I agree with the other reviews. Dust. You can tell the rooms don't get cleaned often because you can see dust on every single countertop. The cracked sinks. My room also had a crack as well. The musty smell in the lobby. Yes, it definitely smelled like cigarettes to me. The loud and useless AC. We complained about how annoying the AC was and that the room was not getting cold. We got switched to a suite and it didn't matter much because the room was still dusty & the AC was still very loud. I definitely do not recommend this hotel. The only perk was Coffee Bean next to the hotel. read more

A conference led us to San Diego, and we selected the Sofia Hotel. In the 1920's, the Sofia was an apartment building that offered monthly rates. Now it's a trendy and modern boutique style hotel, but its structural history remains. This hotel is well-maintained, and the attention to detail can be seen throughout. Modern furniture and light fixtures fill the lobby, and the halls are filled with lights that include historical information about the hotel and San Diego. These informational light fixtures were very cool. In regards to our room, it was very small, but it was functional. I have stayed in many hotels over the years and slept on various beds. The bed at the Sophia was the MOST comfortable I have ever slept on. The pillows were perfect as well. We loved the beds so much that we called to find out where we could buy one. The hotel's location is perfect; walking distance to convenience stores, restaurants, and the Gas Lamp area. The check in and check out was a breeze, and the staff was very professional and friendly. Also, the valet staff were great. If your looking for a great location, a modern AND historical feel, and a great night's sleep, give the Sophia Hotel a shot! read more

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I had an absolutely AMAZING stay at this beautiful boutique hotel!!! Let's say the day started off a bit challenging....but the Sophia definitely turned it around! Actually Tina, front desk host, turned it around for us. She was so kind, accommodating, and overall the most pleasant part of the experience. We were able to stay in their suite and it did not disappoint!! I have stayed at this hotel before, but this experience was a standout!! Our stay was a part of a weekend gala event we attended and it was nice to be near the venue and also in the gaslamp for fun after!! We will definitely return! Thank you Tina and the Sofia!!! read more

The Sofia Hotel - Hotels Near Me - San Diego, California

Hotel is ok, but really weird construction choices. There is no sound protection between your room and the hallway, so if a unaware neighbor decides to have a phone conversation in the hallway at 6 am, you hear everything and it wakes you up. There is no sound or light protection between the bathroom and where you sleep. If anyone is using that bathroom at night, thanks to the glass bathroom door, it lights up the entire room. The door doesn't make any kind of seal on the wall and there is no fan so you hear all the things any roommate might do in there. Also the toilet paper holder in our bathroom was broken so if you touch it, the toilet paper roll falls off and the outlet on the bedside table to charge your phone did not work at all. Not very good upkeep. Two tips: 1. Bring your own pillow. The ones here are those overstuffed kind that are horrible to sleep on. 2. If your room's windows face other windows of the hotel, you might notice that they have a dark shade on them so people can't see into your room. Those shades don't work if there is ANY light behind you. So keep the drapes closed. read more

From check in to check our. Hotel is beautiful and had an amazing time. Front desk associate were very nice. Very clean.only downfall is you got gotta pay for parking $40 a night. But other than that, I'll be coming back read more

Smallest yet cutest hotel ever. Not your average hotel room, everything is very close together. Right when you walk in, BAM!! the bathroom sink is right next to the door. If you're claustrophobic, don't even bother unless their suite is a decent size. It's a good size for no more than two people. Even their elevator is small. I would stay here again though, it's in the heart of downtown San Diego where mostly everything is walking distance or a fairly cheap uber/Lyft/bird ride. Besides me not being a fan of the smell of their soap/shampoo; checking in and checking out was smooth, everyone was friendly, and for it's price it's a good hotel. Had a good 24th birthday and this hotel was my stay for that weekend! read more

Beautiful, charming old-school hotel (small rooms, twisty hallways) with a fully modern renovation. Easy access to downtown and the convention center. One highlight is the free walking tour -- my wife and I both went to school in San Diego, but knew almost nothing about the history of the town, the architecture, or famous local businesses. A treat. read more

