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Empress Hotel
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
7766 Fay Ave(between Kline St & Silverado St)
La Jolla, CA 92037
Neighbourhood: La Jolla
(858) 454-3001
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
35 reviews for Empress Hotel
Review Highlights
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"Free continental breakfast on a lovely." In 3 reviews -
"...yogurt, apples, hard-boiled eggs, muffins and danishes, and..." In 3 reviews -
"I was here for a weekend for a wedding." In 5 reviews
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Gary P.
Long Beach, CA
5/6/2012
Hotel staff was very helpful and courteous We had reserved a Empress room but found it to be noisy. The room was next to the elevator. Moved to the deluxe king room which was very nice with plenty of space. Comfortably bed with nice bedding.
Parking was $18.00 a day and worth it to avoid from keep moving your car around to avoid the street limits.
Continental breakfast had a waffle maker along with pastries and cereals. -
Review from Shirls K.
3/12/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The services here is exceptional! We were greeted when we walked in. Alan, at the front desk, was highly experienced - he checked us in without much instruction after we discovered that the person who originally took our reservation (over the phone) and charged our card forgot to reserve our room. Alan was funny and made our check-in a pleasant experience despite the error not made on his part.
The hotel provides complimentary breakfast with your stay. Also two complimentry bottles of water in the room. The room was clean and spacious enough to walk comfortably around the furniture. The bed was comfortable as well - felt like sleeping on a cloud! And, WiFi is free! Got a good rate during the month of March.
The restaurant, Manhattan, inside the hotel had live Jazz music on Saturday night and the food was great!
In short, great service, good location and good value here. I would recommend and would stay at this hotel again.
Valet parking is $18 a night. There is also unresticted parking after 6pm. Before 6pm, it's limited to 2 hour parking. -
Review from Lisa H.
San Diego, CA
2/12/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I was able to get a pretty good rate since the end of January seems to be their slower rate. I checked into the Empress for a "staycation" since I had been in a rough patch the past few weeks.
Staff: Seemed to be very friendly. My reservations were not showing up, so it wasn't a smooth transition. I ended up having to call my credit card company. Not complaining though, the girl was as nice as she could be. She was new as well. Everything got straightened out and I got my room keys. Whenever I would return from somewhere, I would get a greeting from the front desk. Even going up the stairs to my room an employee said "hello" I took an apple from the front desk. It wasn't very fresh (bummer) Only keep the best of apples at the front desk please, makes a difference.
Room: The sheets were good quality and comfy. Down comforter as suspected. The room felt more like an actual room than a hotel room. It was what I just needed for the day. I needed the room to feel like I was in a home, but somewhere where I could get some work done. Free Wifi which was a bonus. I had a window that allowed me to look outside and check out what was going on close to the Brick and Bell Cafe and the gym. So as I was working on paperwork, I could glance outside and still feel cozy. I had a small fridge, a microwave, a safety box, a nice round table to do my work on, a flat screen tv, and a heater which was important.
Bathroom: Only disappointment, no bathtub :( I only had a shower, but it was a good shower with spa like tiles. Amenities were more upscale (not San Francisco Company) The mirror had a light and there was a fan feature for the post shower. It was clean.
I'm not sure if the maid staff cleaned the room well as there were coffee remnants on the table where my tv stood. I gave a nice courteous call, but noticed it wasn't wiped down even the next day when maid service came in. I did however request that my room be cleaned by the time I got back and it definitely was.
Breakfast: They have a waffle maker. The waffles were great! They had Santa Barbara Coffee Company coffee and mugs, cream, the sugar fixings etc. They had some pastries, hard boiled eggs, a tv in the breakfast room and various fruits and cereals. But if you are vacationing in La Jolla, you have to literally walk down to the Cottage. WONDERFUL BREAKFAST SPOT.
Parking: It worked out for me. I was there on Sunday night, parking is free on the streets in La Jolla. Marking of tires doesn't start till 8:00 A.M., so I just went and got coffee at Brick and Bell, came back and checked my car. It was good for 2 hours (till 10:00) which I checked out around that time anyways. If you don't live in La Jolla, there are parking options (garages around) but if you are local and know the whole situation, then you can pretty much park for free by figuring out what streets run street cleaning, etc.
