Historic Hotels in San Diego, Compared
San Diego's historic stays split between two areas: downtown, around the Gaslamp Quarter, and the island-like town of Coronado across the bay. Four hotels on this page have a real historic setting. Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown occupies a historic building in the Gaslamp Quarter, The Westgate Hotel is a historic downtown hotel next to the trolley station, and in Coronado, the 1906 Lodge is a historic B&B while Hotel Marisol Coronado is a historic boutique hotel. Their guest scores run from 8.4 to 9.7 out of 10. Two other hotels appear on this page without any historic feature, and I say so below so you can choose with the facts.
San Diego is better known for beaches than for old buildings, which makes its historic hotels stand out. Downtown, the Gaslamp Quarter keeps its older facades among restaurants and bars, while Coronado, across the bay, has a slower pace and houses close to the beach. Choosing a historic stay here means choosing character over the standard modern room.
Gaslamp Quarter or Coronado, two historic settings
A historic hotel in San Diego gives a sense of place that newer towers rarely offer: hand-crafted furniture, fireplaces, garden courtyards or an old facade in the Gaslamp Quarter. The choice is mostly between downtown, with restaurants, the trolley and Balboa Park within reach, and Coronado, where the two historic properties are a short walk from Coronado Beach. The downtown hotels are larger, with a spa, a pool or a business center, while the Coronado addresses are small, quiet and highly rated by guests.
The Westgate Hotel is the most complete of the historic hotels downtown. It stands next to the trolley station, which makes getting around without a car simple, and offers a rooftop outdoor pool, a full-service spa, a gym and a restaurant. Guest rooms are furnished with hand-crafted European furniture and come with a 49-inch LED TV and free WiFi, and the hotel describes wide views over the city. With a score of 8.9 from 270 reviews, it is the downtown address I would choose for a historic setting with full hotel services.
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown takes a different approach: a historic building in the Gaslamp Quarter with modern rooms inside. It has an on-site restaurant, a fitness center and a business center, and the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park are about two miles away, which suits families. Its 8.4 from 716 reviews is the lowest score among the four historic hotels, but it rests on the largest number of reviews. I would book it for the Gaslamp Quarter location and the practical facilities rather than for period character inside the rooms.
In Coronado, the 1906 Lodge holds the highest score on the page, 9.7 from 180 reviews. This historic B&B is a five-minute walk from Coronado Beach, and every room has a fireplace and a ceiling fan, with free WiFi and a daily breakfast included in the amenities. Guests share a communal seating area and a landscaped garden. It is a three-star property, so the appeal lies in the setting, the breakfast and the calm rather than in a spa or pool. For a couple looking for a quiet historic stay near the sand, it would be my first choice.
Hotel Marisol Coronado is the second historic address in Coronado, rated 9.6 by 109 guests. This boutique hotel offers rooms with Italian linens and free WiFi, a private garden courtyard, and complimentary bicycle rentals, beach chairs and towels for the short walk to Coronado Beach. Two other hotels appear on this page without a historic setting: Ocean Park Inn, a beach hotel in Pacific Beach, and TownePlace Suites by Marriott San Diego Central, with family rooms and kitchenettes. They are good stays for other reasons, but I would not book either for history.
A traveler's perspectiveMy advice is to pick the area before the hotel. For a city break with restaurants, the trolley and Balboa Park, I would choose The Westgate Hotel, or Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown for a family trip. For a quiet stay near the beach, I would book the 1906 Lodge, with Hotel Marisol Coronado as the option with free bicycles. I would not count Ocean Park Inn or TownePlace Suites as historic stays, whatever the label says.
1906 Lodge
San Diego
180 reviews
Historic luxury B&B steps from Coronado Beach with fireplaces and garden
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe 1906 Lodge is a historic B&B a five-minute walk from Coronado Beach, and it lends free beach chairs and towels, which makes a beach morning with children simple. Breakfast is included, and every room has a fireplace and a ceiling fan. The communal seating area and the landscaped garden give a calm place to rest. I would choose it for families with older children who appreciate a quiet, small-scale stay.
Hotel Marisol Coronado
San Diego
109 reviews
Historic boutique charm steps from Coronado Beach
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHotel Marisol Coronado is a small historic boutique hotel a short walk from Coronado Beach, and it hands families the beach kit for free: beach chairs, towels and bicycle rentals are all complimentary. Riding bikes around Coronado is an easy outing with older children. The private garden courtyard is a quiet spot after a day in the sun, rooms come with Italian linens and free WiFi, and guests rate it 9.6 from 109 reviews.
Ocean Park Inn
San Diego
1,463 reviews
Steps from Pacific Beach Boardwalk with a pool and hot tub
Check availabilityWhy guests love itOcean Park Inn sits steps from the Pacific Beach Boardwalk, and that position is what I would sell to families: the sand, the boardwalk and Crystal Pier are all within easy walking distance. Belmont Park, with its seaside rides, is close too. Back at the hotel, an outdoor pool and a hot tub cover the moments when children have had enough of the ocean, and WiFi is free in the rooms. An 8.9 from 1,463 reviews is an excellent score for a beach stay.
The Westgate Hotel
San Diego
270 reviews
Historic downtown luxury with a rooftop pool and full-service spa
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Westgate Hotel sits next to a downtown San Diego trolley station, so families can reach much of the city without a car. The rooftop pool has panoramic city views, and the full-service spa is there for parents. Rooms have hand-crafted European furniture and a 49-inch TV. A traditional Afternoon Tea with live harp music is a memorable outing for older children, and Bonne Vie Brasserie & Bar serves French-inspired cooking with a Californian twist.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott San Diego Central
San Diego
158 reviews
Family-friendly suites with kitchenettes, a pool, and pet-friendly amenities
Check availabilityWhy guests love itTownePlace Suites by Marriott San Diego Central has family rooms with a kitchenette, air-conditioning, a private bathroom and free WiFi. A year-round outdoor swimming pool and a fitness center cover the leisure side, a spa-wellness area adds a calmer option and pets are welcome. Breakfast comes in continental, American and vegetarian versions, so different diets are covered. Guests rate it 8.6 from 158 reviews.
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown
San Diego
716 reviews
Modern comfort in a historic Gaslamp Quarter setting
Check availabilityWhy guests love itCourtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown occupies a historic building in the Gaslamp Quarter, with modern rooms and free WiFi inside. The location is its family strength: the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park are about two miles away, an easy morning outing. An on-site restaurant saves searching for dinner after a long day, and parents can use the fitness center. Guests rate this 4-star hotel 8.4 from 716 reviews.
Local tips
- 1Use the trolley station next to The Westgate Hotel to reach other parts of the city without a car.
- 2Choose the 1906 Lodge if a fireplace in the room matters to you, as every room has one.
- 3Take the free bicycles, beach chairs and towels at Hotel Marisol Coronado for the walk to Coronado Beach.
- 4Book Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown for a family visit to the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park, about two miles away.
- 5Plan a swim on the rooftop pool at The Westgate Hotel, the only historic hotel on this page with a pool.
- 6Check the hotel description before booking: Ocean Park Inn and TownePlace Suites are listed here but have no historic setting.