Pendry San Diego Hotel Review: Luxury Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter — Home & Jet

Pendry San Diego is a boutique 5-star hotel located in the Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego. This luxury hotel is owned by Alan Fuerstman, the founder of Montage International Hotels, but his son Michael Fuerstman is in charge of the Pendry brand which is hoping to appeal to the younger demographic.

With a total of 317 guest rooms including 36 suites, Pendry San Diego offers an urban coastal California aesthetic with modern luxury amenities. This hotel is the perfect choice for business or pleasure in the United States, specifically in Southern California. It is a boutique hotel nestled between a sea of your typical Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt hotel chains. Featuring six different restaurants and bars, you will never go hungry. A full fitness center, spa and rooftop pool will inspire a wellness kick during your stay.

Pendry San Diego is within walking distance to the San Diego Convention Center, Petco Park, USS Midway Museum and many other local attractions.

This luxury San Diego hotel also offers the perfect wedding or corporate venue in Southern California.

Here is a full-review of our four night stay in a Superior King Room:

⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 stars

Things We Loved

Superior location in the Gaslamp Quarter
Numerous restaurant options on-site and within walking distance to many other dining options including Nobu (highly recommend)
Hotel design and aesthetic is beautiful and modern
Large glass enclosed shower with rainfall shower head and solid water pressure
Excellent room service (Amex breakfast benefit works for in-room dining)
Well equipped gym with Pelotons, rowing machines and a cable machine
Solid in-room amenities: Espresso machine, mini bar, large TV with Chromecast streaming, MiN of NYC toiletries (0% Silicone – 0% Paraben – 0% Gluten), Bluetooth speaker, large comfortable beds, plush white robes

Drawbacks

Overpriced for what you get
$31 daily amenity fee (no real benefits)
Did not receive early check-in or room upgrade (even with advance notice and booking through American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts)
Rooms feel VERY small and even a bit claustrophobic
Interesting conglomerate of guests, from business travelers to influencers
Service was slow, especially at the front desk and pool
Can be very loud at night due to proximity to nightclubs (Oxford Social Club)
Definitely not a relaxing vibe

There is plenty more to unpack, keep reading for a complete guide to Pendry San Diego.

Booking

Pendry San Diego is a part of the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts program.

That said, we highly recommend booking through American Express Travel if you have the Centurion or Platinum credit card. Through the Fine Hotels and Resorts program, you will receive elite benefits including:

Noon guest check-in (when available)
Daily breakfast for two ($35 per guest, total value $70 per day)
Room upgrade (when available)
Guaranteed 4pm check-out
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Experience credit ($100 dining credit)

Despite booking through Amex Travel to secure these benefits, we did not receive a noon check-in or room upgrade. The hotel was quite busy with a corporate event and this prevented us from maximizing a few of the Fine Hotels and Resorts benefits.

We had to wait for an hour and a half before our room was ready. This wasn’t a huge deal given the nice weather and plenty of local lunch spots to explore.

Once we finally checked in, we were granted two tokens for the Moët & Chandon Champagne Vending Machine (serving mini bottles of Impérial Brut and Rosé Impérial) for the inconvenience. That helped a little!

Don’t worry if you are not a Centurion or Platinum Credit Card holder, Pendry San Diego offers rotating deals found directly on their website. From 15% savings to bed and breakfast rates, it is always worth checking out current offers before finalizing your booking.

Booking.com also offers excellent rates, price match and free cancellation. That is a major plus given the current state of the world!

Getting There

Pendry San Diego is only 4 miles from the San Diego International Airport. This equates to a quick 10-15 minute drive or Uber Ride. Uber was the perfect option for us on this trip and it cost less than $20 to get from the airport to the hotel.

We highly recommend going carless if possible. Parking options are limited and quite expensive. For example, valet parking is $51 per night and self-parking is doable but will most likely place you in a city lot that charges at least $25 per day.

The city is very walkable and with gorgeous, warm weather. Uber / Lyft is also a great way to explore the local attractions (San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum, Coronado Island, Balboa Park, Old Town, etc.) all within a 10-15 minute Uber / Lyft ride.

