San Diego is one of our favorite vacation destinations in California. It seems to have it all: perfect weather, stunning scenery, lovely beaches, and a couple of spectacular tourist attractions. When staying in the city, think of Downtown San Diego hotels. This area is the best, especially for first-timers. It’s close to the huge Balboa Park, the number one tourist attraction in San Diego. Moreover, the area is walkable. We barely needed transportation to reach restaurants and coffee shops when we stayed there. Best of all, the downtown isn’t far from the stunning beaches of San Diego.
We visited San Diego many times and we stayed in different hotels. Sometimes, we changed our accommodation seeking a better one during the same vacation. Thus, we got a handful of experience with most hotels there. Now, we’re here to recommend the best hotels in the downtown area. So, no need to wait, check our list of the top hotels and start planning your vacation now.
Table of contents
- Gaslamp Plaza Suites
- Hampton Inn Downtown
- Moxy Gaslamp Quarter
- Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown
- The Bristol Hotel
- Horton Grand Hotel
- Best Western Plus Bayside Inn
- Hotel Indigo
- Hard Rock Hotel
- Manchester Grand Hyatt
- Omni San Diego Hotel
- Our Verdict!
- Where to Stay in San Diego?
- What is San Diego famous for?
- Is San Diego a walkable city?
- What is there to do in San Diego?
Gaslamp Plaza Suites
11
Gaslamp Plaza Suites is an old hotel in a modern style. Its unique European style makes it stand out among other hotels in the Gaslamp Quarter. This luxurious hotel offers standard rooms and suites. The suites are equipped with coffee machines and small kitchenettes. We prefer this kind of stay as sometimes we love to prepare our food in the room.
Speaking of food, the hotel has a world-class on-site restaurant. We had different meals on different days at the restaurant. We can fairly say this was one of the best eateries we stayed at in San Diego. The menu was inclusive, so everybody could find a tasty option that suited his diet. Furthermore, the desserts satisfied our sweet tooth. Best of all, the seating area on the roof offered a lovely view of the neighborhood, especially at night. Our stay was so enjoyable there.
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Hampton Inn Downtown
10
Best location. Although the Hampton Inn Downtown isn’t as luxurious as the previous hotel, it was an ideal venue for our vacation. The hotel lies in a perfect location right in front of the harbor. We could see the bay from the balcony or the rooftop pool. Moreover, there was a trolley station directly next to the hotel. We could reach several destinations such as Gaslamp or Little Italy District using public transportation. Also, the San Diego International Airport was a few minutes away.
Apart from the location, we loved our room in this hotel. It was simple, yet included all the amenities one might need during a few nights’ vacation. Moreover, we were offered a complimentary breakfast every morning. It was simple without too many varieties but still fulfilling. The fitness center was well-equipped with modern machines. Thus, we didn’t have to skip our workouts during that vacation.
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Moxy Gaslamp Quarter
9
We loved the vibes of the Moxy Gaslamp Quarter Hotel. It was a different one at a good location in the Gaslamp Quarter. We could reach our destinations easily. Most of the top attractions we wanted to visit were within walking distance. This hotel is a nice choice for those looking for some nightlife on-site. It has a nightclub with a great atmosphere. Also, the drinks were fresh and mouth-watering.
The hotel’s style is a blend of art-deco design with some modern touches. It has a charming palette of black, blue, and purple accents. It was so captivating from the first moment we entered. Further, the hotel offers the basic facilities in the room such as toiletries, a flat-screen TV, and a coffee machine. Our room wasn’t wide but the furnishing was simple, so, we didn’t feel it was cluttered. Some rooms have a nice city view of the neighborhood, however, they were a bit more noisy, so, we chose a quiet room.
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Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown
8
Those looking for a San Diego hotel in Downtown with a convenient location and a comfy stay should consider the Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown. This hotel is located close to the most popular attractions. We walked to nearby restaurants and shops. Also, we reached the nearest Trolley station in minutes. It made our life easier to move here and there in San Diego. Even more, the Coronado Island was a short driving distance from the hotel.
