Lafayette Hotel — Hotel in San Diego

This place is great... If you're not planning on staying the night.

The lobby and pool are fantastic. Vintage/hip vibes and so inviting. It seems like lots of non guests come to use the lobby as a meeting spot, workplace, etc. Beautifully decorated. Friendly front desk staff.

The rooms are a.. well, shitshow. Like other reviewers have mentioned, the photos online are well edited to look like an updated modernized version of what it is. It seems like as long as the rooms "look clean" it's all good to go, regardless of a broken bed, divots under the old danky carpet, and a tub drain that REALLY needs a good unclogging. We stayed in the Suze suites. The main blinds in the room didnt work, so even in the rare times when you'd want to see some sunlight, we couldn't open them up. The outlets right next to the bedsides were all loose, you could not keep a cord plugged in to charge a thing.

We were told housekeeping is available upon request. We requested it on one of our mornings. The front desk said we could get the room cleaned first thing in the morning which was perfect - we would leave the room and go on a several hour hike/beach day. Came back to the room, nothing was cleaned and it was clear no one had come to the room at all. Called the front desk, who was genuinely apologetic, and they said they'd send housekeeping up asap. We requested at the very least, new towels so we could shower and trash removal. 45 mins go by, nothing. Called the front desk again and was told "housekeeping is working on laundering the towels right now but we'd be 'on a list' to get fresh towels as soon as they're ready." I have never seen a hotel not have towels available... Especially at a hotel that prides itself on their pool and pool parties. Another hour go by, as we're sitting in our hotel room, in our sweaty, sandy clothing from our outing and we decided screw it, we will shower and use old towels. 3 hours since requesting towels, we get ready to leave the room and a housekeeping staff brings us 3 towels. We asked if housekeeping would be cleaning our room, since we were leaving for a while. We were then told that housekeeping actually isn't doing any cleaning and that they were just going to bring us towels. We were pretty frustrated at this point and we showed them our overflowing trash and asked them why didn't housekeeping come when we were told that we'd be taken care of first thing in the morning. Only then did this staff member say they'd come tidy up. The next day, as we're all napping with our toddler, someone from housekeeping suddenly decides to come into our room unannounced looking to clean. We turn them down. And they come back an hour later trying again to clean... I don't understand what is going on with management here.

There are pool parties daily, open to the public for a fee, so it's definitely not a place where you'd be able to relax by the pool with your kids during the afternoon. It seems that these day use pool patrons will party, leave their trash and the pool area a complete mess, to no surprise. We went at 8 am one morning, with mess and furniture just all over the place. No one comes to clean the pool until 830/9. Why even have the pool open to guests at 7, if we're just hanging out in last night's mess.

This hotel is in a great location, the pool (when clean) is great, and the lobby is so cool. But it seems that they don't care too much about their rooms, as long as everything looks decent and useable, I guess it's good enough for them. There seems to be a massive disconnect since the front desk staff are so wonderful but management of this place blows. For $1400 for 4 nights... We were expecting a better than usual hotel stay for our family. Would not stay again. Come for a pool party, eat at the restaurant. But, definitely don't stay...

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the new Lafayette Hotel in San Diego, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. The moment I stepped into the lobby, I was in awe of the gorgeous décor that perfectly blended classic and modern elements. The $31 million dollar renovation truly showcased the art of preserving history while embracing contemporary aesthetics, and the result was stunning. It's evident that the designers took great care to ensure the hotel didn't come across as gaudy, but rather, as a sophisticated and timeless destination.

One of the highlights of the Lafayette Hotel is its beautiful pool, nestled in the heart of mid-city. It was the ideal spot to unwind and enjoy some California sunshine during my stay. And speaking of location, this hotel couldn't be better situated! The fact that it's within walking distance of fantastic eateries like Stella Jean's, Banh Thai, Pomegranate, Pizzeria Luigi's, Wise Ox Butcher & Deli, Madison, and many others, made it so convenient to explore the local culinary scene.

The old school diner restaurant was a true gem, serving delicious food all day long. The boozy milkshakes were an unexpected and delightful surprise! In addition, the lobby bar with its incredible glass ceiling was a unique touch. I couldn't get enough of the expertly crafted cocktails that were undeniably the best San Diego has to offer.

