The DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown San Diego is tucked between charming Little Italy and the downtown financial districts, making it a good choice for either business or leisure travel. Business travelers will appreciate its proximity to the Columbia District and the Civic Core District, which is the hub of San Diego’s civic and financial activities. The upscale hotel provides an alternative to pricier historic and boutique hotels in the Civic Core District without sacrificing business services.
Tourists will appreciate the hotel’s proximity to Little Italy, an emerging art district, and one of the most vibrant and active of the downtown neighborhoods. There are a number of award-winning restaurants, frequent open gallery nights, an extraordinary weekend farmers market, and more festivals and reasons to celebrate than you dare to dream. DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego is a great choice for families looking for clean, comfortable, kid-friendly accommodations.
DoubleTree by Hilton Little Italy Ambiance
DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown San Diego is a modern franchise hotel with upscale amenities and personal guest service. The bright and welcoming lobby has three chic illuminated check-in pods, rather than the usual long reservation desk, that give checking in a futuristic, yet intimate feel. Grey modern leather seating with bright orange throw pillows, a floor to ceiling water feature, tropical plants, and expansive windows create an inviting contemporary space. Coffee and ice water are available in the lobby at check-in, and of course, so are the famous DoubleTree warm cookies. Any place that welcomes you with a warm cookie has to have your comfort in mind.
DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego Rooms and Suites
Guestrooms and suites at the DoubleTree come in two options, king bed or two double beds. The décor is modern with a neutral tan and white color scheme, dark wood furnishings, chrome accents, and pops of blue in seascape wall art. Accommodations are clean and comfortable, and patio doors leading to small balconies let in the San Diego sunshine. Some guests feel rooms are slightly dated by comparison to San Diego’s boutique hotel options. All guestrooms and suites have DoubleTree by Hilton proprietary Sweet Dreams beds.
Guestroom amenities include flat-screen LCD television with premium cable channels, work desk with ergonomic chair, complimentary basic Wi-Fi with the option to upgrade to premium service, and coffee maker with Wolfgang Puck coffees. Most rooms have balconies with San Diego city or bay views. Tiled bathrooms include hair dryers, tub showers, and complimentary spa products. Every room is equipped with audible and strobe alarms and Braille room numbers. ADA accessible rooms are also available.
Suites are spacious at 700 square feet, and have the same neutral color palette and comfortable décor as guestrooms. Expect the same great amenities as guestrooms with additional perks like a whirlpool jet tub, walk-in closet, and in-room refrigerator. All suites have king beds and some have walk-in showers and harbor-view balconies.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Amenities
The common space at DoubleTree by Hilton has a set-up much like a great room in your home. The check-in, lounge, business center, and Ariana Restaurant all share the same space, and yet feel like separate areas. Ariana Restaurant serves California cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a serene, open dining space. Guests can enjoy a hot breakfast buffet or order from the menu. Their signature breakfast entrée is the Breakfast Pasta with angel hair pasta, spinach, tomatoes, feta cheese, and chicken apple sausage scrambled with two organic brown eggs. Try the Cappelini Caprese for lunch or dinner, another great choice. Ariana Restaurant also has full bar service. The restaurant is pricey, especially in an area with so many other award-winning restaurants, but for convenience, it can’t be beat. Room service is available early morning to late night.
DoubleTree by Hilton has a rooftop outdoor pool, hot tub, and lounging deck with amazing views. Swim laps in the pool, or sunbathe on comfortable bright white chaise lounge chairs. If you need protection from the sun, or simply want a little privacy, poolside cabanas are also available.
Business professionals will enjoy the amenities DoubleTree has to offer. The modern business center is located in an open alcove just off the lobby. Guests have use of computers, printers, fax service, and high-speed wired and wireless Internet. The hotel also provides photo copying service for a fee, meeting rooms, audio/visual equipment rental, and office rental. Premium Wi-Fi is available for a fee.
Other amenities include a fully equipped fitness center, complimentary airport shuttles, baggage storage if you arrive early or leave late, ATM service, a hotel gift shop, laundry service, room service, and access to a safety deposit box. Guest services staff are multi-lingual.
Amenities tip: DoubleTree by Hilton is a kid-friendly hotel with complimentary in-room cribs, and high chairs and a children’s menu in Ariana restaurant. Elevators in the high-rise hotel can be slow. Self-parking in the hotel garage is challenging and is a common concern among guests on review sites.
DoubleTree Little Italy Neighborhood
When you’re hungry, three blocks down Cedar Street you’ll find Queenstown Public House on your left at the corner of Cedar and Columbia Streets. The fun New Zealand-themed restaurant is located in a Craftsman-style historic home and serves “American food with a Kiwi twist.” Bencotto Italian Kitchen offers authentic artisanal Italian cuisine in an urban-chic setting in the “Q” building on Fir Street. Filippi’s Pizza Grotto on India Street is a more casual choice for traditional Italian food; often, there is a line out the door. Harbor Breakfast is a great place to start your day; they have an upscale menu of breakfast classics with an edgy interpretation, and nearly everything is homemade. Burger Lounge and Prepkitchen Little Italy are two other great choices.
If you’re looking for nearby entertainment in the neighborhood, Our Lady of the Rosary Church – the “Jewel of Little Italy” – is only two blocks from the DoubleTree. This small Catholic parish is a religious icon in Little Italy. Statues of Christopher Columbus and Saint Peter, hand-painted murals, stain glass windows, and stunning Italian architecture make it worth the visit. They occasionally provide a Gregorian Chant special mass. The Firehouse Museum across from Queenstown Public House on Columbia Street is a great place for children and history buffs. You’ll see antique fire trucks and firefighting equipment from the 1800s.
The Maritime Museum and the USS Midway Museum are within walking distance of the DoubleTree Hotel along the boardwalk fronting San Diego Bay on North Harbor Drive. Maritime Museum ship tours offer an inside look at life on San Diego vessels, including the Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship. The USS Midway Museum offers self-guided audio tours on the ship with over 60 exhibits and 29 restored aircraft on deck. Docents are often available to tell their own or others’ stories aboard the USS Midway.
DoubleTree by Hilton Little Italy Promotions
DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown San Diego has three packages that they offer with regularity; the bed and breakfast package, the romantic getaway package, and the family fun package. All three include complimentary breakfast and late check outs. They have AAA deals, group rates, seasonal specials, military discounts, and other hotel packages. Check the website for details on these and other special offers.
DoubleTree Downtown TripAdvisor Reviews.
We thought you might want to read some impartial reviews from people who have stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego Downtown.