Downtown San Diego Hotels

Newly constructed in 2018, on land previously used as a waterfront parking lot, the luxurious, five star InterContinental San Diego has perhaps the finest location of any hotel in the city, overlooking San Diego Bay, World Pier and the USS Midway. The 400 accommodations comprise classic rooms, executive rooms and several sizes of suite, up to 2,450 square feet, these with full height glass walls for enhanced views. Extensive indoor and outdoor meeting space caters for functions of up to 1,500 people. The signature restaurant, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, serves American-style cuisine, while the hotel also provides all the expected services for business and recreation.

The luxurious, contemporary Hotel Republic has 257 guest rooms and suites on 19 floors, and is known for its colorful, stylish decor and top class customer service. Three dining outlets are the rooftop Topside Bar, open for lunch & dinner, the upscale Trade restaurant, featuring world cuisine with Californian influences, and Patio Marketplace, which serves drinks & light meals. 14,000 square feet of meeting space caters for events of up to 200 guests. The hotel has a central location along B Street, between Columbia and State streets, two blocks from the Santa Fe station on the light rail network. Guests are half a mile from Westfield Horton Plaza and Broadway Pier.

The high rise Alma Hotel became part of Marriott's Tribute Portfolio collection in 2024; boutique properties with full service amenities and city center locations, in this case, close to both Little Italy and the Gaslamp Quarter. The style and decor features a mix of themes from Mexico and Southern California, while facilities include a rooftop pool, a cafe/bar, a signature restaurant (The Desmond) and over 20,000 square feet of event space. The hotel is situated along Fifth Street, next to another Marriott property, the Courtyard.

Because of its privileged location right on the edge of San Diego Bay overlooking the marina, and a spectacular design featuring twin semi-circular 25 story towers, the Marriott Marina San Diego is one of the most distinctive hotels in the city. It is also amongst the largest, containing 1,362 luxurious rooms & suites - amongst the top ten biggest Marriott hotels in the USA. The property sits between Harbor Drive and the waterfront; adjacent to both the Convention Center and Seaport Village, a few blocks from the Gaslamp Quarter and 3 miles from San Diego International Airport (no shuttle service, however). Highlights of the Marriott include two concierge levels, four dining outlets, 60 meeting rooms (maximum seating capacity 4,000), a huge pool/garden complex, several shops, and the marina - a center for water sports and boat rentals.

The smaller of two luxury Marriott hotels in downtown San Diego is situated just a few blocks east of its larger sister property, along K St between 5th and 6th Avenues - adjacent to PETCO Park and right at the edge of the historic Gaslamp Quarter. The hotel rises 22 stories above the busy city streets, so most of the 306 rooms and suites have wonderful views across San Diego and the Bay. There are several restaurants on site, most spectacular being ALTITUDE Sky Lounge on the 22nd floor, open for dinner and cocktails. Meetings and events are catered for by ten rooms totaling 8,375 sq ft of space. The hotel also has a concierge level, business center, gift shop and fitness center, though no pool. Like most city center hotels, the Marriott has valet-only parking.

Marriott Vacation Club San Diego is primarily a timeshare property, but also welcomes short stay guests. The hotel contains 264 suites and villas, in a range of sizes and specifications, contained within a tall building on the north side of the downtown area along A Street, four blocks from the I-5/Hwy 163 intersection. Most rooms provide spectacular views of the city. On the 12th story, the stylish Shake lounge/bar serves drinks and light meals, all day. The hotel also has a pool and fitness center.

Located two blocks from the Gaslamp Quarter on the corner of 9th Avenue and Island Avenue, the trendy Hotel Indigo makes an ideal base from which to explore this most vibrant area of downtown San Diego. The recently built hotel features stylish decor, high quality furnishings, attentive customer service and very comfortable rooms - 210 of them, on 12 floors, so many have far reaching views across the city and San Diego Bay. Special amenities include a reflective pool and fire pits on the 9th floor terrace, an open air streetside bar/bistro, and a floor to ceiling water wall in the lobby. Pets are welcome, for no extra fee. Also available are a fitness center, business center and meeting/event space.

