In 1986, the historic landmark hotel was first chosen to join Preferred Hotels Worldwide, which it still belongs to today. Now called Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the elite group is comprised of more than 650 of the best independent hotels and resorts in 85 countries. The timeless hotel has earned a number of awards including 10 Best Boutique Hotels in Southern California by USA Today Travel, Fido’s Favorite Award by Bring Fido, Best Places to Eat and Drink by Food & Wine, Top World’s Hotels by Travel + Leisure, and Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator, among others.
Ambiance
The iconic Pink Lady of La Jolla is as glamorous today as it was when it debuted in the 1920s. It exudes old-world charm from its location on Prospect Street overlooking the stunning La Jolla Cove. The hotel with its signature pink Spanish architecture and original 1940s hand-painted murals was renovated in 2014, bringing a plethora of modern amenities to the mix.
The lobby sets a lavish tone with red tiled floors, high beamed ceilings with ornate Spanish-style chandeliers, a marble top reception desk with colorful Spanish tile façade, luxuriously furnished concierge area, and original artwork throughout. The hotel presents the artworks of rotating artists in the lobby and La Sala, plus the permanent of wall murals of Wing Howard in THE MED’s Whaling Bar and Café La Rue. La Valencia pampers business or pleasure travelers, welcomes families, and caters to a high-end clientele.
Rooms and Suites
La Valencia Hotel offers 114 luxurious guest rooms in four types – vintage, classic, villa, and icon. Vintage king bed garden or ocean rooms are approximately 250 square feet and offer picturesque village and garden views or views of the California coastline. Rooms have a neutral color palette; luxurious textures accent carpeting, and window and wall coverings. Euro-style tile bathrooms feature dual shower heads in standing showers.
Classic rooms and suites include king and king ocean view rooms, and king junior suites and king ocean view junior suites, 700-square-foot king suites with ocean views, and 425-square-foot queen queen suites with two queen size beds in the bedroom. All suites have separate living areas with sofa-sleepers. The décor is luxurious with neutral color palettes and splashes of light blue. Oversized bathrooms feature bathtub and shower combinations and large vanities.
King garden and king ocean villas feature private, elegantly furnished balconies or terraces and wet bars. They have the same luxurious textured décor in a neutral color palette as other rooms and suites. Spacious bathrooms have spa tubs with separate showers and dual sink vanities. King ocean villas also have fireplaces. Villa king garden and ocean suites are approximately 800 square feet and offer separate living rooms with sofabeds.
The icon collection comes in three varieties – the Icon sky suite, Icon Pacific suite, and Icon Valencia suite. These three options are the newest offerings at La Valencia. The Icon sky suite is a one-bedroom ultra-modern version of 1940s style in a 1,100-square-foot suite with 180-degree ocean views and retractable window walls. It comes with fresh flowers and complimentary parking, and is the crème de la crème of La V living. The Icon Pacific suite is comparable to the King ocean suite, but is brand new. The Icon Valencia suite is an amazing 1,200 square feet of luxury including a kitchenette, his and hers closets with built in dressers, and every amenity La Valencia has to offer.
Each guestroom, suite, and villa offers plush beds with 300-count imported Italian Frette linens, down comforters, flat-screen plasma televisions, 24-hour in-room dining, mini-bars, luxurious European bath amenities and spa robes, Keurig coffee makers, in-room safes, iHome technology, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Upgraded rooms may include balconies and ocean views. In suite spa services and treatments are available for purchase.
Hotel Amenities
La V, as it is sometimes referred to, is home to THE MED, Café La Rue, and La Sala Lounge. All three are on the seventh floor. THE MED features al fresco dining either on the terrace overlooking the colorful gardens, pool, and coastline, or on the quiet patio on the opposite side of THE MED’s main dining room. THE MED terrace runs the full length of La Sala Lounge offering breathtaking ocean sunset views. The restaurant serves California Mediterranean fare and is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Diners rave about the selections at THE MED on review sites. Weekend brunch is a must-do for locals, tourists, and hotel guests.
