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Refreshed rooms and a beachy yet boutique atmosphere distinguish the rebranded San Diego Mission Bay Resort from its former life as Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa. The property still exudes the same feeling of relaxed, family-friendly hospitality that we have enjoyed there in the past while upping the aesthetics and service to be in line with what one might expect from Noble House Hotels and Resorts, the resort’s parent company.
This Mission Bay Resort in San Diego offers fantastic amenities, like the bayfront pool and fire pit rooms, to enjoy during your stay. As if that’s not enough, you also have things to do at Mission Bay and the greater San Diego area at your doorstep, thanks to easy freeway access. You can also book it with our VIP benefits.
San Diego Mission Bay Resort Reservations
1775 East Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA 92019
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Guest Rooms and Suites
San Diego Mission Bay Resort offers various room and suite types. Whether you’re a solo traveler or a family, there is accommodation to suit your needs.
Traditional Guest Rooms
The guest rooms at San Diego Mission Bay Resort are comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. With 365 square feet of living space, there’s plenty of room.
Each room comes with either a king-size bed or two queen-size beds. Guests can choose between a balcony or a patio, and between views of the garden, the resort or the bay. You can arrange connecting rooms ahead of time
Studio Guest Rooms
For guests requiring a bit more space, the studio guest room is ideal. The 480-square-foot size allows guests to enjoy a dedicated living area that comes complete with a couch and coffee table.
As with the traditional guest room, the Studio offers a king-size bed or two queen-size beds, and you can arrange connecting rooms.
Fire Pit Studio Guest Rooms (Top Pick)
If you’re after a chilled-out, beachy atmosphere, consider the fire pit studio guest room. These rooms open onto private patios with fire pits (some even right on the shoreline).
This option offers all the comforts of a studio guest room and is best suited to groups that like to socialize outdoors
We have stayed in this room, and it is nice to hang out with friends and kids into the evening. The kids can tumble around the grassy area behind.
San Diego Suites
San Diego Mission Bay Resort deserves its four-star rating with these gorgeous suites. They range from 671 to 1463 square feet and offer all the luxuries you would hope for.
There’s a choice between a private balcony with views of the bay or garden and a patio with a fire pit. The suite includes an open-planned living room (separate from the bedroom) with a dining table and sitting area.
Accessible Guest Rooms
I love that San Diego Mission Bay Resort goes out of its way to ensure that beach life is for everyone. The Accessible Guest Rooms offer all the features of the Traditional Guest Rooms but with a few special touches.
There’s a wheelchair-accessible patio with bay or garden views. The rooms also have a visual fire alarm, doorknocker, and phone alert option. Wheelchair users can look forward to lowered peepholes and towel rails, as well as roll-in showers and bathtubs.
Dining at San Diego Mission Bay Resort
The dining options at this Mission Bay resort separate it from the rest. There are five options when it comes to mealtimes. All of them offer the perfect balance between a seaside resort’s atmosphere and a top hotel’s attention to detail.
Covewood
Covewood offers its patrons a waterfront location, as well as a superb menu. The eatery has won several awards, including a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, and has been mentioned amongst the world’s best wine lists.
This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I sometimes meet my friends for breakfast or brunch there because it’s easy, you can talk because it’s not noisy, the view of the bay is pretty and the food is good!
With an array of soups, salads, pasta, and pizzas, there should be something to please the whole group. The bistro also offers large parties (7 to 28 guests) in the comfort of a private dining room.
Plaza Del Sol
This bar area is another highlight for me as it offers a glitzy yet comfortable social area in the heart of the resort.
Plaza Del Sol has a traditional bar area with high stools and small tables but the highlight is its serviced patio. It gets busy at happy hour (currently 3 – 6 p.m.) when there are discounts on drinks and appetizers.
The drinks menu is extensive, featuring several top Californian wines. Light meals are also available.
Solrisa
Finding it difficult to leave the pool come lunchtime? You don’t have to, thanks to Solrisa, San Diego Mission Bay Resort’s poolside dining option.
There are a ton of yummy dishes on the menu. The quesadillas, wraps, and smoothies are ideal light snacks. Fresco’s offers kids lunch boxes of grilled cheese or hot dogs with a soda. You can also enjoy some wonderful cocktails to complete the holiday atmosphere.
This eatery is open daily for lunch and dinner on the weekends and seasonally during the week.
Mission Joe
You may be on holiday, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave your morning cup of coffee behind. Instead of grabbing a cup to-go, sit down inside Mission Joe, the resort’s dedicated coffee shop.
Aroma serves the renowned Zoka brand of coffee alongside other hot and cold drinks. You can order breakfast staples like bagels and muffins. If you’re on your way out, there is also a great variety of pre-made meals available.
The atmosphere at Aroma is relaxed, largely thanks to the super comfortable patio furniture.
Room Service
Breakfast in bed? A dreamy dinner for two on the balcony? These are the occasions for which you need room service.
Whether it’s a planned meal or a quick snack for hungry children, the room service at the resort is first-class. The hotel prides itself on being able to provide anything that you might crave.
Amenities at San Diego Mission Bay Resort
Whether you’re holidaying with little children or looking for peace and quiet, there is something for you at San Diego Mission Bay Resort.
Swimming Pools
TIP: RESERVE CABANAS & DAY PASSES
You can reserve cabanas and buy pool day passes (if not staying at the resort) through ResortPass.
The variety of waterside locations is another feature that sets this resort apart from the other Mission Bay resorts. The hotel offers two fabulous swimming pools in addition to beach access.