“Breakfast here was wonderful. This was the most unexpected thing we found here. The studio we stayed in was very spacious and clean. We loved our stay here.”
WOW Travel
We recommend choosing a studio instead of standard rooms. We had a full kitchen in our studio with clean cooking utensils and modern equipment. At least, we could prepare mid-day snacks and save some money. If you aren’t into making your food, there is a convenience market store on-site available 24 hours. The bar also offers some snacks and delights with good outdoor seating overlooking the area.
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The Bristol Hotel
7
Most friendly staff. The Bristol Hotel is a lovely intimate boutique hotel in the downtown area. All the rooms are equipped with a fridge and a coffee maker. The hotel has different rooms, some are wider with a sofa bed whilst others only accommodate two people. Expect whatever you want from such a high-standard hotel. It’s one of the best luxury hotels in San Diego offering all the services and amenities of five-star hotels.
The best thing about the hotel that made us recommend it on this list was the professional staff. They were helpful and eager to make our stay very convenient. They offered us different trips and things to do in San Diego to make our vacation worth it. Suppose that you don’t want to leave your room at the moment, you can still enjoy a comfy stay. From the plush beds to premium toiletries and high-quality furnishing, everything is up to the standards.
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Horton Grand Hotel
6
Horton Grand Hotel features a classy style that creates a warm ambiance to suit the Gaslamp Quarter where it is located. It’s a boutique hotel with few rooms. We were lucky to find one with a balcony. Some rooms don’t include a balcony but all the rooms have a fireplace that adds to the classic aesthetics of the place. The on-site restaurant features the same Victorian architecture and vibe. They don’t serve breakfast but they do offer live entertainment on weekends.
What we loved the most about the hotel was the warm welcome. They offered us welcoming drinks until they finished the check-in process. They made our stay so convenient even though the rooms looked very simple with basic furnishing only. Although the hotel offered no meals or snacks, the staff were ready to assist us and recommended perfect eateries nearby. Overall, the rate we paid was value for money considering the facilities and location.
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Best Western Plus Bayside Inn
5
Best value for money. Best Western Plus Bayside Inn is a true gem in downtown San Diego. It isn’t a pricey hotel, yet, it has a lot of features to love. One of which is the location. We were minutes from the harbor and Little Italy. Moreover, we booked a bay view room from which we could see the bay. Such rooms are located on the upper floors only. Other rooms overlook the pool or the city. If you’re looking for something directly on the beach, check out this list of the best beachfront hotels in La Jolla San Diego.
Back at our hotel, we had a nice grab-and-go breakfast for guests who didn’t want to waste time eating and drinking in restaurants. Further, there was a coffee machine and tea maker on the ground floor where we could get our morning dose of caffeine on the go as well. One of the perks we noticed about the hotel was the speedy internet connection. It covered the whole place with no interruption throughout our stay.
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Hotel Indigo
4
Hotel Indigo is steps from Petco Park. Some rooms have a wonderful view of the park and others have views of the city. Whatever room you book, ensure that you’ll love your stay in this hotel. It boasts spacious guestrooms and suites. Each room includes modern furnishing and equipment in addition to a coffee maker. We enjoyed the comfy plush bedding and the stunning views of the park. To make our stay even more comfortable, the hotel offered free WiFi in the rooms and lobby.
Apart from the rooms, the staff were super friendly and helpful. They had all the information we needed to create wonderful plans to visit all the interesting spots in San Diego. Moreover, the on-site restaurant offers delightful snacks. We paid for the breakfast on some days as it wasn’t complimentary but it was worth it. You should try it at least once during your stay. We ordered our breakfast in the room and you can order snacks as well.
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Hard Rock Hotel
3
Have you ever stayed in a music-oriented hotel? This is the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego. If you don’t know what is a music-centered hotel, you must visit this hotel. It’s an experience you don’t want to miss. The hotel lives up to its name. It holds hard rock music concerts nearly every night. It’s full of ambiance and nightlife. The rooftop pool deck was so enjoyable with its unique kind of music and refreshing drinks.
