Fodor's Expert Review The Pearl Hotel

Beachy mid-mod style, summer pool parties, and a happening nightlife scene make The Pearl a fun option for budget travelers. With a boxy facade and a row of privacy trees, the small boutique hotel doesn’t look like much from the street, save for its succulent-dotted border landscaping and eye-catching sign. Inside, though, The Pearl is a visual delight, with playful retro decor, a hip restaurant and bar, and a seriously Instagrammable pool. Set in Point Loma, across from Coronado Island, the hotel is a block from the bayfront Point Loma Marina Park, where you’ll find picnic tables, fire rings, a fishing pier, a boat launch, a sandy beach, and epic sunsets overlooking San Diego Bay and the Point Loma peninsula. At night, aglow like a lantern, The Pearl is a hotspot for locals and guests alike.

YOU SHOULD KNOW Light sleepers and privacy seekers might want to try elsewhere. The Pearl can get very lively.

room

The Pearl’s petite entry-level rooms feature a queen bed with a gray tufted headboard, a small wardrobe, and mirrored ceiling tiles (presumably to make the room look bigger, but imagine the possibilities). The next level up, the Jewel rooms feature a king-size walnut platform bed, a wood desk with a Kartell desk chair, vintage table lamps, and custom wallpaper mosaic installations. The deluxe Strand rooms are more spacious and include a seating area and a balcony or patio. All the rooms have a

bathroom

Bathrooms are compact but chic, with walk-in showers fully tiled in nautical white and blue and a round mirror.

lobby

The Pearl’s stylish lobby is like a swingin’ pad with Mad Man vibes, from the stone walls to the shag carpet-covered raised seating area with cushions, chess boards, and classic George Nelson ball wall sconces.

YOU SHOULD KNOW On-site parking is limited and costs $12. It's pretty easy to find street parking though.

pool

Under a canopy of string lights, the courtyard pool is the hotel’s central attraction. It’s small but ready for fun, with inner tubes, floating swans, and the occasional mermaid show. Chaise lounges, butterfly chairs, hammock seats, and private cabanas encourage lingering. During the summer, The Pearl hosts a Dive-In Movie series.

dining

California mid-mod is all about seamless indoor-outdoor spaces, and EAT at the Pearl does it perfectly, with an open dining room that extends to the edge of the pool. EAT recently debuted a creative new menu of fresh California cuisine, with dishes like cauliflower with smoked aubergine and pine nuts, octopus with pickled peppers, and short rib with farro and fava bean.

drinking

The Pearl’s bar serves unique craft cocktails like the Marie Antoinette and the Dixie Fried Damsel, as well as a good selection of wine and craft beer. A small bar area has bar tables and stools, but there are plenty of spots around the pool if those are all full.