La Jolla is arguably the most picturesque part of San Diego. From the towering oceanfront bluffs of Torrey Pines to the sandy shores of La Jolla Shores Beach and the beautiful blues of La Jolla Cove, this place is as naturally beautiful as it comes.
Explore this coastal San Diego city, and you’ll be able to spend your days watching seals bask in the sun on Children’s Pool Beach, marveling at the sea creatures at the Birch Aquarium, hiking around Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, kayaking to sea caves, spotting critters in the La Jolla Tide Pools, sipping rooftop cocktails – and the list goes on.
With so many unique activities to keep you busy during the day, you’ll want a nice hotel room to relax in each night. Luckily, La Jolla boasts all kinds of art-deco boutique hotels, oceanfront inns, and luxurious spa hotels. In fact, there are so many wonderful places to stay in La Jolla that you may find it impossible to choose just one. To help you out, I’ve put together a list of the top 10 best hotels in La Jolla for you!
- Short on time and don’t want to read the whole article? Here are my top 3 picks!
- Orli La Jolla (for the unique boutique amenities)
- Pantai Inn (for a romantic oceanfront suite)
- Grande Colonial La Jolla (for luxurious resort-style amenities)
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Where to Stay in La Jolla
If you want to be within walking distance of restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, and attractions like the La Jolla Cove and the La Jolla Tidepools, you’ll find some of the best hotels in La Jolla in The Village of La Jolla. This is an especially great area if you’re looking for a hotel room with an ocean view.
For close proximity to the beach, you can always choose a place to stay along La Jolla Shores. Or, for an amenity-packed getaway, you’ll find some luxurious resorts over in Torrey Pines.
If you’re in town on business and prefer to be more removed from La Jolla’s touristy areas, you’ll also find some nice hotels in La Jolla Village. This part of La Jolla is also right next to the UCSD campus, so it’s ideal if you’re in town to visit the campus.
The 10 Best Luxury Hotels in La Jolla, CA
1. Orli La Jolla
If you’re searching for luxury boutique hotels in La Jolla, look no further than Orli La Jolla. Set in a revamped 1910 building, this place prides itself on giving guests boutique amenities and an authentic local experience.
Turn on the Apple TV in your room (or go to their mobile web app), and you’ll find a map showing you all of the staff’s favorite local places – from cafes and restaurants to shops and hidden beaches!
Other thoughtful amenities include the complimentary refreshment station with craft cold brews and kombucha, filtered water on tap, beach cruisers, and EV charging stations. You can also use the app to check in and out, order food from local restaurants, or request things like flowers in your room.
Speaking of rooms, you can choose from 13 totally unique guest rooms and suites. But no matter which you choose, you’ll be spoiled with magazine-worthy art-deco decor, a Samsung smart TV, a Nespresso machine, Turkish cotton robes, and Sferra cotton sateen linens.
2. Pantai Inn
“Pantai” means “beach” in Indonesian. So book a stay at Pantai Inn and you can expect Bali vibes just steps away from Shell Beach and Ellen Browning Scripps Park. This is another top-notch choice if you prefer an intimate boutique retreat versus a chain resort.
Explore the property and you’ll find plenty of outdoor seating areas outfitted with umbrellas, fire pits, and romantic fairy lights. Head upstairs and you’ll be wowed by the ocean view from the rooftop, where you can also pull up a chair and enjoy the view with a glass of wine.
There are a wide variety of room types to choose from at Pantai Inn. If you’re traveling as a group, the 3-bedroom Pantai Villa is a true home away from home, complete with a terrace overlooking the ocean and a full kitchen. Or if you’re looking for a romantic retreat, the Ocean View Suites will not disappoint.
3. The Lodge at Torrey Pines
The Lodge at Torrey Pines is one of the best hotels in La Jolla if you’re dreaming of an amenity-packed AAA Five Diamond-rated resort. This place overlooks the famed Torrey Pines Golf Course, with the Pacific Ocean serving as a picture-perfect backdrop.
You can spend your days teeing off on the 36-hole golf course, getting treatments at the spa, working on your tan by the pool, enjoying sundowners with a view at The Grill at Torrey Pines, and enjoying locally sourced dinners at A.R. Valentien.
And then there are the luxurious guest rooms, which are all outfitted with comfy beds with Egyptian cotton linens, Nespresso coffee makers, marble bathrooms with signature bath amenities, sumptuous robes and slippers, and flat-screen TVs with DIRECTV.
4. Scripps Inn
Scripps Inn is the perfect pick if you’re looking for a B&B-style stay with unobstructed ocean views. You’ll find 14 unique guest rooms and suites at this intimate inn, perfect for accommodating a range of guests.
