The Se hotel might have a shortlittle name, but this place is hardly basic.  As San Diego’s newest luxury hotel, Se rolls out all the stops to make hotel guests feel like celebrities.

From the moment of arrival to this sleek, modern skyscraper building, the valets whisk your car away and usher you into a refreshing lobby, designed with contemporary art and a subtly aquatic decor. Check in is not done at the front desk, but instead, your paper work is brought to you as you enjoy a complimentary arrival cocktail while seated in the comfortable waiting area.

In your guest rooms, the fresh, contemporary decor continues. Blues, whites and browns are the colors of the rooms, and oversizedbathrooms utilize natural stone materials for a chic shower area. Most rooms come with a view. Located on Fifth Avenue, just one block from the Gaslamp District, hotel guests look out onto San Diego’s skyline and many rooms also have bay views.

But besides luxury and comfort in the hotel suites, and positioning itself as the ultimate refreshing respite in the center of town, Se offers lots of action too. The 3rd floor spa should be a favorite spot for couples since it offers a coed relaxation room and unique couples treatments. The spa is also the first real day spa in San Diego.

On the 4th floor, hotel guests will find the pool deck and the Siren lounge. This pool is not your typical place to just splish and splash. The zero-edge pool is surrounded by chic lounge furniture and a very large outdoor bar area over to one side. The Siren lounge is an indoor venue, but the sliding glass walls open up to the pool deck, extending the space for lots of party action. While I was there over Memorial Day weekend, the pool deck and Siren lounge were certainly the place to be all day Sunday – a live DJ, beautiful people and lots of small bathing suits made for quite the “see and be seen” pool party.

It should also be noted that the famous House of Blues restaurant, lounge and concert hall is located right under the pool deck, next door to Se (the hotel owners, also own House of Blues). This means that most of the musicians who play at House of Blues will also stay at Se, so you never know what celebrity you might see in the lobby or at the pool.

For me, one of the highlights to the stay at Se was dining at the hotel’s Suite and Tender restaurant. The street-level restaurant lounge is the perfect spot for a pre-dinner cocktail; then retire to the second floor dining room for an incredible meal, featuring seafood and steaks. Start with the raw bar, which allows you to choose as much or as little as you like, and then be sure to try something form each course. I can personally recommend the Kobe beef carpaccio to start, and the king crab and veal main. Suite and Tender is a gorgeous restaurant and while I was there with just one dinner partner, I noticed that the large table arrangements would make this place the perfect destination for parties of eight, 10 or more.

Next time you are in San Diego, be sure to check Se out, whether you stay the night or just enjoy the amazing spa, pool bar or restaurant.

Se San Diego
1047 Fifth Ave
San Diego, CA

619.515.3000, www.sesandiego.com

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