Design
Lafayette Hotel
“Maximalist pleasure theatre”
Alma San Diego Downtown
“Avocado sunbed oasis”
The Guild Hotel
“Historic YMCA revival”
TOWER23 Hotel
“Modernist coastal clubhouse”
Granger Hotel
“Maximalist heritage hideaway”
Palihotel San Diego
“Nautical Gaslamp throwback”
Town and Country Resort
“Mid-century poolside oasis”
The Pearl Hotel
“Midcentury motel jewel-box”
Local
Omni San Diego Hotel at the Ballpark
“Ballpark skybridge hub”
Lafayette Hotel
“Maximalist pleasure theatre”
Porto Vista Hotel
“Retro motel curio”
Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant
“Restored stagecoach homestead”
Social
Humphreys Half Moon Inn
“Waterfront tiki music landmark”
Pendry San Diego
“Coastal nightlife clubhouse”
Margaritaville Hotel Gaslamp Quarter
“Urban beach playground”
Hotel Republic San Diego Autograph Collection
“Coastal downtown rendezvous”
Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
“Tropical bayfront playground”
Andaz San Diego
“Gaslamp rooftop playground”
La Valencia Hotel
“Pink Lady coastal bolthole”
TOWER23 Hotel
“Modernist coastal clubhouse”
Wellness
Rancho Bernardo Inn
“Botanical fairway grove”
Cal-a-Vie Health Spa
“Provencal spa village”
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
“Mediterranean canyon refuge”
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
“Citrus grove sanctuary”
InterContinental San Diego by IHG
“Poolside sunset theatre”
Tempo by Hilton San Diego Del Mar
“Coastal wellness hangout”
Carte Hotel San Diego Downtown
“Downtown fitness bolthole”
Kona Kai San Diego Resort
“Mid-century marina resort”
Design $–$$
Alma San Diego Downtown
“Avocado sunbed oasis”
The Guild Hotel
“Historic YMCA revival”
The Pearl Hotel
“Midcentury motel jewel-box”
Town and Country Resort
“Mid-century poolside oasis”
Palihotel San Diego
“Nautical Gaslamp throwback”
Granger Hotel
“Maximalist heritage hideaway”
Neighborhood spotlight
The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel
“Historic presidential beacon”
Pendry San Diego
“Coastal nightlife clubhouse”
Andaz San Diego
“Gaslamp rooftop playground”
The Westgate Hotel
“Gilded Versailles folly”
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown
“Historic banking monument”
Horton Grand Hotel
“Victorian Gaslamp curio”
The Sofia Hotel
“Neo-Gothic downtown waystation”
Porto Vista Hotel
“Retro motel curio”
Renovated 2023+
La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club
“Storied seaside tennis enclave”
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
“Mediterranean canyon refuge”
Rancho Bernardo Inn
“Botanical fairway grove”
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
“Historic Spanish revival hideaway”
La Valencia Hotel
“Pink Lady coastal bolthole”
$$$$ Medalled
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
“Citrus grove sanctuary”
Cal-a-Vie Health Spa
“Provencal spa village”
The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel
“Historic presidential beacon”
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
“Historic Spanish revival hideaway”
Wellness Quiet Secluded
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
“Botanical rancho retreat”
Kona Kai San Diego Resort
“Mid-century marina resort”
La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club
“Storied seaside tennis enclave”
Wellness Central or lively
Carte Hotel San Diego Downtown
“Downtown fitness bolthole”
Tempo by Hilton San Diego Del Mar
“Coastal wellness hangout”
InterContinental San Diego by IHG
“Poolside sunset theatre”
The Westgate Hotel
“Gilded Versailles folly”
Resort
Pacific Terrace Hotel
“Bluffside boardwalk haven”
La Jolla Shores Hotel
“Casual beachfront perch”
The Dana on Mission Bay
“Bayfront marina haven”
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
“Coastal Craftsman clubhouse”
Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
“Tropical bayfront playground”
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
“Botanical rancho retreat”
Humphreys Half Moon Inn
“Waterfront tiki music landmark”
Editorial mentions
Grande Colonial
“Mahogany elevator curio”
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
“Coastal Craftsman clubhouse”
Hotel Republic San Diego Autograph Collection
“Coastal downtown rendezvous”
A
AC Hotel San Diego Downtown Gaslamp QuarterGaslamp rooftop hangoutDesignWellnessSocial$$ Alma San Diego DowntownAvocado sunbed oasisDesignWellnessSocial$$ Andaz San DiegoGaslamp rooftop playgroundDesignHeritageSocial$$$C