I had a really bad experience with the front desk " Alexandria" . She is not very friendly & she is a liar. I asked for a king size bed close to the elevator, when I got to the room it was only a queen size bed. When I called the front desk why I only have a queen size bed when I paid for a king size bed l, her colleague told me that she I agreed to it. I told her that that is a lie. She did not tell me anything. When I talk to her asking her to switch the room , she said, I can't accommodate you. I told her let me speak to your supervisor then she said let me see what I can do. She switch the room but the key she gave is not working. She had a long face when I told her the key is not working. She is not helpful at all. She shouldn't be working as a front desk. read more

The rooms are really small but the hotel so clean with pretty views and within walkable distance from a lot of things. It's also very dog friendly and has a contemporary decorating theme. I would recommend a suite because the rooms are too tiny otherwise. The bathrooms all have a pretty orchid. read more

The Sofia Hotel - Bathroom sink area has an orchid - Hotels Near Me - San Diego, California

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Just arrived tonight and was already a bit disappointed. 1. There was another guest in the lobby checking in and was not wearing a mask, Sofia hotel staff did not tell her anything and instead had others of us even the security guard feeling uncomfortable. 2. Room did not appear as clean as they claimed it would be with following COVID guidelines. 3. Did not see all the hand Sanitizing stations expect the one by the elevators. 4. Cleanliness of room was so questionable that AC was not turned on (very loud) and I used my own sweater as my pillow case. 5. Paid for a city view room and instead our view was a big construction hole and the steel plates downstairs were so loud you could startle every time a car drove on Front St. Last time we stayed here was 2016 and had a much more pleasant experience. Convenient location but they need better customer service. read more

The Sofia Hotel - City view with construction and loud street - Hotels Near Me - San Diego, California

Initially I thought this hotel was charming. It's older, but has a cozy feel. The rooms are small, but had everything we needed; fridge, microwave, etc. I was shocked to see the shower had no door or curtain though? It made a mess if you wanted to take a shower. The reason I'm giving it 2 stars is because 1) the cleaning lady came into our room early in the morning. It was our first morning of 3, and it was probably about 10am so I'm not sure why she came into our room unannounced so early, she didn't even knock and I was disrobed. We weren't checking out that day...very rude. And 2) the sheets were incredibly itchy! I thought it was bed bugs at first, but after inspecting the bed without seeing any, I figured it just be cheap laundry detergent or something. I've never had that issue at any other hotel so I'm not sure why I was itchy head to toe every single night, as well as a few nights following my stay. Plus the bed and pillows themselves are extremely old and have no life left in them... The hotel is conveniently located and central to everything in San Diego. The parking attendants are there 24/7 so I felt safe about my car not being broken into. But would I stay here again? Only if I want to feel like I contracted chicken pox. read more

Great service in respect to the front desk super friendly! And great location!!! But there's def a miscommunication with the front desk and the parking service. I went on a girls trip and only needed parking for 3 nights. My other friend stayed there longer but didn't need a car. We clarified with the front desk to make sure we are being charged for nights NOT days, multiple times with multiple people! When we got the bill they charged us for DAYS and an additional day, EVEN when we weren't even parked there!!!! We called and spoke to the manager and they weren't budging with their over charging and miscommunication problem. This is something that needs to be resolved in order to have a 5 star experience. I get it, hotels are hurting from COVID but we are ALL hurting! I'm a broke college student trying to have an affordable girls trip, but with these surprising BIG fees that was def not possible. Great place just expect to pay WAAAYYY more than anticipated. Probs won't be staying here again, will be doing airbnb always the safest bet. read more

I experienced a pleasant stay at The Sofia. Centrally located in the heart of Downtown San Diego (Great walk score). The staff were hospitable, suggestive, helpful and friendly. The rooms were beautifully, (contemporary) decorated and cozy. Room lighting in my room was awesome on so many levels. Great food and drink selection offered in the hotel restaurant. Convenient, fast, valet parking+ read more

The hotel is located in the heart of San Diego. Close to everything. The staff was super friendly. The rooms were quite spacious and very, very comfortable. John, The manager went out of his way to accommodate us and let me keep a couple suits there for a day. We will be back. read more

