Kimpton Alma

San Diego, California

Virgin rating

Pool Bar
Lobby Lounge
Deluxe King
Deluxe Guestroom with Two Double Beds
Lobby Lounge
Pool Lounge
Skyline King Room
Premier One Bedroom Suite
Pool Bar
Lobby Lounge
Deluxe King
Deluxe Guestroom with Two Double Beds
Lobby Lounge
Pool Lounge
Skyline King Room
Premier One Bedroom Suite

The hotel

We love the chill out spaces at this chic hotel. Firstly there’s the Palomar’s lobby living room where you’ll find the evening drinks reception and morning hot drinks. You should also try the soulful Mexican street food at Curadero, the hotel’s flagship restaurant — the cocktails are good here too. At the outdoor rooftop pool and lounge there’s more cocktails, plus a pool menu and great views of downtown. Talking of downtown, if you want to stroll out, you’re near the shop and restaurants of the Victorian Gaslamp District and an easy walk to the waterfront.

Amenities

  • Bicycle Rental
  • Bar
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Internet Access
  • Laundry Service
  • Restaurant
  • Room Service
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool
  • Valet parking

Where is it

Near the Gaslamp district, a hub of dining, drinking and entertainment spots, and within a walk of the Financial District. It is also surrounded by theatres, galleries, museums, and live music venues, and is 2 blocks from Westfield Horton Plaza, a 5 tier open-air shopping mall.

Hotel information

211 rooms. All rooms have a flat-screen TV, WiFi*, alarm clock, honour bar* (with gourmet and organic treats, restocked on request), glass rainforest shower, yoga mat, hairdryer, iron and board and bathrobes. Fridges* and microwaves on request*. Deluxe Rooms have 1 queen-size or 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Deluxe Rooms with Two Double Beds have large windows, and 2 double beds, sleeping maximum 3 adults.

Premier Rooms with One King Bed have 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Skyline View Rooms with One Queen or King Bed are on floors 16-20, and have large windows, partial San Diego or pool deck view, and 1 queen-size or 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Skyline Corner Studio Balcony Rooms with King Bed have a corner location giving wider views of San Diego, a balcony, and 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Curadero (vibrant Mexican street food and cocktails, daily breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch, dinner and happy hour). Level Four Pool Deck and Lounge (summertime bar serving light bites, cocktails, and music). Arriba Room (hang-out lounge above Curadero, with vintage arcade games, foosball and pool tables) Evening wine hour. Morning coffee and tea service. Heated rooftop infinity pool. 24-hour fitness centre. In-room spa services*. Kimpton-bespoke bikes (first come, first served). WiFi*. ‘Forgot It? We’ve Got It’ service (essential travel items, from chargers to straighteners). 24-hour room service*. Concierge service. Laundry/dry cleaning service*. Valet parking $53 plus tax per night (payable locally, subject to change. Discounts for hybrid cars).

This hotel has a resort fee of $30 plus tax per room, per day (payable locally, subject to change)

Resort fee includes: - Hotel Bird Scooter access + $5 credit per stay - $10 daily food & beverage credit to be used in The Café or The Desmond restaurant - Two aluminum bottled waters (recyclable & reusable) in your room upon arrival - PressReader Access - Upgraded Wi-Fi speed throughout the hotel’s guest rooms and public spaces for up to 5 devices (Normally a $14.99 charge) - Business printing services & package handling (please see the Do You Offer Business Printing Services & Package Handling FAQ for more details). Resort fee, tax and inclusions are subject to change - please see hotel check-in for current inclusions available to you upon arrival.  

*Denotes local charge

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (259)
  • Very good (53)
  • Average (26)
  • Poor (11)
  • Terrible (9)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating No reason to believe anything on their website

Nov 1, 2024 Essephreak Austin, Texas

Deleting and reposting this review, which is the only way TripAdvisor allows you to edit. Why am I editing? Because the website says that room service is available, but it is not. Front desk blames “the transition to Marriott,” but surely in 2024 it is easy to update a website with accurate information, rather than retaining was is essentially… Read more
Deleting and reposting this review, which is the only way TripAdvisor allows you to edit. Why am I editing? Because the website says that room service is available, but it is not. Front desk blames “the transition to Marriott,” but surely in 2024 it is easy to update a website with accurate information, rather than retaining was is essentially false adverising. Staff is friendly. Premium King room was clean and quiet, with a nice view, but lacked anywhere comfortable to sit and relax or work - just a bench-style sofa and an umcomfortable desk chair with a wood frame rather than a cushion in the back. Bed was comfy and climate control was good. If your itinerary has you coming and going via Uber or the like, the location is okay, I guess, but the fairly sketchy street scene immediately adjacent to the hotel make walking anywhere - even the CVS a half block away, much less the Starbuck’s two blocks away - pretty unpleasant. If you are driving be prepared to pay through the nose for valet parking or local alternatives. One more fairly minor irritant: they provide no ice bucket and no ice machine to get your own ice - you have to call guest services, then wait 15 minutes or more (this happened on multiple occasions) for it to arrive. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating It was ok, but I've had better hotel stays

