A neo-modern masterpiece with a very beachy vibe, this 2005-vintage boutique hotel is a San Diego rarity, the first hotel to be built beachfront in the last 10 years. Its namesake is a lifeguard tower that gets repositioned up and down the beach, so don't look for it out front. Tower23 caters to surfer dudes and stylistas alike but be aware that the service of its youthful staff can be spotty (surf's up?). Rooms gleam in seawater blues, sand, and moss green with teak furnishings; the suites feature Jacuzzi tubs and step-in rain showers. You get all the toys here: high-definition, flat-screen TVs with Bose concert sound, DVD players, XBox video games, two-line cordless phones, and free Wi-Fi that reaches to the beach. All rooms have balconies and patios. Catch the sunset at the indoor-outdoor Tower Bar with its tiny sushi bar or on the Tower Deck with a witchy fire pit. The pool, alas, is only ornamental but you do have the ocean. The restaurant, JRDN, offers outdoor dining and cutting-edge, expensive cuisine.
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