Top of the Mark

The view makes a $7 beer a bargain.

The amateur San Francisco tour guide begins without taking a step. The guide must discover how much time the visitor has, how familiar he is with the City, and the visitor's preference between depth or breadth of experience. If the visitor is interested in cramming as many sights as possible into a short period, for example, then he might try the one-day quickie tour.

Union Square

On Wednesday the amateur guide appraised his client objectively. Touring by auto would be unsuitable; there must needs be beer, and it would be unsociable for the guide to abstain to keep his blood alcohol level below the driving limit.

On the other hand a lot of walking for one who is not accustomed to the steep hills may make for an unpleasant experience.

The visitor helped make the decision; he expressed a desire to see Grace Cathedral, the Mecca for western Episcopalians. Nob Hill it would be.

We departed the hotel and walked two blocks to Union Square. The visitor had last seen the square in the mid-1990's and was impressed with its 2000 renovation.

We trudged up Powell to the crest of Nob Hill. It was time for our break.

I first visited the Top of the Mark as a 21-year-old graduate student. To a starry eyed kid from the Islands the Fairmont and Mark Hopkins hotels represented the pinnacle of San Francisco sophistication. That one could drink in the view from the top floor of the Mark Hopkins for an unrushed $2 glass of beer was one of the greatest deals he had ever seen.

Over 30 years later the price of a glass of Anchor Steam at the Top of the Mark is $7. It's still a great bargain.