The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in San Diego, California

Swing back to the 1960s – pinkie raised and all – with al fresco cocktails at this fabulous mid-century-modern San Diego boutique hotel. After a top-to-bottom refurb, its 23 rooms mix and match retro with 21st-century creature comforts, including Finery and Casetta bathrobes. Ranging from snug to spacious, all rooms orbit a saltwater pool that hosts weekly “dive-in” movie nights. For prime screen views, book a patio table at the restaurant-bar or grab the junior suite with a pool-facing balcony.

This red-brick gem in the up-and-coming East Village – just a baseball toss away from Petco Park – is an urban respite for style-conscious nomads. Rooms are sheathed in geometric patterns and a playful palette of plum, gold and black; the spacious spa suites feature Fuji soaking tubs. Alternatively, unwind by the rooftop pool with its lounge and stunning views of the downtown skyline. The sleek Jsix restaurant serves modern American fare, but there’s a slew of other hip restos within strolling distance of this top San Diego boutique hotel.

This intimate, friendly hotel wrapped around a frescoed courtyard sits just a whiff away from potent espresso, crusty pizza and bustling piazzas that give the historic Little Italy neighborhood its characterful edge. Rooms make the most of limited space and exude swish European style exemplified by platform beds, ostrich leather headboards and standing mirrors. Framed black-and-white vintage photographs of San Diego landmarks add a local touch. Use the black-out blinds to make sure you’ll get your dose of post-sightseeing beauty sleep.

Hospitality is taken very seriously at this fine boutique hotel in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter where you’re welcomed with a free drink before checking into oversized rooms with cosmopolitan flair and sexy glass-enclosed showers. Kick-start your day with a healthy SoCal breakfast (great cold-brew coffee and mimosas!) at the rooftop poolside lounge that develops a clubhouse vibe on weekend nights. If you feel like a privacy-craving rock star (or are one), book the Cabana Suite with access to your own poolside cabana via a spiraling staircase.

Jazzy and upbeat and with lots of look-at-me features like neon signs, porthole mirrors and a mural, Moxy’s lobby is clearly tailored to the Insta-generation and perfect for socializing. Meet fellow fun-seekers over a game of Jenga or sip local craft beer at the 24/7 bar lidded by a circular LED-fixture. Rooms, while on the small side, feel as comfortable as a hug from a good friend and feature playful nautical accents in an homage to the region’s naval past.

Connect to the grandeur of yesteryear at this Victorian beauty featuring romantic quarters loaded with polished antiques and marble-encased gas fireplaces, elevated by all the expected mod-cons. The stately courtyard building is actually an amalgam of two of the city’s oldest hotels, magically moved and cobbled back together brick by brick in the current location. Styled like a grand saloon with sumptuous wood, shiny brass and frilly details, the restaurant-bar serves breakfast, bites, beverages and a bottomless Sunday brunch.

In a swoon-worthy spot on the Pacific Beach boardwalk, this luxury lair is one of the best boutique hotels in San Diego. It takes its name from lifeguard tower 23 burrowed in the soft sand right in front of the property. Mod and minimalist rooms carry over the ocean-themed vibe with teak beds, teal accents and a private balcony or patio, some with water views. The trendy JRDN (pronounced “Jordan”) restaurant is a local hotspot with sophisticated Cali cuisine and inventive drinks.