If we paid full price, I probably would have docked another star. The website we booked through had this room listed as $165 per night over the memorial day weekend. We jumped on it being that most other downtown hotels were upwards of $200 for the holiday. My business partner and I spent Thurs & Fri night there with not too many complaints. However, after reading a few reviews on a couple sites, I still am unsure why they don't install full shower doors. The entire bathroom is tiled. Toilet and shower are separated by a glass partition. The partition doesnt fully stretch the length of the shower, so the water tends to splash out. IMO, if it wasn't possible to install an entire glass door, shower curtains would have sufficed. The switch to the restroom light is to the right of the main door, however the restroom itself is to the left. The bathroom sink is to the right as soon as you walk into the room. My one other complaint is the parking fees. When booking online, it first appeared we would be able to pay an "overnight flat fee" of $10. Once we arrived, we noticed that the $10 flat fee is only good until 2am. If your stay doesn't include cruising downtown streets during the witching hours, you actually have to pay $30 for 24 hours of parking. You can self park to get that rate, or you can use valet--it comes out to the same $30. We opted to self park since we were not too sure how long it would take for valet to retrieve the car. We were in town for business, so there was not a lot of free time to dawdle. There are a good amount of pros to this hotel. The view from the third floor of Downtown San Diego is beautiful both during day and night. The cheapest food options we found within walking distance was Wendy's and a fresh baked large pizza from 7-11. They have 3 different HBO channels. If you don't want to use wifi, they do provide an ethernet cable for internet connection, which I appreciate. They provide 2 water bottles per day as well as coffee, both regular and decaf. Their fitness center is open 24 hrs, although I was not able to use it. Most of the staff was really friendly. The maid came to clean when we were still in the room, so we sent her away. Before she left, she made sure we had all the supplies we needed...toilet paper, water, shampoo, etc. One of the valet guys threw dirty looks, but whatev. If Hotels Tonight has another special on this hotel, we might just stay again. If you do download the hotels tonight app, make sure you use promo code "sSaenz3" to get $25 off your first booking. Every little bit helps! Safe travels everyone... This area is mostly one way streets, so let me offer small tip. When southbound on Front St, look for parking on the left side just as you pass C street. If you pass it, you can still pull over in front of the hotel for valet. If you're determined to self park, turn left on Broadway (Broadway runs both ways), and left again on first. The first parking lot on the left side is for the Sofia. Parking permit machine goes to sleep after inactivity, so if it looks off, just hit a button to wake it up. It accepts both cash and credit. read more

The Sofia hotel was where my wife and I stayed while we were in San Diego this past summer. We scored a great rate in May for 2 nights stay. The resort fee and parking charge were around $50 something dollars. For Parking, we had unlimited valet for in-and-out. Resort fees included gym usage plus bottled water from the gym, bike rental, etc. Room: This is a historic boutique hotel. which means the rooms have been renovated from their original days decades ago. Having said that, we loved the hotel. It has kept its own charm and character. Oh and, our room was lovely! It also helped that we got a complimentary upgrade to a suite at the end of the hallway. we have a separate living room from the bedroom itself. The bedroom was not big but I like that it had a sink inside the room. Plus, we also had another big screen TV. The bathroom was big but I still noticed it was of the old style back in the days. I also concurred with other Yelpers that the AC was somewhat loud. Location: Awesome! We can walk to literally anywhere in downtown San Diego from the hotel. There were tons of restaurants around the area. There was a convenient store one block away. Service: The hotel gave my wife and me a free upgrade to a suite room so how can I say anything bad about them. :) Aside that, all interactions with the staff were great. Since we stayed there at a great rate so it was no surprise that we got more than enough bang for our buck. At $300+, I probably would have thought twice or thrice about staying at the Sofia. But if you are a fan of historical hotel or a boutique hotel, this hotel will not disappoint you with its old charm. And really, you can't beat the location. read more

The Sofia Hotel - A separate living room - Hotels Near Me - San Diego, California

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CUSTOMER SERVICE: When I tried to redeem the free yoga DVD during my recent stay, I was told they no longer offer this because they ran out of DVDs. After questioning why it is still appearing on Yelp, I was illogically offered a chocolate bar instead. In what world is a chocolate bar an appropriate substitute for a fitness DVD??! After letting this front desk person know I was offended by the mere suggestion of pacifying me with a candy bar, suddenly he was able to find the "last [DVD] copy". Convenient how that happens. HOTEL LOCATION: The hotel is down the street from the San Diego Central Jail. Around the corner to that is also a firehouse so expect to hear sirens especially on Saturday nights. PARKING: $36 Valet $34 Self-Parking ROOMS: The rooms are super small with very thin walls. There is no space to buffer the sound between adjacent rooms. You can pretty much hear everything going on in the next room. Beds are uncomfortable and firm without much cushion to them. read more

