San Francisco is our favorite city, and the Fairmont is the only hotel we'll stay at there.  While there are members of this forum who have much more experience with a variety of high-quality rooms at this hotel, there is no review to put the hotel "on the map."  I have stayed here three times, always in the same type of room.

What we like about this hotel is its location, the friendly and comprehensive service, and the unobstructed views from the Golden Gate Bridge to the TransAmerica Pyramid.

Check In

The front desk staff was courteous and professional.  Our assigned room was not ready when we arrived (early), and I am glad we did not opt for an available room on a lower floor.

Room

We had a Signature Bay View King Tower Room, and had agreed to pay $100 per night extra for a high floor.  Our room was on the 22nd floor, which is the next from the top for rooms.  (We were only charged the $100 the last night, which was a "free" night.)

The room features an arm chair and a comfortable desk chair.  The bed was very nice, and the bathroom was beautiful and functional.

Service

Everyone from the bell staff to the housekeepers was friendly and thorough. 

Dining

We had room service and dined at both restaurants.  The food was good (with one minor exception), but not over-the-top.

We had a pot of coffee delivered to our room every morning, and the service was always prompt and courteous.  The coffee was tasty, generous, and nicely presented.  We had a couple dinners in our room, and all the food was fine except an order of  "Loaded Nachos," which had barely any cheese and just a few black beans rolling around.

I honestly can't remember what I had at the Laurel Court, but the service was good and the restaurant is beautiful.

We went to the Tonga Room on our last night, and were seated promptly at a "waterfront" table ahead of several walk-in copuples off the street.  This restaurant is built around an unused swimming pool, with a Polynesian motif and occasional monsoon showers into the "lagoon."  The food was okay, and the service was very friendly.  We were somewhat disappointed when a band showed up wearing Aloha shirts (and set up on a thatched-roof boat in the pool)--we were hoping for Hawaiian music, but instead were serenaded with pop tunes.

Location

Of course, the top of Nob Hill can't be beat for views!  It's also a good neighborhood, with sufficient shops, several restaurants, and a park.

Nearby Grace Cathedral is incredible, and there's plenty of mobility with transit, including both cable car lines.

Overall

I would describe my travel style as "Domestic First Class."  I've been all over the USA, and to a few places internationally.  We traveled to San Francisco from Seattle on a train in a Bedroom that cost as much as a night at the Fairmont, but there is some discomfort and inconvenience associated with train travel.  I find everything at the Fairmont to be what I expect for a "First Class" experience.