Hotel del Coronado
Hotel · Coronado
1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Highlights
Historic beachfront resort with Victorian charm & modern luxury
Historic beachfront resort with Victorian charm & modern luxury
"A reimagined Southern California beachfront Gilded-Age resort that completed a $550 million, six-year restoration of its National Historic Landmark main building, preserving the iconic red turret, stained-glass windows and many original details (parquet floors, a cut-crystal chandelier, restored oak paneling and a vintage-style birdcage elevator) while modernizing nearly every corner of the 136-year-old property. The vast estate offers 938 rooms across distinct neighborhoods—the Victorian (each room unique), gated Beach Village cottages and villas, beachfront Cabanas, the glass-railed Views tower and residential-style Shore House suites—where recent renovations lighten interiors while retaining historic touches; a Shore House two-bedroom example includes electric blinds, a Sub-Zero fridge, a large wine cooler, blue rugs, warm woods and an extended patio beneath palm trees. The dining scene ranges from a newly opened Nobu to standout on-site restaurants (notably a Veranda plate of halibut with olives, capers and lemon and Serẽa’s local-catch ceviche, spicy lobster rigatoni with Calabrian chili and swordfish piccata), plus a beachfront taco shack, Ocean Club (members/paid access), ENO Market and Pizzeria, an ice cream parlor, candy shop, the lively Sun Deck and the historic Babcock & Story Bar with its 50-foot mahogany bar; cocktails are inventive (try the kalamata dirty martini with feta-stuffed olives and truffle salt or an Old Fashioned with sage‑infused date syrup). Steeped in legend—where Marilyn Monroe was filmed, L. Frank Baum wrote parts of The Wizard of Oz and a Nixon state dinner once gathered Sinatra and John Wayne—the property leans into its past with an Ice House Museum, guided tours (a 90-minute Legendary Tour and a 60-minute Haunted Happenings for ages 12+), uncovered period features like an 1888 ceiling fresco and chandeliers tied to Baum. The vibe is festive and memory-focused, ideal for history buffs, families, milestone celebrations and quick SoCal getaways; staff handle high occupancy smoothly, and the resort is fully ADA compliant with hearing-impaired rooms, widened pathways and added ramps. Situated beachfront on Coronado peninsula across the bay from downtown San Diego, it’s also near a naval air station whose occasional flyovers excite aviation enthusiasts." - Tim Chester
"After more than $550 million in revitalization, this seaside National Historic Landmark pairs a California beach vacation with a long legacy of innovation: it was wired for electricity in 1888 and has continued introducing new guest experiences while preserving its historic charm. The lovingly restored main lobby mixes hand-painted silk wallpaper, a wall of vintage green-tasseled room keys, and polished Illinois oak in a way that feels cinematic yet fresh. Visitors can take docent-led history tours that explore ties to L. Frank Baum, wander Victorian-era gardens, join ghost tours, or learn about the property’s past in on-site exhibits — all balanced with modern amenities that make the resort both glamorous and relevant for today’s travelers." - AFAR
"An iconic beachfront resort with a 137-year history that was revitalized over a six-year, $550 million restoration, offering a blend of restored Victorian charm and modern luxury across five distinct neighborhoods. History buffs can stay in the recently rehabilitated 1888 Victorian quarter with its garden courtyard and replica bronze Naiad Queen fountain, while guests seeking contemporary beachfront living can choose from oceanfront balconies in The Views, private fire-pit Cabanas, or luxe villas and an oceanfront pool with personal concierge in the newly built Shore House. On-site wellness and activity options run the gamut from spa treatments inspired by the ocean (including seaweed leaf wraps and ocean-wave massages), poolside cabanas, and beach yoga (including full-moon classes) to Sunrise Spin and a fitness center, plus surf lessons taught by instructors hand-selected and trained by pro-surfer Jamie O’Brien. Families are well served with an Ocean Explorers kids club, surf lessons for kids, movie-on-the-beach nights, s’mores beach bonfires, bicycle rentals to explore Coronado Island, and convenient babysitting and casual dining options, while food-and-nightlife offerings include shopping, casual beachfront bites, and an oceanfront Nobu restaurant as the resort’s signature dining option." - AFAR
"Long celebrated for classic California cuisine, abundant seafood, and fresh produce, this seaside resort has evolved into a true culinary destination with recent high-profile restaurant openings. Expert chefs emphasize local ingredients across a spectrum of casual-to-couture dining, and much of the appeal comes from enchanting alfresco oceanside ambience. The property also carries deep coastal history—more than 135 years—with a tradition of seaside leisure dating back to when hundreds of chairs lined the shore for restorative sea air." - AFAR
"A storied beachfront resort on Coronado Island that has undergone a multiyear refurbishment and offers a variety of room types — rooms, cottages, and villas — to suit families of different sizes seeking iconic seaside accommodations." - Sarah Bruning Sarah Bruning Sarah Bruning is the special projects and surveys editor at Travel + Leisure, where she has been on staff since 2018. She assigns stories across the magazine, primarily for the Experiences section and feature well. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