The Sofia Hotel - Tried to redeem this offer and was told it is no longer available. As a substitute, I was illogically offered a chocolate bar! - Hotels Near Me - San Diego, California

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I really liked this hotel. The parking is valet only and $36 a night. The lobby was decorated very nicely with plush seating everywhere and flat screens on the walls. They even have a large table with like 8 chairs for a family meal or card game. The check in process we quick and the front desk staff was friendly and helpful. They have a small yoga room connected to the gym area. Bottled water and towels are in there as well. Good idea. No snack or soda machines on the floor in case you get a late night craving. They have a Coffee Bean and TL and the Currant Brasserie, and Tender Greens on the first floor outside of the hotel. Chipotle across the street with Chase Bank right there as well. The room was kinda small but cozy. Comfy bed and night lights on side of the bed and plugs everywhere. A work desk and a nice chair beside of the bed. A fridge and microwave was a plus! read more

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A solid hotel; we had a nice view on the 5th floor. The room is a bit smaller than other hotel rooms like i would say it was about 110 sq ft but it was cozy. Valet was $38 or $39 dollars Valet was really efficient; you text your ticket number and it notifies you how much time until your car is ready. A historical hotel fee for $12 something before taxes and after taxes was $17-$18 dollars. Nice decor on the first floor. Nice and comfy beds. People were readily available to greet us and were nice overall. read more

Very mediocre. The rooms were teeny tiny. I booked a room here for work and brought my husband and baby... we were tripping over our suitcases all night!! I could easily hear the next door neighbor arguing with each other, and I'm sure they were super annoyed when our baby woke up for her milk in the middle of the night. The towels were super worn out, almost raggedy. They need to replace these. Also, please put a sign out in front of the valet parking garage entrance that says do not enter. We entered by accident because the sign was pointing the wrong way so we didn't know it was being used, and a valet basically came over to me and argued with both my husband and I as we struggled with two suitcases and a stroller that the sign was out where it was supposed to be. So rude. Please train your staff. Parking costs $38 per night, not per stay! read more

This is the worst hotel I've ever stayed in. When I walked in, there is nothing showing that the room had been disinfectant. Later, as we are climbing into bed, I found three long hairs two black and one blonde. I called the front desk and they offered to change my room but I declined because we had already changed for the night, then my husband pulled the blankets back to climb in and I notice a stain right in the middle of the bed. ..sooo gross! I called the front desk again and he gave us a different room, which seems better. We are trying to ignore the rattling air conditioner. I'm not going to move again or my husband will just want to go home I'm determined not to let this ruin our trip. read more

The Sofia Hotel - Stains in the middle of the bed - Hotels Near Me - San Diego, California

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The furniture is decades old. The elevator is broken. There is no concierge as advertised. No spa- just a room with spa service which is not what was advertised. No open restaurant. No room service as advertised. The bed does not look freshly made. The sink is in the bedroom because the bathroom is tiny. And don't book with Expedia as they are no help at all. read more

There was a used tampon in my room. Front desk said all they could do was give me a refund on a guest services, since I booked thru a third party. I think I deserved a full refund, but was not offered one. read more

The Sofia Hotel - Hotels Near Me - San Diego, California

This timeless chic hotel is very inviting as are all the staff. Deals throughout the year and on yelp:) The room was very comfy and cozy. The bathroom is very Euro... the sink being outside the bathroom with the "water closet" and shower in the actual "facilities" area.... a sliding door that doesn't actually lock and a shower without a door, just half a glass wall... so be weary of that/this since the water pressure is top notch. Given that the theme and atmosphere is very French... I wish we had a bidet situation... The ventilation system at least mainly in the bathroom was awful though the overall room was a good size with an incredible view of downtown as well as the parking lot for valet... $36 for valet (does that include tip... no we tipped... so really it's $40)... I mean they can get away with it because literally it's the only lot near by and if you do manage to find street parking... it's going to be a small journey and you'll have to move your car at 8am unless it's Sunday the next day. Didn't get a chance to try out some of the extra amenities like the yoga and health center, but they seemed super appealing. We did enjoy the coffee bean right outside the hotel and the restaurant connected in the lobby for a light bite. Tons of foodie finds and chains in the area however. Definitely looking forward to giving this another shot for a birthday or next event or film fest... just plan ahead for parking... Grateful for the service and later checkout. Overall we were treated very personably and even exchanged some witty banter on our way out... read more

