Pendry San Diego Hotel Review & Detailed Guide

Pendry San Diego consistently ranks among the top San Diego luxury hotels and is one of my favorite picks for downtown San Diego hotels.

I love that it’s located in a prime spot at the southern tip of the Gaslamp Quarter, a short walk from a Padres game, the San Diego Convention Center, vibrant nightlife, and some of the city’s best restaurants.

This posh 12-story boutique hotel praised for its stunning decor, opened as the first of the Pendry luxury lifestyle boutique hotel collection by the legendary Montage Hotels & Resorts.

You can expect to have a swanky, cosmopolitan experience with impeccable service. Premium amenities include a rooftop pool, a full-service spa, and six onsite restaurants and bars.

I’ll share everything you need to know before booking in, including how to secure VIP benefits. My full review is below.

There’s a lot more to learn, so keep reading.

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Pendry San Diego Rooms & Suites Overview (Photos)

Whatever room you decide to reserve, you’re in for a treat. Certain Pendry hotel rooms have extra amenities and additional space, which may be appealing to you during your stay. This guide will help you decide which room or suite is best for you.

The 317 guestrooms and suites at Pendry San Diego all share an upscale urban flair. Their California coastal design features an ocean-inspired color palette, custom furniture, vintage accessories, and modern amenities like hairdryers and free WiFi.

Each accommodation is tailor-made for comfort and style and has been elevated by thoughtful partnerships with artisans and premium brands. The results are classic sophistication with a cosmopolitan edge.

All accommodations have the following features and modern luxury amenities:

• Fili D’oro luxury bedding
• A unique custom amenity program with the legendary MiN New York parfumerie
• Custom furnishings that include an oversized vintage desk and a fully-stocked minibar
• Walls adorned with California coastal and heritage surf photography
• Media amenities include a 50-inch flat-screen TV, Bluetooth-enabled JBL speakers for music streaming, and complimentary Wi-Fi
• Luxury bathrooms feature marble countertops and Waterworks spa products
• Air conditioning
• 24-hour room service
• Free WiFi

Pendry San Diego offers a variety of rooms and suites that cater to business and leisure travelers, couples, families, and pet owners.

You can also choose rooms and suites with ADA-accessible features. These include Superior Rooms and Corner Suites.

City, Pool, Corner, Bay and Skyline Rooms (Most Popular)

The easiest way to differentiate between these three room categories, because amenities and size are pretty much the same, is by their location in the hotel and view.

At 350 square feet, City, Gaslamp, Pool, Bay, and Skyline rooms align with the average room size of many urban hotels. These standard rooms come with designer details, fantastic room amenities, cityscape views of downtown San Diego, and unique showers.

All room types have a king bed option, but City and Skyline rooms offer two queens. If you opt for a king bed room, it also has a chic plaid chaise lounge.

CityKingor Two Queens

City Rooms are on floors 2–8 and do not overlook the city as fully as the Skyline or Bay View rooms do. However, I was recently in a City View room on Floor 6, and it had a cool view of the activity on J Street.

Pool King

Pool King rooms on the 5th Avenue side offer views of the hotel’s rooftop pool and the city. Rooms on the 6th Avenue side offer views of the Petco Park Sign and the city.

Corner King

See 180-degree views of San Diego through the windows of your Corner King room.

Bay King

A Bay Room is located on the 5th Avenue side with distant views of the bay. These are also typically on higher floors and our top pick for rooms when people want to see water.

SkylineKingor Two Queens

Book yourself on an even higher floor with skyline views of the downtown area. This is best for views and also for street noise.

Really Nice Suites (And One With Direct Pool Access)

I recently stayed in a Deluxe One Bedroom Suite connected to a City Two Queen and highly recommend that arrangement to families.

Studio Suite

For a larger room and even sweeter view of the city, look into this kind of suite. Executive Suites have picturesque views of the downtown skyline — you won’t be disappointed.

This expansive, open studio offers 621 square feet of space with a relaxing sitting area and a king bed. It also includes a wet bar and a spacious bathroom with a soaking tub and a dual sink vanity.

Deluxe One Bedroom Suite

Whether you’re traveling with family or just looking for a little extra space, consider booking the Deluxe Suite. With 709 square feet of space, these one-bedroom suites feature a separate living room with a four-seat dining area and a luxurious wet bar.

