Top of the Mark

I had the opportunity during my recent trip to San Francisco to visit a San Francisco historic landmark, the Top of the Mark - a high-end bar overlooking the city/bay from it's iconic position at the top floor of the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins hotel. Dating back to the late 1930s, this bar was the site of many pre-deployment toasts by crews embarking on their journey - and also featured a spot called "Weeper's Corner" - where spouses and loved ones would sit, watching the ships carrying their loved ones out to war. As a hotel guest of the IC Mark Hopkins with upper-tier status, I was afforded a few drink vouchers, which covered practically any cocktail on their menu. Food wasn't included, but considering the view? - worth it. Despite visiting San Francisco a few times, this was my first time visiting the Top of the Mark - mostly because I have a bit fear of heights (although somehow, riding in an airplane isn't as fazing). The spot was relatively quiet on a rainy, Sunday evening - with no wait. I wasn't aware of any cover charge, nor was one asked from me. Vincent was my wonderful host for the evening. He recommended two great drinks - the Espresso Martini, and either a Nutty or Naughty (I couldn't figure out which of the two words he said) Irishman - which was a warm, coffee like drink. Both were made pretty strong. Since I already had dinner, I skipped the limited finger food/appetizers section, and went straight for desserts. I ordered their Chocolate Lava Cake with Strawberry Sorbetto - which tasted amazing paired with the two coffee-base cocktails I had. The view was wonderful - although I sat on the side of the table looking out, but not down. I think my queasiness around heights isn't necessary looking out and seeing how high I am, but looking down and being able to see the ground. Hard to explain. Vincent was helpful and checked in with me throughout my visit to make sure I didn't need anything else. He was also helpful in identifying some of the San Francisco landmarks I was looking out at from the night skyline. Overall, my first visit up to Top of the Mark (despite staying at the Mark Hopkins hotel a few times) was a great way to end a rain-affected weekend. Definitely make the trip up if you've got the time. The hotel itself is well maintained for being almost 100 years old (the hotel turns 100 in 2026), and the bar is definitely getting there - but still, very well maintained and a part of San Francisco's storied history.

The Chai Harder cocktail was delicious and I enjoyed the milkiness of it although it's a strong drink. We also had the Old Fashion and my husband says it's the best he's had, but I'm not personally a fan of its taste. We had the short rib sliders and they're well plated but I thought they were okay while husband really liked them. The views were spectacular and staff were nice, polite. professional and cool. Going over is a wonderful experience and you've got to go and see for yourself how beautiful San Francisco still is.

Sunset from Top of the MarkSeven of us arrived promptly at Top of the Mark to welcome Gina back to town. Newly retired and fresh off a flight from Portland, she was brimming with excitement. As we exchanged bear hugs, she exclaimed, "I can't believe you all came on time!" Noting how punctuality had become less common since retirement, she added with a laugh, "This is amazing."It was five o'clock in the afternoon, and Brian, the host, went out of his way to find the perfect seating arrangement for our group of seven. He presented three options: a cozy sofa setup for comfort, a secluded corner table for privacy, and two tables combined by the window, offering the best panoramic view of San Francisco. The choice was unanimous--we chose the view.Top of the Mark sits atop Nob Hill, on the 19th floor of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel. This iconic rooftop lounge, established in 1939, is renowned for its sweeping vistas of San Francisco landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the downtown skyline. During World War II, it became a cherished gathering place for military families. Wives would bid farewell to their loved ones departing from the bay, and service members had a tradition of leaving behind partially consumed bottles of liquor with handwritten notes for the next guest, wishing them well. Outside the bar, a display case preserves many of these bottles, their attached notes telling poignant stories of hope and camaraderie.At 5:20, the sun began to set, casting a fiery glow over the horizon. The sky blazed with hues of orange and red, blending seamlessly into the sea like a brilliant canvas. Standing by the window, I captured the breathtaking moment in a photograph. It felt like a privilege to reunite with friends and colleagues in such a magnificent setting, reflecting on the days we had worked side by side and the shared memories that brought us together once again.

