Look up toward the very top of the tall, square Mark Hopkins Hotel-you’ll spot the glass-walled bar and lounge perched like a crown, offering sky-high views from every side.
Welcome to the legendary Top of the Mark! As you stand outside, take a deep breath-imagine yourself about to step into an elevator that whooshes you all the way up to the 19th floor, where the world suddenly opens up in every direction: the sparkling bay, the rolling city streets, and maybe a stubborn patch of fog that just can’t reach this high.
Now, rewind your mental clock to the 1920s. The Mark Hopkins Hotel rises right here on a hill that’s seen it all-named for a railroad tycoon whose mansion went up in flames after the 1906 earthquake. By 1926, the hotel stands tall, its highest point an exclusive penthouse with gold-trimmed walls. It was so ritzy that Daniel C. Jackling, a mining mogul, was the only one who could call it home, shelling out more each month than most people earned in a whole year! But the real transformation came in 1939, after owner George D. Smith had survived bankruptcy. He convinced the hotel’s trustees to spend what today would be millions to turn that private lair into something magical: a cocktail lounge with glass walls and views that made even locals gasp in awe.
Step inside with me in your mind-imagine the gentle clink of martini glasses, the hum of laughter, and Marjorie Trumbull on the radio upstairs, interviewing celebrities while the city sparkled below. During World War II, this was where young soldiers-nervous and proud in their uniforms-would gather for one last drink before shipping out across the Pacific. In the northwest corner, wives and sweethearts became known as the “Weepers.” They pressed their faces to the glass, searching for one last glimpse of a departing ship and letting the tears quietly fall.
As wars changed, so did the bar’s traditions. In the Korean War, squadrons kept “squadron bottles”-each man who had a drink signed the label, the last sipper got the honor of keeping the bottle (plus the bill for a new one, but hey, that’s military tradition for you).
Today, the Top of the Mark is still alive with music, dancing, and over 100 kinds of martinis-each served with a side of those breathtaking views. During the holidays, the place fills with families enjoying high tea, laughter, and the sense that for a moment, high above the city, anything feels possible. So, if you ever wonder where San Francisco's stories look out over the world, it’s right here-at the very top.
