Top of the Mark

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One Nob Hill, 999 California St (at Mason Street)
San Francisco, CA 94108

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(510) 343-6964
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Top of the Mark - San Francisco, CA
Top of the Mark - San Francisco, CA
Top of the Mark - San Francisco, CA
Top of the Mark - San Francisco, CA
Reviews
( 18 )
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( 1 )
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( 1 )

Best

We've been here several times. ISadly the TOTM had seemed to have gone downhill there for awhile- but I am glad to say the Top of the Mark is BACK. We went on a tuesday and the pi...

Worst

Don't go. Ever. We're boycotting Top Of The Mark. We've been burned by them before from bad service, but this was the last straw. We paid $200 for a dinner that was terrible...

Still the best view in town 7/10/2010

this aint what it used to be. it has clearly become a tourist attraction. the band caters to it, the food caters to it and the drink prices cater to it. i will always love this place for the romance and the tradition but i will not come here that often Pros: Read headline Cons: very bad band (at least when i went) more
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UNBELIEVEABLE VIEW, Fab MUSIC. Great(STRONG) drinks! 2/15/2010

We've been here several times. ISadly the TOTM had seemed to have gone downhill there for awhile- but I am glad to say the Top of the Mark is BACK. We went on a tuesday and the pianist Ricardo Scales- was out of this world good- he said he was back that Saturday with his full band- so we went back! OMG- there was a white girl- Paula Harris- that sang with more soul and range than I have ever heard in this city. I can't believe she isn't famous! The downer is that is IS hard to find street parking and if you DO spring for a garage it's expensive. The drinks are 10-13 dollars each but the martinis are guaranteed to put a burn in your throat! The food is really good but on the high side too-I couldn't afford to hang out here all the time- but for a romantic date- or special night...or just to impress out of town visitors- it's great. Oh- as a side note- the band on Friday is "OK" but nothing special like Sat. Dunno know about the wed and thurs bands! Pros: VIEW, strong drinks, MUSIC Cons: expensive parking more
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Fabulous View, Great(STRONG) Drinks, and FAB music! 2/15/2010

We've been here several times. ISadly the TOTM had seemed to have gone downhill there for awhile- but I am glad to say the Top of the Mark is BACK. We went on a tuesday and the pianist Ricardo Scales- was out of this world good- he said he was back that Saturday with his full band- so we went back! OMG- there was a white girl- Paula Harris- that sang with more soul and range than I have ever heard in this city. I can't believe she isn't famous! The downer is that is IS hard to find street parking and if you DO spring for a garage it's expensive. The drinks are 10-13 dollars each but the martinis are guaranteed to put a burn in your throat! The food is really good but on the high side too-I couldn't afford to hang out here all the time- but for a romantic date- or special night...or just to impress out of town visitors- it's great. Oh- as a side note- the band on Friday is "OK" but nothing special like Sat. Dunno know about the wed and thurs bands! Pros: the headline says is all! Cons: expensive to park! more
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Great Bar 4/13/2009

No one can deny that Top of the Mark is still an amazing place to catch a fancy cocktail and hang out with your suit buddies after a tough days of deal making. Having that said, be ready to strut your stuff; or risk feeling uncomfortable in your own skin. Pros: Amazing ambience Cons: Pretentious crowd more
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Never Again. 1/11/2009

Don't go. Ever. We're boycotting Top Of The Mark. We've been burned by them before from bad service, but this was the last straw. We paid $200 for a dinner that was terrible. We literally did not eat the main course. Then the band completely sucked, it was like amateur hour. We had come for dinner and dancing and we got neither. We stopped for fast food on the way home. That's not a joke. That's a very sad reality. Imagine seriously doing that, stopping for $5 fast food on the way home from a terrible $200 night at Top Of the Mark. It used to be a nice place, but now it's just full of hot air. Anything that may have been nice about that place is long gone. +$50 parking on top of that. I'm tried of trying to bring people there for a nice night only to be made a fool of by the establishment itself. We're through giving them $100 and $200 chances to give us something as simple as service, dinner, and dancing. We're done with them. Pros: They take all your money Cons: You're pressured into saying it was a good time because you just wasted so much money. more
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A perfect romantic dinner 7/7/2008

