With 400 rooms on the downtown waterfront, InterContinental San Diego sits across Harbor Drive from the cruise ship terminal and a short walk from the USS Midway, Little Italy, and the Coronado ferry. We book it for clients.
It is a four-star hotel with a rooftop pool, several places to eat and drink, and a Club InterContinental lounge, and if you go in with that expectation, you’ll enjoy it.
Book With IHG Destined Benefits
How to Book InterContinental San Diego
IHG Destined rates are only available through luxury travel agencies like ours. Book the IHG Destined rate in our password-protected booking tool. The password arrives by email in about a minute, and the benefits attach to your reservation automatically.
Breakfast
Full breakfast daily for up to two guests
Hotel Credit
$100 per stay, on every room category
Upgrade
One room category, subject to availability
Complicated trip? Multiple rooms, connecting rooms, a suite, or flexible dates can go through our luxury hotel request form, and our team handles it. There is no fee for our help either way.
What I Love
- The waterfront location on the Embarcadero
- Walking distance to Little Italy, Seaport Village, and the Maritime Museum
- Club InterContinental lounge access with Club rooms and rates
- Every room has a city or bay view through floor-to-ceiling windows
- The fourth-floor rooftop pool with bay views
- An onsite Starbucks
Good to Know
- People used to other InterContinental hotels say this one does not quite live up to the same standard
- A daily amenity fee is added to every stay
- Self-parking and valet are both available and charged daily
- Rooms have one king or two queens, and the hotel lists sofa beds only in its One Bedroom and Grand Suites
- Cribs and pack ’n plays are available
- The hotel is cashless, so it takes cards only
- Check-in is at 4 p.m. and checkout is at 11 a.m.
- San Diego International Airport is under 10 minutes away by car
Which Room to Book at InterContinental San Diego
All of the hotel’s rooms and suites face San Diego Bay or the city skyline, and some look across to Coronado. Each one has robes, a minibar, a coffee maker, and a work desk. There are 21 accessible rooms, and connecting rooms are available.
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A bay-view suite -
A king room on the Club floor -
Two-bed guest room
Which room fits your trip:
- Want the club lounge: a Club InterContinental room or rate
- Need two queens: a Classic or Premium Room
- Need a sofa bed: the One Bedroom Suite or the Grand Suite
- Prefer a walk-in shower: a Premium Room, since Classic Rooms vary
Classic Room
One king or two queens, 375 to 445 square feet. Views range from the city skyline to the bay, and the bathroom has either a tub-shower combination or a walk-in shower, so ask for the one you prefer when you book.
Premium Room
One king or two queens, 395 to 440 square feet, with a walk-in shower. Views can include the bay, the pool, or the sunset. Some Premium Rooms are on the Club floor. Lounge access comes with Club InterContinental rooms and rates, so check that it is included before you book.
One Bedroom Suite
A king bedroom and a separate living room with a sofa bed, 840 to 915 square feet. The bathroom has a separate tub and walk-in shower, and the views take in the bay or the harbor.
Grand Suite
A high-floor suite of 1,245 square feet with a king bedroom, a sofa bed, a separate tub and walk-in shower, and panoramic bay views.
Presidential Suite
The largest suite, at 2,460 square feet on a high floor, with a king bedroom, separate living and dining areas, and bay and sunset views.
Found your room? Here is how to book it with IHG Destined benefits.
The Club InterContinental Lounge
Downtown San Diego needs more club-level rooms, and InterContinental brought them. I’m a huge fan of Club InterContinental, because the lounge gives you a quiet place to work, eat, and have a drink without leaving the hotel.
Club guests get complimentary breakfast, afternoon snacks, drinks throughout the day, and evening hors d’oeuvres with optional spirits, along with concierge service in the lounge. Lounge access costs extra for additional guests and for children 5 and older.
Where to Eat at InterContinental San Diego
You can eat well without leaving the building. The hotel runs its own restaurants and bars, and the building also holds a steakhouse and a Starbucks.
