At my age, birthday celebrations last for at least a week. When both of my daughters were out of town for work on my actual day they decided to treat me to this newly renovated establishment estimated to cost over 30 million! Both Travel and Leisure and San Diego magazine reviewed this hotel in their January 2024 editions.

Long time San Diego locals remember this place as a destination for special occasions and even some Hollywood celebrities graced this place when it first opened in 1946 ( note to self…it is a year older than me) inclucing Bob Hope, Ave Gardner and Katharine Hepburn. And there were rumors that Marilyn Monroe spent time there with someone that was not one of her husbands.

This location underwent a few metamorphoses and was even scheduled to be torn down before CH Projects hired a Brooklyn based designer and voila!

It is a bit pricy of a stay but it is worth it. We started our overnight by settling into our suite and then toured the property including some of the venues still not opened. At 5 PM we hit the bowling alley (one of two) in the lower level and had great fun engaging with the group who rented the adjacent lane.We laughed more than we scored.

After a quick change we hit the premier dining room, the Quixote. As the only reservation we could get for 3 was later that night we elected to sit at the bar and enjoyed an early dinner respecting the aged one in our group.

After an exquisite meal that was Mexican flavored we again walked around the property before stopping in the 24 hour diner for take-out lemon meringue pie.

I truly enjoyed my birthday outing and definitely recommend this site even if it’s just for dinner or a day at the pool. But do ask to see one of the rooms as they too are as amazingly decorated as all the fantastical public places.