Oct 10, 2024 Crystal D

Upon arriving at the Alma, the concierge didn't understand that I needed a cat box and litter. So I had to do a make- shift one out of card board and papers. It wouldn't have been so bad, except that I'm disabled and the flight made my entire body hurt. Jet lag is no joke! I slept for 2 days straight. The next day, Paula provided the cat… Read more
Upon arriving at the Alma, the concierge didn't understand that I needed a cat box and litter. So I had to do a make- shift one out of card board and papers. It wouldn't have been so bad, except that I'm disabled and the flight made my entire body hurt. Jet lag is no joke! I slept for 2 days straight. The next day, Paula provided the cat box/litter. We were supposed to get 1 room and 2 beds, but didn't. And my sister was NOT comfortable on the sofa-bed. I couldn't even sit on it, without having back pain. On the last morning, I saw 'silverfish' in the bathroom. On my bill, I saw that they charged $35 for amenities; which is a toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash, (cat box). Also, someone had to bring us a new remote for the tv. My sister loved the breakfast. Upon leaving Alma, there was a waft of pee smell in the air, very unpleasant. My stay wasn't worth the money. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Noisy, insecure and uncomfortable

Oct 3, 2024 A Q

So many homeless people wandering the streets by the hotel. The rooms have super thin doors, and you can hear everything in the hallways. In addition, the door is not flush with the floor so light from the hallway pours into the room while you're trying to sleep.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Kimpton Alma - San Diego - downtown near convention center

Oct 3, 2024 Mark D

Hotel was very clean and comfortable to stay at during the NECA convention. They accept pets per other guests that I saw and I was lucky enough to get a room on the 11th floor with and awesome view of the bay and the balcony was great. The hotel made me feel safe, but San Diego has a homeless issue it needs to address, and it is increasing every… Read more
Hotel was very clean and comfortable to stay at during the NECA convention. They accept pets per other guests that I saw and I was lucky enough to get a room on the 11th floor with and awesome view of the bay and the balcony was great. The hotel made me feel safe, but San Diego has a homeless issue it needs to address, and it is increasing every year. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating NOT A HOTEL RECOMMENDATION. HOTEL SERVICE IS 1 STAR!

Oct 2, 2024 Betty S La Jolla, California

Frustration and disappointment on Kimpton Alma San Diego front desk staff!!! For IHG member who pays on high floor suite, the money spent was not small on a 4 star hotel. The first hand service however was a one star level, worse than 3 star Hyatt House service. Already the suite was not ready beyond the check in hour of 4pm, front desk Eddie… Read more
Frustration and disappointment on Kimpton Alma San Diego front desk staff!!! For IHG member who pays on high floor suite, the money spent was not small on a 4 star hotel. The first hand service however was a one star level, worse than 3 star Hyatt House service. Already the suite was not ready beyond the check in hour of 4pm, front desk Eddie insisted nothing else available and was offering a downgrade for the price we paid. We looked at the room and was not entirely happy and mentioned that typically a good customer service experience was to offer up instead of a downgrade. He insisted nothing available in the hotel. We said we would wait for a while on the promised suite. Then came Tre, front desk manager, and apologized to us by offering us an upgraded suite. Eddie could not look at us in the eyes. As the stay progressed, we mentioned to the front desk for an afternoon room cleaning service and also called before we left the room. We came back in early evening with nothing being cleaned. Utterly frustrated and disappointed with the customer service experience!!! The General Manager, Carmine Iommazzo, is stationed in Honolulu hotel property. There are so many complaints re the hotel service here at Hotel Alma in San Diego and each complaint accompanied by the General Manager reply. YET, nothing is being done to resolve the fundamental service in the hospitality industry. We are seasoned travelers domestically and globally and by far, this HAS BEEN THE F……..!!!!! DISAPPOINTING HOTEL IN SAN DIEGO. VISITORS beware! Read less