As California's southernmost metropolis, San Diego is a coastal paradise that’s widely lauded for its fabulous climate. Often referred to as 'Mediterranean' in nature, the region boasts moderate warm daytime and cool evening temperatures nearly year round. Beyond famed tourist attractions like The San Diego Zoo, Sea World, LEGOLAND, Petco Park and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the area also boasts a distinguished artistic heritage with a multiplicity of museums, music venues and performing arts theaters. This picturesque port city aptly blends world-class culture with the laid-back attitude of the beach life expected of a Southern California locale. This sensibility undoubtedly extends to the city’s flourishing hospitality scene.
One noteworthy establishment I recently visited, the TOWER23 Hotel, embraces San Diego’s duality as both a premier vacation destination and a hub for business. This three-story, 45,000 square-foot urban Neo-Modernist glass hotel in the Pacific Beach area has the enviable distinction of being the only luxury hotel in the area that sits right on the beach. The exclusive city of La Jolla sits just to the north and the bustling downtown Gaslamp District is just a short drive away to the southeast.
One of my personal favorite aspects of the hotel is the sunbathing and congregation area on the second floor, which is called the "Tower Deck." It's reserved for guests and invitees, and provides a prime location to gather, relax, enjoy some drinks and soak in the scenery. In the evening, this camaraderie is enjoyed around glistening, glass-laden modern fire features. Teak chaise lounges and upholstered beds are interspersed throughout, beckoning you to sit, sip and savor the moment.
As with any top-tier hotel, TOWER23 has a staff clearly devoted to prompt service and guest satisfaction. There is no team more satisfying than the on-site spa team, which offers massages, body treatments, facials and more. The other hotel employees also seem to constantly be on their game, responding to guest enquiries and fervently facilitating the many activities San Diego has to offer. Golf, ballooning and yachting are popular, but the area is probably best known for the range of fantastic water sports like kayaking, water skiing, snorkeling and, of course, surfing and paddle boarding. In fact, from each ocean view room balcony hotel guests can observe the near constant clutch of surfers hanging ten.
Oceanside Escapism
Upon arriving at TOWER23 you can’t help but be struck by the architecture. The contemporary three-story building employs many aspects of modern design: bold lines, strong shapes and powerful contrasts. Even the fonts used on the building exterior evoke a modern, professional feel. Once inside, it cannot be mistaken that you are a stone’s throw from the beach. The white-heavy walls of the lobby and hallways are awash in unfiltered natural sunlight that’s fittingly interrupted by sea blue hues and decorative genuine coral décor abounds, making guests feel at one with the marine milieu.
The sleek, elements-inspired hotel features a variety of room and suite options, with many featuring their own unique view of the Pacific Ocean. The 'Pads' as they are termed, are broken down in the Spirit, Sky, Serenity, and Surf subcategories. The Surf Pad had a particularly stunning direct view of the ocean and the bustling boardwalk that runs parallel. Each Pad features King and Queen sized beds, along with a sea of niceties: teak furnishings, Tempur-Pedic beds, luxurious foam mattresses and down bedding, Egyptian cotton linens, step-in rain showers, designer bath and spa products by H2O, a premium beverage and nutrition bar and 24-hour room service. The rooms all have their own furnished, open-air private patio or balcony area, and in-room massage services are available at guest request.
The suite varieties are divided into the Sanctuary and Sweet options, both proffering upgrades. One of which is an innovative "chromatherapy" whirlpool Jacuzzi tub. These tubs have a unique functionality that simulates water falling from above, which adds to the immersive water-oriented atmosphere of the hotel at large. Suites also have spacious lounging areas, a wet bar and a view of the TOWER deck. The Sweet Suite has the option of adding a connecting Surf Pad if more space is desired.
As a decidedly contemporary property, TOWER23 offers guests many high-level technological conveniences, including wall-mounted LG flat-screen HDTVs with on-demand movies, XBox entertainment centers, and dual-line cordless phones. Of all the tech upgrades, however, the expansive “Wi-Fi Everywhere” service is perhaps the most notable as the hotel has gone to great lengths to ensure that guests can stay connected at all times, having extended their network's range to cover the adjacent beach area as well.
Sunset Sustenance
No luxury hotel today would be complete without its own elevated in-house dining experience. On this front, TOWER23 definitely does not disappoint. JRDN, the hotel's 10,000 square foot indoor and outdoor fine dining destination, sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific within earshot of the waves. The elegant steak and seafood house, showcases unmistakably Californian coastal cuisine, all crafted under the expert guidance of executive chef Danilo "DJ" Tangalin.
Part artist, part dedicated craftsman, Chef Tangalin draws upon his extensive cooking background to create memorable dishes that stand out for their superlative quality and inventiveness. It's no surprise that JRDN has won the California Restaurant Associations “Best Hotel Restaurant” award numerous times. “Nothing can compare to the joy I have when a guest tells me that our kitchen served them the best meal of their life. Chasing that feeling drives me to choose top ingredients and to let those ingredients shine. I always try to remember that nature is the star of the dish, not the chef,” says Tangalin.
There's no shortage of things to do or see in San Diego. When accommodations are in order, TOWER23 is a cool haven of haute hospitality, one that’s perfectly suited for any ocean-oriented traveler that appreciates relaxed style and comfort with a sophisticated beach chic spin.
