Pacific Terrace Hotel San Diego Review & What to Expect

Pacific Terrace Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel in North Pacific Beach, just three blocks from San Diego’s landmark Crystal Pier.

The AAA Four-Diamond hotel is situated on a small bluff along the popular Ocean Walk boardwalk overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Nearby stairs provide guests with access to Pacific Beach, one of the most popular beaches in San Diego.

This Caribbean-style hotel with signature Tommy Bahama style décor offers the perfect ambience for a romantic getaway or a family beach vacation. A lot of my readers stay here because it’s a beachfront hotel with a typically lower price point. But you do need to understand the neighborhood and a handful of other things before you book.

Pacific Terrace Hotel Rooms and Suites

There are three room styles at Pacific Terrace Hotel: Standard, Partial Ocean View, and Full Ocean View.

The hotel also offers junior suites in four styles, Partial View Junior King or Queen, Full View Junior King or Queen, Pacific Sunset Suite, and Coastal Living Suite. The hotel’s two styles of one-bedroom suites are the Family Suite and Master Suite.

All 73 guestrooms and suites at Pacific Terrace have custom Tommy Bahama-style décor, dramatic hand-carved wood bed frames, floor-to-ceiling plantation shutters, and silk ceiling fans for a relaxing Caribbean feel.

Every accommodation also includes a private patio or balcony, flat-screen HDTV with movies-on-demand, Nintendo gaming system, and iPod docking station.

Other standard amenities include mini-fridge, minibar, Keurig coffee maker, and in-room safe. Ensuites feature a hair dryer, plush bathrobes, and Tommy Bahama spa products. Nightly turndown service includes chocolates, plus evening and next day staff schedules.

Junior and one-bedroom suites at Pacific Terrace all have the same thoughtful amenities as guestrooms, plus a few enhanced amenities. You can expect suites to have marble and granite ensuites with separate tubs and showers and in some instances a Jacuzzi tub and a second TV. All suites have full or partial ocean views. Suites also have wet bars with refrigerators and microwaves.

EXPERT ROOM TIP

Book Partial Ocean View or Ocean View guest rooms. Avoid non-view rooms that may have street or bar-goer noise.

Standard Room

Standard guestrooms at Pacific Terrace are located on either end of the ocean-facing hotel. These rooms don’t have an ocean or partial ocean view, but they still have an outdoor terrace to enjoy San Diego’s year-round great weather.

The 410-square-foot rooms come with either a king or two queen beds. You must specify at booking which bed type you’d like.

Partial Ocean View

Some Partial Ocean View rooms are located on the hotel’s first floor with a patio overlooking the pool. Others are situated on either end of the second and third floors with terraces that face north or south. All of these rooms have partial ocean views. The 410-square-foot rooms come with two queen beds.

Full Ocean View

Full Ocean View rooms are located on the hotel’s second and third floors. These rooms have private balconies with spectacular full ocean views. These rooms are also 410 square feet and come with two queen beds.

Partial Ocean View Junior Suite

Partial Ocean View one-room junior suites have a spacious 620 square feet of living space. They overlook the pool on the first floor and have patios with partial ocean views.

These junior suites come in two styles. King junior suites have a king bed, breakfast bar, and full sofa sleeper. Queen junior suites have two queen beds and a dining table.

Full Ocean View Junior Suite

Full Ocean View one-room junior suites are also a spacious 620 square feet. They are on the second and third floors of the hotel. These suites come in two styles and offer stunning, panoramic ocean views.

King Full Ocean View junior suites have a king bed, breakfast bar, and full sofa sleeper. Queen Full Ocean View junior suites have two queen beds and a dining table.

Pacific Sunset Suite

Pacific Sunset Suites are enhanced one-room junior suites. At a spacious 590 square feet, these suites are centrally located on the hotel’s second and third floors overlooking the pool. They provide spectacular full-ocean views, even from the ocean-facing king bed. (The only suites with this layout.)

Suites come with a full sofa sleeper and dining area. A kitchenette with breakfast bar includes a sink, microwave, mini-fridge, and tableware. Marble and granite ensuites have Jacuzzi tubs and separate showers. There’s even a second TV in the bathroom. This suite is a romantic choice for couples.

Coastal Living Suite

Coastal Suites are the largest one-room junior suites at Pacific Terrace with 750 square feet. They’re located on the second and third floors of the hotel at either end offering partial coastal views. These suites have two queen beds, a full sofa sleeper, and a living/dining area. Marble and granite bathrooms have Jacuzzi tubs with separate showers and a second TV.

Family Suite (Sleeps Six)

Popular one-bedroom Family Suites are 550 square feet. These suites, located on the first floor, and have partial ocean views from large private patios. Living/dining areas have a full sleeper sofa, flat-screen HDTV, and dining area for four.

The separate bedroom comes with two queen beds, an additional flat-screen TV, a large vanity, and a privacy door between the two rooms. Ensuites have separate tubs and showers, but no Jacuzzi tub. Open your suite’s sliding glass door, and you’re steps from the pool or beach!

Master Suite

Master Suites are the largest accommodations at Pacific Terrace Hotel. These gorgeous one-bedroom suites offer 850 square feet of living space. Situated only on the hotel’s third floor, they have two private balconies — one off the bedroom, the other off the living area — where you’ll enjoy dramatic full-ocean views.

Spacious living/dining rooms have a comfortable seating area with a flat-screen TV, and a kitchenette with breakfast bar, sink, microwave, mini-fridge, and tableware. There’s also a dining area for four. Separate bedrooms have a king bed, second TV, and privacy door between the two rooms. Ensuites include a Jacuzzi tub, separate shower, and a third TV.