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Vistal Bar + Restaurant -
Layover
Vistal Bar + Restaurant
Vistal is the hotel’s main restaurant, on the third floor overlooking the bay, with indoor tables and an outdoor terrace. Executive Chef Franck Tasic runs a seafood-focused Southern California menu, and Vistal serves breakfast every day.
Seneca Trattoria
Seneca is the hotel’s rooftop Italian restaurant, with Roman-inspired pastas, wood-fired dishes, and cocktails over bay views.
Layover
Layover is the bar and lounge beside the fourth-floor pool, open day and night, with fire pits and outdoor seating. Poolside cabanas are reserved through Layover.
Mastro’s Ocean Club
The steakhouse in the hotel’s building is Mastro’s Ocean Club, in the two-story space Del Frisco’s used to fill. It serves prime steaks and seafood with live music nightly.
Starbucks and In-Room Dining
The first-floor Starbucks is handy for an early start, and in-room dining runs a full menu from early morning into the evening.
Rooftop Pool and Fitness Center
The heated pool is on the fourth-floor rooftop, overlooking San Diego Bay, with lounge chairs, cabanas you can reserve, and Layover’s bar beside it. Bay breezes keep the deck comfortable on hot days.
The fitness center has cardio machines, weights, and strength equipment, plus an outdoor yoga terrace and on-demand classes on a video wall.
Insider Tip · A Pool Day Without a Room
Day passes to the InterContinental San Diego pool are sold through ResortPass.
InterContinental San Diego for Families
The hotel provides cribs and pack ’n plays, so request one with your reservation. Classic and Premium Rooms come with one king or two queens, and the hotel lists a sofa bed only in the One Bedroom Suite and the Grand Suite. If you are booking a Club room for the family, note that the lounge charges for children 5 and older.
InterContinental San Diego Pet Policy
InterContinental San Diego welcomes dogs. The hotel charges a fee per pet for each stay and takes a refundable damage deposit, and every guest bringing a dog signs a waiver. Its own page gives two answers on size, a 40-pound limit in one place and no weight limit in its FAQ, so confirm with the hotel before you bring a larger dog.
A pet package adds a welcome bag of locally sourced dog treats, and beds and bowls are available on request.
Parking and the Daily Amenity Fee
Self-parking and valet are both available, charged per day with in-and-out privileges, and valet costs more. There are electric vehicle charging stations, billed by the hour.
Every stay also carries a daily amenity fee. It covers:
- A daily food and beverage credit at Vistal, Garibaldi, or Layover
- Premium Wi-Fi
- Two bottles of water a day in your room
- In-room coffee and tea, replenished daily
- Digital magazines and newspapers through PressReader
- Pool and fitness center access
- Discounts on dinner at Vistal and Garibaldi, and at Protector Brewery nearby
What’s Near InterContinental San Diego
One of the best reasons to stay here is how much of downtown you can reach on foot. Approximate walking times from the hotel:
- Broadway Pier and the Coronado ferry: about 4 minutes
- Santa Fe Depot, for the trolley and Amtrak: about 5 minutes
- Portside Pier restaurants: about 8 minutes
- USS Midway Museum: about 9 minutes
- Maritime Museum of San Diego: about 9 minutes
- Seaport Village: about 13 minutes
- Little Italy: about 14 minutes
- Gaslamp Quarter: about 22 minutes
- San Diego Convention Center: about 24 minutes along the water
Restaurants Nearby
Walk up to Little Italy San Diego restaurants for rooftop dining at Kettner Exchange or Sicilian cooking at the family-owned Barbusa. Bring back a sandwich from the Mona Lisa deli and a bottle of Italian wine to enjoy in your room.
Closer to the hotel, Portside Pier on the Embarcadero has Brigantine Seafood and Oyster Bar, Miguel’s Cocina for Mexican food, and a coffee and gelato counter. The Gaslamp Quarter’s cocktails and nightlife are an easy Uber away.
