José made the night magical, then made us want San Diego again. First trip he curated Born and…read moreRaised, made us feel completely welcome, and surprised us with a touching card. We were so impressed that on the next visit we asked him to set up a CH tour: the Lafayette Hotel, Ironside, False Idol, the Baby Grand, Night Hawk, and Fallen Empire. It was the food, yes, but also the rooms, the environments, and a little extra surprise at every step. Exceptional. We will be back for round 3. 10/10.

This is a beautiful hotel nestled on El cajon in north pork area of San Diego. The feels: very…read morespeak easy vibe. The decor is timeless and gorgeous. The interesting thing about this place is the bowling alley, the gorgeous patio and lusciois greenery. This is very packed at night and parking is crazy hard to find. They dont valet so you have to get lucky like I did in finding parking. Also, good luck with finding a table. Just go straight to the bar. The only thing I didn't like is that the place was like a maze! Im glad i had a good guide! The bathroom got packed and we waited 15-20m to use the stall near our bar seat. All and all this is a great time!

The ambiance was excellent, the service was great, and the food was absolutely delicious…read more We treated ourselves to a fancy dinner on our last night, and it was the perfect choice. Our waitress was incredibly kind and a true professional. Even while juggling more than seven tables, she remained attentive and made us feel well taken care of. The restaurant was bustling, with both the indoor and outdoor seating full, creating a lively and fun atmosphere. The only downside was that the menus had an unpleasant smell--noticeable enough that it stood out. The cocktails were creative, beautifully presented, and worth trying. And don't leave without ordering the butter rum cake--it was an absolute hit!

The place was nice /clean / quiet. Their valet service was great, fast service. Would stay there…read moreagain.

Had a wonderful stay at La Valencia. We received excellent customer service throughout our stay. I…read morereally enjoyed the classic ocean view room and comfortable bed. The bathtub is huge! We ordered room service from the Mediterranean Room, and the herb-roasted half chicken was so good. The only negative was that housekeeping left the tray in the hallway after cleaning the room. It sat there for almost an entire day until I told the front desk that nobody had picked it up. The pool closes at 10pm, and it was nice to enjoy it during the day and evening. There are lots of nice shops and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. If you don't want to walk, you can ask to use the golf cart to take you somewhere nearby. We used it to go to The Taco Stand. All in all, it's a pricey hotel, but I think it was worth it. I would definitely stay here again.

I stayed here for over a week durning Christmas/new years and left extremely disappointed by the…read morestaff's attitude from the moment I arrived. When we checked in, the woman at the front desk named Raina was extremely rude, cold, and short with us. I tried to brush it off and went to take a few photos of the Christmas decorations in the restaurant. The man standing at the host stand named Richie saw me and, when I politely said "don't worry, I won't get you in the picture," with a smile on my face , he snapped back "I don't want to be in your picture." This entire exchange happened within the first 10 minutes of trying to check in. Throughout the rest of the stay I watched the bellmen greet virtually every other guest who entered or left the hotel. Not me. I was consistently treated like I was just a kid or teenage tag along with parents rather than an adult guest who was paying to stay there. Basic acknowledgment and ordinary human respect were completely absent. Nice location and cute decorations do not make up for being ignored and spoken to with open disdain by multiple staff members. One star

Beautiful lobby. Great Staff. Nice size room + view. Negatives were that it's very loud from the…read moretrain outside, and the room next to us was very loud aka walls are thin. Also would be nice for them to provide more bedding + pillows or at least stock the closet without having to ask first. We got room service and ordered the apple tarte + ice cream. The ice cream was practically all melted when we received it. It was clear the order had been sitting for a while before we received it. While the room is very victorian, vintage, lovely...the plumbing could be updated or at least refined - the bathroom faucet handles + shower handles were both loose and should be replaced.

