La Valencia Hotel

Its nickname has long been the Pink Lady, but La Jolla, CA’s La Valencia is anything but fussy. With its Mediterranean elegance, sweeping views, and steps-from-the-beach location, the hotel has been a local institution since it opened in 1926, when it attracted Hollywood types as well as World War II soldiers waiting to ship out. Today, the rosy hotel evokes two distinct eras: the compact hallways, black-and-white silver-screen-star photos, and petite chandeliers recall a bygone sensibility, but the property also offers a front-row seat to San Diego’s posh enclave La Jolla, with bakeries, bookstores, and a Cartier boutique just across from the entrance. While many of the 112 rooms and suites offer ocean views and private balconies—and most suites have fireplaces—it’s hard to resist watching the waves from La Sala, the ground-floor lounge with its plush armchairs, terrace, and baby grand piano.