Fairmont San Jose: Luxury and Romance Found in Silicon Valley

For nearly 30 years, the Fairmont has been hosting presidents, dignitaries, celebrities, CEOs and noted scholars in the community and partners with San Jose’s finest charitable and social organizations for events.  With the total number of rooms and suites at 805 and 65,000 square feet of  meeting space, the Fairmont San Jose is a well-traveled business professional’s dream hotel.  But being local it’s always been a gorgeous hotel that’s intrigued me.

During the holidays we’ve come to Christmas in the Park downtown with the family and we’ve walked through the lobby to see the hotel’s gingerbread house display and last year’s life-sized Grinch, while next door there is always the fun ice skating rink.  On a recent press trip I had the chance to stay at the Fairmont and brought my husband along for a stay-cation if you will.   While it’s located near fabulous shopping, museums, and any type of food you can dream of, the Fairmont has it’s own luxurious amenities, entertainment, dining, and hospitality that will have us making it an annual getaway!

With a parking garage beneath the hotel, valet is the only choice for overnight guests.  I prefer it honestly, and knowing there’s so much to walk to in the area, I love handing over my keys and not worrying about parking for the weekend!  Strolling through the lobby to reception you pass the Lobby Lounge.   The space has tables and chairs along with cushioned banquette seating to dine on appetizers and cocktails while you watch the game, and live entertainment seven nights a week.  We made a mental note to come back later in the evening and enjoy one of their 500 different martinis!

We collected our keys to the room by the happiest staff and were asked (a second time) if we needed help with our bags.  Our deluxe king suite was amazing and would be perfectly roomy had we brought our three children with us.  Alas, this was a birthday weekend for me, so it was just a huge treat to have so much room. Our bedroom suite had a heavenly king bed with a comfortable easy chair/chaise perfect for night time reading.  The decor and patterned furniture in the parlor were a yellow and black contrast, simple and elegant.  A dining table and chairs was in front of the window and perfect for a meal or a meeting, along with a 32” HDTV, working desk, a speakerphone with multiple lines, a cordless phone, a separate modem connection and perfectly functioning wifi throughout the room and the entire hotel.  A vacationing family or a business team could easily enjoy this style room!

We had a great view of the city as well as the swimming pool area, unfortunately the few days it’s rained all year fell on this weekend, so we didn’t get to enjoy it this time.

I don’t speak too often on the bathrooms while we travel, normally they are uneventful.  Yet, I fell in love with the Fairmont’s modern marble bathroom that boasted a separate walk-in shower and bathtub. On top of that, It’s not me who is usually fascinated with technology, but being that we were in the heart of Silicon Valley, our bathroom mirror was genius.  Have you seen a television built directly into a mirror?  I surely hadn’t.Wine, a good movie, and bubbles had me in the tub enjoying an hour to myself.  Only chocolate could have made it better!

As promised we hit the Lobby Lounge for that evening cocktail.   Even though it’s in the center of the lobby, it’s a quiet and intimate spot.  My husband had a standard beer while I had the Royal Grapefruit Cosmopolitan. Okay I had 2.  A bit on the sour side, but I loved them.  Music and even dancing lasted a few hours and we just loved the entertainment with only a short elevator ride to our room.  When we returned, we were surprised by a  birthday bottle of wine, cheese, and nuts that was such a lovely touch on the hotel’s part.  The wine was from Napa, one of my favorite spots in California! We nibbled and retreated to the bedroom to a welcoming turndown.  Slippers, water, and chocolate for both my husband and I was a lovely addition, another first!After an amazing sleep on what felt like clouds, we woke and found ourselves ready for a breakfast buffet at Fountain Restaurant.  Sunday brunch as well as standard breakfast and lunch is served daily just down the hall from the Lobby Lounge. Let me tell you, guest of the hotel or not, you need to stop in for Sunday brunch if you’re in the area.  It’s downright incredible and your mouth waters just as you walk in the door and witness the selections of food they present!  Hot dishes, cold salads, a beef carving station, an omelet station made to order, oysters, sushi, cheeses, chicken, veggies, and pastries, oh the pastries! We may have been there over an hour, I’m not going to tell you how many times I walked back to the buffet or how many croissants I had! But can you blame me?

Our stay was perfection.  The hotel was beautiful, comfortable, and luxurious and the food was scrumptious.  The hotel and restaurants host events all year, the website lists what’s up and coming.  Don’t forget this is a fabulous hotel for business events or even weddings, but we just loved it as a romantic getaway for two and so close to home!

So thankful for our hosted stay and meals.  Our opinions are 100% honest and our own.