For a romantic retreat, choose the Ocean Vista Suite which gives you a full kitchen and living room, as well as bay windows with panromantic oceans views and a private balcony. If you’re traveling as a family, the Two-Bedroom Suite gives you a kitchenette, a dining room, and a living room.
If you’re planning to head over to the beach, the staff will also provide you with complimentary beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, and even toys for your little ones!
5. La Valencia Hotel
Known as “The Pink Lady of La Jolla,” La Valencia is the most iconic hotel in town. This Mediterranean-style architectural gem dates back to 1926, when it served as an apartment hotel.
Throughout the years, this place has welcomed guests like Ginger Rogers, Charlton Heston, Oprah Winfrey, and Tom Hanks. But you don’t have to be a celebrity to stay here – although you will feel like one!
You can spend your entire getaway lounging around the lovely pool area with ocean views, sipping cocktails in the historic Whaling Bar, having weekend brunch at La Sala, and dining with ocean views at the Mediterranean Room.
And then there are the rooms, which are as pet-friendly as they come. The world is your oyster when it comes to accommodation options, which range from the ultra-private Villas to the recently redesigned Vintage Rooms to the Sky Suite, a lavish penthouse featuring unreal ocean views.
6. Grande Colonial La Jolla
If you’re looking for luxury boutique hotels in La Jolla, the Grande Colonial La Jolla is an excellent option. This place first opened its doors in 1913, so expect the perfect blend of historic charm and modern amenities. This place prides itself on being the only Four Diamond Hotel in The Village of La Jolla, so you can expect everything to be top-of-the-line.
The sophisticated, mid-century-style rooms here boast large flat-screen TVs with streaming capabilities, Keurig coffee makers, Gilchrist & Soames bath amenities, mini-fridges, and complimentary in-room snacks and non-alcoholic beverages (replenished daily!). You can also get room service from NINE-TEN Restaurant if you’re feeling lazy.
The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool surrounded by loungers, complimentary beach gear and hotel bicycles, and guest passes to a nearby fitness club. Once you work up an appetite, you’ll love dining at the on-site Michelin-recognized NINE-TEN Restaurant & Bar, which serves up seasonal farm-to-table cuisine.
7. Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa is set on 10 beautiful acres of land, complete with botanical gardens, peaceful courtyards, stone pathways, and adobe fireplaces. Here, you’ll find 210 guest rooms and suites peppered around the property.
Even the standard Deluxe Rooms here are impressively decorated with a mid-century sensibility and outfitted with sitting nooks, 55-inch 4K TVs, coffee makers with Tayst Roasters coffee pods, mini-fridges, and two refillable aluminum water bottles. The guest rooms here are also very pet-friendly, perfect if you like to travel with your furry friend!
Explore the grounds and you’ll find a full-service spa, a saltwater pool with daybeds and cabanas, and a meditation garden. You can even participate in the weekly yoga sessions and other wellness-focused experiences.
8. The Shoal Hotel La Jolla Beach
Located just steps from Windansea Beach, The Shoal Hotel La Jolla Beach is one of the newest boutique hotels in La Jolla. Freebies include Wi-Fi, beach chairs, and beach toys, as well as use of the heated pool and hot tub and hourly bike rentals.
Even the standard rooms are newly remodeled and surprisingly well-appointed with a 55-inch flat-screen TV, workstation, coffee maker, microwave, mini-fridge, and subway-tiled bathroom. If you want to go all out, though, the Panoramic Sundeck King Suite gives you 450 square feet of space and a private deck complete with a table and chairs and two sun loungers.
9. Cormorant Boutique Hotel
When it comes to location, Cormorant Boutique Hotel is an ideal place to stay, especially if you love retro boutique hotels! There are only 26 rooms in this revamped art-deco building, and the best part is that many of them have a balcony with an ocean view. Plus, you’ll love the rooms, which all feature plush beds, 55-inch flat-screen TVs, Nespresso coffee makers, and ergonomic workstations.
Just in case your room doesn’t have an ocean view, you can always head up to the Birdseye bar and lounge on the rooftop, where you can enjoy creative happy hour cocktails (think smoked old fashioneds) and a long list of salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads.
You can also get food delivered to your room if you just feel like lounging around in your bathrobe.
10. Inn by the Sea
Touting itself as your “home away from home” Inn by the Sea has everything you need for a comfortable stay. Freebies include Wi-Fi and all-day coffee in the Guest Lounge, as well as use of the heated outdoor pool.
Inn by the Sea features 131 guest rooms, which boast a private balcony or patio with either pool, village, or ocean views. You’ll also get a TV with 100+ channels, a coffee maker with Seattle’s Best Coffee, and a bathroom with a bathtub.
While there is no on-site restaurant, you can arrange to start your day by having breakfast delivered to your room from The Cottage Restaurant. But if you prefer to dine out, you’ll be within walking distance of dozens of restaurants and cafes!