In the living room, the grand flat-screen TV is the focal point, with a gorgeous L-shaped couch and cozy cream-colored chair. Space is made even better with gorgeous views of the downtown cityscape. You’ll find a king bed, chaise lounge, and a large bathroom with a dual-head shower and a single-sink marble-top vanity in the bedroom.

Note that this suite is much like the one-bedroom Grand Suite below but on a lower floor. It can connect to a City Two Queens.

Bay One Bedroom Suite

One of the best views in the hotel belongs to the Bay One Bedroom Suite. It’s 709 square feet with a fully separate sitting area, dining table for four, and wet bar.

The bedroom includes a chic bathroom with a triple-head shower and single-sink marble vanity. There is also a beautifully decorated living room with a large flat-screen TV.

These are similar to the Deluxe One Bedroom Suites but located on higher floors.

Corner One Bedroom Suite

The Corner One Bedroom Suite is another prime spot if you want more space and an impressive city view with 709 square feet and separate bedroom and living spaces.

You’ll enjoy a king bed, a spacious bathroom with a dual-head shower, and a dual-sink marble vanity in the bedroom. The living space features a small wet bar, couch, sofa bed, and a gorgeous shelving unit with a large flat-screen TV taking center stage. The suite also features unparalleled views of the San Diego skyline.

The Pendry Suite

The largest and most lavish suite at the hotel is The Pendry Suite. It has a whopping 1,497 square feet of space and astounding 360-degree views. You’ll enjoy scenic vistas of the Gaslamp Quarter from the living area and gorgeous views of the downtown skyline from the bedroom.

The space includes oversized dining and living rooms, an opulent wet bar, a pool table, and a graciously appointed bathroom outfitted with a soaking tub, a dual-head shower, and a double sink vanity.

Pool Suite (for the Ultimate Pool Party)

If you plan to spend lots of time at the pool, the Cabana Pool suite is an ideal choice.

From this 1,082-square-foot accommodation, you’ll get direct access to the stunning pool, including the use of a 220-square-foot private cabana. The suite features a separate bedroom, a six-seat dining room great for family meals, and a wet bar.

An oversized bathroom has a dual-head shower, soaking tub, and marble dual sink vanity. You’ll enjoy incredible 180-degree views of the Gaslamp Quarter from your bedroom, too.

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Hotel Spa, Fitness, and Pool Amenities

You are sure to relax when you check in.

Spa Pendry San Diego

(I just had one of the best massages ever here.)

Spa Pendry provides guests with a full menu of spa services in a peaceful sanctuary. Their holistic approach to wellness means treatments cater to the needs of each. Spa therapists strive to restore balance to your mind, body, and spirit with an array of options best suited to your needs. You can even create your own personalized aromatherapy scent at the spa’s aroma bar.

Rejuvenating treatments at Spa Pendry include seven kinds of therapeutic massages, eleven full-body wraps and treatments, and your choice of six facials that draw from ancient practices and modern biotechnologies. Beauty services include manicures, pedicures, and waxes.

There are separate facilities for men and women that include steam rooms and saunas. Both indoor and outdoor treatment options are available.

24-Hour Fitness Center

Overlooking Pendry San Diego’s rooftop pool and whirlpool, a state-of-the-art 24-hour Fitness Center offers a range of workout activities around the clock.

Guests can use cardiovascular equipment outfitted with personal entertainment monitors, weight training machines, and free weights to get moving and feel invigorated.

Rooftop Pool and Whirlpool

At Pendry San Diego, they go all out regarding rooftop entertainment. The centerpiece is a beautiful outdoor pool and whirlpool surrounded by plush chaise lounges. Private cabanas with luxurious seating line one wall of the outdoor patio. The pool is not large, and it can feel a little crowded with only a few people.

The Pool House restaurant opens onto the patio and provides casual fare and cocktails that can be enjoyed poolside, in a cabana, or in the al fresco dining area. This little paradise offers guests incredible views of the downtown cityscape and sparkling San Diego Bay.

While The Pool House restaurant is open to the public for lunch, the swimming pool area is for hotel guests only, with two exceptions.

The first is during seasonal Pool House Sundays, a happening afternoon event usually between Memorial Day and the end of September, where outside guests can reserve a cabana, grand cabana, or daybed with bottle service for the day. (This event is not kid-friendly.) The second exception is for Spa Pendry guests who may enjoy day use of the pool and hot tub area.

It’s also on my list of best hotel pools in San Diego.

