Official Starwood Hotel Site. A California dream hotel inspired by SoCal's all-season sun, surf & sand. Book your reservation online today!

421 West B Street (At State St, Downtown, the Gaslamp & Little Italy)
San Diego, CA 92101 32.7177 -117.1667

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Neighborhoods: Core - Columbia, Central, Central San Diego, Core-Columbia

www.starwoodhotels.com

Hours:

Daily 24 hours

Last updated 10.14.11

Category:

Hotels & Motels, Luxury Hotels, Family-Friendly Hotels, Boutique Hotels, Nightclubs, Weekend Getaway Hotels, Business Hotels, Lodging

Payment Methods:

American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Happy Hour

Hotel & Motel Amenities:

Hotel Pool

Lodging Special Features:

Pet-Friendly

Bar & Club Special Features:

Specialty Cocktails, Outdoor Seating, After Work

Lodging Services:

Online Reservations

Other Locations:

What People Are Saying About W San Diego

Featured Review

Erin Chambers

Contributor

In Short – Following a multi-million dollar makeover in summer 2008, The W's beach-chic theme is more vibrant than ever. Updates are evident in the lobby's Living Room lounge, where classic surfer films play on one large wall, a lifeguard stand doubles as a DJ deck and an art installation of fiberglass surfboard fins fills the ceiling. Coral and sky blue accents, mermaid murals and crisp white shutters opening onto the pool give the mezzanine level Veranda lounge it's own beach vibe as well. All 200+ rooms will get their part of the hotel facelift in 2009.

