San Diego is a coastal town with a casual, welcoming vibe, but it’s also a destination with plenty of posh, sophisticated, high-end offerings for visitors. The hotel scene includes AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five-Star properties. An always advancing culinary scene gains more Michelin-recognized restaurants every year. And whatever your game–golf, tennis or the popular new sport of Pickleball–options abound in the entire region.
The luxurious, 249-room Fairmont Grand is regally ensconced inside a 400-acre coastal canyon and exudes elegance and Old-World Mediterranean charm. Highly awarded, the North County resort holds AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five-Star classifications, and is home to San Diego's first Michelin 3-star restaurant, Addison. Along with breathtaking architecture, guests can take advantage of a Five-Star spa, four pools and a Tom Fazio-designed golf course.
Ever-expanding and forever rejuvenating, The Del is an iconic, red-domed landmark that attracts visitors to its beachside Coronado location just across the bay from downtown San Diego. A blend of historic and modern SoCal, the original Victorian property has added beachfront cabanas, a Beach Village of cottages and villas, and a Shore House area that engages guests with a residential-style, seaside hotel experience.
The downtown addition of the InterContinental San Diego brought 400 bayfront rooms and high-rise gravitas to the downtown Marina District. Modern decor mixes with warm, laidback and luxe amenities. InterContinental has a reputation for sophistication and guest service. Those impressions flow throughout the property, including a fourth floor bayview pool, fitness center and health-and-wellness center.
The Pendry San Diego is an addition to the downtown Gaslamp Quarter entertainment district that strikes a balance between traditional and modern. Just a short walk to the San Diego Convention center, the 317-room upscale property offers an urban coastal aesthetic that's also stylishly pragmatic. There are six restaurants on-property that serve a range of delicacies–from modern coastal cuisine to a gourmet coffee shop (Provisional) and an elevated nightlife experience (Oxford Social Club).
Intricately designed to pay homage to the early 1900s Craftsman architectural style, The Lodge at Torrey Pines has a AAA Five Diamond rating and is regularly named one of the top hotel properties in the United States & Canada by Hotel + Leisure. The stunning and timeless property sits atop a cliff in La Jolla. It's adjacent to one of the most picturesque golf courses in the country.
Built in honor of President Ulysses Grant, this historic property is a landmark in downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter (a short walk to the San Diego Convention Center). Since 1910, the US Grant, renovated extensively over the years and a member of the Luxury Collection, has been a special meeting place. Its 270 rooms and grand meeting spaces are distinguished by a sense of quiet glamor and sophistication.
If you've brought an appetite for the best culinary offerings, here are several places to focus your taste buds:
The only Southern California three-star-Michelin restaurant is Addison, the on-property star at Fairmont Grand Del Mar. Chef William Bradley showcases the culinary genius of California Gastronomy. The menu dives deep into Golden State ingredients and is imbued with international flavors. A mind-blowing, nine-course, seasonal menu is available for $355 per person.
This rooftop restaurant in Bankers Hill has long been a classic staple for special-occasion meals. You can see forever from the balcony at Mister A's and watch as airplanes descend below you at San Diego International Airport. In business as an iconic eatery since 1965, it's now entered a new era that pays homage to its roots but has expanded its menu under veteran chef Stephane Voitzwinkler.
A flagship property of San Diego’s powerhouse Consortium Holdings restaurant group, Ironside has been serving up top-tier seafood in Little Italy since 2014. Situated in a restored former auction house on India Street, the restaurant offers creative cocktails, a full raw bar and an impressive lineup of seafood specialties, from lobster rolls to the painstakingly prepared local catch to a massive platter (feeding four to eight people) that’s fittingly called “Holy S**t.”
Located in the heart of upscale La Jolla, George's at the Cove offers culinary delights and a stunning Pacific Ocean view that has wowed customers for four decades. It's definitely a must for a romantic dinner for two, or is a tried-and-true way to impress a business guest or group.
The American steakhouse tradition is embellished while the mold is broken at this two-story upscale eatery in Little Italy. Built and operated by the maverick hospitality experts at Consortium Holdings, Born & Raised stays relevant and authentic to dry-aged beef–but also goes above and beyond with wildly polished decor, black-and-white photos of old-school rap artists, and table side carts where servers whip up starters on the spot or mix custom-ordered cocktails.
Come for the elegantly prepared seafood, stay for the equally regal views — of shimmering San Diego Bay, the sleek USS Midway Museum and the sandy far shores of Coronado. A fine-dining find, Top of the Market is perched above The Fish Market restaurant along San Diego’s beautiful Embarcadero. And it matches that gorgeous location with prime seafood specialties, from local swordfish to Oregon Dungeness crab cioppino to Tsar Nicoulai American caviar.
The name is Greek for “Most Beautiful.” Callie is definitely one of the most highly regarded new eateries in downtown's East Village. Recognized as an up-and-comer by the Michelin Guide team, chef Travis Swikard mixes the diversity of Mediterranean cuisines with ingredients from his San Diego hometown.
The name doesn't lie. Pastry chef Karen Krasne has created a brand that has become a show-stopper and a must-see spot in San Diego. Her gilded cakes and desserts are both ornate and delectable. Both her Little Italy and Bankers Hill locations are frequently overflowing with visitors.
Off-the-beaten-path and no longer a secret, Izola is a unique bakery that's soon to explode into expansion mode. The menu at this third-floor East Village gem is simple, but you'll want to go back again and again for the chocolate croissants or a loaf of baked sourdough bread that's still hot from the oven and yearns to be slathered in Normandy butter.
Opportunities for luxury recreational activities are endless. It's kind of our thing. Here a sample of some of the best spots to play golf, tennis or Pickleball, go sailing or participate in the competitive sport of shopping.
Several of the major high-end hotel properties have their own golf courses, including Fairmont Grand Del Mar and The Lodge at Torrey Pines. Some of the more upscale courses in San Diego's North County are: The Crossings at Carlsbad, Aviara Golf Club, Fairbanks Ranch Country Club and Morgan Run Resort & Club, The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe and The Crosby Club at Rancho Santa Fe. For a complete listing go to San Diego Golf Courses.
Park Hyatt Resort Aviara has six tennis courts: four lighted Deco Turf courts (including a Stadium Court) and two Har-Tru clay courts. La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club has 90 guest rooms and provides guests exclusive use of its courts. To be served up more information go to San Diego Tennis.
The fastest growing sport in America has taken root in San Diego. You'll recognize the name: Bobby Riggs Racquet & Paddle. The Encinitas facility owned by the former tennis showman has 22 lighted courts. Mission Bay Resort has eight courts. If this is your sport, it won't be hard to find a local place to serve and volley.
San Diego is a coastal city and sailing surges through our DNA. There are plenty of opportunities to have a high seas experience, including America's Cup Sailing San Diego. VIPs can go out on the same Stars & Stripes yacht manned by Dennis Conner in the 1992 America's Cup. For more options go to San Diego Sailing.
Hotel-based window shopping can be convenient and fun. The Shops at The Del (Hotel del Coronado) have everything from Marilyn Monroe keepsakes to Lily Pulitzer resort wear. Off whatever property you're staying, lots of local neighborhoods have dynamic shopping hubs, including La Jolla and the Cedros Design District. For more information go to San Diego Shopping.
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