First, there’s a waterfront pool, which allows you to enjoy both the beach and the pool. Plenty of loungers are available, and the poolside restaurant provides all the refreshments you could want.
For added luxury, consider renting a poolside cabana. This allows you to recline in luxurious loungers and enjoy a TV and free WiFi.
There’s also a wading pool for the little ones. This shallow pool is filled with brightly colored balls, creating a welcoming environment for the smallest family members. Parents can relax in the surrounding loungers or join children in the pool.
All children under 3 years of age are only allowed in the wading pool and must wear swim diapers (they sell these in the resort store)
Beach Access and Water Sports
This Mission Bay resort offers guests exclusive access to a private bay beach. That’s right, you can enjoy sand and seclusion without leaving the hotel.
The beach is fully serviced, so you can order from Fresco’s at lunchtime or whenever you’re up for a snack.
You can look forward to bonfires at night, volleyball, bean bag toss, and badminton. Then, there are all the natural charms of the beach, such as swimming in the bay, suntanning, and building sandcastles.
From water skiing to stand-up paddle-boarding, there are a lot of water sports to try your hand at right in front of the hotel. You’ll rent from the onsite Action Sports Rentals.
You can also pick up a surrey bike to ride around the bay, which I recommend as a fun family activity.
Getting to the ocean beach, however, requires a car. Taking an Uber during peak season is wise, as beach parking is tough. The closest beaches are Mission Beach (where Belmont Park, our seaside amusement park, is located) and Pacific Beach.
Which you choose depends on what activities you’d like to pursue. Top San Diego surf schools operate in both spots. You can check my guides to Mission Beach beaches and Pacific Beach beaches to learn the differences between the two.
Fitness Center
Keeping fit and healthy has never been as fun as it is at this resort. You can work out solo in the gym or join one of the fun classes.
The gym is stocked with Life Fitness equipment and free weights. You can use private men and women’s lockers at no additional cost. There are also saunas to enjoy.
The fitness center hosts a boot camp at 8 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday. This is perfect for keeping up your fitness routine while on holiday.
The resort also offers yoga and Zumba classes outdoors on the lawns overlooking the bay. There are also indoor pilates classes but these are by appointment only.
The fitness center is open 24 hours daily, while the saunas are available between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Spa Brezza
When you’re at Spa Brezza, you enter a world where stress and exhaustion just fade away. After a few of the expert spa treatments, you’ll leave refreshed and ready for the return to your daily grind.
Spa Brezza’s focus is on beautiful and healthy skin. The spa achieves this through treatments that are inspired largely by aromatherapy. In addition to four types of massages, the spa also offers body wraps for exfoliation, and facials (including HydraFacials and Intraceutical Oxygen Treatments).
There are options for couple’s massages, a massage for pregnant women, and some options for children under 13. The spa also houses a salon for hair and makeup appointments.
Tip: Check spa hours before booking, if you play to use the spa. Currently, it’s open Thursday–Sunday only.
Family Activities
If you’re visiting with young kids, you won’t have difficulty keeping them busy. As well as all of the above activities, there are additional things to occupy your children.
As with most hotels, there’s a selection of board games at the front desk. You can also engage in ping pong, and pop by the jumbo checkerboards. There are also two-hour children’s tennis clinics hosted thrice weekly.
For a true taste of the Californian lifestyle, take your kids to the s’mores nights by the beachside bonfires.
Dog-Friendly Accommodations
A four-star resort rarely allows dogs but you’re in luck with San Diego Mission Bay Resort. This is perfect for those who see their dogs as part of the family.
This is one of the pet-friendly hotels we book the most in San Diego because big dogs are allowed.
The hotel allows you to bring a maximum of two dogs per room so long as they weigh less than 75 pounds each. Fees apply.
I personally really like this hotel for dogs because of the grassy areas and Mission Bay parks on both sides of the hotel. You can request a ground-floor room, but it will not be guaranteed, even if you bring a dog. If you want a ground-floor room, book one of the fire pit rooms because these are only on the ground floor.
The Mission Bay Neighborhood
At 1775 East Mission Bay Drive, the resort is a little over 10 minutes from the San Diego International Airport. Mission Bay is a human-made saltwater bay with many activities to interest visitors. Since most attractions revolve around the water, there’s a relaxed holiday atmosphere.
One benefit of this hotel is that nice Mission Bay parks are within a few minutes’ bike ride or walk on both sides of the hotel. They have small bay beaches, playgrounds for kids, and big grassy areas.
You can book a sunset sailing trip or picnic at Bonita Cove Park. Kids will want to explore life underwater at SeaWorld San Diego, also on Mission Bay, thanks to its many exhibits, marine animal shows, and a handful of roller coasters.
Even though there is a lot to do in the Mission Bay neighborhood itself, you’re also not far from some of San Diego’s other attractions. It’s easiest to explore by car, but if you don’t have one with you, don’t worry. There are other ways of getting around San Diego.
Just a 10-minute drive from the hotel is historic Old Town San Diego, where the first European settlers arrived. A bit further afield, you can visit the San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND California, and Balboa Park, which are also among the top things to do in San Diego with kids.
If you’re in town between January and March, you should definitely make time to watch the California gray whale migration. To spot the whales as they head to Mexico, it’s best to take a San Diego whale watching tour.
Make Reservations with Noble Select VIP Amenities
You can search the hotel’s website directly for discounts and special offers. If you have AAA, check the San Diego Mission Bay Resort AAA page for the best rate, with parking usually included. However, our VIP rate is usually better for people who plan to eat breakfast daily on the resort.
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Katie Dillon
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