Café La Rue is a vintage bistro and bar that features European-modern cuisine and hand-crafted cocktails in a casual atmosphere. The interior showcases terrazzo floors, Venetian plaster ceilings, a glass-enclosed wine vault, and a central oversized marble-top bar. Original paintings of Parisian life from 1947, the year Café La Rue opened, grace the walls. The street-side casual bistro is the perfect place for people watching.
La Sala Lobby Lounge is a classic living room style lounge that offers guests signature cocktails, tapas, and live piano music. The lobby extends through arched doorways to the sophisticated La Sala Lobby Lounge with colorful ceilings, deep pink pillars, comfortable conversation seating, and an expansive picture window providing epic views of the Pacific Ocean. Tall paned windows open to the outdoors, and an expansive floor-to-ceiling window at the back of the lounge provides epic views of the Pacific Ocean.
Other amenities at La Valencia include a tropical outdoor pool with an ocean view surrounded by luxurious pink chaise lounges and mint green umbrellas, a pool spa tub, a fully equipped state-of-the-art fitness center, business center, and Les Clefs d’Or (pronounced “lay clay door”) concierge services – the elite among concierges. Valet laundry and dry cleaning services are available along with valet parking. The hotel is pet friendly; see the pet policy on their website, or take advantage of their pampered pet promotion. La V also offers complimentary high-speed wired and wireless Internet, and complimentary daily newspapers.
Neighborhood
San Diego is touted as America’s finest city and La Jolla is “the jewel” in its crown. This seaside village that sits atop cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean is indeed a rare gem. Located 20 minutes north of downtown San Diego, it is a popular neighborhood for shopping, dining, and enjoying the outdoors. From sandy flip-flops to haute couture, the bustling Village offers upscale boutique shops, art galleries, fine dining and casual restaurants, and an array of beach and water activities. La Valencia Hotel invites you to explore La Jolla from its convenient Prospect Street location.
Seaside Scripps Park is down the hill from La Valencia and offers plenty of space to sit and enjoy the ocean views or share some family time. Visitors can watch seals and sea lions lolling on the rocks and the beach at the Children’s Pool, or see swimmers, snorkelers, and kayakers enjoying the water with bright orange Garibaldi fish. A walking path runs to the southern end of the cove where you can explore tide pools during low tide. Bring the camera and walk a little farther to the surfers’ Windansea Beach made famous by the book The Pump House Gang.
Other La Jolla highlights include the Birch Aquarium, La Jolla Open Air Market on Girard Avenue, the Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla Shores wide sandy beach, Torrey Pines State Park and adjacent public Torrey Pines Golf Course – home of the Farmers Insurance Open. The nearby Torrey Pines Glider Port is where you can watch hang gliding and paragliding, or try an instructional tandem paraglide flight yourself. Don’t miss the La Jolla Playhouse where 24 of their productions have gone on to Broadway, garnering 35 Tony awards.
La Jolla has a variety of great places to eat; be sure to try a few outside the hotel before you leave. Some sure bet options are George’s at the Cove, a swanky award-winning restaurant on Prospect Street that offers an á la carte menu or prix fixe culinary extravaganzas; casual fare is available on their Ocean Terrace. Burger Lounge on Wall Street is a quick-service eatery featuring grass-fed beef and local produce; it has been recognized for excellence by major national publications. Whisknladle, also on Wall Street, creates from-scratch New American farm-to-table fare with French, Spanish, and Italian influences, and is on several “best of” lists.
Promotions
Two promotions La Valencia Hotel has offered with regularity are the Bed and Breakfast Package and the VIP Pet Package. Guests may enjoy a discounted breakfast at The Med on select dates with the Bed and Breakfast Package. The VIP Pet Package pampers your pooch with a La Valencia tote bag, leash, and VIP collar accessory; healthy doggie treats; foldable dog water dish; and a daily al fresco dining credit for owner and pet. Check the website to see what promotions are being offered during your San Diego vacation.
Guests receive a free appetizer at Café La Rue with a Yelp check-in. Day and overnight valet parking is available for reasonable rates, and those with hybrid cars can take advantage of 50% off parking fees.