Tonga Room

Located inside the Fairmont San Francisco, the legendary Tonga Room is considered one of the best bars in the world.

This Polynesian restaurant and cocktail lounge sits on the former spot of the Fairmont Terrace Plunge, a 75-foot indoor tile swimming pool built in 1929 that was once a favorite of actress Helen Hayes.

The pool was transformed into the Tonga Room in 1945, becoming one of San Francisco's hottest spots to celebrate Tiki culture. Today, the restaurant remains a favorite of residents, who rave about its Happy Hour (held 5-7 p.m. weekdays) featuring Shanghai noodles, potstickers, chicken drummettes, Asian spare ribs and other Pacific Rim delights for under $10 per person.

When you arrive, cozy up to the Hurricane Bar for an Original Mai Tai, pina colada or stiff Scorpion Bowl while enjoying live music from Top 40 band, Mirage, who entertains from a thatch-covered hut in the pool. Mirage plays from 8 p.m. until closing nightly.

The dance floor is built from the remains for a lumber schooner called the S.S. Forester, which once traveled between San Francisco and the South Seas.

The ambiance is made even more authentic with the light tropical rainstorms that fall from the ceiling every 10 minutes — complete with lightning and thunder!

The Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar is open for dinner and tropical drinks from 5 p.m. until midnight Sunday through Thursday and from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Tonga Room menu items include such Pacific Rim specialties as Hawaiian “black lava” salt crusted Waygu Beef with red tobiko and chili oil; Aloha Baby Back Ribs with Kona Coffee Barbecue Sauce; and Coconut Shrimp with Mango and Banana Tartar Sauce.

The Tonga Room is located at 950 Mason St. inside The Fairmont San Francisco. For reservations, call (415) 772-5278 or visit http://www.tongaroom.com

Photos: Courtesy of Fairmont San Francisco

Have you been to the Tonga Room San Francisco? Share your Tonga Room reviews below!