From La Jolla to Rancho Bernardo to the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego’s city limits (sandiego.org) are home to timeless luxury hotels and buzzing new haunts that offer accommodations for travelers of all tastes.
One of San Diego’s most famous regions, the historic Gaslamp Quarter comprises 16 ½ walkable blocks home to dozens of hot restaurants, bars, shops, museums and hotels. For the five-star treatment, book a room at Pendry San Diego (pendry.com/sandiego), where six on-site restaurants and bars and a rooftop pool leave little reason to leave the posh property. Discover coastal cuisine at Lionfish, raise a glass at Fifth & Rose or Nason’s Beer Hall, or party the night away at Oxford Social Club. Recover the next morning with brunch and lunch options at Provisional Kitchen, Cafe & Mercantile or the splashy Pool House.
Enjoy the skyline views at Kimpton Alma San Diego’s pool deck KIMPTON ALMA SAN DIEGO AND LA VALENCIA PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT SAN DIEGO
Revived for $25 million, the former Hotel Palomar debuted as Kimpton Alma San Diego (stayalma.com) in the fall of 2022. The IHG Hotels & Resorts property offers guests 211 rooms—highlighted by four two-story penthouses—and three dining concepts, including The Desmond and Leave of Absence, a poolside rooftop eatery. Meanwhile, fans of the Palisociety brand will be delighted to find Palihotel San Diego (palisociety.com/hotels/san-diego), a pet-friendly boutique hotel that bowed in May with 122 rooms, a rooftop pool deck and the on-site Saint James French Diner.
Sip tropical-inspired cocktails at Leave of Absence at Kimpton Alma San Diego PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
The retro-inspired lobby at the new Palihotel San Diego KIMPTON ALMA SAN DIEGO AND LA VALENCIA PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT SAN DIEGO
Since 2002, The Lodge at Torrey Pines (lodgetorreypines.com) in La Jolla has drawn golf lovers and luxury seekers to its lush grounds. The A AA five-diamond resort is home to the 36-hole Torrey Pines Golf Course, which offers the 7,698-yard South Course and 7,258-yard North Course, both with a par of 72. Pros also love the course as it’s the site of the U.S. Open and PGA Tour’s annual Farmers Insurance Open. When you’re not on the fairway, enjoy The Spa at Torrey Pines, a meal at A.R. Valentien or explore the nearby Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
The Tom Fazio-designed golf course serves as the backdrop of the beautiful Lodge at Torrey Pines. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
Hit the seaside fairway at The Lodge at Torrey Pines THE LODGE AT TORREY PINES HANG GLIDING PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT SAN DIEGO
Sprawled across 265 acres, the four-star Rancho Bernardo Inn (ranchobernardoinn.com) is nestled in North County’s verdant hills and is known for its exquisite restaurant AVANT and award-winning 18-hole championship golf course. Designed by William Francis Bell in 1964, the grounds have hosted PGA and LPGA events and offer terrain that will delight golfers of all skill levels. Finally, in Carmel Valley, discover San Diego’s only Tom Fazio-designed course. Enter The Grand Golf Club at Fairmont Grand Del Mar (granddelmar.com), an award winning, 7,160-yard haven, where you can tee off under the guidance of PGA-certified instructors. Post-play, retreat to the property’s 50,000-square-foot clubhouse or book a relaxing treatment at The Fairmont Spa, one of only 60 Forbes Five-Star spas worldwide.
A feast for the senses, The Lafayette Hotel & Swim Club (lafayettehotelsd.com) is the newest opening in North Park thanks to hospitality powerhouse Consortium Holdings (aka CH Projects), which revived the property for a cool $26 million. Designed by New York’s Post Company, the 139-room hotel pays homage to its roots, which date back to 1946, with seven inspired culinary venues and one photo worthy pool deck. Sip cocktails and show off your bowling skills at The Gutter; dine around the clock at the 24-hour Beginners Diner, housed in a replica of a 1940s Worcester lunch car; or clink glasses at the Slim Aaron-inspired Pool Bar. There’s also Quixote, a Mexican hot spot serving mezcal and tequila; cocktail havens Lulu’s Jungle Room and The Mississippi Room; and Le Horse, a steakhouse that goes big on tableside presentations. To experience the best of the hotel’s decadent design, book a poolside Suze Suite, where layered patterns, bold textiles and a mirrored bar cart are illuminated by ornate lighting. Up next, Lafayette will unveil its spa and wellness areas highlighted by Russian, Roman and Turkish baths.
It’s all about decadent design at The Lafayette Hotel & Swim Club THE LAFAYETTE HOTEL & SWIM CLUB PHOTO BY KIMBERLY MOTOS
With its iconic pink facade and Spanish-tiled roof, La Valencia Hotel (lavalencia.com) is best known as The Pink Lady of La Jolla, a stunning landmark that was designed by architect Reginald D. Johnson and opened its doors in 1926. VIPs—from Woodrow Wilson to Ginger Rogers—have visited the waterfront wonder, and its modern-day dwellings include 114 rooms, suites and villas. To experience the best of its yesteryear design, book one of its newly refreshed Vintage Rooms in the storied Tower Building. Outside of your glamorous accommodations, enjoy weekend brunch at The Mediterranean Room, sip cocktails at the lobby bar La Sala, and enjoy fun in the sun at the ocean-view pool deck.
Step back in time at the historic La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla. PALIHOTEL SAN DIEGO PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
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