At night on a Friday/Saturday it could get pretty noisy because the Manhattan goes off downstairs. I was right above the restaurant, but I was so tired I crashed anyways. Will definitely stay again if they run specials! By the way, the Manhattan is great to go and hang out at! Feels like you are in a speakeasy. Dark, with lounge act songs like Tony Bennett or Frank Sinatra songs :) -
Review from Jessica T.
San Francisco, CA
2/13/2012
My wedding party and family took up an entire floor at the Empress over Fourth of July weekend last year for my wedding. It was a great location for our wedding and the price was right - especially for a holiday weekend. The price was the same as the Grand Colonial but we thought the rooms were much bigger and breakfast is included. We got married at the Museum of Contemporary Art which is just about a block away so we could walk there for the rehearsal and the day of the wedding. It's clean and the rooms are nice. My family was very happy there and felt our every need was attended to. My husband and I spent our wedding night in their suit and it was perfect.
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Review from Liz S.
1/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
The price is right, and the location is great.
The rooms are huge, but there is a lot of unused space, and the tv is NOT huge, so I found myself squinting at the screen from the vast wasteland that was my bed.
The free breakfast is very Hampton Inn, and it's in the tiniest room imaginable, making for some awkward jostling with guests in the grumpy morning hours.. Unless you just want to grab a yogurt to go, I suggest you find a cozy little diner in town instead. In nicer weather, I am sure the outdoor patio is a nice place to enjoy a piece of toast.
The downstairs restaurant seems to be the main focus of the hotel, and you can smell the food a mile away. Every time I went to the lobby during dinnertime, it was GRILLED GARLIC SHRIMP assaulting my nostrils.
The staff is a bit odd and distant (and occasionally absent), like they are not entirely sure what they are supposed to be doing.
The place seems caught in a time trap, and is badly in need of some modernization. However, if amenities aren't important and you are looking for a great value, it might do the trick. -
Review from Nicole L.
Toluca Lake, CA
12/28/2011
Ask for the grand piano suite - there is only one and it's great! Very clean, great staff, great location. No complaints!
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Review from Monica J.
Irvine, CA
5/9/2011
I stay often at the Empress and agree with many of the things posters have said - both positive and negative.
It is a bit noisy if you are in a room by the elevator (which are slow) and the breakfast is decent and have options. My biggest complaint is the lack of ipod stereos in the rooms.
Otherwise, the rooms are large, have great views, and very nice bathrooms! The robes and fridges are a nice touch and you can avoid the valet charge by parking on the street. Free wifi is also great.
The biggest pro is the location which is fantastic and why I continue to stay here. -
Review from Katie B.
10/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
Other than the location, this place is boosvilleUSA. $200 is steep for mediocre service and accommodations. The French lady who takes the reservations is sweet but I felt like I had to repeat myself 20 million times during our conversation. Then there's the lack of cuteness and "sort of" valet and bag holding area. Nope and nope.
I came, I slept, I left. I suggest you do the same, but elsewhere. -
Review from Hazel Q.
9/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
Slightly less than perfectly adequate. ...especially for $200/night.
Let's start with the positives, eh?
-Located right in the middle of all of your La Jolla needs. - Thumbs up!
-Overnight valet only $13 - Thumbs up! (Especially compared to the $35 in the Gaslamp)
-Decently comfy beds.
-Pretty good sized rooms too.
-Free continental breakfast on a lovely... well... semi-lovely patio.
Negatives?
-Service. It's not that the service is bad necessarily, it's just not exactly efficient. All of the service people are nice enough, it just seems like they don't all know what they're supposed to do, how they're supposed to valet a car, or how they're supposed to take a reservation over the phone in less than 20 minutes.
-No baths. Just a stand up shower thing. I don't always take a bath at hotels, but I'm not a fan of the just shower setup.
-Old TVs.
-Old Clocks.
-Old Carpet.
-Old sloooooow elevators.
-Old everything.Listed in: San Diego Hotels
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Review from Pete L.