Note: The pool area is not family-friendly during weekend pool parties and events. The public can rent cabanas here, so during weekends and peak dates, the pool area is busy and can have a club-like scene.

The Champagne Vending Machine

A special treat at this Pendry Hotel in San Diego is the champagne vending machine in the hallway to Provisional restaurant where hotel guests can get single-serving bottles of Moët & Chandon champagnes on demand.

The machine only accepts Moët branded coins you purchase from the front desk. The machine dispenses your champagne selection gently, so you don’t have to worry about disturbing the bubbles.

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Pendry San Diego for Kids

One of the questions I receive most is whether Pendry San Diego is a kid-friendly San Diego hotel. While you won’t see many kids running around, families who usually stay in upscale boutique properties love it.

Pendry San Diego works with UPPAbaby to provide complimentary stroller rentals for guests that can be reserved through the Concierge. Guests may also check out Taylor guitars through the Concierge — a hit with kids and adults. And you can check out a Sector 9 skateboard.

Additionally, one of the on-site restaurants, Nason’s Beer Hall, offers games that are kid-friendly, such as shuffleboard, PacMac video game, corn hole, Jenga, and Connect Four. Here, the outdoor patio is also fenced to keep active kids secure. Kids won’t have an issue dining throughout the hotel as the restaurants can accommodate special requests.

If traveling with a baby, be sure to choose a suite with a bathtub if this is important to you. Rooms have only the giant glass showers. Cribs are complimentary. 

If you need connecting rooms, this is one San Diego hotel that can make it happen for Virtuoso guests (at many hotels, it’s a request but not a guarantee). So, I recommend it to boutique hotel-loving families who need this and are okay with the pool scene.

MORNING POOL TIME FOR KIDS ON WEEKENDS

If traveling when Pool House Sundays are happening, slot in early morning pool time to avoid the afternoon party-goers. During summer and holidays, the pool scene can feel adult with bottle service happening and the like, so it’s not always the best for kids. Check the pool’s event calendar for other events that may impact your stay.

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Activities and Excursions

You’ll receive a welcome brochure in your room that explains hotel happenings like applicable cocktail hours, spa offerings, restaurant hours, and things like this.

The hotel does have a partnership with Adventure that includes a handful of tours for booking that currently include learning how to eFoil, hiking with a professional photographer, and personal yoga and lululemon shopping excursions.

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Pendry San Diego Restaurants

This is where the hotel sets itself apart from the rest. You’ll find an astounding six onsite restaurants and bars at the Pendry Hotel in San Diego, each offering a different vibe and menu.

Provisional is a magical space incorporating a casual restaurant, shopping boutique, and coffeehouse in one. Lionfish is the hotel’s signature fine-dining restaurant. Nason’s Beer Hall is the place for craft brews and shareables.

And Fifth & Rose is where it’s at for craft cocktails, wine, and upscale snacks. The Pool House is the hotel’s rooftop bar serving cocktails, beer, and light fare with a side of epic views, and Oxford Social Club is the hotel’s luxurious underground nightclub. Of course, you can also indulge in room service.

Update: Make dining reservations, even for breakfast, during weekends and holidays. These dining outlets are popular because they are so good.

Provisional

The gorgeous, light-filled Provisional Kitchen, Cafe, and Mercantile is bright and airy with an open kitchen concept and trendy, modern design. It’s on the ground floor, Fifth Avenue side of the hotel.

Geometric gray and white floor tiles, long wooden communal tables, soaring ceilings with gold chandeliers, cozy booths, and modern bistro tables set the stage for casual-chic dining.

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Breakfast (the breakfast pizza is popular) is served alongside a Vittoria Coffee espresso bar. For lunch, expect unique light bites, and dinner features shareable dishes. They also have a kids’ menu and weekend brunch.

Al fresco dining is available on a lovely sidewalk patio. To top it off, the restaurant has a retail space where you’ll find curated ceramics, housewares, pantry items, and jewelry in the restaurant’s retail space.

Lionfish

Lionfish is Pendry Hotel’s signature fine dining restaurant serving coastal cuisine in an upscale two-story dining space next door to Provisional.

The elegant design offers an urban ambiance with natural wood floors, beautifully woven rugs, a long bar, high-top tables, and leather booths at the street level. Upstairs, you’ll enjoy a cozy mezzanine with leather seating and a vintage copper wagon wheel chandelier.