Editor's Tips

On the Menu:
In-house restaurant Rice--also recently updated--serves upscale global contemporary specialities to a hip, mixed crowd of locals and hotel guests.
The Extras:
Check out the rooftop bar called The Beach, complete with fire pits, sand and cabanas.
Know Before You Go:
Both the lobby and the mezzanine levels transform into active after-hours bar scenes when the sun goes down, so be sure to ask for a room on the upper floors if the noise of nightcrawlers might be a nuisance.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. Great ambiance, great customer service, would definitely still recommend this hotel.
  2. If you want a romantic place where people wait on you hand and foot, try them, I loved it and so did my boyfriend
  3. Excellent Hotel, great service, comfortable and well designed!
  4. If your local or not, and you want to find a place to have fun and relax, WSD is the place to be, once you walk in the front door, w style absorbs you, from the welcome desk to the cute little Beach Ball Pillow on the heavenly bed to the Beach on the roof
  5. This place is so much fun.
atmosphere
100.0% positive
  1. the room was small but comfy and cozy.
  2. great ambiance, great customer service, would definitely still recommend this hotel.
  3. if you want a romantic place where, i loved it and so did my boyfriend
  4. i always feel, the rooms are luxurios with the best decor, and.
  5. excellent hotel, great service, comfortable and well designed!
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. called the hotel and Whatever Whenever helped me to set up one of their cool corner rooms with chocolate dipped strawberries champagne and a Taboo Kit.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. This hotel offers a monthly mom's day out where moms and tots can enjoy exclusive time at the beach bar!
  2. oh- and for chrissakes, w, i like the free cucumber-lemon-basil ice water that, but why
  3. awesome aaa+++
  4. and the downstairs cocktail lounge is great for meeting up before.
  5. Oh- and for Chrissakes, W, I like the free cucumber-lemon-basil ice water that you dispense to guests in your lobby, but why must I travel outside of the hotel itself and a dozen paces outside of your front door for a $2 cup of coffee?
  6. Now I do got it like that, but that's some BS and after I got done complaining about how high the drinks were I only end up paying half of the original charge, so needless to say Management was good to go.
  7. the bar is awesome and it is very busy.
  8. beach bar is sooooo great.
  9. Otherwise, service from the bar and restaurant waitstaff was excellent.
  10. otherwise, service from the bar and restaurant waitstaff was excellent.
  11. How logistically challenging would it be for you to put a couple of big urns of free coffee out by your lobby bar in the morning?
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. rice is the perfect resturant
  2. i had a really good sleep
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. the beds are amazing
overall
100.0% positive
  1. we walked around the hotel, ate at a really nice italian restaurant, had some cappaccino later and did some major shopping at horton plaza.
  2. would recommend this place every time.
  3. great hotel!
  4. the restaurant is quite good
  5. i feel its one of the best hotels in san diego.
  6. i have never been disappointed by any w hotel around the world.
  7. all ws are beautiful.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. i really did enjoy my stay
  2. over all i enjoyed my stay at this hotel.
  3. now i do, but that and after i got done, so needless was good
  4. really did enjoy my stay and I will go back, but next time I will bring my own bottle of Patron.
service
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. amazing customer service, fantastic attention to detail (the floormats in the elevators are changed throughout the day to read "good morning/afternoon/evening").
  2. Otherwise, service from the bar and restaurant waitstaff was excellent.
  3. Excellent Hotel, great service, comfortable and well designed!
  4. the best part is that every staff member from the front desk to the housekeepers all genuinely appear and always have a friendly smile or petting session for your dogs.
  5. RICE is the perfect resturant, the wait staff was very attentive, everyone was caring and willing to help.
  6. The best part is that every staff member from the front desk to the housekeepers all genuinely appear to love dogs and always have a friendly smile or petting session for your dogs.
  7. the best pet-friendly hotel
  8. expensive room service was
  9. a run-in with a rude bell hop
  10. otherwise, service from the bar and restaurant waitstaff was excellent.
  11. Great ambiance, great customer service, would definitely still recommend this hotel.
  12. the wait staff was very attentive
  13. The hotel staff is super friendly.
  14. The staff are fabulous, helpful and friendly.
  15. The only thing that really took me for a loop was how expensive room service was.
  16. My girlfriend and I had a good weekend stay there despite an initial chilly welcome and a run-in with a rude bell hop.
  17. excellent hotel, great service, comfortable and well designed!
  18. If you're one of those people that like the trendy new shiny place with lots of modern furniture and a chic attitude, then this is the place for you.
  19. great ambiance, great customer service, would definitely still recommend this hotel.
  20. amazing customer service, fantastic attention to detail the floormats in the elevators are changed throughout the day to read.
  21. If you want a romantic place where people wait on you hand and foot, try them, I loved it and so did my boyfriend
value
0.0% positive
  1. its not the best value, and the prices are expensive
  2. expensive room service was
  3. The only thing that really took me for a loop was how expensive room service was.
  4. its always so consistent, with only the best amenities.
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. beautiful women on the weekends, be ready for long lines on weekend nights.
4 Star Rating: Recommended

06/18/10

If you like trendy this is for you

by Bobren at Citysearch

If you're one of those people that like the trendy new shiny place with lots of modern furniture and a chic attitude, then this is the place for you. Don't get me wrong, I really liked it too, it's just that type of atmosphere.

  • Pros: Clean, nice, chic
  • Cons: Cost
4 Star Rating: Recommended

12/31/08

Whatever/Whenever

by TheSexxxyOne at Citysearch

Over all I enjoyed my stay at this hotel. The Whatever Whenever costumer service was on point and whether they were faking it or not the employees were very courteous.

The only thing that really took me for a loop was how expensive room service was. I know you play for convenience, but $30 for a burger and fries is off the chain.

The drinks were a lil to expensive also. Now a bottle of Patron only cost about $40, so why was I charged over $100 for 5 shots (out of control). Now I do got it like that, but that’s some BS and after I got done complaining about how high the drinks were I only end up paying half of the original charge, so needless to say Management was good to go.