Hilton San Diego Bayfront is one of several large hotels right on San Diego Bay, bordered by an industrial area to the east and San Diego Convention Center to the west, with Embarcadero Marina just beyond and PETCO Park a little way north. The building rises 30 stories above the surroundings and all the guest rooms have fantastic views over the city and the ocean. Amenities include four dining outlets: Bay Breeze Cafe, Fox Sports Grill, Odysea (a waterfront bar), and Vela, the signature restaurant. Meeting/event facilities are some of the best in the city, with a total of 165,000 sq ft of space including the largest open plan ballroom in San Diego.

The full service Hilton hotel sits at the south end of the Gaslamp Quarter, between 4th and 5th avenues, and so close to numerous bars, restaurants and entertainment centers, though most guest rooms have views west, across open ground of the promenade and the railway lines, towards the Convention Center and Embarcadero Marina. Exterior facilities are a rooftop pool and a 10,000 sq ft terrace, while inside are a fitness center, meeting space and the New Leaf Restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and all-day room service. The adjacent bar serves drinks and snacks, either in a fireplace lounge or outside on the terrace. Accommodations include a selection of residential-style loft suites.

DoubleTree Hotel San Diego takes up one block on the north edge of downtown, beside the 1st Avenue exit of Interstate 5; half a mile from the waterfront and 2 miles from Balboa Park. A free shuttle is provided to the international airport, 2 miles west. The onsite restaurant is the California-style Ariana, open all day and providing room service until 11 pm. Most accommodations have a private balcony, giving fine views south over the city or north across the interstate towards more residential neighborhoods. There are also a number of suites, some on two levels. Leisure facilities at the hotel are a fitness center and a small outdoor rooftop pool/hot tub, on the sunny south side.

The building was constructed in 2022, but the style of AC Hotel San Diego is traditional, with use of brick and iron, in keeping with its location in the historic Gaslamp Quarter. There are 119 guest rooms available, on seven floors, plus two basement levels, one for parking, the other housing a nightclub. Other features are a ground floor restaurant and a rooftop pool with poolside bar. Accommodations include a spectacular 7th floor suite, complete with private pool. The hotel occupies a relatively small site along 5th Avenue, one mile from the waterfront at Embarcadera Marina.

The Courtyard is a rare example of a newly constructed hotel in downtown San Diego, open late 2015, occupying a formerly vacant lot on the east side of 6th Avenue, adjacent to the southern end of the Gaslamp Quarter and four blocks from the Convention Center. PETCO Park is also just a short walk away, as are many shops, bars and restaurants. The building has 90 guest rooms over 12 floors, plus a restaurant (open for breakfast & dinner), a rooftop bar (The Nolen), a fire pit and a fitness center. Some of the upper floor rooms have fine views west towards San Diego Bay.

Occupying an elegant, 1920s building (formerly the San Diego Trust & Savings Bank, and retaining many of the original fixtures), the full service Courtyard San Diego Downtown is one of the more distinctive hotels in the city, and has a very central location on the corner of Broadway and 6th Avenue, right at the edge of the Gaslamp Quarter and two blocks from Horton Plaza. It is also a large hotel, containing 245 rooms and suites on 15 floors, a restaurant/bar (Lincoln's - open for breakfast & dinner), 24 hour food market, modern fitness center, and 4,500 sq ft of meeting space. One of the event rooms is in the original bank vault, surely one of the most unusual locations to hold a business meeting.

The third Residence Inn hotel serving downtown San Diego opened early 2016, and it has a spectacular location on the west side of the Pacific Highway, just 300 feet from the edge of San Diego Bay and the pier at the end of Broadway. There are 147 suites available (two bedroom, one bedroom, studio; all have a fully equipped kitchen), the majority providing fine views out towards the bay. Wi-fi and daily hot breakfast are complimentary. A convenience store is open 24 hours a day for drinks, snacks and sundries, and there are several other retail outlets on the premises, shared with the adjoining SpringHill Suites. The hotel also has a pool, bbq facilities and meeting space.

