With more than 28.8 million visitors annually, San Diego has earned its place as one of the top tourist destinations in the United States. Here’s where to stay in America’s Finest City for travelers of all tastes.
Bask in the sun at Pendry San Diego’s sky-high pool deck. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
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, bars and a rooftop pool leave little reason to step away from 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 at Provisional Kitchen, Cafe & Mercantile or the splashy Pool House.
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Revived to the tune of $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 visit Palihotel San Diego (palisociety.com/hotels/san-diego), a pet-friendly hotel that bowed in May with 122 rooms, a rooftop pool and the on-site Saint James French Diner.
The retro-inspired lobby at the new Palihotel San Diego. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Waterfront hotels are strewn across San Diego. If you are spending time in North County, The Seabird Resort (theseabirdresort.com) and Mission Pacific Hotel (missionpacifichotel.com) are neighboring Hyatt properties located just a stone’s throw from the historic Oceanside Pier. The Seabird is a charming six-story saltbox that’s ideal for families and includes a waterfront pool deck, Sunny’s Spa & Beauty Lounge, and The Waverly, a full-service restaurant and bar from Michelin Bib Gourmand honoree Brian Redzikowski. Next door, Mission Pacific Hotel features a sexier vibe that draws couples. Grab drinks at The Rooftop Bar, take a dip at the sky-high pool or indulge in a sweet treat at High-Pie, a dessert shop inside the Top Gun House from the 1986 film. Then, enjoy the property’s crown jewel Valle, where chef Roberto Alcocer offers exquisite tasting menus that recently earned the restaurant its first Michelin star.
Enjoy a drink surrounded by coastal charm in The Shore Room at The Seabird Resort PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
The Rooftop Bar at Mission Pacific Hotel affords guests stunning ocean views PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
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Further south, discover Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas (alilamarea.com), a 130-room resort positioned atop a bluff overlooking the Pacific that opened in March 2021. Highlights of the modern oasis include spacious suites—some with private fire pits—a sprawling oceanfront pool, concierge beach service, Spa Alila and VAGA Restaurant & Bar from founding chef Claudette Zepeda, a James Beard Award finalist. The coastal charm continues in Del Mar at L’Auberge Del Mar (laubergedelmar.com), where nearly every room at the U-shaped property features pool and ocean views. Book a reservation at the on-site Adelaide, an alfresco dining concept led by new executive chef Larry Monaco; enjoy private poolside cabanas; or tap the hotel staff to set you up on the sand nearby.
Breathtaking Pacific Ocean views await at Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Since 2002, The Lodge at Torrey Pines (lodgetorreypines.com) in La Jolla has drawn golf lovers and luxury seekers to its lush grounds. The AAA 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, returning Jan. 24 to 27. 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.
Whether hitting the fairway or enjoying the view from the hot tub, The Lodge at Torrey Pines is beloved for its lush grounds. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Whether hitting the fairway or enjoying the view from the hot tub, The Lodge at Torrey Pines is beloved for its lush grounds. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
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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 Del Mar, 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.
Relaxation and enchanting luxury meet in Rancho Santa Fe, where the Five-Star, Five-Diamond Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa (ranchovalencia.com) is the only Relais & Châteaux property in Southern California. While 49 elegant casitas are found on its 45-acre grounds, we suggest booking the four-bedroom Spa House, an ideal retreat for guests focused on Rancho Valencia’s wellness offerings. Those offerings include 13 on-site tennis courts, complimentary cruisers by Electra Bikes, a weekly schedule of 95 fitness classes and a full menu of facials, body treatments, massages and more, which take place in stunning indoor-outdoor spa rooms. Sauna and steam rooms, a hydrotherapy circuit and a dedicated spa pool dotted with private cabanas round out the wondrous wellness amenities.
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa offers a private spa pool, indoor-outdoor treatment rooms and yoga classes PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa offers a private spa pool, indoor-outdoor treatment rooms and yoga classes PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa offers a private spa pool, indoor-outdoor treatment rooms and yoga classes PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
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If you’re looking to immerse yourself in solo self-care, book a seven-night stay at Golden Door (goldendoor.com) in San Marcos. Forty single-occupancy rooms offer seclusion and serenity as you experience a transformative program of fitness training, spa treatments and mindful nutrition. Expect 80 different rejuvenating classes, 30 miles of private hiking trails, daily in-room massages and farm-to-table meals suited to your dietary needs. Similarly, Cal-a-Vie Health Spa (cal-a-vie.com) in Vista offers three-, four- and seven-night retreats focused on fitness, spa services and health-conscious cuisine. Visitors will enjoy more than 160 fitness classes, daily hikes and spa treatments, and optional activities that range from stargazing at the on-site observatory to strolling through Cal-a-Vie’s Labyrinth by candlelight.
Perhaps the most recognizable hotel in San Diego thanks to its Victorian architecture, the iconic Hotel del Coronado (hoteldel.com) has been drawing Hollywood starlets—and even a ghost—since 1888. Its famous guest list includes everyone from Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra to Brad Pitt and Oprah Winfrey. Likewise, the spirit of Kate Morgan, a 24-year-old woman who checked in at The Del in 1892 and never left due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound, equally entices visitors—her third-floor guest room is the most requested accommodation on the property. While its past is extensive, The Del continues to have a bright future. In 2022, the Curio Collection by Hilton property opened Shore House at The Del, 75 one-, two- and three-bedroom oceanfront residences complemented by a zero-edge infinity pool framed by daybeds, sun loungers and private cabanas.
The exterior of the famous Hotel del Coronado. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
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With its 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 opened its doors in 1926. VIPs—from Woodrow Wilson to Ginger Rogers—have visited the waterfront wonder, where modern-day dwellers head for weekend brunch at The Mediterranean Room, sip cocktails at lobby bar La Sala, and enjoy fun in the sun at the ocean-view pool deck.
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