This is one of the best roof top restaurants i have ever been to. The view from up there was just fantastic. My girlfriend and I went there on a Saturday night and there was live music played which was wonderful. There was a cover charge of $10 which was reasonable. The ambiance was romantic and the food was surprisingly good. But, to top all this up is the dance that you get to do there. Go there for the dance! I highly recommend this place for couples. Pros: Music,dance,great martini,breathtaking views Cons: Service can be a little better more
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Very Romantic! 12/1/2007

My boyfriend and I went here for a drink and we were very pleased. The staff was attentive and courteous, and of course, the view was amazing. We had an unbelievable seat over looking the city. Great place to celebrate with loved ones, not children. Dinner is pricey, it was $82 fixed dinner on the Saturday night we went. We opted for drinks and appetizers, which were amazing and reasonably priced (for being such a great place). Pros: Ambience, Service, Food, THE VIEW!! more
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Absolutely Breathtaking 8/23/2007

My boyfriend took me here for my birthday a few weeks ago. I was absolutely stunned how beautiful the city looked from the Top of the Mark. We got the best seat in the house; a corner window seat. Everything was absolutely fabulous? the food, the dessert and the drinks. We got the chocolate covered strawberries and champaign. Afterward we danced. It was so incredibly romantic. This is one birthday i will never forget!!! ***If you want to impress a date I highly recommend taking her here!*** Pros: the view, the dessert, the drinks, the romantic ambience Cons: cant think of any!!!! more
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great place downtown for light dining and drinks with a great view 6/6/2007

i have been to san francisco the 2nd time and i wanted something special for my friend who was visiting for the 1st time. we went there on a tuesday at 6 pm for a snack and it is a nice open space with a really fantastiv view!! it was not too crowded so we could be seated by the window. the snacks were terrific! of course they are not cheap (they have a menue at the website), but it is great food in that location therefore i don't think it's overpriced (we shared the nachos and a dessert and we were full). i highly recommand that place for tourists- we really enjoyed it! but go on a sunny day or at night when the fog might have lifted!! i am in my 20s and i think they should put a night club in it, that would be fantastic!! i would go there every weekend! :-) more
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Great View 11/19/2006

Get there before 9pm to save on the cover. Sunset is great too. $10/cocktail isn't bad and the nibble plates are at a fair price too. Can't beat Top of the Mark for drinks anytime time of the evening!! Pros: view, reasonable prices Cons: wait when crowded? more
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Best view in the city. 10/26/2006

I absolutely loved this place. If you ever want to show off this beautiful city check this place out. It is full of upscale people and service. Pros: Views, service more
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What a View 10/3/2006

Stopped in for drinks after a great dinner in Union Square at John's Grill and took in the view along with a glass of port. This wonderful locale makes one feel so proud to live in the area. We walked up from union square that alone was brave but once we got to our destination the oversized confortable lounge chairs were exactly what we needed. This place is a must on anyones list. Pros: Great view Cons: Very busy more
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beautiful views 9/21/2006

a lot of people don't know about this place. very nice. huge drink selection. live piano music. on the top floor of the hotel. no parking. more
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Great place for visitors! 8/29/2006

The place to go when you want to treat yourself to a nice ambiance and setting. The view is fantastic, and a great way to start the night on the town with friends or family from out of town visiting. I would say you can't wear your normal California gear--tshirts and flipflops, but it is definitely worth the view if you are looking for a place to impress your visitors. Pros: View more
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Up, Up, And Away 8/26/2006

I wish, oh, how I wish, that everything was not so damn expensive in San Francisco. But, with beauty like this, I guess you're paying for the view. I remember when drinks were $2.00, but then, I also remember when gas was 29 cents. Oh, well, relax and enjoy. It's great, it's fun, and we're going to die anyway. So bottoms up at the Top of the Mark. more
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Great View, wasnt happy with the service 12/7/2005

So the view is just incredible at this place. You cant go wrong. Now the service is a definite turnoff at least for the time we went. They were out of 3 drinks in a row that we ordered and the waiter was not very attentive. Would suggest this place to hang out, relax, and listen to a great band, but if you are looking to get great service you may not be satisfied. I will go again and see if we get someone else and try to re-review again. more
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Best View 9/6/2005