If you are feeling adventurous, take a spin on a Lime Electric Scooter and feel the ocean breeze on your face as you zip along the beautiful coastline.

Rooms

All of the rooms in Pendry San Diego are about the same size. They average around 350 square feet.

The view is the only main differentiator between the category of rooms. For example, all of the king rooms are about the same size but with different tiers of city views. If you are looking for a large room, you will definitely need to book a suite.

Superior King Room

Size: 350 square feet / 33 square meters
View: City
Avg price: From $360 /night

Superior Double Queen Room

Size: 385 square feet / 36 square meters
View: City
Avg price: From $510 /night

Deluxe King Room

Size: 350 square feet / 33 square meters
View: Overlooking downtown San Diego
Avg price: From $400 /night

Deluxe Double Queen Room

Size: 385 square feet / 36 square meters
View: Overlooking downtown San Diego
Avg price: From $550 /night

Premier King Room

Size: 350 square feet / 33 square meters
View: City skyline
Avg price: From $490 /night

Premier Double Queen Room

Size: 385 square feet / 36 square meters
View: City skyline
Avg price: From $640 /night

Grand King Room

Size: 350 square feet / 33 square meters
View: High floor views of the San Diego skyline and San Diego Bay
Avg price: From $530 /night

Executive Suite

Size: 548 square feet / 51 square meters
View: City
Avg price: From $770 /night

Deluxe One Bedroom Suite

Size: 650 square feet / 60 square meters
View: City
Avg price: From $970 /night

Corner One Bedroom Suite

Size: 650 square feet / 60 square meters
View: 180 degree corner views of the city
Avg price: From $1,170 /night

Grand One Bedroom Suite

Size: 670 square feet / 62 square meters
View: City
Avg price: From $1,770 /night

Pendry Suite

Size: 1,497 square feet / 139 square meters
View: 180 degree views of the San Diego skyline
Avg price: From $3,420 /night

Pool Suite

Size: 1,082 square feet / 101 square meters
View: Gaslamp Quarter and pool area as well as a private terrace with direct access to the pool
Avg price: From $3,420 /night

Bathrooms

The bathrooms are pretty small in the standard rooms, with one sink and a small pocket door to hide the toilet.

The large glass enclosed showers are the main features of the room and likely what makes the bathroom (and bedroom) feel so small.

It is important to note that the shower is very visible from the room and could be awkward if staying with friends or extended family.

There is a curtain that can be pulled across, but there are still some spots that you can see through. It is definitely not your standard bathroom configuration.

Amenities

Pendry San Diego features a rooftop pool, 24-hour fitness center and wellness spa. This is a pretty impressive combination for a city hotel. Let’s take a closer look.

Gym

The gym at Pendry San Diego is perfect for people who enjoy cardio. There is a plethora of treadmills, elliptical machines, rowing machines and stationary bikes. There are even two brand new Peloton bikes that we loved during our stay. I am a big fan of cardio for working out and would rate the gym 5/5 stars.

On the other hand, this gym is just basic for bodybuilding. There is one cable machine, a Smith machine and a series of free weights up to 50 lbs. My husband, who is a very fit bodybuilder, rates the gym 3/5 stars. Better than most but still not perfect.

The gym feels like it is located in the basement but is actually on the same level as the rooftop pool. The windows look out into private cabanas on the rooftop deck which is a bit interesting.

Spa

We didn’t end up booking any massage or spa appointments due to COVID. However, it looked very nice and offered a wide variety of services.

From facials to full body massages, the Spa Pendry has it all. For reference, a 90 minute massage averages $290.

Checkout a full list of treatment options here for this Pendry hotel.

Pool

The rooftop pool is an excellent place to cool off after a long day of exploring the San Diego Zoo or a place to unwind after back to back business meetings.

There are a variety of seating options from lounge chairs, day beds and even private cabanas. A poolside bar, The Pool House, offers an extensive drink and lunch menu, to keep you satisfied and lounging in the sun for hours on end.

