a historic hotel. Beds are old. The restaurant is in desperate need of a face lift. They don’t even offer movies on their little TVs!
Top of the Mark would be a highlight if we could get in! It is a seated lounge, not a bar, so if you’re trying to catch the sunset up there, be sure to get there before the crowd does, or you’ll be waiting in the crammed elevator area where the hostess is, hoping to get through the line before the sun disappears!
Location is good, but not great, considering you have to climb a giant hill to get back.
All in all, it’s a decent place to stay if you can get a good rate. Otherwise, I’d choose something a bit more central and modern.

Loved my stay at the Mark Hopkins. My only suggestion is that the desk chairs are too low to work comfortably at a computer on the desk, and they don’t adjust. I had to take a cushion from the side chair to boost myself to desk height. Also, they should provide curtain clips to keep the blackout curtains shut — that don’t close all the way. Otherwise, a great place to stay.

I don’t often get such A+ service when traveling, so I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my brief two night stay at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins hotel.
Check-​in was a breeze, and my room on the 11^th floor had a wonderful view of the city… with windows that even opened (though just a crack) so that I could get some lovely California fresh air while I slept. I loved the big soft bed and fluffy pillows, but would have also loved a vending machine rather than pay $ 5.50 for a Diet Coke from the in-​room bar.
The concierge was incredibly helpful with transportation and dining recommendations. And the hotel’s overall location in Nob Hill is just absolutely beautiful. I took a morning stroll around the square on top of the hill, passing plenty of locals out for their morning walks, jogs, and breakfast runs.
A delicious meal at the Top of the Mark, with views of the entire city and bay, solidified the legendary status of this hotel in my book!

I’m a sucker for vintage spots that have charm and charisma. The MH is one of those places. I just wish I could give it more than 5 stars.
The front desk staff were extremely helpful during check in. I only took a few minutes and we were done. The bell staff had our bags up and in the room and the guys at the front door kept everything running smoothly.
I didn’t want to leave because they are experts at making you feel great.

Comfy beds, fluffy pillows, great views, and stellar brunch on the top floor.
Loved the lobby with the beautiful furniture and the grand piano that wasn’t locked :) However with only three elevators they can get jammed up with guests pretty quickly and stopping in the teeny-​tiny valet area can be a nightmare (thank goodness I didn’t have to park the car…)
Location is pretty legit, but beware the big hills you’ll have to walk up if you wander far :)

The location is I guess the biggest flaw of this place. You practically have to take a cab or public transportation to this place because on foot it is way too physically painful and also very time consuming. The location factor would definitely be on us since we knew what we were getting ourselves into. I am not taking any stars away from the rating because of this so hold your horses! hehe. I guess my biggest complaint would have to be the fact that they did not have a swimming pool, little things that should have been in our room were not (such as bath robes and slippers), and housekeeping moved our stuff around … making us think that we misplaced some valuable items.
Now that I have been such a downer, let me get to some of the good stuff! haha ~ Well I have to say that the staff at the front desk and the «bell» service people were quite professional and courteous. The view (if you ask for a good one) is really great and the room that we were put in was quite large for being in such an expensive city as SF. The hotel itself does not have that many floors but since it is located on top of a huge hill, the view is great no matter what floor you are put on. More great things about this hotel would most likely have to be the fact that it looks so nice on the outside. It is super fancy looking and makes you feel all special when you get there and enter the small, but perfectly decorated lobby. A big fear for us was bedbugs and our room (#1209) did not have them so that was also a plus. The internet seemed pretty fast but they charge so make sure that you sign up for their «rewards» program (which is free) to avoid getting charged an arm and a leg for their wifi! Well that seems to be all the pros and cons that I can recall so hope you enjoy!