Had cocktails at top of the Mark this afternoon. What a beautiful view! We had good service and were not rushed at all. Can't believe I've never been here before.

First time at this place to celebrate my sister's 21st birthday. We came on a rainy night. A nice place to grab drinks and have a couple appetizers. It's overlooking the city lights of SF. They have a valet parking for $15 the first hour and add $10 each for every hour. Parking on the streets is very hard, so valet was a nice option. The servers are really nice. The sliders we had was so good, the meat melts in your mouth. They don't have much options for food since it's a place to just have a couple drinks and small finger foods. Cute little date night spot.

A legendary bar, Top of the Mark, literally sits atop the Mark Hopkins Hotel on Nob Hill. For about 80 years, this has been a go to place for well heeled partying in SF.My wife and I met friends for drinks on our stay and we're impressed by the ambience and views. Staff were friendly, helpful, and attentive. The cocktails well prepared, presented, and delicious. Our 2nd night we stopped by to enjoy hors d'oeuvres and a drink while we watched the sunset. It was magical.

Top of the Mark has been a gathering place for military families for nearly 100 years. They maintain a tradition of the "squadron bottle." Any military member, current or retired, can select a free shot from any of the squadron bottles and note it in the bar's log book. If you drink a bottle's last shot, you buy the next one. The log books go back generations. Many people bring bottles to donate, with notes of remembrance taped to them. It's lovely.My buddy and I, both veterans, were made to feel like very special guests. While no one pressured us to order (I'm certain we could have sat, enjoyed our shots, and left.), we enjoyed a very nice charcuterie board and my buddy had an additional cocktail. This was a wonderful experience. I'll be sure to bring fellow veterans here on future trips to SF.

Beautiful views, stunning ambience, and live music (and people dancing too) on Saturday night made the vibe inside so cheerful and lively for the holidays. Note that there is a cover charge for Saturday nights since they have live music. They have a 360 view of the SF skyline which is amazing to see at night.The Intercontinental drink didn't really impress me (I thought it was too strong) but my friend's citrusy drink was a lot better. We also shared the strawberry peach shortcake which was good at first but tasted a bit strangely of truffle after a few bites; not sure why. The prices here are pretty steep ($15 for the shortcake, all cocktails $21+).I thought service could be a lot better; we seemed to be forgotten about since we were placed in the corner and spent a lot of time waiting for someone to come around so we could ask for the check. Overall service felt aloof; I was expecting a bit better for a nicer bar like this.

We were staying at the hotel and wanted to have a nice drink and dessert for our anniversary. The service was great. The drinks are expensive but like I said, we were more going for a nice experience. Unfortunately a table next to us was over served. They were highly intoxicated and became loud and inappropriate. I wish they had asked them to leave. We would have stayed longer if the other table had left. They bothered all the tables close by.

Top of the Mark has a gorgeous panoramic view of the city and it's surroundings. The views are unbelievable and unobstructed. We were lucky to make it here since it wasn't part of our plan that day. The venue has a classic old time charm with decor that is from the 60s. The venue itself is beautiful and the atmosphere is great. The service was fantastic as well. The host was very friendly and sat us down immediately. He had a lovely sense of humor. Almost all seats in the venue has an amazing view so there's no bad choice. Waitress came promptly and took our order. We got two cocktails and they were deliciousWe ordered the Ghirardelli espresso martini and Marks old fashioned. Espresso martini was absolutely delicious with such a smooth espresso finish. The ghirardelli chocolate powder was sprinkled on top of a nice chocolatey foam. The espresso was strong delicious and smooth. The Marks old fashioned was delicious as well. The drink was a bit stiff at first but with the ice melting a bit made the drink smooth out in flavor. The bourbon they used was delicious and drink overall had great composition. The drinks are not cheap but this is a once in a blue moon date that hubby and i get to go one so we splurged. Overall we had a great time. Thanks for the staff and everyone at Top of the Mark!