San Diego, California
The US GRANT
A Luxury Collection Hotel
What it is
A 227-room downtown San Diego classic that opened in 1910, with an ornate Art Deco locavore restaurant and glamorous spa.
What it isn't
Just here to laize on the beach. The stocked on-site gym has everything toned travelers could ask for, including bountiful cardiovascular equipment and free weights that feel nothing short of amazing after a flight.
What we think
If you’re an Americana buff, you may get a kick out of this Beaux Arts hotel’s backstory: it was built by Ulysses S. Grant, Jr. (yep: the son of the President and General who won the Civil War). Illustrious guests who’ve stayed here is like a “who’s who” of history, too, including such boldfaced names as Woodrow Wilson, Charles Lindbergh, Albert Einstein and a handful of U.S. Presidents. But if you think it’s going to be stuffy, think again: the property has been revamped for today’s tastes and each and every guest room is Instagram-ready, with art adorning the nine-foot-high walls, marble-lined bathrooms and sumptuous fabrics, from the blissful bed linens to the tufted velvet armchairs. Starter rooms begin at 280 square feet, so we do recommend upgrading to a Legacy Suite, which has a separate living room in its 375-square-foot footprint. Or book the aptly named Presidential Suite, a Secret Service-ready respite of 1,300 square feet, including arched windows and a vaulted ceiling dining room.
You're here because
You’re always devoted to eating as locally as possible when you’re in California—after all, so much of your produce is grown here. So the Grant Grill sets your pulse raising with its menu, including Humboldt Fog goat cheese on a romaine and strawberry salad with rhubarb vinaigrette.
The Moment
You know a spa is primed to lure the glitterati when its treatments include antioxidant (read: Anti-aging) facials and jet lag recovery massages. Because you’re hanking for pure relaxation, you opt for the lavender dreams body scrub...which includes a warm cocoon that leaves you feeling brand spanking new, fresh from the chrysalis.
Restaurants & Bars
Grant Grill - Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, Grant Grill’s seasonal menus set the standard for California fine dining, highlighting only the freshest of ingredients, prime meats and Pacific seafood. Compliment your meal with Grant Grill’s extensive wine list, local beers and craft cocktail collection. Grant Grill has garnered national acclaim with accolades that include a 4-Diamond rating from AAA and a Wine-Spectator Award of Excellence.
Grant Grill Lounge - Named one of the Nation's "Best Hotel Bars" (Food & Wine, 2014), The Grant Grill Lounge is renowned for its advanced beverage program designed by Mixologist, Sommelier and Cicerone Jeff Jesenhans. Signature drinks include US GRANT exclusives like the 100 Day Barrel Aged Centennial Manhattan and Silver Medal award-winning Genepi Americana, as well as an impressive collection of fine wines and craft beers. In culinary complement, Grant Grill Lounge offers seasonal cuisine with shareable selections and tantalizing entrees.
Location
The buzzing heart of downtown San Diego, just a few blocks from the nightlife in the Gaslamp Quarter and a five minute drive from Balboa Park, home to 16 museums on 1,200 lush acres (don’t miss the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the largest of its ilk in the world).