Clean, comfortable, modern, hip room iHOME! Lovely warm/hot shower with good pressure Free yoga DVD with yelp check in! 24 hour gym AND stocked yoga room! (Awesome!) Free wifi Free parking on the street after 6 ($30 cheaper than valet) Free bottled water ( I get thirsty at night) Has your standard toiletries, PLUS mouthwash! Great bar/resto off of the lobby. Tots were delicious--like smaller, peppery, vegetarian version of Porto's potato ball Bed is so comfortable Close by the airport, freeway, gas lamp and little Italy..AND extraordinary desserts!!! Nice, helpful staff Picked up a groupon deal for a little more than 100 bucks. Came with the voucher for a free appetizer, and that's why I got the tots. Check out is 11am and I will be sad. read more

The Sofia Hotel - Yoga room at a hotel, how awesome is that!!!!!! - Hotels Near Me - San Diego, California

I should have believed all the negative reviews on Yelp. The rates for Twitch convention was out of this world. $630/night for a small rundown room! There is only 1 small elevator and nothing luxurious about this place. Had to go to a wedding so I didn't have any choice but book the only available room this weekend. Save yourself some $ and book somewhere else. One star for the employees. It's not their fault. read more

Decent hotel, pretty small rooms but conveniently located, very quiet- slept well here.

On March 12th I tried to cancel my reservation with this hotel but my plans changed and was not only unable to stay but Expedia screwed me over for the airfare as well. I reserved in December 2019 for a March 18th event which was cancelled. I had travel insurance which Expedia refused to comply or refund. I spoke with the hotel manager on 3/12 and was told they have a no refund policy even a week prior to my arrival. read more

I do not recommend you stay here.. rude staff and hotel completely suckkkkkkkkkks.. get an Airbnb , or another hotel. As I was checking in the gentleman seemed completely friendly to guest in front of me, asking these non colored folks. when it was my turn he looked at me and replied "can I help you"? With a face and an attitude.. I'm thinking to myself okkkkk..?? Why was he super friendly to these guest in front of me but not me. I didn't give attitude or anything. Restroom sucks, water goes everywhere because there's only half a glass door, bed sheets smelled super used. I felt like I got catfished from the pictures online when I booked this for my bday.. parking staff was super negative.. I wouldn't recommend coming here at all. read more

Summary: 1 night stay, same night, at-hotel reservations Tuesday night stay...SORRY SORRY-forgot to take photos for this review! Sorry (hopefully my descriptions help and obviously look at other posted photos). Great rate for really nice downtown area boutique hotel in San Diego...drove down from Los Angeles for wife and needed a room for the night. The nightly rate at our usual San Diego hotel (the US Grant) went up by more than a third in price so we opted to look for other cool hotels (US Grant still fantastic though). Lobby: we entered from the side entrance next to the valet stop ($36 for 24 hour in/out service). Inside had a small but Manhattan-like (or small cosmopolitan-like hotel) feel to it. They replenished a large iced water container with different daily fruits . I also noticed that they had a few computers in the "business center" (not sure if there is a charge or not but guessing there is no charge since it felt like it had that mom & pop friendly "feel." Free WiFi (and free in room WiFi too). Also... eat and drink at the restaurant/bar attached to the lobby-phenomenal-especially during happy hour! Staff: really friendly staff that mentioned their free 3 hour bicycle rental and some other cool things offered at the hotel to explore the area. Check-in: Got a really good AAA Summer Deal rate and upgraded (extra $20) for the larger suite with a view and it was worth every penny. I read on Yelp that the rooms were tiny compared to other hotels (but very clean) so I did not hesitate when asked if I wanted to upgrade to a larger room with a view. Room: entry welcomed us to a sofa and 2 very oddly comfortable chairs in the living area with a classic old school Manhattan look with grand large beautifully displayed windows (sealed completely shut unfortunately). Oddly, the bathroom was in the middle of the suite (sink on one side and toilet/shower on other side [it works ]). The room was kinda awesome but the best part was the bed . We had a rough day and we needed a good night sleep and this bed fulfilled every part of our shared wish for a good night . Felt like a dream. Although the windows would not open, there were dual temperature central air settings separating the living and sleep rooms to do the room absolute justice. Bonus section because they were just so kick ass/Valet: major props to the valet guys! I didn't catch names because I was too exhausted but from the valet team was solid throughout! Summary: this hotel might just become our go to hotel in San Diego because of the old school manhattan charm to its friendly staff to its great amenities (I think there is a gym on the second floor)...I think we have a winner! Thank you Sofia Hotel! read more