Lawrenceville, GA
2/27/2012
Door was open for me upon arrival by Nick. Trisha checked me in and was very informative about everything. Nick was very helpful with solutions to parking options and directions. Kudos to management for selecting two great employees to watch over their hotel. Great room also! Clean and modern!
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Review from Lucy Y.
Los Angeles, CA
8/21/2010 1 photo
Every summer, my musician brother comes from Chicago to play in the La Jolla Summerfest so my family takes this opportunity to spend a week or so in this lovely town. Through trial and error over the years, we've discovered that this is the ideal hotel for my parents to stay at because:
* It's super close to the music festival
* It's in the heart of the town, so you can walk everywhere
* The rooms have nice amenities, including a free breakfast
* The price range is rather reasonable, considering the high median price of hotels in the area
The hotel front desk people are always friendly and helpful, have a basket of apples full at all times, and do logical things like check ID when I'm trying to get a key to my parents' room when they are out.
There is a restaurant (Manhattan of La Jolla) with live music adjacent to the lobby, and it's always busy in the evenings. The business center - basically a room with 2 computers and a printer - is conveniently accessible 24/7, and there's a kitchen and gym in the lower lobby that guests can use anytime (La Jolla Sports Club is across the street, and Summerfest participants are given free passes).
The rooms have safes, mini refrigerators, toiletries (including a glass jar of cotton balls and Q-Tips and a shower cap), coffee makers, hair dryers, etc. - and the mattresses, multiple pillows and linens are comfy and soothing.
My parents are particularly fond of their surprisingly comprehensive all you can eat breakfast (included in the room rate). In addition to the usual "continental breakfast" fare (GOOD coffee, tea, hot chocolate, juices, cold and hot cereals, toast, bagels, sweet rolls, make your own waffle station with butter and syrup, muffins, fruit), they also have yogurt, peeled hard-boiled eggs, and even little individual-serve peanut butter with the butter and cream cheese and jam that is available.
For $250-ish per room per night, it's not a cheap hotel - but there are lesser quality rooms in the neighborhood going for the same rate so if you consider the hearty breakfast that's available each morning, it's a good deal. An even better deal can be had if you are part of the Summerfest and therefore can get the $169-ish per night rate!
The only thing that is challenging is the parking situation: they charge for it ($13 per day, including ins and outs, valet only) or you can hope for a spot on the street and remember to move your car before 9am in the morning (because all the parking is one hour max between 8am and 6pm). However the challenging parking is the same all over this town, so I can't fault the hotel for that.
All in all, this is a nice place to stay - and super convenient for walking to every single fun thing in town!Listed in: San Diego area faves!
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Review from Chelsea W.
Sandy, UT
2/4/2011
I stayed here the weekend of my wedding and had a wonderful experience. I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by name at the front desk as I arrived to check in. While the lobby is small, it is beautiful with the dark wood and pretty blue couches. The room itself was honestly nothing too special but was still nice and had comfy beds. I think it's a bummer though that our room only had a window and no balcony to enjoy the gorgeous San Diego weather.
The bathroom was very nice and had little cubbies underneath the sink which came in handy with four girls trying to get ready at the same time. It was convenient to each have somewhere to put our toiletries. The glass shower was large and had great water pressure. One downfall was the door. The door slides closed and doesn't have a lock. The first time I went to open the door, it wouldn't budge and I thought I was somehow locked inside. Come to find out, the door is magnetized so we had to pull extra hard each time we wanted to get out. Also, the handle on the outside of the bathroom door came unscrewed on one end and just hung there.
One morning we needed some extra towels so we called room service. Within two minutes, they were at our door with new, fresh towels. Speedy service! The continental breakfast was nice and included waffles, yogurt, apples, hard-boiled eggs, muffins and danishes, and cereal as well as juice. There is a nice little patio to sit out on while you enjoy your breakfast too. As others have mentioned though, the main room where breakfast is served is tiny and a bit odd. I was expecting breakfast to be located somewhere near the lobby, but instead it's located on the second floor next to a hotel room.
