Core-Columbia San Diego, California
Renovated
2024
Price
$$$
Rated for
Wellness Classic DesignOutside the door
Gilded Versailles folly
Behind a plain downtown exterior, 300 crystal chandeliers, antique tapestries, and a grand curved staircase channel French royal excess.
What it’s good at
Notable
Traditional afternoon tea with live harp music beneath crystal chandeliers since 1970.
Listed
Intricate crown molding, antique European tapestries, and geometric parquet floors evoke grand royal salons.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Set beside the Civic Center, the tower offers swift trolley access and puts the historic Gaslamp Quarter within an easy stroll.
The rooms
Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, European styling, and Italian marble bathrooms with ornate brass fixtures overlooking the skyline.
The rooftop pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The heated Junior Olympic lap pool sits high above downtown, bordered by striped umbrellas, sun loungers, and city views.
The spa
AquaVie Spa offers tailored massages and facials alongside steam rooms, cedar saunas, and quiet relaxation lounges.
The athletic club
Spread across four floors, the 40,000-square-foot fitness club holds over 200 workout machines, group studios, and a rooftop running track.
Restaurant
Bonne Vie Brasserie & Bar
Executive Chef Fabrice Hardel serves French-inspired California dishes beneath tiered crystal chandeliers, tufted banquettes, and parquet floors.
Restaurant
Grand Lobby / Le Fontainebleau room
Afternoon tea unfolds beneath Flemish tapestries, with live harp melodies accompanying champagne, petite savories, and French pastries.
At the table
Up on the roof, the poolside bar pours craft cocktails and serves light bites overlooking the downtown skyline.
How it began
Financier C. Arnholt Smith built the skyscraper in 1970, spending over fourteen million dollars to recreate eighteenth-century French splendour in Southern California.
Good to know
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The Westgate Hotel
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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.