5 Best Hotels in La Jolla, San Diego

This white-wedding-cake-style hotel in the heart of La Jolla Village has ocean views and charming European details that include chandeliers, mahogany railings, a wooden elevator, crystal doorknobs, and French doors. The hotel was built in 1913 and expanded and redesigned in the mid-1920s; newer additions feature larger suites, all with full kitchens and fireplaces and stocked with luxury bath products and snack baskets. Without compromising the integrity of the past, rooms have been modernized in a tasteful palette of royal blue and muted yellow; request a corner room with large windows framing the ocean. Although most guests request the historic main building, all five areas of the property pay tribute to the swanky 1920s Beverly Hills vibe. Cruise La Jolla in the hotel's courtesy golf cart, or stroll the hallways lined with black-and-white portraits of La Jolla's past. The hotel's restaurant, Nine-Ten, run by chef Jason Knibb, is well-liked by locals for its fresh, seasonal California cuisine. A daily $45 resort fee includes hospitality extras like valet parking, in-room snacks, use of bicycles, a Chromebook, access to a neighboring fitness center, beach gear, local transportation, and complementary coffee-to-go.

This elegant "Pink Lady" drew Hollywood film stars in the 1930s and ’40s with its setting and views of La Jolla Cove; today it draws a clientele with an appreciation for timeless perfection in concierge service, pool-deck libations, and valet attendants who greet you by name.  Rooms are small but handsome; most suites have balconies and imported linens, including the Sky Suite with 180-degree views of the Pacific. The airy villas have generous bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs and dual sinks. The personal attention provided by the staff guarantees a pleasurable stay. Its signature restaurant, The Mediterranean Room, offers a California coastal menu, while The Whaling Bar serves craft cocktails in a 1940s swanky setting. Other La Jolla establishments are steps away, but be sure to have a drink while gazing at the ocean from La Sala Lobby Lounge, a lavish space with live music Thursday through Sunday.

Best known for its location adjacent to two 18-hole championship golf courses, this beautiful Craftsman-style lodge sits on a bluff between La Jolla and Del Mar with commanding coastal views, excellent service, a blissful spa, and the upscale AR Valentien restaurant (named after a San Diego artist of the early 1900s), which serves seasonal farm-to-table California cuisine. The warm and understated rooms are spacious and decorated with antiques, Stickley-style furniture, fabrics, leathers, and reproduction turn-of-the-20th-century pieces. Beyond the grounds are scenic trails that lead to the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. The village of La Jolla is a 10-minute drive away, which you can reach by way of the Lodge's complimentary luxury car service.

Located along La Jolla coastline with ocean views from almost every corner, this sophisticated, Bali-inspired inn offers a mix of studios, one- and two-bedroom suites, and cottages. Diverging from the pastel, beachy-chic vibe that dominates neighboring properties, Pantai’s decor features dark mahogany canopy beds, South Asian artwork, fireplaces, and copper sinks that give the property a retreat-like experience that extends to the inn’s stellar service and refusal to nickel-and-dime guests; complimentary amenities include Wi-Fi, breakfast, beach amenities, and beverages in the lobby. Beyond the courtyard fountains are tropical-chic rooms with Tommy Bahama-esque furnishings, river-rock rain showers, and amenities like 60'' flat-screen TVs, fireplaces, and full kitchens. Although the spacious suites appeal to groups, Pantai’s serene atmosphere is not the ideal property for small children. 

You'd be wise to make reservations well in advance for this small, quiet inn tucked away on Coast Boulevard atop Whale Watch Point; its popularity with repeat visitors ensures that it's booked year-round. Across from the Museum of Contemporary Art, the inn is a short walk from La Jolla Cove’s snorkeling and tide pools, and it's common to wake up to the sound of the ocean waves. Rooms are done in a beige-and-blue beachy style with plantation shutters, ocean views, and flat-screen TVs.