I would have given this hotel five stars if it weren't for the bathroom door issue and the painfully slow elevators. While the Empress isn't the most pricey hotel in La Jolla, it is still a nicer hotel and those few things should be maintained. I still absolutely loved my stay there. I didn't have a car and was able to walk everywhere... to a nail salon, to Vons (grocery store), to the beach, and tons of little restaurants and stores. You could even see the ocean from our window. If only they had those balconies... :) -
Review from J T.
Alhambra, CA
9/20/2011
We had a gretas time. The roome was comfy, roomy, and clean. The staff was very friendly and inviting. We valet parked because we had just spent a full day at Sea World and had no patience or energy to look for a parking spot, but they took care of the chariot and thouroughly enjoyed the stay.
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Review from Marianna S.
Scottsdale, AZ
3/29/2007
While I have no HUGE complains about this hotel, it was really nothing special. The location was convenient, and they had free apples in the lobby. Free continental breakfast is also included, but it ends at 9:30, and what sane person gets up that early while on vacation? Not me. Luckily there is a great breakfast restaurant right down the street called The Cottage, which serves breakfast until 11:30. They'll even deliver breakfast to your room!
The bathroom in the room was disgusting. I'm pretty sure the guest before me was a gorilla or something, because there was hair all over the bathtub, floor, and even on the ceiling. Gross. The shower head was extremely frustrating too -- I'm 5'10" and I had to literally kneel over to wash my hair. If you're 5'7" or shorter, then you wont have a problem with the shower. The walls in the bathroom looked gross and dirty, and I made sure to examine every towel before I used it...
The pillows were extremely uncomfortable. They felt like big marshmellows, and that's not a good thing. The walls were paper thin too -- I hear lots of, um, bouncing in the adjacent room.
Other than that, the staff is friendly and helpful, and the location is very nice.
Cautionary note: if you ask the front desk to call a cab for you, make sure you tell them a YELLOW CAB, and not a limo. For some reason they like to call limos, and limos are more expensive! -
Review from Dawn M.
Chicago, IL
4/27/2009
I booked this hotel for the La Jolla Half Marathon through the hotel website after reading the reviews on Tripadvisor and seeing that it was ranked the #2 hotel in La Jolla there. It also wasn't outrageously priced. I loved that it was within walking distance to everything La Jolla offers - the water, the Cove, all the boutiques and restaurants, etc., but it was a few blocks back that you were never caught in stopped traffic and never experienced road noise.
The front desk promptly and cheerfully checked me in. We inquired about late check-out and offered us a time as late as 2pm! Luckily we didn't end up needing it, but I was extremely pleased and happy about that! They provided each of us in the room with an Otis Spunkmeyer cookie (who doesn't love a warm, surprise cookie!?) and off we went.
The room was comfortable and well decorated. The bathroom and shower were really nice.
The valet had only one guy which made it difficult for those dropping off their cars and wanting to pick theirs up...so improvements can be made there. However, we needed to get our car from valet very early the next morning, so I called the front desk to make sure they knew (and to make sure someone would be around to get it). The next morning when I called to see if they could get a head start on it, they already had pulled it up and had it waiting exactly when we said. I was impressed and very pleased with that!
Later, we called down and asked for help getting a taxi. They were extremely helpful coordinating that, and making sure we got the best price comparing the taxi to a towncar which may have been cheaper. They went out of their way to help us get our bags put into our vehicle and I felt like they helped make everything easy for us.
I would definitely recommend this hotel to friends and would stay here again in the future. -
Review from M P.
San Diego, CA
11/19/2007
We had a fantastic experience at the Empress. We booked a room block for our wedding weekend, and from the beginning of the whole process to the end of the wedding, we received nothing but wonderful service.
My parents and my husband's parents both booked suites to host our families, and I booked a suite for the night before and the night of our wedding. On Sunday, I didn't want to leave. I wanted to live there. I wanted to take a daily soak in the jacuzzi tub, and sleep each night on the amazingly comfotable, soft bed.
The "regular" rooms were just a nice, according to my brother. Apparently, the Empress had done some renovations prior to our stay.
