Hotel del Coronado

Hotel del Coronado stands on a broad Pacific beach on Coronado Island near San Diego, California, connected to the mainland by the Coronado Bridge and a passenger ferry service. Opened in 1888 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, the hotel was designed by architects James, Merritt, and Watson Reid in a Victorian seaside style that remains instantly recognizable: white clapboard siding, red-shingled turrets, and sweeping verandas facing the Pacific. The original wooden structure was among the first electrically lit buildings in the United States, using technology supplied by Thomas Edison. The property spans more than 700 rooms, cottages, and suites across several wings: the Heritage Collection, which occupies the original Victorian structure; the tower with modern rooms; and the Beach Village with two- and three-bedroom cottages popular with families. Dining venues include Babcock and Story Bar, the beachside 1500 Ocean Restaurant known for seasonal California cuisine, and Sheerwater restaurant for casual fare. The hotel's multiple pools—including one of California's largest resort pools—and miles of Pacific beachfront are central to the guest experience. The Spa at the Del offers ocean-themed treatments, and a watersports rental center provides kayaks, paddleboards, and beach equipment. The hotel's storied history encompasses visits from Presidents Benjamin Harrison and Richard Nixon, Marilyn Monroe's stay during filming of the 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot, and more than a century of celebrity guests. The combination of Victorian grandeur, direct Pacific beach access, and proximity to downtown San Diego—15 minutes by bridge—makes Hotel del Coronado a uniquely Californian experience.