We came to the Westgate Hotel for afternoon tea as part of a bachelorette celebration, and it was a…read morelovely experience from start to finish. The hotel lobby is absolutely gorgeous--old-world charm with elegant touches--and the live harpist added such a classy, serene vibe. We were seated quickly, and the champagne pour to start was a great touch. The tea selection was solid; while you're limited to one pot per person (would've loved the option to sample more), the black teas were spot-on. However, the green, white, and herbal teas seemed a bit over-brewed and strong for my taste. The food was impressive--the sandwich course was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The scone with berries and cream was perfection, and the dessert course, though beautifully presented, was probably the weakest part of the meal--but that may have just been because we were already full! All in all, this is a wonderful spot for afternoon tea, especially for a special occasion. Would definitely come back!

What an awesome place. If you're looking for a very nice place to stay where you can hear the…read moreocean waves while sleeping (with the windows open) this is the place. This really is a true "boutique" hotel with an epic location. It has a really good restaurant onsite that's open from breakfast to dinner, but if you choose to try something else, you're within walking distance to tons of nice restaurants and bars. Kono's is located literally ten feet away and serves really good breakfast. However, the star of the show is Pacific Beach and the ocean, located 100 scant feet away. The room was fine. We booked an oceanfront room and it's well worth the extra expense. The balcony sits right over Ocean Front Walk, where there is an endless stream of people walking by. The room itself is showing a little wear and tear but nothing to distract from the balcony and view. There was only one nightstand so we moved the small table to the other side of the bed. It doesn't have a fridge for personal use but you can request one, which we did in advance. The hallways were strangely kept at a noticeably warm temperature for some reason. You can request beach towels and chairs at the front desk. We really enjoyed our stay and definitely will be going back.

Tower 23 Hotel offers a lot of value for guests. Ranked order:…read more1. Impeccable housekeeping 2. Breathtaking views 3. Updated guest rooms 4. Friendly and speedy valet and front desk staff 5. You're literally on the beach! Bonus points: great onsite restaurant and walkability to so many more. Drawback: no onsite fitness center but they offer discounted day passes to the local 24 hour fitness.

In the heart of San Diego is the Mission Bay Resort. The moment you enter the hallway of the suites…read moreit smells of sea salt and fresh air. There is a coffee shop called coffee joes that is so conveniently located across from the Mercado gift shop. It opens at 7-1pm and offers convenient coffee, pastries, snacks and other beverages. The Covewood is a trip advisor rated #1 restaurant on the premises. We ate here for dinner and breakfast twice and the food is very delicious. The resort has a private beach area on the bay and you can rent bikes, kayaks, canoes or jet ski to ride along the bay. We rented a three person two pedal covered bike and rode along the bay to two different parks. There are kid friendly activities throughout the day like mat Pilates, ceramics or clay figures and in the evening you can watch a film on a projector in front of the fire pit. Everyday is something different. There are live bands at the neighboring bar on the property. You can also make a fire pit on the sand. The pool is nice and spacious, there are hot tubs and unlimited towels via a dispenser machine and sunblock for free. You have to come here and enjoy this resort when in Mission Bay watching the sunrise.