The pool is nice for a city hotel but definitely runs a bit on the smaller side. The hot tub was very crowded at night. The vibe at the rooftop pool really varied by time of day. During the day, the vibe was calm and relaxing. However, at night it was very lively and almost felt like a nightclub.

Food & Drink

One of the main reasons we chose Pendry San Diego over some of the other luxury hotels in San Diego is the ability to try the multiple restaurants that they had on site.

This makes your trip that much easier by taking out the dreaded question of “what are we going to do for dinner?”.

Here is the full breakdown of all the restaurant options at Pendry San Diego.

Provisional Kitchen

Provisional is a blend between a marketplace and a restaurant. You can sit down for brunch or dinner, grab takeaways items or even shop for jewelry and homeware.

Open daily for brunch from 7am-2pm and for dinner Thursday-Saturday 5pm-9pm.

We enjoyed a brunch of iced lattes, yogurt parfaits and French toast on their outdoor patio. The food was delicious and an excellent way to start the day.

If you are in a rush, recommend ordering room service because the service here can be a bit slow. We were unable to enjoy breakfast on our last day due to an early flight.

Fifth & Rose

Fifth & Rose is a classic cocktail bar and the perfect place to grab a drink before a night out on the town. It is located right off of the main lobby and hosts a chic vibe.

During the week, the upscale vibe seems to bring in a lot of business men and women grabbing drinks with clients or co-workers around 5pm. Later in the evening, couples mostly occupied the tables enjoying cocktails and small bites.

Fifth & Rose offers a small dinner and fun cocktail menu. The Fifth & Rose is definitely worth one drink during your stay. It is open 3pm-12am Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and on Friday-Saturday 12pm-1am.

Nason’s Beer Hall

Nason’s Beer Hall is the perfect place for a more relaxed environment where you can grab a beer and enjoy some Monday night football.

Happy Hour is available daily from 3-5pm and offers $5 beer, $6 wine, $7 well cocktails and some small bites. With over 24 beer taps, you definitely cannot go wrong.

During the week, Nasons Beer Hall opens at 3pm for happy hour and dinner and 10am on the weekends for brunch. The dinner menu features mostly pub food such as chicken wings, pulled pork waffle fries, pizza and a classic bacon cheeseburger.

Lionfish

One of the more upscale dining options is Lionfish which features a modern coastal cuisine with both fresh seafood and prime cuts.

Lionfish has a wide variety of food options from Happy Hour to a Fish & Oyster Bar and of course other non-seafood options.

Happy Hour is available daily from 5-7pm with $5 Drafts, $7 Wines, $8 Craft Cocktails and an $8 food menu.

Dinner is served daily starting at 5pm and reservations are highly encouraged. The dinner offerings include sushi, oysters, fresh catch, chicken and steak.

The Pool House

Grab a drink and a bite to eat at The Pool House. The menu features items like chips & guacamole, chicken wings, salads, burgers and more. Full menu can be found here.

On our first day we ordered lunch by the pool and ended up with a chicken quesadilla and smoked turkey club sandwich. Both were just ok. The turkey in the sandwich did not taste fresh, which was a bit disappointing given the $18 price point.

The Pool House is open for food and beverage service from 11am-5pm daily.

In-Room Dining

The in-room dining was incredible and is available 24-hours.

Given we had the $35 per person, per day credit thanks to the Amex Platinum, it was a no brainer to enjoy our breakfast in bed.

We highly recommend the yogurt parfaits and omelet with pesto potatoes.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we did enjoy our time staying at Pendry San Diego. It was a great location within the Gaslamp Quarter which offers easy access to restaurants, local attractions and stunning city views.

Pendry San Diego fell a bit short with the size of their rooms, the overall service experience and the pricey bill at the end of the stay.

It offers a nice break from the typical hotel chains but we would likely try another luxury option in San Diego for our next stay.

That said, we are still open minded about this Montage hotel and will definitely be up for trying other properties around North America, particularly in New York.

Home & Jet