San Diego, CaliforniaMission Beach
Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
Tropical bayfront playground
Mission Beach San Diego, California
Renovated
2015
Price
$$
Rated for
Resort Social ClassicOutside the door
Tropical bayfront playground
Polynesian tiki heritage meets breezy bayfront living, with resident talking macaws, koi ponds, and paddleboard launches along calm Sail Bay.
What it’s good at
Notable
A bayfront campus pairing calm beach access with water sports and a heated lagoon pool.
Notable
Evening paddlewheel cruises feature live entertainment, alongside Moray's open-air fire pit tables.
Notable
Welcoming Mission Bay vacationers since 1958 with summer luaus and resident exotic macaws.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
The resort sits on the tranquil curve of Sail Bay, just a block from Pacific Beach's bustling ocean surf and boardwalk.
The rooms
Lodges and a 14-story tower offer private balconies or patios opening onto tropical foliage, sandy shores, and gentle bay waters.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The lagoon-style swimming pool is heated year-round, encircled by dense palm groves and sunny chaise lounges.
The spa
Canopied daybeds fill the relaxation lounge, and treatments draw on South Pacific botanicals and marine facials.
The whirlpool
An outdoor hydrotherapy whirlpool sits tucked into tropical greenery, looking straight out toward Mission Bay.
Dogs stay too.
Restaurant
Oceana Coastal Kitchen
Heated bayside terraces look out over Mission Bay, and the indoor dining room holds an 800-gallon jellyfish aquarium.
At the table
Circled by tiki torches, Moray's pours signature Mai Tais and local craft beers around open-air fire pit tables.
How it began
William and Anne Evans opened the retreat in 1958, outfitting the lobby with a Tahitian black koa wood desk.
Good to know
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Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
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San Diego
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.