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As part of San Francisco Jeep Tours Holiday Lights excursions, we make a stop at the Fairmont Hotel.
The 25-foot-tall, two-story house in the Fairmont Grand Lobby will amaze you. Guests can walk through the middle of it and look in the windows to see the holiday-adorned interior rooms. A private dining space in the gingerbread house also welcomes groups of up to 10 for afternoon tea, dinner, or other special celebrations. This highly edible abode is baked and assembled each year by the hotel’s culinary and engineering teams
There is more to see – The Fairmont’s gingerbread house sits beside a dazzling 23-foot Christmas tree in the main lobby, surrounded by a festive holiday train and other seasonal decorations. Twinkling lights and garland grace the central stairway, and smaller trees, snowmen, and scarlet poinsettias brighten mezzanine spaces. Santa swings by to collect holiday wishes from children of all ages and pose for photos.
Charitable giving also plays a role in the festivities. Through the Fairmont’s Trees of Hope campaign, the hotel collects donations for Make a Wish in a dedicated box near the gingerbread house.
All photos: Fairmont San Francisco
From the Fairmont: INSIDE THE MAKING OF A TWO-STORY, LARGER-THAN-LIFE GINGERBREAD HOUSE
“Fairmont engineering and culinary teams begin planning the gingerbread house in July, which is also when crews begin baking 12- by 4-inch gingerbread bricks to cover the home’s wooden frame.
As the holidays draw near, builders frame the rooms, set the roof, and prepare the structure for decorations. “When it’s complete, each gingerbread brick gets placed by hand, and the pastry people pipe icing along every single grout line,” Walton says (that icing requires more than 1,000 pounds of powdered sugar and around 150 gallons of egg whites).”
Great article in SF Gate The wild story of how the Fairmont gingerbread house gets made
The Fairmont San Francisco’s incredible Gingerbread House is just one of the many dazzling highlights you’ll experience on our San Francisco Holiday Lights and Sites Jeep Tour. From the glowing Bay Bridge to festive Union Square and the decked-out Embarcadero, the city sparkles with holiday magic. Cozy up under warm blankets in your private open-air Jeep and let your personal guide show you the best of San Francisco’s holiday cheer. Book your Holiday Lights Jeep Tour today and make this season unforgettable!
The Fairmont gingerbread house is an SF holiday classic — equal parts tradition, photo op, and “how did they build that?”
The Fairmont’s life-size gingerbread house is one of San Francisco’s most beloved holiday traditions—sweet-smelling, over-the-top, and tucked inside a gorgeous old-school hotel lobby on Nob Hill.
Short answer: Late November through early January.
The Fairmont San Francisco’s life-size gingerbread house is typically on display from late November through early January. Exact dates vary each year based on the hotel’s holiday calendar.
Usually no—just walk in.
The gingerbread house display is located in the hotel lobby and is generally open to the public, but holiday tea or dining experiences at the Fairmont do require reservations. Check with the hotel for current access guidelines.
Yes—this is a signature stop.
Yes. The San Francisco Holiday Lights and Sites Tour by open-top Jeep includes a stop at the Fairmont San Francisco so guests can step inside to see the life-size gingerbread house and the lobby’s holiday decorations. Learn more at Fairmont Gingerbread House.
Short answer: On top of Nob Hill.
The Fairmont San Francisco is located atop Nob Hill at 950 Mason Street, one of the city’s classic hilltop viewpoints and a key stop on many holiday and city sightseeing routes.
Good to know: This lobby gets busy in December—go early in the day for fewer crowds, or visit in the evening when the decorations feel extra magical.
The Fairmont Gingerbread House is a seasonal highlight that pairs beautifully with classic Nob Hill landmarks and holiday-friendly stops.