Probably the most impressive point of service was the valet. Being a wedding group, we were in and out of the hotel constantly, running errands, meeting up with family and friends, etc. The valets were always prompt and friendly, even though I'm sure it was annoying to have to jog to the garage so often. One valet went to get my mom's camera out of her car. Another helped a friend of mine out when her car wouldn't start, offering to call a tow for her. Another even brought my husband's car down to La Jolla Cove on the night of our wedding, so we could put the empty kegs in it, then drove it for us right back up to the hotel.
The front desk staff were always friendly; our guests even commented to us on how helpful they always were. The warm cookies in the lobby each day never hurt, either!
If I could live at the Empress, I would. :-) -
Review from L. L.
Orlando, FL
12/27/2008
We're giving this a 5 b/c we paid $60 a night (!) for it on Priceline- if we'd paid full price, we probably would have given it a 4. When we asked about parking before we arrived (it was $17 or so a night to valet) they helpfully suggested parking on the street overnight which worked just fine. We were out by 9 am every day sightseeing anyway and that saved us a bunch of $.
The breakfast was pretty good- cereal, bread, yogurt, juice, etc. but a fair selection of each. Beds were quite comfortable and room was very nice. We had a view of the street rather than ocean but not a big deal. Free internet in their business center, which you have to pay for at many hotels at this comfort level. The business center was open 24 hours, too.
We loved the location in La Jolla- it was great to able to walk around and shop right in the area. We didn't eat in the hotel restaurant (Italian food), but it seemed quite popular and smelled good. We'd definitely stay here again. -
Review from Audra B.
San Diego, CA
12/22/2009
We used this hotel for our wedding weekend, and we practically filled the entire hotel with our guests. The rates and location were fantastic. We got free suites because we had so many rooms in our block.
Somer took great care of us and was very responsive during the planning process. She answered my numerous requests to swap people's reservations based on room styles, rates, etc. They were very accommodating when we needed to store lots of boxes with gift bags and alcohol a few days early.
I didn't eat in the restaurant, but my dad said they had the best veal marsala. They offered my groom and me all kinds of little perks and we really loved it.
(This review is part of my Yelp List of Wedding Vendors)Listed in: Wedding Vendors! Catering,…
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Review from rino k.
Los Angeles, CA
10/22/2008
I booked this hotel last minute for work, after reading good reviews on Tripadvisor.
To be honest, I was a little disappointed when I arrived.
No one was outside at the valet area to assist me with my car and luggage, although I semi-parked. I guess you are supposed to "park" in the loading zone and go check in before they valet your car. I also was not impressed with the staff checking me in, as they were not friendly at all... not even a fake smile! I believe front-desk staff, especially those checking people in, need to excel in the area of customer service.
However, my room was excellent. A big comfy bed, free bottled water and wifi, and free deluxe continental breakfast. The breakfast was actually really good for it being "free". They have a selection of pastries/baked goods, instant oatmeal for you health-conscious travelers, the coffee was delicious and strong, a variety of teas, Dannon yogurt (i thought it was interesting they also offered Dannon Activia), and hardboiled eggs. The outdoor patio is sooo relaxing, it makes you want to skip work.
I would give the Empress 3 stars because my experience was okay, and the name and font used throughout the hotel sort of gave me chinese restaurant flashbacks. However, the view is AHMAYYYZING. If you have the chance and the moolah, definitely book a room with an ocean view because the sunset is oh so gorgeous. -
Review from A G.
Salinas, CA
11/10/2010
I was looking for a decent hotel near the beach for a two night stay with my family (hubby and infant) - it's two blocks away from the water, yet still close to all the shops and restaurants.
We arrived late evening and were pleasantly impressed, well aside from the valet parking fee, but city laws are not their fault I guess. Hubby was happy we received yummy chocolate chip cookies at check-in. Decor was traditional yet modernized and very clean, just like the photos. Service was courteous and friendly. They supplied a crib for our baby too, very helpful. The restaurant by the lobby was hopping but baby was exhausted so we ordered room service and the food was delicious. Room was very spacious.
The next day we had continental breakfast plus eggs and waffles, nice. Well priced and a happy stay - would come back for sure. -
Review from Alfredo G.
