07/31/08

A treasure trove of French antiques and over-the-top glitz in downtown San Diego.

by Contributor

The Scene
A wheeler-dealer whose fortune crumbled in one of San Diego's more celebrated financial scandals built this old-school downtown property. Fortunately, the hotel survived the calamity and maintained its position as one of the city's premier luxury hotels.

The Details
One would never guess from the bland, high-rise, 1970s exterior what kind of opulence reigns within. The hotel is, in a sense, a museum of exquisite French antiques. Everything that glitters is gold, or at least gilded, and a fair amount of it once belonged to a Louis. Service in all areas sparkles, although the formality may be a bit much for those who favor wearing blue jeans to dinner. Accommodations are not overly large, but they're well furnished and feature complimentary high-speed Internet access. The Fontainebleau Room, which is a recreation of a room in the palace of Versailles, is truly awe-inspiring.