Towards the northwest edge of downtown San Diego along Pacific Highway (one mile from the Gaslamp Quarter), the Residence Inn is one of the best places in the city for long stay accommodation, containing 121 spacious, modern suites in a handsome 4 floor building just one block from the waterfront; some of the rooms have views over San Diego Bay. A complimentary shuttle is provided to the nearest bus station and to the international airport, which is just 1.8 miles away. The suites have a full kitchen, a separate living area, extra sofa bed, and either one or two bedrooms, while the other main amenities at the hotel are free hot breakfast, free evening reception (Mon-Thu), guest laundry, fitness center, hot tub and outdoor heated pool.

Near the south side of San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, the Residence Inn by Marriott is an upscale, all-suite/long stay hotel that combines modern amenities with traditional, Victorian-influenced design. Free hot breakfast is served each morning, while other food is available at the on-site Bar Vie, open for dinner & evening drinks; for more choice there are upwards of 100 restaurants within walking distance. Other sites within a few blocks include PETCO park, San Diego Conference Center, Children's Park and the Promenade. For leisure the Residence Inn offers a rooftop pool and a well-equipped fitness center. Meetings facilities comprise three rooms, 1,334 sq ft of space, maximum capacity 140.

The Embassy Suites is one of San Diego's bayfront hotels, situated at the corner of Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway, a short distance from the Seaport Village station on the green line of the light rail system. Guests are also an easy walk from such locations as Tuna Harbor Park, Embarcadero Marina, San Diego Convention Center, plus the shops and restaurants of Seaport Village. Like most hotels of this brand, the 12 story building is centered on a tropical, floor-to-ceiling atrium lobby, with plants, koi pools and quiet seating areas. Hot breakfast and evening receptions are provided free of charge. All accommodations are two room suites, complete with a sofa bed, refrigerator, microwave and wet bar. The Monterery Ballroom can cater for events of up to 200 people.

The County Center/Little Italy station of the light rail system (green line) is right beside Hampton Inn San Diego Downtown, enabling easy travel north and south. The hotel faces the Pacific Highway, one block from the waterfront, behind San Diego County Administration Center. The 177 rooms and suites are in two blocks, separated by a courtyard garden at the rear and a rooftop outdoor pool at the front. Good quality free hot breakfast is provided each morning and for other meals the greatest number of restaurants nearby are three blocks east along India Street. Other features are a fitness center, business center and 1,100 sq ft of event space.

The 126 room Moxy Hotel is scheduled for a late 2018 opening, built on a previously vacant lot in San Diego's bustling Gaslamp Quarter - on the east side of Sixth Avenue, between E and F streets, 2 blocks from Horton Plaza. This will be the fifth Western US representative of Marriott Hotel's newest brand, a collection of modern, stylish hotels with European design influences. Centerpiece is the spacious lobby, featuring contemporary furnishings, media wall and plenty of comfortable seating. Breakfast is complimentary, a lobby bar is open in the evening, while snacks & drinks are available 24 hours.

General amenities of TownePlace Suites San Diego are a fitness center, bar, bbq area and a dining room where the free hot breakfast is served. All accommodations are suites, complete with full kitchen and sofa bed, and are available in studio, one bedroom and two bedroom layouts. There are 98 suites available, contained within a nine floor building along Sixth Avenue, between Beech and Ash streets, a few blocks north of the Gaslamp Quarter. There are plenty of restaurants in the vicinity, and the southern edge of Balboa Park is just a quarter of a mile north. The hotel opened spring 2018.