I really did enjoy my stay and I will go back, but next time I will bring my own bottle of Patron. LOL

4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/16/08

Definitely Different

by Outdoorguy at Citysearch

We arrived around 6:00pm on a Sunday in mid September. Other postings warned of a crowded venue later in the evening but our arrival time found only around a dozen. The fire pit was surprisingly large with generous flame and available seating. Certainly the sand underfoot is a nice idea and made for a relaxed atmosphere. For more romantic seating there are three booths along one side with flowing sheer drapes blowing in the breeze. The service was excellent, as would be expected with so few clients, and the drinks pricey, also as expected. With the description of rooftop I expected a view but in fact this roof was just second floor so no luck. The music was a nice background style and initially at a decent level with their sound system handling it well. Later, at around 6:40, really not very late, the music was turned up considerably and their system clearly on it's limit. I can imagine it not being too pleasant later unless dancing rather than talking was your priority.

Almost overlooked might be the approach room downstairs, hyper-romantic with dim lighting largely by candles and candle lanterns and a black decor, definitely the next move after a fun dance session in the sand.

  • Pros: Great atmosphere, romantic potential, unique style.
  • Cons: Music became loud, rooftop but no view
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/22/07

4 Star hotel with cheap windows

by calteg at Citysearch

The "W" has all of the amenities you would expect from a hip urban hotel...amazing customer service, fantastic attention to detail (the floormats in the elevators are changed throughout the day to read "good morning/afternoon/evening")...you really do get what you pay for...with a few caveats:

1) The windows are ridiculously thin. Bear in mind the lobby turns into a party on Friday and Saturday nights, and many of the revelers linger outside after midnight. I could hear every word of their conversations and I was on the sixteenth floor! After spending millions of dollars on the hotel, would it have kiled you to buy double paned windows?

2) The hotel "pool' (and I used the word loosely) is just slightly larger than a hot tub. It literally has space for 6 people around it. Granted, the Bay is just 3 blocks away, but for a beach-themed hotel, the pool was quite a let down.

3) No coffee? There wasn't a coffee maker to be found in the entire place. You can't walk around a motel 6 without falling over coffee makers!

I'll admit, these are minor quibbles, but they did detract from the overall experience a bit. Great ambiance, great customer service, would definitely still recommend this hotel.

  • Pros: swank, hip, great location, bend-over-backwards customer service
  • Cons: expensive, lacking in basic amenities, loud at times
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/24/07

The Best Pet-Friendly Hotel

by beautifulday78 at Citysearch

I have never been disappointed by any W Hotel around the world. I don't care if they are faking it -- but they know how to take care of their dog-loving guests. Nearly every detail is taken care of from water bowls & treats near the taxi stand outside to the comfy dog beds and goodie bags given to the dogs. The best part is that every staff member from the front desk to the housekeepers all genuinely appear to love dogs and always have a friendly smile or petting session for your dogs. The dog-friendly part is just the cream on top. All Ws are beautiful. Modern, clean and always an inspiration for fans of contemporary design. Pay the little extra money -- it is definitely worth it!

  • Pros: Location, Staff, Pet-Friendly, Beautiful, Clean, Great Food
  • Cons: Can't think of any

The Details on W San Diego

Place Categories:

  • great w hotel
  • nice italian restaurant
  • amazing customer service
  • romantic place
  • enjoyable stay
  • not best value
  • excellent restaurant waitstaff
  • liked free cucumberlemonbasil ice water
  • attentive wait staff
  • best amenities
  • good sleep
  • best decor
  • great beach bar
  • beautiful ws
  • amazing beds
  • fantastic detail
  • best petfriendly hotel
  • cozy room
  • beautiful w
  • helpful hotel staff
  • much fun trendy new shiny place
  • very busy beach bar
  • great ambiance
  • flat topnotch toiletries
  • enjoy stay
  • rude bell hop
  • very attentive wait staff
  • love dogs
  • perfect resturant
  • flat screen tv
  • comfy dog beds
  • heavenly bed
  • like free cucumberlemonbasil ice water
  • friendly petting session
  • great downstairs cocktail lounge
  • big flat screen tv
  • big urns
  • enjoy tots
  • good needless
  • fantastic attention
  • expensive room service
  • great customer service
  • cool corner rooms

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