Experience Timeless Elegance, Coastal Charm and Exceptional Hospitality in the Heart of La Jolla
Fabulous, fascinating, festive, flawless, fractious. I know, the last one doesn’t really fit in. But honestly, when our family’s recent stay ended at the Grande Colonial Hotel in La Jolla, I was feeling particularly irritable. Not because the visit disappointed in any way. In fact, completely the contrary.
The first few adjectives are just a few contributing feelings that I have come to associate with what is easily among the loveliest of accommodations in the heart of San Diego’s stunning seaside town. One that our family has been blessed to experience as a favored stay-cation destination over the years. It’s just that we had to drive away.
This picturesque property is situated amidst the pristine beaches and regal bluffs steps from Ellen Browning Scripp’s Park – a lovely recreation area adjacent to La Jolla Cove (where you can peruse the handcrafted wares of local artisans each weekend) and a stone’s throw from Gregory Peck’s famous La Jolla Playhouse. Our recent sojourn found me fantasizing about the possibility of taking up permanent residence in the region one day. I suppose it’s just because I can’t wait to return, and the feeling of going back again (and hopefully again!) will bring me the same sense of repose, reflection and relaxation I’ve come to identify with this gorgeous coastal respite.
The only Four Diamond Hotel in the Village of La Jolla, the Grande Colonial has been welcoming guests for over a century. One of San Diego’s oldest original seaside hotels, this intimate, iconic hotel has been completely modernized, yet remains faithful to the timeless elegance of its storied past – the sophisticated decor infused with a classic European ambiance and aesthetic.
From spacious guest rooms and suites with scenic views of the village, the gorgeous garden courtyard, or the sparkling Pacific Ocean, the Grande Colonial is simply a breathtaking sanctuary. With a Michelin-rated restaurant on site (the casually elegant NINE-TEN Restaurant & Bar serving up locally sourced, globally inspired farm-to-table cuisine), heated outdoor swimming pool and beach gear up for grabs, planning the day (and evening) is a simple pleasure.
If you’d rather tool around town, there’s a London Cab or golf cart ready to transport you straight into the village or stroll the charming streets with leisurely stops in the abundant art galleries, boutiques, specialty shops and trendy neighborhood coffee klatches.
For our part, we loved ordering in for breakfast “al fresco” enjoyed on the patio outside our accommodation. The fluffy lemon buttermilk pancakes were every bit as delicious as they sound. Sipping coffee while watching seagulls soar and pelicans skim the surface of the sparkling waters below, the faint sound of barking sealions and their pups frolicing in the waves – I can’t think of a lovelier way while away a lazy morning.
Hotel stays include day-pass access to local fitness facilities within easy walking distance. Indulge in an in-room massage, spend the day playing in the sand and surf, borrow the hotel’s bikes to explore the streets or take a scenic seaside stroll at sunset. Or do it all. Just know when it’s time to go, you may as well book another stay on the spot so as not to lament having to leave.