Santa Monica, CA
10/2/2008
I wanted to give it three stars due to the location, but just about everything else is mediocre. It feels like the hotel is unsuccessfully trying to pose as a more upscale hotel. The front and lobby of the hotel looks nice, but that's about it. The rest of the building seems pretty old. The room felt very humid even though the AC was on and it wasn't nearly as humid outside. At times, I just opted to open the window and let in some fresh air.
I was in a hurry to a meeting, but the bit of breakfast I had was good. There is no parking nearby (other than 2hr parking), but the valet service was pretty quick.
Even though the location is good, there aren't good, quick late night restaurant options. We opted to drive into San Diego for In N Out and Domino's rather than one of the full-service restaurants. -
Review from Mateo B.
Colma, CA
5/31/2011
Empress Hotel is like the name alone and expensive hotel. The rate I got was $160 a night. But I liked it was because the location for the wedding I was attending. The majority of the wedding was around the vicinity of the hotel even neighboring cities. The room was great. It was very roomy. I didn't really watch TV because I was busy w/ the wedding preparations. I love their continental breakfast in the mornings The view of La Jolla was nice but no balcony because its a small hotel. Its a great location to head out the beaches near by.
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Review from Gay C.
Saratoga, CA
5/29/2011
The hotel is quaint, near downtown and walking distance to the beach, all good. The front desk help was alternately fabulous (Raquel and valet people) and grouchy (morning guy.) The doors are extremely noisy - not sure why they don't put dampers on them. Slamming doors were annoying throughout the night, but beds were comfortable and although my room was small with small TV, my friend's room was quite spacious with a large flat screen - same rate, go figure. Second floor breakfast room and patio were nice, and food was adequate, but I wish the plates and serving pieces were not all plastic. Room amenities were nice. I wish there had been a magnifying mirror in the bathroom. Otherwise a pleasant stay. Do be aware of room tax and parking fee.
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Review from Chan K.
Boston, MA
10/21/2009
I was here for a weekend for a wedding. For the hotel itself, this place was really nice. Very 5 star-esque, hotel decor, service, and awesome bathroom. Of course, other than to shower or sleep, I didn't spend too much time in the room because there's too much stuff to do in San Diego. The bed wasn't uncomfortable like Motel 6 or anything. For such a nice, classy hotel, the continental breakfast was very mediocre. I probably shouldn't be griping about the continental breakfast, but I got to give at least one constructive criticism. The pastries and donuts were all stale and tasted old, and I was hungover from a brutal forced-alcohol-consumption wedding reception. Considering that I paid a 5 star-esque price for this hotel room (booked late), I want 5 star-esque everything.
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Review from zell c.
San Francisco, CA
10/3/2007
This hotel is close to all the shopping and dining in La Jolla. They have a friendly staff, cookies upon check-in, free wifi, a spacious bathroom, bathrobes, fridge, big closet, and a comfortable bed. This was the first time I slept soundly for two nights in a hotel. I usually wake up every other hour to toss and turn, but didn't experience that here and wanted to sleep in until check-out.
Listed in: From SF to SD.
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Review from t a.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/1/2011
PROS: Great downtown La Jolla location...just blocks from the clubs and restaurants, but far enough away so you don't have the late night "beautiful people" yelling and whooping drunkenly under your window/
Comfortable, well-maintained room.
Overall nice-appearing small hotel.
Second floor terrace/patio shared by all was a great place to relax and soak up sun, or relax in the shade, and not at all crowded.
The desk clerk recommended "The Spot" restaurant for a late (11 pm) dinner, and that was a great choice.
NEUTRAL: The included breakfast was generic - like you'd see at any Holiday Inn.
You can avoid paying the hotel for parking overnight, if you're willing to use street parking and get your car moved before 9 am (weekdays) and 10 am (Sunday). We parked less than a block away every time.
CONS: My room was right next to the elevator, and it kept me awake. I could hear every tooth of every gear grinding on each trip up and down. The man on duty said they had just had it fixed for noise, and kept promising a solution. Finally he agreed to bring me earplugs and never did. Complaints about the noise and the lack of promised earplugs the next morning brought me nothing but a cold stare.
