A Vintage San Diego Hotel For Every Traveler

You’ve probably realized how easy it is these days to book a suite in a posh, modern hotel offering high-tech amenities, abstract light fixtures, and restaurants that are top-rated but somehow seem less and less original with each encounter. Luckily, San Diego offers a handful of vintage hotels reminding you of former standards of luxury while catering to your modern desires.  Whether you seek sprawling beachfront estates, in-room fireplaces, world-class dining, a spa vacation, a day by the pool, or a view of the city, San Diego’s variety of vintage hotels has something for everybody. Book at any of the following for an evening, long weekend, or extended stay back in time. 

Beachfront Grandeur and World-Class Amenities at the Hotel Del Coronado

Cross the Coronado Bridge and be awed by the unmistakable red roof of the Hotel del Coronado, sprawled across 23 acres of prime Coronado beachfront. The resort opened in 1888 and is rich with American history, has been designated a national historical landmark, and is the second largest wooden structure in the States. Whether you choose to stay in the Victorian hotel itself or in its Beach Village, your stay will be one of utterly luxurious accommodation. The hotel boasts multiple fine and casual dining options––all with beach views––a full-service Spa and Salon at the Del, an adult pool and main pool with cabana service and a splash bar, and activities year-round that the whole family can enjoy. With a setting like this, as breathtaking now as it was long ago, it’s no surprise that the Del is such a historically popular beach wedding destination. 

Classic Mediterranean Flair and Beach Views at La Valencia

If you seek the spicy Mediterranean fused with the classically Victorian, look no further than the signature pink oasis of the La Valencia hotel in hilly seaside La Jolla. Also offering breathtaking beach views from each elegant, vintage room, you’ll feel its dramatic ambiance immediately upon stepping into the colorfully tiled lobby. "The Pink Lady of La Jolla" draws guests with its choice of ocean view restaurant or European bistro, with its pool, with its diverse room accommodations, with its live music and art, with its in-suite spa treatments, and with its location and proximity to all that La Jolla has to offer in terms of shopping, culture, and history. Also: don’t miss out on the Sunday brunch! 

Courtyard Views and History at the Horton Grand Hotel

The Horton Grand of the historic Gaslamp Quarter is not a beachfront property, but it is an unforgettable property nonetheless, crafted in the grand Victorian style. Book the hotel for its stunning location: near the Convention Center and high-end shopping and dining. Or, raise a glass in sophisticated Palace Bar in all its cherry-wood, old-world splendor. Each room offers a gas-burning fireplace, and a stay in a courtyard room offers a unique view of the hotel’s signature New Orleans-style courtyard. Hold a first-class event in one of the hotel’s grand ballroom venues, its broadway-style theatre, its signature Alley, or its Warehouse. Before you leave, stop by Ida Bailey’s to savor Eggs Benedict in one of many preparations. The Horton Grand encourages your most comfortable stay for either business or pleasure. 

Modern Artwork and Timeless Elegance at the US Grant

Also in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, the US Grant stands as one of the city’s most palatial icons since 1910. Step into its decadently chandeliered lobby and feel as if you’re rubbing elbows with the turn-of-the-century elite, or dine in the mahogany warmth and unmatched elegance of its Grant Grill for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Plan your largest events in one of its venues of grand scale. The Grant boasts a world-class fine art collection, in-room spa services, an exclusive spa suite, and bright Victorian guestrooms.  

Great Location and Affordability at the Gaslamp Plaza Suites

Lastly, The Gaslamp Plaza Suites of the Gaslamp Quarter is impeccably preserved with its European style guestrooms and detailed historical craftsmanship, but it comes with distinctively modern dining options such as a rooftop terrace overlooking the city, a fondue restaurant, and an upscale wine bar. While the rooftop terrace offers a world-class San Diego view, it does not offer more than continental breakfast. The hotel offers the least on this list in terms of amenities but is still an elegant, more affordable option for the San Diego traveler. What the hotel lacks in amenities, the Quarter makes up for with shopping, dining, events, and culture. Stay at the Gaslamp if you prefer city exploration to the supreme hotel comfort that many vintage San Diego hotels offer: it’s a tradeoff, but certainly one worth making, depending on your preference.