Tonga Room’s indoor hurricane effects

The Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar, inside the Fairmont Hotel, is known for its indoor saltwater lagoon, a floating bandstand, and theatrical 'tropical rain' and lightning effects that periodically simulate a storm. The themed bar has been a notable mid-20th-century tiki venue in San Francisco and is frequently cited for its unusual theatrical atmosphere. Stories about the bar's odd ambience are part of nightlife lore and are anecdotal rather than scientifically verified.