San Diego, CaliforniaPoint Loma
Kona Kai San Diego Resort
Mid-century marina resort
Point Loma San Diego, California
Renovated
2018
Price
$$
Rated for
Wellness Resort SocialOutside the door
The house
Noble HouseMid-century marina resort
The hotel sits directly on a 500-slip harbor, running with the relaxed rhythms of a classic Southern California yacht club.
What it’s good at
Notable
Heated alpha-quartz sand bed facials and open-air beach cabana bodywork at SpaTerre.
Somewhere quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Paved paths trace the Shelter Island shoreline, and the Point Loma tide pools sit just a short drive up the peninsula.
The rooms
Suites in the newer wings have private patios and balconies looking out over the yacht slips.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
Two heated outdoor pools look across the marina, split between the family Tiki Pool and the adults-only Paloma Pool.
The spa
Spa treatments draw on Indonesian and Thai rituals, with eucalyptus steam rooms tucked inside the locker areas.
Yoga and the gym
Exercise bikes look straight out across the boat slips, and morning yoga classes gather on the waterfront lawn.
Vessel Restaurant + Bar
Coastal California seafood arrives beside floor-to-ceiling windows, with a circular illuminated bar serving craft beers and cocktails.
At the table
Drinks and casual bites arrive poolside, from a thatched tiki hut by the sand to a shaded marina bar.
How it began
Television producer Jack Wrather bought the site in 1959, turning a private yacht club into a waterside hotel for Hollywood stars.
San Diego
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The app
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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.