This hotel is a very convenient stay for me when I'm in San Diego. Either late flights coming in or early flights going out of San Diego, The Sofia Hotel has been my choice. One of those easy for Uber pick up or drop off hotels. About an $11 trip. Checking in is pretty much the same as most cordial hotels, smiling personal giving you as much information as you want or need. Good tips about the free WiFi, the valet service, self parking and local hot spots. There is small bar on the premises that also serves some food and open until 10:00 pm. Keep in mind this is an old building that has been renovated and retrofitted with modern amenities so the rooms can seem disjointed, but for me, it's fun to stay close to the Gas Lamp part of town. The rooms are on the smallish side, well appointed, clean, stocked with coffee, wine (for purchase), bottles of water and decent glasses you don't feel the need to clean before using. While I'm not sure I'd stay here for a long period of time, the time I do spend is worth the money I've paid. read more

Experienced the worst customer service at this hotel. I was told there was not a manager on site at 5pm on a Saturday. Front desk attendants were not interested with my issue with my reservation through Booking.com, so I lost out on a room and was not reimbursed. A huge disappointment to say the least. read more

Great price, but not very clean. There is no housekeeping services so I'm not sure how the rooms get cleaned. Flooring was a little sticky and the in room sofas were stained and dirty. There are a lot of good deals in the area for hotels due to the pandemic so I'd recommend staying elsewhere. read more

If you don't mind getting woken in the middle of the night, because the idiot night manager allowing a hooked to call your room, and dials the wrong Jon's room ( read more

During my recent one-night stay, the Sofia Hotel had 3 opportunities to provide excellent customer service, and failed on each occasion. There are many hotels where I'm sure you will be treated with more care and respect as a customer. I would stay at one of those hotels if I were you and avoid the Sophia Hotel at all costs. The first two opportunities were to clarify whether or not valet parking was included since I purchased on a block. I wasn't sure based on my confirmation email, and asked for clarification upon check-in. The first Front Desk agent wasn't sure, and told me that the valet was a "separate company." My day was completely booked, and I didn't have time to check with anyone else. Upon check-out, I was told that my stay absolutely did not include valet parking, and the email with included information was summarily dismissed and I was treated incredibly rudely by a second front desk agent. The third missed customer service opportunity is a combination of front desk and housekeeping errors. I have neck injuries that require me to travel with my own pillow, which I realized I forgot after leaving San Diego for my next stop. I called as soon as I realized this (4 hours after check-out) and was transferred by the Front Desk to Hospitality, which also functions as the Lost and Found. I left a detailed message, and did not receive a return phone call. I tried the Front Desk again an hour later, and requested to speak with someone directly. Instead, I was transferred again, and again, received an answering machine. I have still not heard back from housekeeping, and suspect I never will. read more

This isn't a 4 star by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, 3 stars would be generous. The rooms are tiny. The heater doesn't work. The hotel is old. I'm getting tired of these so called 4 star boutique hotels that are just run down, ancient dumps. No hotel bar. Wifi is weak. Resort fee? Give me a break. 4 blocks from the Gaslamp. read more

