Looking to celebrate an anniversary or enjoy some time away for just the two of you? With perfect weather, dozens of beaches, and laid-back SoCal vibes, San Diego is a choice destination for a couple’s getaway.
There are many kinds of romantic escapes for couples in California, especially in America's Finest City. Is your idea of romance watching the sun set over the ocean? Relaxing in a private jacuzzi or cuddling up by the fire in a seaside villa? Or do you and your partner prefer being pampered at a spa after a day of sightseeing? Whatever kind of vacation you’re seeking, there's a San Diego romantic hotel experience that will suit you. Here are 10 of San Diego's most romantic hotels for your next couple’s getaway.
Tower 23, Pacific Beach
The best romantic feature at this San Diego hotel: The “Sex on the Beach” package
Tower 23 is a boutique oceanfront hotel in Pacific Beach that offers lovebirds an aptly named romantic package that includes champagne, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and a “boxful of sexy surprises.” With that enticing offering, along with its sleek, glass-box design, panoramic ocean views and upscale, trendy vibe, Tower 23 draws couples looking for a weekend getaway or overnight to celebrate a special occasion.
Visitors rave online about catching swoon-worthy beach sunsets from the hotel's rooftop deck or from the comfort of oceanfront suites. Tower 23—named after a nearby lifeguard tower—features contemporary seafood at the onsite JRDN restaurant, and guests can book in-room spa treatments.
The Lodge at Torrey Pines, La Jolla
The best romantic feature at this San Diego hotel: The California Craftsman–style architecture helps make this one of the coziest properties on the planet
The outdoorsy couple who spends a day exploring coastal sandstone canyons at The Lodge at Torrey Pines' neighboring reserve will find an opportunity for some post-hike pampering upon their return to this AAA-Five Diamond resort. Opt for a candlelit couple’s massage with a signature blend of lemongrass and sage oils at the La Jolla Spa, then enjoy a locally sourced meal at the onsite A.R. Valentin Restaurant. End the day by nestling into the Lodge's Egyptian cotton linens to take in the views of the sunset from one of its Palisades suites.
Guests can also take advantage of the resort's Tesla car share and receive complimentary access to the adjacent Torrey Pines Golf Course, one of the most iconic links in the state.
La Valencia Hotel, La Jolla
The best romantic feature at this San Diego hotel: Private, posh suites and villas
Known as “The Pink Lady,” the rose-hued, Mediterranean-style La Valencia Hotel retains a vintage Hollywood charm from the days when it would draw A-listers such as Desi Arnaz and Gregory Peck. The multitude of high-end private villas and suites (some as big as 1,000 square feet) offer a sense of seclusion, plus breathtaking ocean views.
Amenities like breakfast in bed, Brut Rosé, and dark-chocolate truffles kick up the romantic vibe a few more notches. Guests can also enjoy delicious local seafood and handcrafted cocktails at the on-site bar and restaurant.
If you plan to bring that other love of your life—your dog—the hotel also offers a “Pampered Pooches” package that includes a doggy bed, a pink tennis ball, and credits toward treats from the “dog menu.”
The US Grant, Downtown San Diego
The best romantic feature at this San Diego hotel: A two-floor honeymoon suite
Couples who love history and art will appreciate a getaway to The US Grant, tucked into the city's famous Gaslamp Quarter. Opened by President Ulysses S. Grant's son in 1910, the historic hotel features a blend of Empire-style decor and art deco that pervades the entire property, from sparkling ballrooms to rooms and suites with nine-foot ceilings.
The hotel is a popular venue for weddings, offering brides and grooms a variety of top-tier amenities, including a chance to retire after a night of celebrations in the luxurious two-floor Presidential Suite.
Join an organized group tour or grab a pamphlet and take your own historical tour of the property, which includes an extraordinary art collection. If you’re looking to venture out and explore downtown and its nearby attractions, the location is ideal.