Getting Around Without a Car
Going without a rental car also saves the daily parking charge. If you want a car for a day, SIXT has a counter at street level in the hotel’s building for short rentals. Cruise passengers can walk to the B Street cruise ship terminal across Harbor Drive.
The Coronado ferry leaves from Broadway Pier, and the crossing takes 15 minutes (see getting to Coronado Island). Many San Diego bay tours leave from the same stretch of waterfront.
From Santa Fe Depot, the trolley’s Green Line runs to Old Town San Diego, and the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park are a short drive. The concierge team can help you plan the rest, and my guide to things to do in downtown San Diego has more ideas within walking distance.
Meetings and Events
The hotel has an in-house team that plans meetings and events, and Cvent named it a 2026 Top Meeting Hotel.
FAQs About Staying at InterContinental San Diego
Is InterContinental San Diego worth it?
It is worth it if you want a four-star bayfront hotel with a walkable downtown location, a rooftop pool, and a club lounge. Booking the IHG Destined rate through us adds daily breakfast for two, a hotel credit, and priority for a room upgrade.
Does InterContinental San Diego have a club lounge?
Yes. The Club InterContinental lounge serves complimentary breakfast, afternoon snacks, drinks throughout the day, and evening hors d’oeuvres. Access comes with Club rooms and rates, and the hotel charges extra for additional guests and children 5 and older.
Does InterContinental San Diego have a pool?
Yes. The heated outdoor pool is on the fourth-floor rooftop, with bay views, reservable cabanas, and the Layover bar. Day passes are sold through ResortPass.
Does InterContinental San Diego include breakfast?
Not on every rate. The IHG Destined rate we book includes a full breakfast daily for up to two guests, and Club InterContinental access includes breakfast in the lounge. On other rates, Vistal serves breakfast every day.
Does InterContinental San Diego have a resort fee?
Yes. The hotel calls it a daily amenity fee, and every stay pays it. The fee covers a daily food and beverage credit at Vistal, Garibaldi, or Layover, premium Wi-Fi, bottled water, coffee and tea, digital magazines and newspapers, and pool and fitness access.
How much is parking at InterContinental San Diego?
Self-parking and valet are both charged daily with in-and-out privileges, and valet costs more. The hotel publishes the current rates on its IHG page.
What is the InterContinental San Diego pet policy?
Dogs are welcome for a fee per pet per stay plus a refundable damage deposit, and you sign a waiver. The hotel’s page gives two answers on a weight limit, so confirm before you bring a large dog.
Can you walk to the convention center from InterContinental San Diego?
Yes. The San Diego Convention Center is about a 24-minute walk along the waterfront, and the Gaslamp Quarter is about 22 minutes on foot.
Does InterContinental San Diego have cribs?
Yes. The hotel provides cribs and pack ’n plays. Request one with your reservation.
Book With IHG Destined Benefits
Ready to Book InterContinental San Diego?
Book the IHG Destined rate in our booking tool and these attach to your reservation automatically:
- A $100 hotel credit per stay, on every room category
- Complimentary full breakfast daily for up to two guests
- A locally inspired welcome amenity
- Priority for a one-category room upgrade, subject to availability
- Priority early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
- VIP status at the hotel
- Turndown service
- IHG One Rewards points on your stay, so you do not give up your points to get the benefits
Booking several rooms or a suite? Use our luxury hotel request form instead.
I’ll be notified once you book. From there, I can help coordinate your stay. You’ll also receive my San Diego vacation series via email, timed according to your dates, with more tips and sightseeing discounts for your trip.
More San Diego Hotels Worth Comparing
InterContinental San Diego appears on my roundups of the best downtown San Diego hotels, best San Diego airport hotels, best hotels near the San Diego Convention Center, and best San Diego luxury hotels.
Other downtown San Diego hotels I book and recommend: Pendry San Diego, THE US GRANT, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Andaz San Diego, Manchester Grand Hyatt, Hotel Republic San Diego, and The Guild Hotel, San Diego. For another InterContinental I’ve reviewed, see InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown.
