Laidback Luxury at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront
From beaches to baseball and bayside brunch, offering panoramic skyline views and proximity to the city’s best bars, The Hilton Bayfront is the best place to experience the city’s unique blend of relaxation and culture.
- By: Amanda Coscarelli
Accommodations
Checking into a Hilton hotel always feels like pressing pause. The weight of the real world falls off your shoulders, if only for a few days, because here, everything is already taken care of. The breeze rolls off the ocean and twirls through the lobby, gently reminding you that it’s okay to unwind. Stepping into the Hilton San Diego Bayfront feels like stepping into laidback-luxury— not the stuck-up kind, but the kind that makes you feel right at home. The hotel is just steps away from downtown bars and restaurants, but it’s also breathable and spacious with sweeping views of the bay and Coronado Island across the water.
The building boasts 30 floors with a Starbucks, a convenience mart and a restaurant on the lower level, but the elevator ride to my top floor room was short and sweet. Plus, there’s plenty of elevators so you’re never kept waiting. When I got to my room, a quick tap of my key card granted me access and unveiled the star of the show. As I made my way through the room, towards the huge window on the far end, the panoramic view grew wider with each step. Just outside was an aerial view of Coronado Island, the Rady Shell amphitheater, Petco Park baseball stadium and all of the downtown skyline. Inside, a comfortable chaise offered the perfect place to watch the sun set over the city while the lights shined on the bay.
I would have stayed there all night had it not been for my dinner reservation and all the amenities awaiting me downstairs. First things first: a quick stop in the fitness center for a pre-dinner sweat sesh complete with Pelotons, stairmaster machines, a leg press machine and free weights for a full workout. From the weight bench, a view of the pool, two hot tubs, and poolside bar beckoned me and I made plans to go for a late night dip. After my workout, I also checked out the separate men’s and women’s spas next door.
Back upstairs, I took a well-deserved everything-shower in the spacious bathroom and got ready for my sunset dinner. I opted for a maxi skirt and sandals to fit the hotel’s elevated casual vibe. After dinner, the pool had mostly cleared out (the hotel is family friendly and the pool is busy with kids most of the day), so I floated around in the comfortably heated water and took a dip in the hot tub before bed.
Eats
The hotel’s restaurant, Hudson and Nash, was my go-to spot for breakfast and dinner, with views of the bay from the restaurant’s patio and a laidback-luxury feel. I enjoyed spicy peanut chicken wings, a pork chop with green beans and potatoes, and a bacon cheeseburger from the secret menu at sunset. I sipped on a mai tai and indulged in a decadent creme brulee with
blackberry compote. In the morning, I enjoyed avocado toast loaded with sprouts, radish and tomato, as well as a waffle breakfast sandwich topped with maple syrup and served with potatoes.
After hours, the hotel’s convenience mart was the perfect place to grab a late night snack and a beer. I also stocked up on my favorite canned coffee in case I ran out of the fresh coffee in my room— a coffee maker in the room is my true nonnegotiable and Hilton never disappoints. And if you can’t live without your Starbucks, don’t worry. There’s one located outside on the ground level.
For a true taste of San Diego, I explored the downtown scene. Needless to say, my Los Angeles taste buds were ruined by Tacos El Gordo (go for the Adobada tacos) and Puesto at Petco Park (don’t miss the chicken tacos with pineapple pico de gallo). I returned home convinced that SD really does have better Mexican food than LA. I said what I said.
Culture
One of the best parts of this hotel is its proximity to Petco Park, San Diego’s gaslamp quarter, the convention center right next door, Seaport Village and Coronado Island, making it the ideal place to stay to experience as much of the city as possible. There’s a shuttle that takes guests
right over the bridge to the island where you can tour the historic Hotel Del Coronado. Stay for a couple of hours or make a day of it and relax on the sand. On the other side of the hotel, a short pedestrian bridge takes you across the street and drops you off right in front of Petco Park. I attended a Padres game while I was in town and the journey from my room to the stadium was a total of about 5 minutes. But if you can’t get tickets, you can head to the gaslamp quarter just a few steps away and watch the game from the comfort of a sports bar. There’s also a farmer’s market on Saturday mornings where I picked up some souvenirs from local vendors. Just a short drive away, Old Town San Diego is a must-see historic district for the best homemade tortillas, cultural experiences and tours of the most haunted house in America.
The bottom line? No one does San Diego like the Hilton Bayfront. I arrived in desperate need of a break, and left feeling relaxed, replenished and inspired for my next trip down the coast.