Being a part of the renowned Consortium Holdings group, responsible for creating iconic spots like Raised By Wolves, Born and Raised, Morning Glory, and Polite Provisions, the Lafayette Hotel lived up to its prestigious name. The Quixote restaurant within the hotel impressed me with its high-end Oaxacan-inspired Mexican cuisine. The ambiance, designed to resemble a dark old church with eerie statues and moody candles, was both intriguing and captivating, although at times, it could get a bit difficult to hear amidst the ambience.

The Gutter Gaming Room was another favorite spot, providing a comfortable, air-conditioned hangout with plenty of seating and a plethora of games like pool, shuffleboard, foosball, bowling, skee-ball, and Pop-A-Shot basketball. If games weren't your thing, you could still enjoy a well-executed drink while socializing.

Throughout my stay, the staff at the Lafayette Hotel was incredibly friendly and accommodating, going above and beyond to ensure a pleasant experience. The only minor hiccup I encountered was a slightly confusing check-in process, but I'm confident that as a new establishment, they will work out the kinks soon.

Our room was filled with thoughtful details that may go unnoticed at first, such as the elegant brass light switches and the creative metallic snakes serving as reading lights next to the lavish bed. And imagine my delight when I discovered a full bar in the room, complete with bar equipment and instructions for mixing or stirring my own cocktails!

During my stay on Wednesday and Thursday nights, the hotel felt calm and relaxed. However, I can envision how vibrant and bustling it must get on weekends, making it an ideal spot for travelers seeking both tranquility and lively energy.

Overall, my experience at the Lafayette Hotel was fantastic. From the impeccable décor to the delightful dining options, and the fun-filled Gutter Gaming Room, this hotel truly left a lasting impression. With a few minor improvements in the check-in process, this place has the potential to become a go-to destination in San Diego. I can't wait to return and see how this exquisite gem...

My biggest advice would be listen to the reviews! While this place is a design and dining wonderland (gorgeous decor from floor to ceiling, and delicious food and cocktail options from day to night) it is an experience first and a hotel second (maybe even third). If you’re looking for a restful and relaxing vacation away (which we were), it’s NOT the spot.

Any review you see on noise is on point. This place is LOUD and goes LATE. If you’re looking to party until the wee hours, hey, it might be the spot for you! Nothing against it for that. But I think they should have transformed this place into a full dining/club epicenter rather than trying to maintain some semblance of the hotel portion of the place.

Additionally, there were certain things about the room that left much to be desired: -The biggest for me - no mattress protector, just a single thin flat sheet between us and the mattress. The sheet was so thin we could fully see the mattress through it. The front desk was kind and provided extra linens when we requested, but you’d think with the amount of effort they put into the wallpaper and door handles, they’d put the same into the sleeping arrangements! Felt more like a motel than the 4-star hotel advertised. -It was impossible to sleep due to noise. While we expected a reasonable amount of sound with a pool balcony room, the balcony doors offered absolutely zero soundproofing as the party at the bar outside/rooms below went on up to 3am. Even with two phones blasting white noise and earplugs, the party noise outside was loud enough to break through. -Noticed some unidentifiable stains on the fabric headboard, didn’t want to do much more exploring to find out what it was!

We were absolutely thrilled to book our stay at the Lafayette, but unfortunately it failed to live up to our expectations as well as the hefty price tag per room they charge a night (500+).

We ended up ending our stay a night early. When we went to the front desk to explain our reasons for check out, the woman we spoke to was incredibly dismissive - instead of offering any form of sympathy, she immediately led with telling us that we’d be charged a penalty fee on top of our room rate for leaving early. After speaking with her manager, she waived the fee - but given her reaction to us explaining our issues, I assume this happens a lot. I’ve never had this happen to me at any hotel or even motel I’ve stayed at.

I was initially going to say that if you're looking for a vacation where you’re there to party, it’s definitely the spot. However, I do NOT think anyone should stay at what is clearly a facade of a hotel that is just a cash grab for fans of the establishment’s vibe. As a fan of many of Consortium Holdings restaurant properties this was a huge disappointment and a bummer way to spend my birthday. It’s incredibly disheartening to have to end our getaway early, especially because we came there for a relaxing celebratory weekend. Won’t be recommending or coming back...