The 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar with rooftop pool deck. Photo Credit: Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
Following a $30 million makeover, the property formerly operating as Hotel Solamar has reopened as Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. The hotel is the second Margaritaville in Southern California and the first city-center resort in the brand's West Coast portfolio.
The 235-room property features a "relaxed-luxury" California ambience, with design textures and colors that reference the beach and sea. Nine on-site event venues provide a total of 6,000 square feet of meeting space, while an additional 7,000 square feet of outdoor space is available on the rooftop pool deck.
The hotel's makeover, led by Dawson Design Associates, fuses the signature island-life feel of Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville brand with a Southern California sensibility. The look is inspired by Buffett's days living in Laurel Canyon, and creates the vibe of 1960s SoCal and Mexico's Baja Peninsula, with Pop Art-style portraits, and murals of VW buses and surfboards.
Among the three on-site eateries are the 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar on the large rooftop pool deck, offering casual poolside fare with live entertainment and views of the neighborhood — including Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. The ground-floor LandShark Bar & Grill opens onto sidewalk and patio seating, and also features live music; while the Margaritaville Coffee Shop offers grab-and-go snacks and specialty coffee drinks.
The Gaslamp Quarter offers a wide variety of restaurants and entertainment options, and is within walking distance of the San Diego Convention Center.
"We are thrilled to introduce this beloved, experiential brand to one of the most popular year-round vacation destinations in the country," said David Meisner, general manager of the new property. "Our singular style of island-inspired hospitality is a natural fit for San Diego, allowing guests to escape the everyday and immerse themselves in the Margaritaville state of mind."