The Springhill Suites occupies half of a striking, modern building at the western end of Broadway, between Harbor Drive and the Pacific Highway, shared with another Marriott all-suite/extended stay property, the Residence Inn; both opened early 2016. Sites within a few blocks include Waterfront Park, Museum of Contemporary Art, Convention Center, USS Midway, USS Dolphin and many other harborside attractions. The accommodations - all studio suites, feature separate living/sleeping areas, luxurious bedding, a microwave and refrigerator, and some have bay views. Breakfast is complimentary and there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance, towards the city center.

One of the few hotels directly on the bayfront, Wyndham San Diego rises 14 floors above the surrounding carparks and promenades, for spectacular views of the city, the cruise ship terminal and across the bay to the Cabrillo Peninsula. The international airport is 2 miles north, served by the hotel's complimentary shuttle which also reaches nearby area attractions like San Diego Zoo. With 600 rooms & suites, most with a private balcony, the hotel is also one of the largest hotels in town, and contains all necessary facilities - a bar and 3 restaurants, outdoor pool & fitness center, convenience store & gift shop, and 22,000 sq ft of meetings/events space.

On the corner of Ash Street and 7th Avenue towards the northeast edge of San Diego's downtown area, the Holiday Inn Express is a very well regarded hotel on account of its convenient location, good facilities, clean rooms, and reasonable rates. Sites within a mile include the bayfront promenade, Horton Plaza, the Gaslamp Quarter and Balboa Park; for those not walking there is a trolley stop two blocks west. The hotel has 136 rooms, on just 3 floors though as it is built on a hill many of the rooms have views across town towards the bay. Features include a rooftop swimming pool, beauty salon, complimentary airport/train station shuttle, and free continental breakfast.

Near the very center of downtown San Diego, Best Western Bayside Inn is a compact 14 floor building of 122 rooms, many with a private balcony affording views over the bay (just 4 blocks west), the city, and east towards Balboa Park, home of San Diego Zoo. This is not the most luxurious hotel in town but service and amenities are perfectly adequate, with free continental breakfast, a restaurant on site, a smallish outdoor pool and a free shuttle to/from the airport. The hotel is located on the corner of Ash and Columbia streets, a 0.6 mile walk from the many restaurants, shops and bars of the Gaslamp Quarter.

In contrast to the large, concrete facades of most other hotels in downtown San Diego, the Best Western Cabrillo Garden Inn accommodates guests a charming, two floor, Spanish style lodge lined by palm trees and decorated with many flowers. The inn is small, with just 31 rooms, and is dwarfed by many of the surrounding skyscraper buildings, but it offers clean, comfortable, homely accommodation with attentive service and rather lower rates than the bigger places with more facilities. Complimentary full breakfast is served and there are plenty of restaurants within a few blocks. The hotel is located along A Street, on the corner of 8th Avenue - a mile or less from most of the major sites in San Diego downtown.

The Comfort Inn hotel in downtown San Diego occupies a square, 4 story building of 114 small to medium sized rooms all with microwave & refrigerator, and it provides some of the closest lodging to the Gaslamp Quarter, which begins just one block west. Horton Plaza, Petco Park and the San Diego Convention Center are all less than half a mile away. Free continental breakfast is served and there are dozens of restaurants close by. A complimentary airport shuttle is also available.

Baymont Inn San Diego Downtown occupies the south side of Ash Street between 7th & 8th Avenues - ten blocks or less from most of the major sites in the center of San Diego. This is a medium sized, 2 floor motel of 67 rooms, built around four sides of a secure central parking area, and offers limited amenities of free continental breakfast and free airport shuttle. Rooms are available with microwave and refrigerator; all are generally clean, and the place is a suitable choice for the budget traveler.

The Days Inn provides some of the closest accommodation to Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo - on the east side of downtown, right by the south end of the Cabrillo Freeway (Hwy 163). The motel's rooms are on four floors, rather fewer than most of the surrounding buildings, along two sides of the small parking lot. All have a microwave and refrigerator; some feature a balcony. A daily charge is levied for parking, like most city center hotels. The usual complimentary amenities of internet access and continental breakfast are available.