My number one goal for my stay here had been to have a comfortable and quite place to sleep. That was not met, and in fact they didn't even try, and didn't apologize, so I give 1 star. -
Review from mary l.
Santa Clara, CA
4/16/2010
location is perfect which allowed us to walk everywhere - nearby restaurants which we taste-tested :) we sampled 2 thai, 1 sushi, 1 asian fusion and had last minute treats at the grocery store.
everything is within walking distance.......the cove, the beach, the trails, the boutique shops, Michele bakery, the Cottage, massage, dayspas, nailspas, and fitness club.
breakfast was complimentary which helped fueled us to get out and go to the beaches and chill. milk, yogur, cereal, and pastries were all that we need. boiled eggs were hard as rocks but minor. coffee and juice were our staple so that was adequate...to get us out...then we head to nearby Starbucks which gave us the real high :)
no Peet's coffee though.........
will stay here again. -
Review from burden j.
Las Vegas, NV
10/26/2010
Really enjoyed our stay at the Empress. Great location in La Jolla. Couple of blocks from the water and Prospect St (main drag). Quiet and comfortable room with decent view of La Jolla. Free continental breakfast. Loved the strong brewed coffee. Only thing from making this place a 5 star in my opinion was the parking. Valet was very slow.
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Review from Jessica S.
Santa Monica, CA
8/26/2009
This review is only for the Jazz music and the bar. The Jazz group playing was very good, they had a pretty good crowd. The location is very good and you can walk anywhere basically. The restaurant here is good after dinner if you want you can sit at the bar and get a drink while listening to the jazz group playing.
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Review from MAX J.
Walnut Creek, CA
4/19/2010
I took the lady here on a surprise vacation trip. So glad we stayed here. The money spent was well worth it! Honestly, I didn't hear anyone else in our room the whole time we were there. Normally in a hotel you hear slamming doors and people talking. I heard nothing, felt like we were the only ones there which was nice. The breakfast they serve there was great(free.99), I mean it's not top of the line but it did the job and got us going for the day. The restaurant "Manhattan" has the best food and the best ambiance. The restaurant reminds me of an old mobster style movie. Do yourself a favor and stay here, perfect distance from everything happening in La Jolla!
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Review from Dima S.
Sunnyvale, CA
6/23/2009
A nice hotel all around; the only disappointment was their included breakfast. But then again, breakfast at a hotel in this price range is almost always a disappointment. Nice room, comfortable bathroom, everything appears clean and well-maintained. Walk to La Jolla Cove.
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Review from Emily D.
San Diego, CA
8/30/2009
When we checked in at 6:00 our room wasn't ready, they put us in a room by the stairwell looking over the dumpster. The next day they said we'd be put in a different room but it too wasn't ready until 5 p.m.
I'm none too pleased. -
Review from DANNY V.
Santa Barbara, CA
9/1/2009 2 photos
This was our honeymoon week and it was a very personal hotel. We recieved an upgrade due to our special engagement, which was a surprise and very thoughtful. The linens were top of the line along with the service throughout our four day stay. Not your typical chain hotel where no one greets you by name but in fact each staff member remembered us by name. If you are looking for something close to the cove and great service this is the place for you. Great shopping and dining within walking distance.
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Review from Wayne F.
Natick, MA
10/10/2006
This hotel is in a great location right in the heart of La Jolla Village and within walking distance of all the great shopping and restaurants. However, the hotel decor is dated. The room was relatively clean, but in serious need of updating. The bathroom bordered on nasty - to the point of almost not wanting to use it.
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Review from Kristopher C.
Twentynine Palms, CA
6/7/2009
stayed here for a few hours the other night. drank some wine, watched some tv. the room was really spacious. king sized bed, huge sofa, flat screen tv - not mounted but was able to crank it to the right to face me laying on the couch. hard to get air flowing into the room. we were on the second floor so with the windows open, the people outside of the hotel were easily heard n got kinda annoying. one of the rooms we visited had a fullsized hot tub in the master bedroom, about 5 feet from the bed. how awesome is that? pretty darned awesome!
