Hotel Del Coronado
The hotel is set along a private stretch of shoreline, steps from the guest rooms, suites, and restaurants.
With at least a dozen places to eat, drink, or snack, along with pools, beach, shops, fitness center, spa, and salon, Hotel Del Coronado is a complete destination.
If you do get the urge to explore the neighborhood, you’ll find many boutiques, restaurants, cafés, and art galleries on charming Orange Avenue, the main drag in walkable Coronado Village.
Hotel Del Coronado takes advantage of San Diego’s near-perfect weather with al fresco dining options at every restaurant, including the new Nobu Del Coronado.
The pleasure of a stay at Hotel Del Coronado started even before I arrived, as the two-mile Coronado Bay Bridge delivered beautiful scenes of downtown San Diego’s skyline and the palm-lined streets of Coronado Island. Then, the hotel’s iconic red-shingled conical roof came into view.
The Del’s 28 oceanfront acres buzzed with summer activity. From my room, I could see the umbrella-dotted white sand beach, children splashing in the waves along the shore, guests relaxing in shaded lounge chairs, and visitors filling the walkways that meandered throughout the property.
I’ve stayed at Hotel Del Coronado three times, most recently when the resort debuted an impressive new look in spring 2025. More than $550 million was spent over seven years to restore and preserve the National Historic Landmark hotel, with property-wide upgrades that included guest rooms, event spaces, restaurants, and its central garden courtyard.
For this visit, I upgraded my room reservation with access to the beachfront Ocean Club. Set in the revamped historic Windsor Cottage, the space features ocean views, a cocktail bar, and a menu of Californian flavors. After a refreshing gin and tonic, I strolled past the hotel’s many eateries, peeking at the tables, where guests were dining, chatting, or perusing menus.
The next morning, I joined a tour led by Gina Petrone, the hotel’s heritage manager, as she guided our small group through the property. Our first stop was the power plant, which provided electricity to the hotel and the entire island of Coronado until 1922. “It was a big deal for Victorian travelers to have electricity at their hotel,” Petrone says. While the power plant area was recently restored, original features and brickwork can still be seen, along with a chandelier designed by L. Frank Baum, the author of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”
Here is my full review of Hotel Del Coronado.
The Rooms
The 938 guest rooms are spread across five neighborhoods, each with different amenities and a distinct ambiance. The original 1888 Victorian building—with its iconic red turret roof, stained glass windows, and antique furnishings—was diligently restored to preserve its vintage style while adding modern conveniences. No two guest rooms are alike, and they feature balconies with ocean, courtyard, or resort views.
The Cabanas neighborhood is ideal for guests with a penchant for contemporary style and those who prefer to be near the pool, sun deck, or beach. This reimagined area features poolside rooms that serve as private cabanas, as well as beachside rooms with terraces and fire pits.
For high-rise luxury, The Views features 217 guest rooms and suites with panoramic ocean views or terraces with fire pits for the ground-floor rooms. Somewhat removed from the main area, The Views neighborhood is quieter, with floor-to-ceiling windows for watching the goings-on below.
Shore House, opened in 2022, features residential-style accommodations—many with full kitchens—steps from the sand. There’s an infinity-edge pool, a bistro, and a dedicated entrance. Operating as a separate hotel, part of the LXR Hotels & Resorts portfolio, Shore House provides full access to the resort’s amenities while offering an exclusive guest experience. Here, guests can book one-, two-, and three-bedroom accommodations, with the largest three-bedroom oceanfront villa coming in at nearly 1,700 square feet.
And lastly, Beach Village, also operated by LXR Hotels & Resorts, is a luxurious private enclave of 78 beachfront cottages and residential-style villas with up to three bedrooms. The neighborhood’s Oval Pool features cabanas, a poolside bistro, and a concierge. Guests also have access to all Hotel Del Coronado amenities, as well as complimentary beach chairs and umbrellas.
Food and Drink
Nobu Del Coronado is the newest addition to the resort’s culinary lineup, open daily for lunch and dinner. While the black miso cod was delicious, I also added the yellowtail jalapeno and tai sweet shiso with crispy shiitake mushrooms to my list of Nobu favorites.
Veranda offers ocean views, along with an extensive daily breakfast buffet in its al fresco setting. During my weekend visit, I couldn’t pass up the made-to-order omelet and the blueberry bread pudding. Dinner at Veranda had its own temptations, including the prime beef filet offered with traditional sauces and the Dungeness crab wedge salad with Louis dressing—practically an entrée in itself.
