Se San Diego

Hotel description

The sleek, new-on-the-scene Sè San Diego brings together an unusual mix of stylistic influences — and, considering its nearly instant popularity with the city’s fashionable young set, the results are a hit. First, the interior design, very cool and masculine, filled with rich leather and polished wood, and sensuously lit even at noon, looks like it belongs in a New York hotel. But look more closely and you’ll detect Asian inspiration in everything from potted lotus flowers to exotic cocktails and the Zen-like spa. And the social life? It’s happening, to say the least, which reminds you that you’re still in southern California, even if the San Diego scene is sometimes more reminiscent of Vegas than LA.

Yes, the lively scene around the large infinity pool, which is surrounded by cozy private cabanas and served by the Uber Lounge, is one the main reasons to stay here, but there are others. Like the personal “experience consultants” that welcome you with champagne, the hotel’s luxury SUV chauffeur dervice, hundreds of rare teas on offer alongside fresh, unusual cocktails in the lobby lounge, and the fantastic Suite & Tender, a classy steakhouse with a cool contemporary edge. Then there are the guest rooms themselves, seductively decorated spaces lined with Brazilian walnut and filled with smooth dark wood tables, high-design sofas, plasma TVs and state-of-the-art sound systems, 400 thread-count sheets, and bathrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Since Sè rises high in downtown San Diego’s skyline, many of the 161 rooms and suites offer excellent views. But unless you’re planning on partying into the wee hours, or are a very sound sleeper, make sure you’re not placed in a room near the pool — otherwise you’ll be sleeping through the popular European-style brunch in the morning.