I rarely leave negative reviews, but I feel compelled to share my experience because I chose San…read moreDiego Mission Bay Resort for my bachelorette weekend specifically based on a previous stay that was wonderful. I tried to add this to my TripAdvisor review, but it wouldn't let me. I had stayed at SD Mission Bay Resort for work and was so impressed that I convinced 14 of my closest friends and family members to stay here for one of the biggest weekends of my life. Our group spent well over $10,000 at the resort between rooms, restaurants, drinks, pool service, parking, and other purchases. Unfortunately, the weekend was one disappointment after another. The issues started immediately and never seemed to stop: * I was promised a bottle of Prosecco that never arrived, despite asking **four different employees** throughout our stay. * We experienced significant check-in issues because the primary person on our reservation was delayed, and there seemed to be very little communication or flexibility regarding our group reservation. * The parking gate and key system rarely worked correctly, making every trip in and out unnecessarily frustrating. * One room had a soaking wet floor and bed upon arrival. * I encountered a bathroom attendant who was surprisingly rude during what should have been a celebratory weekend. * On our final day, I was locked out of my room while we were trying to prepare for departure. * Most frustrating of all, we experienced a complete billing and payment fiasco. Because we had 14 people staying in four villa rooms, we worked out the financial arrangements before arriving. We specifically discussed billing with staff and were repeatedly assured that the credit cards on file would **not** be charged because we had already determined how expenses would be handled. That isn't what happened. Unexpected charges began appearing on cards that should never have been charged, creating complete chaos. Instead of enjoying time together, members of our group were trying to determine who had been billed, who still owed money, and how to untangle a situation that should have been straightforward. For a group this large, financial planning doesn't happen casually. We had already done the work before we arrived, which is why this breakdown in communication was so frustrating. What was most disappointing wasn't any single issue. It was the constant feeling that there was **always another problem**. Every time we thought something had been resolved, something else went wrong. It also became clear that communication among staff was severely lacking. We repeatedly found ourselves explaining the same situations to different employees because information simply wasn't being shared. Your bachelorette only happens once. I chose this resort because I wanted a seamless, relaxing weekend to simply enjoy time with my closest friends and family. Instead, I spent much of the weekend troubleshooting avoidable problems. I understand that no hotel is perfect and that isolated issues happen. But when you're hosting a large group celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime event, attention to detail and communication matter. I'm genuinely saddened because I truly loved this resort after my previous stay. Sadly, after this experience, I would **not** stay here again, and I certainly would not recommend this property for weddings, bachelorette parties, reunions, or any other milestone celebration that requires coordination and communication. I sincerely hope management takes this feedback seriously so future guests don't leave with the same disappointment that we did.

Area explored: South Park…read more 3 stars because: - It's an exciting idea - It's pretty fun - It can be better My girlfriend and I were the only ones in the group who have actually been on a food tour before. The two of us had fun, but I was concerned for the others. To be brutally honest, if this was my first food tour, I might not have the greatest impression of food tours in general, which would be unfair to everyone involved. I spent the entire tour just trying to figure out not necessarily the directions to the next top, but the direction of what this tour was trying to achieve. Was it supposed to be packed with food? Because I wasn't stuffed. Was it supposed to be a culinary experience? Because it did not show much intrigue after the first place. And it didn't help that the tour ended about an hour earlier than the projected end time. Now, don't get me wrong. Everything we ate was delicious. And Annette (our guide for the day, who also happens to be the head honcho of 'A Taste of San Diego' food tours) was very nice, courteous, and knowledgeable when asked questions during the tour. The tour itself showed some of the struggles in collaborations with the businesses in the area. Translation: 'How can we show off these awesome places if they're not even available (and sometimes unwilling) for food tours?' What was good about this tour? It featured some fine places in the area that can be seen as landmark locations that put South Park on the map. What could have made this tour more interesting? - HISTORY. Tidbits about the area that aren't obvious and can't easily be found out on our own. We understand that it would take extra work to prepare, but it all invests into potentially a great tour. - STARTING INSIDE OUR FIRST STOP. This time, it wasn't an issue at all, but it can be. The location where we met could have easily sent tour group patrons far away. Thankfully, the blocks were not big. - MORE STOPS. Like I said earlier, there could easily have been a setback in scheduling and accommodation, but the amount of stops we had (3) honestly did not leave us satisfied. Three stops honestly felt like a regular night out even without a tour. In closing, what I'm basically saying is that there's so much potential for tours in these areas. I would still support them because I believe in the concept. I just think that as a patron, I would want to know and experience as much as possible from the time I'm dedicating to a tour. In the meantime, until they figure out the details of how to improve, you'd be better off at any of those self-guided walk-abouts (like Taste of Adams Avenue) to get your own free samples and have an experience that is just as good, if not better.

I booked the Taste of San Diego for Downtown SD. Through Yelp, I used a discount code (SDTaste) for…read morea 20% discount. It was a great experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the sampling of 5 places, including a cheese shop. I want to experience more. I fully recommend!