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Rancho Santa Fe
The best romantic feature at this San Diego hotel: Private hacienda-style “casitas”
This Mediterranean-style Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa offers guests the opportunity to relax in spacious villas spread out over 45 acres of olive groves and gardens. Visitors rave about amenities like the fresh-squeezed orange juice delivery each morning and heated toilet seats in villa bathrooms. Some suites have in-room jacuzzi tubs, private patios, fireplaces, and Illy espresso machines, to name a few of the most popular features.
Couples who play tennis together will enjoy the property's plethora of racquet-sport courts, from Plexipave championship tennis courts to European red clay and pickleball surfaces. Tennis pros are on standby to help you level up your game.
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
The best romantic feature at this San Diego hotel: Spacious private verandas and a little extra magic for those who plan to pop the question
The picturesque Fairmont Grand Del Mar is a popular place to get engaged. Everything about this luxe property says “special occasion,” and the resort staff are often praised for going above and beyond to make magical moments a reality.
There is plenty of opportunity to create romance on the expansive property, which is located in a canyon five miles from the Pacific Ocean. The 400-acre resort has a golf course, tennis and pickleball courts, onsite spa, and an equestrian center, where guests can sign up for trail rides and guided hikes through Los Peñasquitos Canyon. And don’t miss Addison, the only two-star Michelin restaurant in the entire county.
Paradise Point, Mission Beach
The best romantic feature at this San Diego hotel: Private lanai suites and an adults-only lagoon
How does lounging in a lanai overlooking a lagoon sound? Pretty romantic, according to those who have stayed at the 44-acre Balinese-style Paradise Point, located on Vacation Isle Park on Mission Bay.
Couples who love water sports will delight the in the full-service marina, where you can take a private boat tour of Mission Bay or rent jet skis, sailboats, power boats, kayaks, and paddle boards. For a little land-based adventure, climb the 70-foot observation tower at the center of the property to take in breathtaking views of Mission Bay. Then spend the evening blissing out around a cozy beach fire pit.
L'Auberge Del Mar
The best romantic feature at this San Diego hotel: A private footpath from the property leads to long walks on the beach
The coastal-chic vibe is strong at L'Auberge Del Mar. While there, it's easy to imagine you're relaxing with your sweetheart at your own seaside villa. Rooms offer private terraces or balconies, and the secluded walk to the beach is like something out of a romance novel. If you're there at the right time of year, you can indulge in the services of a “beach valet.”
Guests recommend going for a decadent dinner alfresco at the resort's Adelaide Restaurant and indulging in an afternoon of ocean-inspired pampering at the Spa L'Auberge. For those who fancy a day with the ponies, the thoroughly enchanting Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is a short five-minute drive.
1906 Lodge, Coronado
The best romantic feature at this San Diego hotel: Cozy in-room fireplaces
Architecture buffs will relish a night or three at this bed-and-breakfast, which features an eclectic mix of major box dormer roofing, a Mission-style fireplace, spiral-leaded glass windows, and exterior stucco. The 1906 Lodge drips with history too, built more than a century ago to house students from a nearby aviation school.
Start your day with a home-cooked complimentary breakfast, followed by an afternoon shopping or biking around the island, and return to enjoy the free happy hour and appetizers in the early evening. Wrap up each day by cozying up to your in-room fireplace.
Hotel Del Coronado
The best romantic feature at this San Diego hotel: Rich with history yet modern to the core, this iconic property offers the best of both worlds
Guests often say they come to the Hotel Del Coronado to soak up its rich history and the glamorous feeling of the golden age of Hollywood. After all, it was a favorite of Marilyn Monroe's, and served as the setting of her hit film Some Like it Hot.
The Del has several options for lodgings, ranging from classic rooms in the iconic red-turreted Victorian hotel to modern cabana-style lodgings and beachfront cottages.
Wherever you end up staying on the property, you won't want to miss a chance to spend some quality time on Coronado Beach, a classic SoCal stretch of sand. It's a great place for a romantic stroll, frolicking in the waves, and taking epic sunset photos with the one you love.