This is one of the top Intercons in the US. The property is situated at the peak of Nob Hill and affords one an extremely good view of the city and the bay area. The rates are competitive. This hotel is 1^st class and has the old money feel. It’s been around since the 20’s I’m told.
Arriving by car from SFO treats you to climbing Taylor Street (one of THE steepest ascents in the city) and turning right onto California Street at it’s absolute apex. Somewhat heart stopping the first time you do it!
The wonderful doorman and bellman (ask for Bill if he’s on) will wisk away your car and hurry your bags to your room with gentle care.
Check-​in is easy and whether you are paying or utilizing IHG club points, it doesn’t matter. This hotel is all about the customer.
While checking in, look to your right, and you will see the club lounge entrance. Again, it’s all about the service and Guest Relations Manager Ana and colleagues will be sure to take good care of you if you book a club access room, which is well worth it for the sumptuous breakfast and cocktails.
My wife and I were here twice in August: we traveled to Carmel for the Concours D’Elegance and auctions, and then returned for her birthday. We were treated to an upgraded room on the 16^th floor with a terrace large enough for a 4 seat table, lounge chairs and 4 potted plants– just spectacular– and with views to match. If you want a nice upgrade, be sure to join the Ambassador club before or at check in ($ 200.00/year). Future fees waived if you stay enough nights at Intercons anywhere in the world as I recall.)
On previous occasions we’ve gone to the Top of the Mark Club for a drink and a look around the city though the club’s windows. Very nice.
Room service is top notch. We had a great dinner delivered after a long day of shopping and climbing hills… The chef prepared vegan dishes for me without a problem. Delicious, too–
The cable car is nearby, so definitely do that if you haven’t done so previously. The concierge has been very helpful.
The Fairmount is across the street if you want poke around there, and of course the Pacific Union mansion is situated diagonally across California Street.
I hope you get the chance to stay here. It’s super romantic and like no place else in the city.
Enjoy–

Excellent stay here!
The staff is friendly helpful and professional!!!
The morning buffet has a wonderful variety, I liked the cappuccino maker.
Our room was clean and the views were amazing. It was very convenient when checking out, they will call to have your car ready in front.
Don’t forget to get a drink at the top of the Mark!

My husband and I stayed here for a staycation weekend. With my Ambassador weekend night, we stayed in a spacious suite that had amazing views, the comfy bathrobes and slippers we love, great internet, and the ability to shut out the world and sleep 10 – 12 hours a night.
Good location. Not far from Union Square area, Chinatown, and a short cab ride from the water. It is on top of a hill, so wear good shoes if you go out and explore. We did not mind the hills, but we also love to hike. If exercise is something you do not do, then you will not like it.
The service here was outstanding. We had access to the club lounge, which can get a little confusing because it is by the bar and restaurant in the hotel. However, we had great service each night (thank you David!)
My husband loved the shower. It had unbelievable water pressure.
TCHO chocolates on the pillow each night were a great touch. I love that they support a local company.
My only real complaint is counter space in the bathroom. Its a little tight with two people sharing.

Don’t even try to walk from the BART… Catch a cable car or take a taxi. Price is about the same. The walk damn near killed us. Yes, the views are nice, but there are less expensive alternatives that have equally good views. It really is not conveniently located to most of the typical Frisco attractions so the climb back up to the hotel must always be factored into your activities.
I do not recommend this property for families or anyone on a budget. If you are not a member of their rewards program, they will nickel and dime you for every little thing. The food was expensive and not that good. Breakfast buffet (not free) was standard fare and it was cold. Drinks at Top of the Mark are also expensive and so-​so… only pricey appetizers are offered here. One guest ahead of us was not allowed to enter because he was wearing shorts so there is some sort of dress code here, as well.
Catch the view from another nearby property or simply ride the cable car to the top of Nob Hill for $ 6.00.
Overall, it was a nice couple of days but we will not stay here again.

This is a historic hotel on Nob Hill in San Francisco. It is a fun place to stay and a sundown drink at Top of the Mark is a great spot for a pre-​dinner glass of wine.
The lobby and public areas have been refurbished and are quite beautiful.
Unfortunately, the rooms are dated and feel a bit shabby.
For the price, Mark Hopkins is not the best choice on Nob Hill. I like the Fairmont much better than Mark Hopkins. Stanford Court is also recently remodeled but the views aren’t as good as the hotels near the top of Nob Hill.
Really, the only reason to choose Mark Hopkins over nearby hotels would be an affinity to the Intercontinental loyalty program. Although, the Intercontinental in SOMA is fairly close, significantly cheaper and much, much nicer than the Mark Hopkins.

Excelente opción para quedarse en San Francisco. Muy bien ubicado.
La atención es muy buena y las habitaciones cómodas con excelente vista a la ciudad.