The Lafayette Hotel
CALIFORNIA
San Diego's Top 15 Hotels: Where to Stay in America's Finest City
By Mei Chen | March 4, 2025
Ah, San Diego—a city where the sun seems to have a permanent residence and the tacos are as ubiquitous as the surfboards. Over the years, my frequent jaunts to this coastal haven have led me to discover a plethora of accommodations, each with its unique flair. Here are my top picks for the best hotels in San Diego.
1. The Lafayette Hotel and Club
2223 El Cajon Blvd | Website | Instagram
North Park’s grand dame, The Lafayette, reopened in 2023 after a $31 million makeover, which, thankfully, didn’t erase its history as a Hollywood hideaway. The pool—designed by Tarzan himself, Johnny Weissmuller—is still the place to be, now with a swim-up bar and better cocktails. Stay here if you want to be near North Park’s restaurants and bars but still sleep somewhere that feels glamorous, not sticky.
2. The Bower Coronado
1417 Orange Ave | Website | Instagram
A tiny luxury hotel in Coronado, The Bower opened in 2025 and immediately became the place for people who like boutique hotels but also want to be near the beach. There are only 39 rooms, but each one is more stylish than my entire house, and the rooftop restaurant, Dive, has the best skyline views in town. It’s expensive, but so is everything in Coronado.
3. Granger Hotel Gaslamp Quarter
964 Fifth Ave | Website | Instagram
Gaslamp hotels usually fall into one of two categories: enormous convention centers with no soul or historic buildings that smell like they might have been through a fire. The Granger is neither. Opened in 2024, this 96-room boutique hotel feels modern but still connected to the city’s history. Bonus points for its rooftop bar, which is blissfully free of bachelor parties.
4. Pendry San Diego
550 J St | Website | Instagram
If you like hotels where you don’t have to leave the premises to have a good time, book the Pendry. There are six bars and restaurants, a rooftop pool, and a lobby that always seems to be buzzing with people who are much cooler than you. You might not even notice you’re in the Gaslamp, which is for the best.
5. Park Hyatt Aviara Resort
7100 Aviara Resort Dr | Website | Instagram
Technically in Carlsbad, but when you’re at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa, you won’t care you’ve got a drive to get into the city. It has a golf course designed by Arnold Palmer, a spa where you could easily spend an entire day, and service that makes you feel like you’re in a top-notch resort.
10. Marriott Marquis
333 W Harbor Dr | Website | Instagram
The Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina is the kind of hotel where you’ll see as many people in name tags as you will in bathing suits. But if you want waterfront views and a resort-style pool, this is a solid choice. Bonus: it’s right next to the Convention Center, so if you’re in town for Comic-Con, you might actually be able to get some sleep.
6. The Monsaraz San Diego
1451 Rosecrans St | Website | Instagram
If you’ve ever thought, “I wish there was a stylish, boutique hotel near the harbor that wasn’t insanely expensive,” The Monsaraz San Diego, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is your answer. Located in Point Loma, this hotel has a great courtyard and rooms that make you feel like you’ve actually checked into a real hotel, not an Airbnb with bad furniture.
7. AC Hotel Gaslamp Quarter
743 Fifth Ave | Website | Instagram
Minimalist in a way that feels intentional, not cheap, the AC Hotel by Marriott San Diego Downtown Gaslamp Quarter is a good bet if you want to be in the Gaslamp without staying somewhere that’s trying too hard. The rooftop bar has killer city views, and the lobby feels like it was designed by someone who actually understands what travelers need.
8. The US Grant
326 Broadway | Website | Instagram
One of the city’s few truly historic hotels, The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Diego, has been around since 1910 and still manages to feel grand. The lobby is worth a visit even if you’re not staying here, and the rooms have the kind of old-school luxury that makes you want to put on a robe and order room service.
1. The Guild Hotel
500 W Broadway | Website | Instagram
Housed in a former Army-Navy YMCA, The Guild Hotel, San Diego, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, makes history look cool. The rooms are small but well-designed, and the lobby feels like it belongs in a European city, not downtown San Diego. Stay here if you like hotels with character.
11. The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
910 Broadway Cir | Website | Instagram
A Westin is a Westin, but this one at least has a great location and a rooftop pool where you can pretend you’re on vacation even if you’re in town for work.
1. Hard Rock Hotel San Diego
207 Fifth Ave | Website | Instagram
This is the place to stay if you want to be in the middle of the party, or if you just want to watch the party from your room while wearing a robe and pretending you’re 25 again. The rooftop pool scene is legendary, and the hotel does a good job of making everything feel just the right amount of over-the-top.
9. DoubleTree San Diego Bayside
4875 N Harbor Dr | Website | Instagram
Yes, this is a DoubleTree, which means you get a free cookie at check-in and the general vibe of a conference hotel. But it’s also fresh off a $5 million renovation and right on the water. If you’re the kind of person who picks hotels based on proximity to jogging trails and ocean views, you could do worse.
12. Fairfield Inn & Suites
4345 Mission Bay Dr | Website | Instagram
The Fairfield Inn & Suites By Marriott San Diego Pacific Beach is a good choice if your main goal in San Diego is to be near the ocean and you don’t want to pay La Jolla prices. The rooms are standard-issue Marriott, but you’re less than three miles from Pacific Beach, which means you won’t spend your entire trip in traffic trying to get to the water.
