Post #15478 by thejab on Thu, Dec 5, 2002 11:50 AM

The Buena Vista is in the North part of the city near Fisherman's Wharf & Ghiradelli Square, The Tonga Room is atop Nob Hill in the Fairmount Hotel, and the Bamboo Hut is not really in between the 2, but is just East of North Beach and Chinatown near lots of strip clubs.

Try and make it to the Tonga Room and Trader Vic's, but the Bamboo Hut is nothing special. If you have to see everything then it might be worth your while. But be warned they have awful drinks.

The Tonga Room is right on the cable car line and it's a steep hill so I usually ride the cable car up and walk down. And near the Tonga Room are some great places:

The Crown Room atop the Fairmount is sadly gone, but across the street there is the Mark Hopkins Hotel and the swanky 60-year old "Top of the Mark" bar with great views.

Down the hill at the corner of Post and Taylor (where Tiki Bob's used to be) stands the old Tiki Bob that has been painted all brown.

On the same corner is C. Bobby's Owl Tree bar that is full of owl-related stuff (you just have to see it to believe it).
http://bayarea.citysearch.com/review/886156/editorial/

Chinatown and North Beach are within walking distance and offer many great bars and restaurants. You could start at the Tonga Room at happy hour (weekdays) and walk all the way to the Buena Vista stopping at the above spots and have a blast (if you like to walk). Favorite bars of mine along the way are the Li Po lounge in Chinatown and Tosca, Vesuvio, and Mr. Bing's in North Beach (all on Columbus Ave.). The Buena Vista is open until 2 AM and their Irish Coffee certainly hits the spot on a cold night.

Have a great time!