For other food options, we visited the Nobu classic sushi bar where we enjoyed mouth-watering sushi. Also, the on-site Maryjane’s restaurant served local food all day. As a music-oriented hotel, we received a list of soundtracks to download and listen to in our rooms during our stay. Also, there were guitars to rent and use by the pool. They had so many music-related perks that made it a unique hotel. You need to visit their official website to learn more about these facilities.
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Manchester Grand Hyatt
2
Best amenities and services. Manchester Grand Hyatt is the option to go for if you’re looking for a luxurious lifestyle in a perfect location. This hotel overlooks the bay, it’s a walking distance from the nearest beach. The rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows offering a spectacular view of the bay. We didn’t want to leave the room to enjoy such a view from our upper-floor room. Moreover, the bedding was comfortable. Everything else there was up to the standards.
There are many other things to enjoy in this hotel. We loved lounging by the swimming pool while sipping a cold drink from the pool bar. After a long day of exploring the city, we deserved a spa treatment at the professional wellness center there. Another good option was to relax by the fire pit while enjoying the harbor view. We didn’t struggle to find good food during our stay as the hotel included various on-site restaurants and bars. You can check the amenities and dining options on the official website.
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Omni San Diego Hotel
1
The fancy accommodation we had in the Omni San Diego Hotel was like no other hotel in the city. This hotel enjoys a location close to the beach and minutes from Petco Park. When we didn’t feel like leaving the hotel, we stayed in the venue and enjoyed the outdoor pool and the different dining options at the hotel. Don’t miss out on the craft cocktails offered at the pool lounge, they’re out of this world.
The rooms are so spacious and modern. We had a wonderful view from our room. They were spotless and the bathroom included premium-quality amenities. Check out the available room options on the official website here. Further, the staff treated us in the most welcoming way ever. Although it’s a huge hotel, they were never late in responding to our requests. One day, we requested dinner in our room and we received it hot and ready in minutes. This was the most professional and welcoming hotel we stayed at in this area in San Diego.
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Our Verdict!
Although we have picked the top venues, we have a favorite list out of the 11 hotels we chose. These hotels below stand out for a certain feature. So, you can start with these best Downtown San Diego hotels.
- Best value for money: Best Western Plus Bayside Inn
- Best location: Hampton Inn Downtown
- Most friendly staff: The Bristol Hotel
- Best amenities and services: Manchester Grand Hyatt
Where to Stay in San Diego?
Choosing a specific neighborhood to stay in might seem difficult as each part of the city has its charm. However, we sorted out the best places to stay in according to your preferences. First, the Downtown area is the most vibrant spot in the city. It’s close to everything. Choose a hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter to get the best of everything. We already mentioned a couple of options above. Wherever you stay in the Downtown, you’ll be able to reach any destination as the city is well-connected.
For a luxurious experience, the La Jolla neighborhood is the best. This area overlooks the shore. It has the most stunning beaches in San Diego. When we stayed there, we did all the water activities one might think of. We had so much fun and thrill in this neighborhood. The last option we recommend is the Coronado. It’s an island connected to San Diego with a bridge. You can reach it via ferry as well. We love the secluded feeling we had there. It offers a peaceful stay with lots of things to do around. The beaches are from another world. It’s a top-class stay in San Diego.
What is San Diego famous for?
San Diego is famous for its warm weather most of the year. This makes it a top tourist destination considering that it has miles of sandy beaches on the Pacific Ocean.
Is San Diego a walkable city?
Most of the crowded neighborhoods in San Diego are walkable. The downtown area, in particular, is the easiest to walk in. The streets are lettered or numbered and there are lots of hotels, shops, and venues on both sides of the streets.
What is there to do in San Diego?
There are many things tourists love to do in the city. The top reason why tourists go there is to enjoy the water and the water activities most of the year. Also, you can visit famous places such as Balboa Park and the zoo. We have a list of the best day trips from San Diego if you already visited the aforementioned places.