The restaurant serves modern coastal cuisine, daily fresh catch, sushi, premier meats, and upscale seasonal small plates. The executive chef sources his ingredients from a network of local growers and fishermen. Professional mixologists add a dose of spirit-forward cocktails to your dining experience.

The Pool House

The Pool House is the rooftop outdoor oasis where guests can indulge in the Southern California lifestyle that made San Diego an in-demand travel destination. The indoor/outdoor contemporary space provides dramatic views of the urban cityscape.

Eat at the bar that opens onto the pool area, in a private cabana, on your poolside chaise lounge, or at the al fresco dining area at one end of the rooftop. You can order light bites, sandwiches, salads, and sides from The Pool House menu prepared by the Lionfish team.

Seasonal Pool House Sundays (Memorial Day through usually the end of September) kick the energy up a notch with lavish bottle service, champagne, specialty cocktails, and DJ-curated music. But you can check their event calendar for other pool parties that may happen Thursday through Saturday.

Nason’s Beer Hall

Nason’s Beer Hall is a modern take on the American sports bar. Located on the street level at the corner of J Street and Sixth Avenue, the bar is across the street from East Village – home of the Padres MLB Park.

The bar serves 24 local beers on tap, plus another 22 bottled beers. There’s a simple menu of shareable plates, sandwiches, and snacks.

Exposed brick walls, painted floors, black-and-white framed prints, and a central bar create an edgy urban ambiance. Folding glass doors open onto a sidewalk patio. Fun amenities include a popcorn cart, beer pong table, vintage bar games, and, of course, lots of TVs tuned to every sport.

Fifth & Rose

Fifth & Rose is Pendry San Diego’s sophisticated cocktail bar just off the lobby at the corner of J Street and Fifth Avenue.

This is the place for a nightcap and conversation after a night out on the town. Or, if you’re like me, maybe a place to take your laptop down to for a quiet glass of wine and truffle fries.

This classic bar exudes elegance with a black and white color palette, dramatic centerpiece over the bar, exquisitely patterned ceiling, dark tile floor, and tiered chandelier. Plush chairs, marble tabletops, tropical plants and flowers, and candles add a layer of intimacy and romance.

Expect craft beer, an extensive wine list, hand-crafted cocktails, and elevated bar fare.

Oxford Social Club

If you’re looking for an exclusive velvet rope experience, it’s here at the Pendry San Diego’s vintage underground nightclub, the Oxford Social Club. This boutique nightclub provides the ultimate in VIP treatment.

At this San Diego nightlife hotspot, you’ll find plush couches, leather club chairs, intimate seating areas, richly designed rugs, subdued lighting, and an unforgettable modern chandelier, all in a sophisticated ambiance.

Dance the night away to the sounds of San Diego’s most talented DJs. Indulge in imaginative cocktails or private bottle service. If you’re lucky, you may even catch an impromptu pop-up performance by a celebrity entertainer.

TIP:

Hotel guests use the VIP entrance into Oxford Social Club.

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The Downtown Neighborhood & Map

Pendry San Diego sits right along the edge of two of San Diego’s most popular urban neighborhoods – the Gaslamp Quarter and East Village. The hotel is a less than 10-minute short drive from San Diego International Airport.

Though firmly planted in the Gaslamp Quarter, the hotel is across the street on the Sixth Avenue side from revitalized East Village. Both neighborhoods are worthy of exploration and offer plenty of fun things to do in downtown San Diego.

Gaslamp Quarter

Every city has that one enviable neighborhood that travelers flock to when they visit, and in San Diego, it’s the historic Gaslamp Quarter (also called the Gaslamp District).

This buzzy neighborhood stretching from West Broadway to Harbor Drive is downtown’s gastronomic and entertainment epicenter, full of local attractions.

It’s an eclectic mix of symphony halls, theaters, museums, art galleries, boutique shops, rooftop bars, diverse eateries, and live music venues.

Victorian architecture dominates the Gaslamp Quarter’s cityscape, with 94 Victorian-era buildings in the neighborhood’s 16 blocks.

The 90-minute San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Walking Tour is an excellent way to learn about the architecture and history of the area, plus get the inside scoop on local hot spots to explore on your own.

Family-friendly Chuck Jones Gallery specializes in iconic cartoon animations from Loony Tunes. The gallery, about a block south of Pendry Hotel on Fifth Avenue, hosts many events, especially during Comic-Con.

The Sunday afternoon Gaslamp Artisan Market is one block north of Pendry, also on Fifth Avenue. Among the many artisan booths, several restaurants offer specials. It’s an excellent way to decide which restaurants to visit later.