Pacific Terrace Hotel Amenities

Daily Breakfast

Pacific Terrace serves a daily hot breakfast starting at 7 a.m. and ending midmorning. You’ll find scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, French toast, yogurt and fruit, bread and pastries, cereals, juices, coffee, and more.

You can take your breakfast in the buffet room, or move outside to the poolside patio. But it’s usually pretty reasonable to add breakfast on to a room rate booked directly through the hotel.

There is also a limited room service menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner so that you can eat on your private patio or terrace.

Oceanfront Pool and Hot Tub

The gorgeous oceanfront heated pool and hot tub are set in a tropical paradise of palm trees, California water-wise plants, and succulents. Comfortable lounge chairs are ready for soaking up the sun or are tucked under umbrellas and cabanas for comfort.

Every spot has a view of the Pacific Ocean. At night, accent lights and Tiki torches create a magical ambiance. In summer, a fire blower entertains guests on Friday nights.

Fitness Center

The Pacific Terrace Hotel resort fee includes 24-hour access to the onsite fitness center. Although small, it does have a SportsArt Treadmill, Recumbent Bike, Total Body Elliptical, and free weights.

Massage Therapy

Massage services are available poolside, in the hotel’s Couple’s Massage Room, or the privacy of your guestroom or suite. Soft, comfortable massage tables are also heated.

Beach Bundle

Pacific Beach Hotel charges a modest $15 daily resort fee that’s automatically added to your hotel stay. It includes high-speed Wi-Fi, unlimited two-hour bike rentals, beach gear rentals (beach chairs, umbrellas, sand toys, and boogie boards), kids’ DVD rentals, board games, a complimentary welcome glass of wine, and even a souvenir photo. You’ll also get discounts on attractions, massages, drinks, the breakfast buffet, and the gift shop.

Dine Out Charge Back

One thing you may miss while staying at Pacific Terrace is the convenience of a hotel restaurant. Although there is no restaurant on the property, they have a room chargeback agreement with two nearby restaurants in this walkable neighborhood.

Dine at either restaurant and charge the meal to your hotel room or suite. Participating restaurants are The Duck Dive and Fat Fish Cantinagrill.

The Duck Dive

The Duck Dive is a one-block stroll from the hotel. It’s a casual gastropub serving up contemporary American Cuisine with a laidback beach vibe. You’ll find everything on the menu from filet mignon and lobster tail to chorizo burger with Duck Fat Fries to bacon-wrapped meatloaf. The Duck Dive is a neighborhood favorite, so although it’s family-friendly, the bottomless mimosa brunches and daily Happy Hour specials also cater to the local 20-something crowd. Chargeback drinks and food to your hotel room.

Fat Fish Cantinagrill

Fat Fish Cantinagrill is another local favorite in Pacific Beach. Expect a Mexican-inspired menu dominated by seafood, and served in a rustic chic, casual cantina atmosphere. Although they’re known for their fabulous seafood tacos, there isn’t a wrong menu choice here.

Taco Tuesdays are a good way to try out various, flavorful tacos. On Wednesdays, appetizers are half price. A covered outdoor patio with fire pits makes for great dining on cool evenings. Chargeback drinks and food to your hotel room.

Gated Underground Parking

Pacific Terrace does not have mandatory nightly parking fees. But if you can find a parking spot in Pacific Beach, especially during summer, kudos to you! With aggressive city towing, it’s well worth the $28 per night fee to park in the secure underground garage.

You can self-park, or you can use the valet for no additional fee (except gratuities, of course). There is free, 24-hour unlimited in and out. The parking fee waived for ADA guests.

The Pacific Beach Neighborhood

Pacific Beach is one of San Diego’s most popular beach neighborhoods. The exhilarating two-mile beach boardwalk, wide sandy beaches, stunning Pacific Ocean, and the myriad of casual bars and restaurants make it a place where the young and young-at-heart like to gather.

You’ll want to make a ride or stroll along the boardwalk a must-do, along with venturing out to the end of the landmark Crystal Pier. (Great for seasonal whale watching and sunsets.)

Lounge on the beach with your Pacific Terrace beach gear, or join the surfers north of the pier. (Boogie boarders — stay out of the marked surf areas.) 

This walkable neighborhood boasts over 90 restaurants and microbreweries. Make your way down to Kono’s Café on the boardwalk next to the pier for a breakfast burrito. During summer, the wildly popular breakfast restaurant has a perpetual line out the door. The adage ‘eat where the locals eat’ applies here.

Another must-do, especially for families, is to walk a block east to Mission Boulevard and head south to The Baked Bear. They have an astounding 1500 ice cream sandwich combinations on homemade baked goods that you can customize yourself. They boast “one of the most amazing ice cream sandwiches on the planet.” And they’d be right. Board and Brew next door makes awesome sandwiches as well.

When it’s time to get down to fundamentals, there’s a Starbucks at Mission Boulevard and Grand, where you’ll also find Ralph’s — a full-service grocery store with bakery, pharmacy, Western Union, and Wells Fargo Bank/ATM.

If Trader Joe’s is more your speed, there’s one a few blocks up from Mission Boulevard on Garnet Avenue. These services should cover most vacation needs and emergencies. If not, the well-connected Pacific Terrace concierge will know just where to direct you.

There are just too many specialty shops, boutiques, bars, and restaurants on Ocean Walk, Mission Boulevard, and Garnet Avenue to mention. Suffice it to say; you’ll find plenty to do and see. Highlights you won’t want to miss include Mission Bay, a 19-acre aquatic park and watersports hub, and Belmont Park, a historical, oceanfront amusement park nestled between Ocean Walk and Mission Boulevard.

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