Five stars! Nothing but positive things to say about this hotel. My girlfriend and I stayed here on Saturday night for her work conference. Checking in was a breeze. Valet service is located around the corner on Front St. for $36 overnight. There is also a self-park lot for $20.00 on Front St. Spend the extra cash and give yourself the flexibility to leave if needed. The front desk was also super accommodating. They gave us a late check out (12:30 PM) and a few supplies that we forgot at home. Since this is a pet-friendly hotel, we also decided to bring our Corgi-Chihuahua mix with us. Pet fee is a reasonable $35 and waived for service animals. As others have mentioned, the rooms aren't huge. With that said, we really enjoyed our room. It was clean, had a modern design, and all the accessories that we needed (WiFi, microwave, fridge, coffee maker, toiletries, free bottled water, etc.). Bed was great - not too soft, but definitely not too hard either. The HDTV with premium channels sure didn't hurt either. Bathroom was small, but I didn't really see any problem. Shower head had just the right amount of pressure. Sofia Hotel also offers a few perks as well: (1) Complimentary yoga classes (2) Free Gaslamp walking tour (3) Free bicycle rentals (4) 24-7 Fitness Center Location is great. Little Italy and the Harbor are about a half mile away. Gaslamp District is about three quarters of a mile way. This hotel is close to everything, but in a pretty quiet area still. Price was fair. Total with taxes and fees was $240 (for a Saturday night). Lots of similar hotels in the area will run you $300 or more. Would definitely stay here again! read more

The Sofia Hotel - Hotels Near Me - San Diego, California

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Staff was very friendly and welcoming however the rooms were very tiny and extremely filthy. Surfaced clean only. So gross! read more

The Sofia Hotel - This is a pic behind the dresser covered in filth. I dropped something so I had to try to get it and this it what I saw - Hotels Near Me - San Diego, California

Room very small - night cost 500 ish parking fee $50 they don't say that in price line no bag service in morning never again

The Sofia has several things that the ultra modern luxury hotel behemoths located along the San Diego waterfront cannot match. A sense of place, for starters. It's a historic structure dating back to the 1920s, and it looks it: beautiful brickwork, a spacious lobby, black and white photographs from past eras in the city history on the walls, along with quirky touches like gemstones, fossils, and unique sculptures and artwork that a cookie cutter corporate profit machine would never even think to display. Complimentary morning yoga (one hour of vinyasa flow postures suited for beginners and intermediates alike) is a perk here. So are unobtrusive staff who treat you like adults, even when you wander back to your room slightly drunk from dinner or drinks in Little Italy. Rooms are outfitted with all the amenities needed by an experienced traveler. The standard rooms are not super-sized, and there isn't underground garage parking or any of the touches that a more recently constructed hotel can offer. It's historic. It's not perfect. That's the point of staying here for a few nights, possibly longer, while visiting San Diego. Because it's quirky and quaint in ways that defy easy ratings on Yelp or TripAdvisor. It's living history but with tasteful updates and technological upgrades that mean you won't feel time traveled back to the 1920s while staying. The complimentary yoga is the real deal: a trained instructor who tailors each session to the guests attending. There is room for about a dozen people to fit comfortably, with more courses on weekends than on weekdays. The schedule is clearly marked and mats, towels, and water are provided. Take a chance and try something new! There is a coffee shop on the ground floor that opens early, and a bar restaurant next to the lobby that stays open late. But true coffee enthusiasts may wish to check out Coava Coffee Roasters a few blocks away (in one of those huge corporate hotel behemoths mentioned earlier), and as far as drinks go, there are several excellent wine bars and craft brew tap rooms a fairly short walk or drive away on India Street in Little Italy. Vino Carta is perfect for natural wine fans, while places like Ballast Point, Mikkeller, Nolita Hall, and Bottlecraft are great for craft beer connoisseurs. Sushi fans should plan on omakase at Shino Sushi & Kappo, while regional Italian food, especially fresh pasta, is best at Civico 1845. You can easily make it back to the Sofia if you don't mind a 20 to 30 minute walk. I prefer Little Italy to the Gaslamp district for food, drink, and people watching, and the Sofia is close enough to the action to make it a good base camp. Taxi rides to the airport are around $25 depending on traffic. All in all, it's a fine place to bed down for a few nights, especially if you are a fan of historic, unique, aesthetically creative accommodations that have character without sacrificing comfort in the process. read more

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