Empress Hotel La Jolla - La Jolla, California

JasminedogLosAngeles

The Empress Hotel La Jolla is a small hotel housed in an L-shaped 5-story building built in the late 1960's. It is located in the heart of La Jolla village and therefore close to several good restaurants, the village shops, and a short stroll to the La Jolla Cove and beach. ||A stay of one or two days is fine, but for a longer stay we would suggest someplace with more of a resort feel (i.e. with a pool, landscaped grounds, golf or tennis, large gym, etc. as this hotel had none of these). The $25 daily resort fee included valet parking in their small basement garage, wifi, and breakfast (nothing to rave about since it was standard breakfast fare like some of the inexpensive chain motels). The two elevators were functional. The on-site Manhattan steak house was fairly popular for a midweek in early Spring. ||Our Superior King Room had a pillow topped mattress, a sofa that opened to a twin bed, and designed in a beach aquamarine color scheme done pre-COVID. The shower tiles and glass doors were clean, but the bathroom was small. The closet doubled to also house a room safe, ironing board, the mini-fridge, the microwave, and a single serve coffee maker, thus leaving limited space for hanging clothes. ||But the best part of the Hotel was that our room was clean and comfortable for the relatively inexpensive price in a central La Jolla location. ||Early check in (before 2 PM) or late check outs are charged as add-ons. Some of the staff in the front counter at check in were friendly and helpful, the woman who greeted us was totally not excited about her job here. ||So overall, 4 stars for the comfortable and clean room

Sonali D.

Great place to stay, nice spacious rooms and the staff are lovely. Hassan was very helpful and kind during the checkout process. All the other staff were very helpful too. I got a complimentary upgrade to a spa suite which made the stay even better. Location wise this is walking distance to the beach walk in La Jolla and felt safe even at night. Would stay again!

Aasaf R.

Thanks to Larry and staff , We had a fantastic stay at the La Jolla Empress Hotel! From the moment I arrived, the staff was incredibly welcoming and attentive. The room had been updated since my stay a few years ago , spacious, and impeccably clean, with all the amenities I could need for a comfortable stay. I especially loved the hotel’s prime location, making it easy to explore the area. La Jolla cove is a few min walk away and there’s lots of restaurants, coffee shops , pubs etc spread out on Prospect and in the area.

The on-site dining options were excellent, and the attention to detail throughout the property really made my visit special. Staff are constantly cleaning the lobby and elevators and there’s a nice smell. I would absolutely stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing getaway close to the beach.

David S.

I’m been visiting the Empress for several years. It is a great alternative to the “Hotel Circle” in San Diego. The staff is friendly and always makes my stay enjoyable. Finding a pet friendly hotel in the heart of La Jolla Cove made traveling for work less complicated. Everything is within walking distance or a short drive. I recommend the Empress Hotel if you’re visiting San Diego!

Lauren T.

Exceptional Service and a Perfect Stay!
We hosted our Wedding Guests here:

The entire team was amazing! We received so many compliments from our guests about how wonderful and accommodating everyone was. We had a fantastic stay, and the staff was incredibly helpful and attentive throughout.

We worked closely with Ransom from the sales team and Spencer from the hotel management team, and they were both exceptional. The front desk staff and the entire team went above and beyond to make our experience memorable.

Everyone in our group had a wonderful time during their stay, and we will absolutely recommend the Empress Hotel to any friends or family for future travels. The included valet parking was a huge plus, especially since parking in La Jolla can be challenging. Additionally, the hotel’s location is perfect, within walking distance of all the highlights La Jolla has to offer.

CarryEZ

We had a very pleasant stay. The room was very clean and comfortable. The staff were friendly, attentive, and helpful. The complimentary breakfast was nice and convenient. Valet service was a nice plus and it was easy to get our car when we needed it. Highly recommend!

Taylor R.

We had a wonderful stay! The rooms were spotless, and the location couldn't have been better—finding parking was easy, whether using valet or on-street options. I can't emphasize enough how incredible the staff is; Spencer really knows how to make guests feel welcome and cared for. Additionally, the complimentary breakfast was fresh, local, and delicious! I highly recommend it for vacations or staycations.

Robin M.

We returned to the Empress for the second time and stayed two nights. The room was large and well-appointed, and the bed was super comfortable. The bathroom was a bit tight but just fine. Breakfast was plentiful and the choices were good. Valet parking was included, and service was quite prompt. The best feature of the Empress is the location. We walked everywhere! A real price performer given the area.