1/5

Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

San Diego, CA • Gaslamp Quarter • SPLURGE

avg. $303 / night

Includes $16 / night in cash back

Cash back is redeemable via Virtual Visa, Venmo, or bank transfer starting 24-48 hours after check-out

Marriott Bonvoy® property

Exclusive PressBeyond Benefits

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Cash back

5% cash back on all completed stays (redeemable via Virtual Visa, Venmo, or bank transfer starting 24-48 hours after check-out)

Credit card points

Credit and debit card charges are processed directly by the hotel (i.e. not PressBeyond), meaning that any travel-specific credit card points or incentives that you normally get as a cardholder for direct hotel bookings are preserved

Hotel loyalty points

Points accrual and status eligibility with major hotel loyalty programs: Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, and others

Free breakfast

Breakfast-included rate options available

Room upgrades

Complimentary room upgrades (subject to property availability)

Extend your stay

Early check-in and late check-out (subject to property availability)

Part of Tribute Portfolio

Location

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PB hotel design editorial

Stitched together from a historic Romanesque-arched commercial building and a contemporary tower rising above it, the streetscape along Broadway in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter tells the whole story of Alma San Diego before you step through the door. The 2019 property — 173 rooms across roughly 14 floors — preserves the ornamental masonry cornice and arched window bays of the older structure at street level while the new build above it steps back in curtain-wall glass and warm timber cladding, a layered composition that mirrors the neighborhood's own compressed urban history. The ground-floor restaurant wraps the junction between old and new, its interior planted heavily with trailing greenery, dark teal walls, wide-plank oak flooring, and sinuous LED pendant lighting suspended over white-topped communal tables. The guest rooms carry a California-inflected eclecticism — navy upholstered headboards with integrated brass reading lights, Pendleton-adjacent geometric cushions, amber pendant drops, and small-format art prints with a vintage portrait sensibility that gives the spaces personality without demanding attention. Upper-floor rooms open onto generous balconies framing the downtown San Diego skyline, furnished simply with wire bistro chairs in the manner of a private terrace rather than a hotel amenity. The rooftop pool deck is the property's most declarative gesture: a large-scale floral street mural anchors one wall, bold yellow side tables punctuate the lounger rows, and the adjacent San Diego I Love You ghost sign on the neighboring building provides an inadvertent but perfectly pitched backdrop.

Travel notes

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About

Welcome to Alma San Diego, your second home in San Diego. Alma aims to make your visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible, which is why so many guests continue to return year after year. With close proximity to popular attractions, Alma guests can easily access some of San Diego's best-known attractions. Alma San Diego is a charming hotel offering flat-screen TVs, plush bedding, and free Wi-Fi. The hotel has room service and two restaurants. Additionally, guests can enjoy a rooftop pool and a gym. Best of all, Alma San Diego is an ideal base from which to explore many attractions, including the San Diego Museum of Man, Whaley House Museum, and Seeley Stables, which are all popular history museums. Alma brings you the best of San Diego, trying to make sure you enjoy a relaxing and pleasant stay.

Amenities

Pool

Pets Allowed

Suites

Internet

Free Internet

Free Wifi

Room service

Wheelchair Access

Restaurant

Bar/Lounge

Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel Reviews

502 reviews

"Location: walking distance (about 1 mile) to the waterfront. Across from a tall parking garage, so quiet with no facing windows. Close to trolley with an inordinate number of unhoused, some doing drugs openly.There is more litter than closer to the water. Does not feel unsafe, though if one has situational awareness. Valet parking (we did not use). Clientele appears to be young well-off couples with dogs and children. The restaurant allows dogs at the tables. Staff: young staff who seem somewhat unengaged. We often felt invisible, especially while waiting for restaurant service. Once engaged, staff was pleasant. Our requests for another chair and extra supplies were taken care of. Room. Very high ceilings in rooms that have large windows and are probably bright during normal weather. The lighting is inadequate with only bed mounted lamps and one “atmospheric” hanging lamp. There is no light over the table or the mini-bar. Window coverings are adequate. The bathroom door is a 10-foot sheet of frosted glass (heavy) hanging like a barn door that provides minimal privacy with gaps around and of course, glass. This would not bother some. The door is surely a liability being very heavy and difficult to open and close. There was fecal matter on the bathroom tile, likely because the room is totally tile in textured excrement-colored tile. The room seemed clean but who knows? There is the overhead shower with no hand attachment and no grab bars. One bed was made with the tags on the fold down at the top putting them under the guest’s chin. Insignificant but noticeable lack of attention to detailed service. The towels are of Motel 6 quality. Restaurant: good food but not a value with a limited menu. Slow service. The waitperson petted a dog and then proceeded with the work of setting service and serving without washing hands. There were dogs. OK with me but some would find dogs literally at the table, in laps, on chairs, unpleasant. This is not a destination hotel but rather a stop over. We stayed during a storm so did not use the pool or the fitness center."

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Feb 16, 2026

"Had a great stay at the Alma! Boutique feel. Comfortable beds. Big shower. Conveniently located to the Balboa Theater, restaurants and house of blues. Good food and coffee at the cafe. Cool roof pool, although the restaurant there is seasonal for the summer. Would stay again!"

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Feb 15, 2026

"We had such a great time at the Alma Hotel in San Diego! Our room had a beautiful city view of Downtown San Diego and the service was impeccable. Everyone was so friendly and helpful! Jorge checked us in and was great walking us through how to make the most of everything the hotel had to offer! He was super friendly and just such a nice vibe checking in. breakfast was amazing each morning and a great way to start the day! We had dinner one night at the hotel and Joel was amazing!( I do suggest dinner in Little Italy if you are looking for a truly amazing meal) We even asked him for tips on places to go and sightsee. Not only did he give us tips, he came back with everything written down and then checked on us the next day to see how they went! The hotel is in a great location. Close to the airport, zoo, little Italy, and so much more! Everyone in the hotel is super friendly and the feel is more of a small community feel rather than a big hotel chain feel and we loved it! Will definitely stay here again!"

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Feb 09, 2026

"Such bad vibes. Uncomfortable since the minute i parked at Valet. Ladies at valet very unprofessional called me out my name because i didn't leave my keys when she wanted me to. Per arriving unloading they started taking pictures of my while while i was in it and while i was unloading. They were rushing me as if i wasnt paying for this service, My son heard lady talking bad about me behnd my back. Valet wasn't aware he was my son. They made him feel uncomfortable If you're going to talk bad about guest at LEAST look presentable. Second. Housekeeping came into my room un announced by mistake. Plug in room didn't work. had a $20 credit for snacks drinks or food. snacks never arrived so i lost credit upon leaving i left 3 trays behind called right away to see if they can grab them from couch in room been calling since and no update of my trays I've mentioned how these were passed down from my grandmother and were very expensive and had sentimental value. Nobody cared. They keep saying housekeeping will contact me but been 3 weeks and NOTHING. vibes were very judgy very uncomfortable. Very helpless I was celebrating my sons birthday and would never celebrate here. Unfortunately ruined birthday boy vibes."

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Feb 04, 2026

"Jorge and Sophia were fantastic and ensured our stay was nothing short of spectacular. Thank you for your excellent customer service!"

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Jan 31, 2026

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Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel | Best Design-Driven Stays in San Diego, CA