Serẽa specializes in seafood and local seasonal fare with a Mediterranean twist. Fresh-caught whole fish can be flash-fried or grilled over an open wood fire. There’s a daily selection of oysters and a variety of crudos. The menu also includes wagyu surf and turf, grilled lamb chops, Greek-style chicken with lemon potatoes, vegetables, and caviar service.
Sun Deck features craft cocktails and casual fare, enjoyed around fire pits in one of the best spots at the resort to take in ocean and sunset views.
Activities and Experiences
Hotel Del Coronado
The Beach Village pool.
The Del takes full advantage of its beachfront location. Guests can rent paddleboards, bodyboards, surfboards, skimboards, and wetsuits. Private and group surfing lessons are available.
A guided kayak tour under the Coronado Bridge, a San Diego Bay tour aboard a Monterey speedboat, sunset cruises, and sailing lessons are among the endless list of activities.
The 90-minute docent-led Legendary Tour and self-guided audio tour are dedicated to the history and architecture of The Del. I thoroughly enjoyed my tour and left with stories, photos, and a greater appreciation for the hotel and the guests who have stayed there through the years.
Beach cruisers, e-bikes, and youth mountain bikes are also available to rent. Fitness classes include beach spin, yoga, high-intensity interval training, lap swims, pilates, power beach walks, aerial silks, and dynamic movement.
The Spa
Spa & Salon at The Del offers a variety of massages, facials, and body treatments using natural ingredients. Facilities include relaxation lounges and an outdoor spa terrace with an infinity-edge pool.
Family-friendly Offerings
Robert Benson/Hotel Del Coronado
The courtyard Victorian Garden.
The Ocean Explorers program, designed for children aged 5 to 10, offers daily activities such as tide pool visits and seashell collecting. The list of family-friendly activities includes beach bonfires, surfing lessons, movies on the beach, virtual reality snorkeling, resort tours, and bike rentals. Family cabanas are available for groups of up to eight guests.
Accessibility and Sustainability
Accessible accommodations are available in all neighborhoods, with options for mobility and hearing accessible features. Wheelchair-accessible ramps and pathways are located throughout the resort, and beach wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Coronado lifeguard station. Pool lifts are available at the Cabana Pool and Beach Village Oval Pool, with an accessible zero-entry ramp at the Shore House pool. All restaurants, shops, spa, lobby, and public areas are wheelchair accessible.
The Del is the first historic hotel to receive a Silver Green Seal certificate for its significant progress in addressing climate change. The hotel’s sustainable initiatives include recycling and annual beach cleanups.
The culinary team works with local farms, ranches, and fishers to source ingredients. And seafood restaurant Serẽa is certified Ocean Friendly by the Surfrider Foundation. Surplus food is distributed to local non-profit organizations, while leftover waste is processed to reduce its impact on landfills. Fry oil is recycled and used to produce biodiesel.
Location
Hotel del Coronado
The interior of the restored lobby.
Coronado Island is in San Diego County, about 16 miles from downtown San Diego and eight miles from San Diego International Airport (SAN). Guests can take the Coronado Ferry that leaves from the San Diego Convention Center area and Broadway Pier and arrives at the Coronado Island Ferry Landing. Visitors who want to explore outside the San Diego area may want to rent a car, but it’s not necessary for a stay on Coronado Island, as taxis and shared rides are conveniently available.
The Del is a short distance from downtown Coronado, a charming walkable area with restaurants and boutiques. Golfers can play at the public Coronado Golf Course, and Spreckels Park offers summer concerts, picnic tables, and a playground.
In San Diego, Petco Park is the home of Major League Baseball’s San Diego Padres for summer sports entertainment, and Balboa Park includes the San Diego Zoo, museums, gardens, a carousel, a performing arts center, a miniature train, shopping, and dining. The U.S.S. Midway, a retired aircraft carrier, is a museum with flight simulators, tours, and exhibits. About a half-hour ride away, the Cabrillo National Monument features coastal trails, tidepools, a historic lighthouse, and scenic views.
Book Now
At Hotel Del Coronado, Hilton Honors members receive exclusive benefits, including complimentary WiFi, digital check-in, and points toward future stays.
Before booking a stay, check out the hotel’s most current offers and discounts on its website.
Nightly rates at Hotel Del Coronado start from $500 in the Victorian building, which includes a $50 mandatory fee ($35 resort charge and $15 Historic Preservation Fund charge).
Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.
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