You’ll want to check out the Gaslamp Quarter’s calendar of events, which includes annual favorites like the Mardi Gras Celebration in February, ShamROCK Saint Patrick’s Day music fest in March, wildly popular Comic-Con in July, Fall Back Festival – an old west-themed family event – in November, and the Holiday Pet Parade in December.

East Village

The most popular place to visit in East Village is Petco Park. The state-of-the-art Padre’s baseball stadium at 7th Avenue and K Street is conveniently close to Pendry San Diego.

Grab your pre-game eats at Nason’s Beer Hall on the hotel’s 6th Avenue side before making the two-block stroll to the game. Another (cheaper) option is to go old school and watch the game from Park at the Park – a grassy lawn outside the outfield fence with a kids’ play area, a Little League field, and a great view of the game.

Architecture buffs will appreciate the ultra-modern new additions to East Village in contrast to the Gaslamp’s historic architecture. The neighborhood’s new multi-story, domed library offers docent-led architectural tours. If you have children, you’ll love the Dr. Seuss-themed kid’s library, beach-themed teen center, and relaxing Dome Terrace.

The other architectural wonder in the Village is Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge, the longest stainless steel pedestrian suspension bridge in the world. The nautically-inspired bridge rises to 130 feet, providing fabulous views and photo opportunities. It’s also a safe and quick way to cross Harbor Drive to the Convention Center.

Like the Gaslamp Quarter, East Village is a shopping and dining mecca. Hip urban boutiques abound, and restaurants and brewpubs fill reimagined warehouses.

At 13th and Market Streets, you’ll find an urban park and event venue with an unusual collection of eateries in repurposed shipping containers, plus a craft beer garden, dog run, and art space.

The most popular neighborhood event is the annual East Village Opening Day Block Party on the first day of Major League Baseball.

Embarcadero

You can walk to the Embarcadero easily from Pendry San Diego hotel, where the USS Midway Museum is located and where many of the San Diego harbor cruises depart from. You’ll pass the San Diego Convention Center and Seaport Village along the way.

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Pendry San Diego Hotel Policies and Additional Services

These are some need-to-know logistics when you want to stay at Pendry San Diego.

The hotel provides adjoining rooms by request (unless you are a Virtuoso guest through me, in which case they are guaranteed).

Amenity Fee

Each room and suite currently has an additional $42/night amenity fee (fee is subject to change and does not include taxes). The amenity fee includes:

• Welcome cocktail
• WiFi
• In-room Espresso Machine
• Morning coffee & tea in Provisional
• Access to the Fitness Center
• Cadillac Ride& Drive Program
• UPPAbaby Stroller Program
• Sector 9 Skateboard Program
• Children’s amenities
• Pet amenities
• Use of the business center
• Turndown service upon request
• Local calls
• Printing up to 10 pages
• Taylor Academy Guitar Stay and Strum Program
• Shoe Shine Service
• Complimentary PressReader access

Pendry San Diego Parking

Additional fees include a valet parking fee of $62 per night. Self-parking is available at various lots around the area, but expect to pay no less than $25 daily (if you can find a spot).

This fee is in line with other downtown San Diego hotels. Parking down here is pricey, so you may save if you can go carless.

Pendry San Diego Pets

Pendry San Diego’s pet policy is pretty liberal. You can bring one dog (no cats!) per room for $100 plus tax fee. You don’t even need to tell them in advance, but you should because they have nifty pet accessories and treats they can prepare for him or her.

Additional Services

The hotel provides adjoining rooms by request (unless you are a Virtuoso guest through me, in which case they are guaranteed).

Additional services include daily housekeeping, dry cleaning, laundry, ironing, suit press, shoeshine services, and an onsite ATM. Major credit cards are accepted. Meeting rooms are available.

The front desk is open 24 hours daily and provides complimentary baggage storage. The hotel also has excellent concierge services, which would be delighted to help arrange your San Diego vacation itinerary.

Pendry San Diego Hotel Reservations

Ready to book? Here are those details.

Pendry San Diego is a Virtuoso property, which means that La Jolla Mom readers have access to value-added amenities that include:

I’ll be notified once you book using the above link to my Pendry San Diego hotel Virtuoso page. From there, I can help coordinate your stay.

You’ll also receive my San Diego vacation series via email, timed according to your dates, to provide you with even more tips and sightseeing discounts for your upcoming stay.