The Lafayette Hotel Experience
The Lafayette Hotel in San Diego California, is not your ordinary hotel. It has an Olympic-size pool, a bowling alley, a jazz lounge, a 24-hour diner, an Oaxacan-inspired restaurant—and not one, but five different bars. This is far from the first time I’ve been to the Lafayette Hotel. However, it is the first time I’ve actually stayed in one of their rooms!
So if I could give you one piece of advice, especially if you’re an art and design lover like I am, it would be this:
You really need to slow down and try to take in every detail that you can. Because it’s the little things like the hardware, the fabric combinations, the murals, and even the glass and dishware that really make this hotel feel really special.
I swear, every time I visit the Lafayette Hotel, I kind of just leave the group of people I’m with to just wander around by myself for a bit. And I always find a new detail to appreciate.
The Lafayette Hotel at a Glance
Rooms
139
Location
San Diego, California
Address
2223 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92104
Airport
San Diego International Airport SAN (6.5 Miles)
Check-In
4:00PM
Check-Out
11:00AM
Parking
$38.00 per night with in and out privilege at no additional charge.
$15.00 Day Parking
Amenities
Pool
Bar Games
Bowling Alley
Restaurants and Bars
Quixote Restaurant
Beginner’s 24-Hour Diner
Lobby Bar
Pool Bar
The Gutter Bar
Lou Lou’s Jazz Lounge
Hotel Group
Consortium Holdings
Our Stay at The Lafayette Hotel
Dates
February 9 – February 10
Type
San Diego Staycation
Room
Classic King
The Classic King Room
We stayed in the Lafayette Hotel’s Classic King room. It’s really cozy but they managed to fit everything you need: a king-size canopy bed, a little seating area, a mini bar, and a bathroom with a shower.
The mini bar was probably the most impressive hotel mini bar I’ve ever seen. They actually leave these little cards showing you how to make different cocktails using the ingredients from the mini bar. As a bartender myself, this was such a thoughtful detail.
The bathroom itself was cute with green and black tiles. I will say, similar bathrooms from previous hotel stays like The Sands Hotel and Spa or the Palihotel San Diego, stood out to me a bit more, design-wise. However, there were some elements that I loved and am making a mental note if I ever get to decorate my own home someday. Like there was this little hand soap holder which reminded me of The Twilight book cover.
I didn’t end up taking a shower, but Tyler did, and he mentioned the water pressure wasn’t amazing. But to be fair, The Lafayette Hotel is historic and probably has older pipes.
The Lobby Bar
I highly recommend heading down to the Lobby Bar to start your experience at The Lafayette Hotel.
The bar itself is circular, and right in the center there’s this Greek-style statue that kind of anchors the entire space. It almost feels like the city center of the hotel because from there you can branch off into other parts of the property.
Tyler and I split a couple of cozy cocktails by the fireplace to kick off the evening. And if I can make one cocktail recommendation, you really have to try Pimm’s Cup. It’s made with strawberries, cucumbers, and ginger, and is just so refreshing. It’s honestly my go-to drink if I’m getting a cocktail at The Lobby Bar.
Quixote
Next, we decided to try Quixote, The Lafayette Hotel’s Oaxacan-inspired restaurant.
The space is designed to feel like this gothic-style church, and the funny thing is… when you walk in, it even kind of smells like a church?
Inside, there are these beautiful stained glass windows, colorful tilework, and marble statues throughout the restaurant. And if you can, I also recommend popping into the Devil and Angel backrooms because they’re really interesting designed spaces.
For dinner, Tyler and I decided to share a few things: We tried the lentil spread, the chili garlic shrimp tacos, and then we ended the night with two desserts: the flan and the devil’s chocolate cake. Everything was delicious!
The Gutter
After dinner, we checked out The Lafayette Hotel’s bar, The Gutter!
It’s a bar that features two bowling lanes: one where you can reserve ahead of time and the other you can try your luck with walk-ins. The bowling lanes have this gravity ball return mechanism which makes it feel super retro. They also have all the classic bar games like pool, shuffleboard, foosball, hoops, and skee ball. And one of the design details I can never quite get over is the bowling ball hand lights.
Beginner’s 24-Hour Diner
To end the night, we all grabbed a bite at Beginner’s Diner, The Lafayette Hotel’s 24-Hour restaurant. I was still pretty full from dinner, but Tyler and I split one of their boozy milkshakes and some breakfast for dinner. Beginner’s Diner is such a fun little place to start your day or wrap up your night.
Lobby Cafe for Coffee
The next morning, Tyler and I grabbed a coffee at their lobby cafe and then spent a little time hanging out by the pool before check-out.
My biggest regret was not getting more time to spend at the Lafayette Hotel’s beautiful, iconic pool because it was a little chilly while we were there. Hopefully, we can come back once it warms up a bit and spend a full day at the pool. The Pool Bar serves some fun tiki-inspired drinks and I really want to try their classic Lafayette Painkiller.
Lou Lou’s Jazz Lounge
The Lafayette Hotel also has a jazz lounge called Lou Lous.Fun fact: before it was Lou Lous, the bar used to be The Mississippi Room, which was featured in the first Top Gun movie!
Lou Lous has live music shows where you can grab a drink, relax, and maybe even dance a little. Some shows, like their Supper Club, require general admission reservations and can include dinner with a show. But there are other nights where entry is complimentary, and seating is first-come-first served.
I went by myself and had such a fun time, but I think it would also be a cute idea for a date night.
Some Things to Think About
So if you want to stay at the Lafayette Hotel, here are a few thoughts and advice:
Not in the Most Central Location
First, if your trip to San Diego is more about hitting tourist spots and the beaches, this might not be the best place to stay for your entire trip. The hotel is located inland near the Balboa and North Park areas. And there’s so much to do inside the Lafayette Hotel that it can be hard to leave!
So my recommendation would be to maybe split your trip: stay a few nights in more popular tourist areas, and then book one or two nights here to really experience the hotel.
A Bit of a Scene on the Weekends
Second, this place is popular with both tourists and locals. While it was pretty quiet during our stay, The Lafayette Hotel can get packed during high season like summer and the holidays. And it lowkey turns into a club on the weekends. We didn’t have any issues, but reviews mention that noise from the bars carry late into the night, especially if you’re in the poolside rooms. So, if you’re looking for sleep and relaxation, this might not be the best hotel for that.
The CH Holdings Experience
Finally, be aware that spending can add up. The Lafayette Hotel is owned by Consortium Holdings, a company that runs several bars and restaurants throughout San Diego. They’re known for their craft cocktails which are delicious… but can run up to $20 a drink.
CH Projects sometimes get mixed opinions among San Diego locals. But coming from Upstate New York, where I grew up with more generic chain hotels and restaurants, places like The Lafayette Hotel feel really special and I know a lot of people can still appreciate it. And to be perfectly honest, a lot of San Diegans will still recommend a CH bar or restaurant if you ask them for suggestions. Their projects are all really beautifully designed and memorable.