I think the Top of the Mark has the best views of the city and bay. On a clear day or night you can even see the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands! I used to go every Thursday night when Swing Session was there, now I go maybe once or twice a year. I regret missing out on Atomic Cocktail and Lavay Smith and her Trio or her Red Hot Skillet Lickers or Kim Nalley and her Quartet or Quintet. They should really bring back the live bands, they added so much to the ambiance. On Fridays there is a live band but most of the music they play isnt very good. The service is spotty, theres always a cover, parking can be difficult (but it's the city, what do you expect?) and some nights a long wait ensues to get in so be prepared. Pros: Romantic, Ambiance, Breathtaking Views Cons: small dance floor, expensive, wait more
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Great dancing, spetacular views, very romantic 5/1/2005

Love this place. I have been there multiple times on Fri/Sat nights. On those nights there is a good live band, $10 cover. If you like to dance to classics like Sinatra then this is the place to go. Although they do also play other music like Santana, 70's and such. Great views of San Francisco, good service, good music. Casual-dressy attire is perfectly okay but you won't feel out of place if you like/choose to dress up. Perfect for dates, very romantic. Drinks are pricey though so if you will have a problem paying around $10/drink then be aware. Pros: Views of SF, Music more
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Good food, great staff. 3/26/2005

We ate ourselves silly at the Easter brunch and everything was wonderful. The manager and hostess were very warm and knowledgable and gave us a great window table; and our waiter was friendly and attentive. Views are spectacular, and though the food stations are kind of cramped, you will love your overall experience. Caviar lovers, here's one of few brunches that offer such luxury. All in all, I think the food and variety at the Ritz is slightly better, but this place wins in total package experience! Pros: Service, Food, View Cons: Cramped more
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Nice ambiance, but watered down martinis 2/28/2005

I went there for the first time in February. I enjoyed the views and excellent jazz band. They played a lot of good songs and was great for dancing. The martinis were watered down and tasted lousy. This place is supposed to be known for martinis, so this was a disappointment. I would recommend going to Voda on Belden Place (5 blocks away) for a real martini. The service was also very slow - maybe a bad night? more
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Menu for Top of the Mark


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Revelers enjoy city-spanning views at this historic hotel hangout.

Owner Message

  • Welcome to the legendary Top Of The Mark, a place where many come from near and far to rendezvous, celebrate, and enjoy good times. Located on the 19th floor of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel, the world-renowned sky-bar affords a near 360 degree vista of San Francisco including views of the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, and Alcatraz. Famed for its 100 Martinis menu, the Top Of The Mark has been rated as one of the 26 "World's Best Hotel Bars" by Forbes.com two years consecutively.

    Offering breakfast and lunch Mondays through Saturdays, dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, and brunch on Sundays, the Top Of The Mark is open every evening for cocktails and offers live entertainment most nights.

    Reservations for private parties may be made by special arrangement. Please contact the
    Top Of The Mark manager for inquiries at 415.616.6916.

Editorial

  • The Scene
    Nostalgic locals and tourists relax at two-toned wood tables that line the perimeter of this sky lounge and offer soaring views of San Francisco. Pillars adorned with torch-like lamps surround the center dance floor--an elevated mahogany stage crowned by chic iron chandeliers and backed by mirrors and fresh flowers. A small bar is tucked in the far right corner, where the lone TV airs CNN or local sports (muted when live musicians are doing their thing).

    The Draw
    The 270-degree panoramic views can't be beat. Tuesdays (7pm-midnight), a pianist holds court, filling the lounge with romantic tunes that practically light the candles on each table. Fridays and Saturdays (9pm-1am), a six-piece band gets well-dressed folks out of their seats and swinging to ditties dating back to the '40s. The "100 Martinis" drink menu (stirred, not shaken) highlights the venue's top 10 selections, as well as unique offerings like the Jackie O.

  • 11/20/2005 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Thu 6:30am-11am; 12pm-2:30pm; 5pm-12am Fri-Sat 6:30am-11am; 12pm-2:30pm; 4pm-1am Sun 10am-2pm; 5pm-12am
  • Payments: Master Card, Diner's Club, Visa, American Express, Discover, Cash
  • Neighborhoods: Downtown, Northeast
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