GUT BUSTING!!! (4.8 stars)…read more Wear some stretchy bottoms, comfy shoes, and a whole lot of SPF. 2024 ticket was $50 in advance (sold out so no tickets sold day of which would have been $65). VERY ORGANIZED. Lots of good eats, no place ran out of food. But My stomach ran out of space. San Diego offers a couple of "Taste of (fill in the neighborhood)" and San Diego County offers a few "Taste of (fill in the city)". Through the years I've been to a handful of them and select based on variety of offerings.. Taste of Adams Avenue is probably the best within San Diego proper as it offers a variety of different foods... 2 mile span, 4hr window, and 43 bites/sippies (growing bigger each year). :: THE EXPERIENCE :: Check-in starts at 10am, event starts at 11am and ends at 3pm. I managed to knock out 32 of 42 (11 left) in 3hrs and couldn't finish without feeling like my stomach expanding and my butt was about to explode. I even prepared by taking a Pepcid AC + Tums beforehand. There was so many good eats, plenty of food, and a few that are pass-able. Let's start off with the least favorite. ***LEAST FAVORITE (serving choice + portion) 1) WHITE RICE BODEGA (Filipino) - cornbread or beans. UHM, kind of disappointed they made something so easy and cheap just to participate yet not even something Filipino. This was THE perfect opportunity for them to promote their restaurant (and Filipino food) in some way and they chose to serve a piece of sweet corn bread OR beans. 2) CLEM'S TAP HOUSE - for $1 a juneshine can of beer. Great deal and all BUT there were a good amount of people who walked in and walked right out. The thought of 1) carrying a closed can around the event OR 2) opening and having to sit there in the small space and drink the beer while the event is going with hundreds of people coming in and out... just didn't seem appealing for that $1 spend 3) ABNORMAL HEIGHTS ROOFTOP - they offered two skewers either the watermelon and cheese or the chicken. Idk why but I went for the watermelon and cheese and it wasn't tasty. ***FAVORITES: (flavor + portion) 1) MADI (American) - mini waffle churro stick + mimosa. Really good piece of French toast and yummy sip of green mimosa. This was a tease of their menu! Great introduction! 2) TAJIMA RAMEN (Japanese) - Tonkatsu ramen with a nice piece of pork belly. I've ate here many times before and love what they served their star dish. For a taste of event.. their portion was plenty. 3) FORTUNATE SON (Chinese) - rice, cucumber salad, and orange chicken. This was a yummy bite. Portion was plenty. Will have to come here and eat a full meal. 4) CHRIS ONO GRINDS (Hawaii) - rice, Mac salad, Kalua pork, and huli huli chicken. Ate here many times. Portion was plenty and tasty. AND THE REST... all were pretty good with a variety of eats from pizza, pasta, parties, burger, pull pork sandwich, pad thai, chow mein, dumpling, ahi poke, ice creams, cookies, and more. Be strategic about your path or you could be walking double the 2 miles. The check in was in the middle of the route, most will start in the middle or at 1 of 43 and work their way to 43. A few smart others (including myself) started at 43 and worked backwards. This helped with crowd traffic - by the time we hit the middle all those started in the middle have dispersed. For transportation around the event, there is a trolly that goes thru Adams but most people walk and deal with the heat. Definitely worth the $50 spent in attempts to hit all 43 spots in 4 hours. I tapped out at 3hrs with 11 left. Tried my best but just couldn't hang. Will try again next year. JABA APPROVED. Until the next bite...

I had a great time exploring the neighborhood with my friend as we stopped by the restaurants that…read moreparticipated in the "Taste of Adams Avenue." The experience was fun because of who I went with, but I would not recommend it otherwise. We each paid $45 for this experience and there were supposed to be 41 restaurants/vendors participating. We started our day at 11am and finished at 3pm. Sadly, about 10 restaurants ran out of food around 2pm. Other restaurants provided very disappointing portions. Some weren't even a spoon of food...There were also too many dessert places in comparison to savory food. Did I get my money's worth? DEFINITELY NOT.