Cal-a-Vie Health SpaProvencal spa villageLuxeWellnessDesign$$$$ Carte Hotel San Diego DowntownDowntown fitness boltholeWellnessDesignSocial$$ Catamaran Resort Hotel and SpaTropical bayfront playgroundResortSocialClassic$$ Cosmopolitan Hotel and RestaurantA historic plaza setting inside the state park reflecting early Californio frontier life.HeritageLocalSocial$$ Courtyard by Marriott San Diego DowntownHistoric banking monumentHeritageDesignSocial$$D
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Diego - Del MarCarmel Valley quartersLuxeWellnessSocial$$E
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & SpaBotanical rancho retreatDesignWellnessResort$$$F
Fairmont Grand Del MarMediterranean canyon refugeLuxeWellnessResort$$$$G
Gaslamp Plaza SuitesHistoric Gaslamp stalwartHeritageDesignSocial$$ Grande ColonialMahogany elevator curioHeritageLuxeClassic$$$ Granger HotelMaximalist heritage hideawayDesignHeritageSocial$$H
Hilton San Diego Gaslamp QuarterGaslamp terrace rendezvousDesignSocialLocal$$ Horton Grand HotelVictorian Gaslamp curioHeritageSocialClassic$$ Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp QuarterBallpark rooftop roostDesignSocialLocal$$ Hotel La JollaCoastal shores retreatDesignLuxeSocial$$$ Hotel Republic San Diego Autograph CollectionCoastal downtown rendezvousSocialDesignLocal$$ Hotel ZPlayful Gaslamp outpostDesignSocialLocal$$ Humphreys Half Moon InnWaterfront tiki music landmarkSocialResortClassic$$I
InterContinental San Diego by IHGPoolside sunset theatreWellnessDesignSocial$$$K
Kona Kai San Diego ResortMid-century marina resortWellnessResortSocial$$L
La Jolla Beach & Tennis ClubStoried seaside tennis enclaveResortClassicWellness$$$ La Jolla Cove Hotel & SuitesPacific cove roostResortSocialLocal$$ La Jolla Shores HotelCasual beachfront perchResortClassicLocal$$ La Valencia HotelPink Lady coastal boltholeHeritageSocialClassic$$$ Lafayette HotelSan Diego collective CH Projects roots the social scene in homegrown culinary spaces.DesignSocialLocal$$M
Manchester Grand Hyatt San DiegoWaterfront convention stalwartWellnessSocialClassic$$$ Margaritaville Hotel Gaslamp QuarterUrban beach playgroundSocialDesignLocal$$ Moxy San Diego Downtown/Gaslamp QuarterPlayful industrial hangoutDesignSocialLocal$O
Omni San Diego Hotel at the BallparkA pedestrian skybridge connecting the hotel directly into Petco Park stadium.LocalDesignSocial$$ Orli La JollaCalifornia modernist homesteadHeritageDesignLuxe$$$P
Pacific Terrace HotelBluffside boardwalk havenResortLuxeLocal$$$ Pacifica HotelHistoric Gaslamp guesthouseHeritageClassicLocal$ Palihotel San DiegoNautical Gaslamp throwbackDesignHeritageSocial$$ Pendry San DiegoCoastal nightlife clubhouseSocialDesignLuxe$$$ Porto Vista HotelRotating site-specific murals and installations curated in partnership with San Diego's 1805 Gallery.SocialLocalDesign$$R
Rancho Bernardo InnBotanical fairway groveWellnessResortDesign$$$ Rancho Valencia Resort & SpaCitrus grove sanctuaryLuxeWellnessResort$$$$S
San Diego Marriott Gaslamp QuarterBallpark rooftop rendezvousSocialClassicLocal$$ San Diego Marriott Marquis & MarinaBayfront marina perchWellnessResortSocial$$ Sentral Gaslamp QuarterDowntown residential commonsDesignSocialLocal$$T
Tempo by Hilton San Diego Del MarCoastal wellness hangoutWellnessDesignSocial$$ The Dana on Mission BayBayfront marina havenResortSocialLocal$$ The Guild HotelHistoric YMCA revivalDesignHeritageSocial$$ The Inn at Rancho Santa FeHistoric Spanish revival hideawayHeritageDesignWellness$$$$ The Lodge at Torrey PinesCoastal Craftsman clubhouseDesignLuxeResort$$$$ The Margot Hotel San Diego Gaslamp QuarterBallpark residential cocoonDesignLuxeSocial$$ The Pearl HotelMidcentury motel jewel-boxDesignHeritageSocial$$ The Sofia HotelNeo-Gothic downtown waystationHeritageDesignLocal$$ The US Grant, a Luxury Collection HotelHistoric presidential beaconLuxeHeritageClassic$$$$ The Westgate HotelGilded Versailles follyWellnessClassicDesign$$$ The Westin Gaslamp Quarter San DiegoGaslamp urban retreatDesignWellnessSocial$$ TOWER23 HotelModernist coastal clubhouseDesignSocialLocal$$$ Town and Country ResortMid-century poolside oasisDesignResortSocial$$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.
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.
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.