The Bristol Hotel – A Greystone Hotel

From the outside, The Bristol Hotel is architecturally unassuming, looking more like a 1970s-era office building with bay windows extruding above a sort of greenhouse street-level facade. The property’s character shows through a little with “the BRISTOL” marquee as well as the colorful and tropical driveway signage.

Inside, remodeling is indicative of more purposeful styling. The lobby is quite classic as stately columns point to dental moulding and floral relief accents run up the walls. Lovely marble floors, circular ceiling medallion lights, and a forward vaulted atrium further speak of the entrance’s grandeur. The color scheme of soft cream offset by rich maroon and dark browns is more contemporary. Leather and wicker furnishings plus geometric fixtures are also delightfully modern.

Clientele appears to lean towards young professionals on business. The pop art aesthetic of the guest rooms makes the hotel ideal for convention goers, particularly those attending San Diego’s famed annual Comic-Con International. What’s more, the hotel is ADA compliant with accessible valet parking, available hearing-impaired kits, accessible corridors, braille signage-outfitted elevator landings and stairwells, accessible public restrooms, visual fire alarms, accessible meeting rooms, and an accessible route to the entrance and registration desk.

The Bristol is located in a prime downtown San Diego spot on the corner of First Avenue and C Street, just next to the Gaslamp Quarter. It puts the property in close proximity to the Maritime Museum of San Diego, USS Midway, Petco Park, Horton Plaza, Seaport Village, and the San Diego Convention Center.

Other major attractions not far away include the San Diego Zoo (13-minute drive), SeaWorld San Diego (18-minute drive), LEGOLAND (43-minute drive), Balboa Park (seven-minute drive) and Old Town (10-minute drive), as well as, of course, California’s unmistakable coastal beaches.

San Diego’s downtown is already unique for its bundle of transportation so closely available, and the hotel is perfectly positioned to take advantage. First and foremost, the cruise ship terminal is only a six-minute drive away thanks to being right between the aforementioned Maritime Museum and USS Midway along the Embarcadero waterfront. The San Diego International Airport is just 14 minutes or less away by car, and the Santa Fe Depot Station for Amtrak, MTS Trolley and Coaster departures is the closest at just five minutes out. Valet parking incurs a fee per night with unlimited in and out privileges.

The Bristol’s 114 guest rooms are broken down into five categories: Fab King, Fab Double, Primo King, Cool King and Suite. In extended homage to “the Fab Four,” accent pillows are a fun recreation of tickets to The Beatles’ concert in San Diego back in 1965. In fact, cultural references are aplenty, John F. Kennedy is also represented in the suites. All throughout, splashes of pop art additionally dot the walls, and bathroom mirrors are even framed in a comic-like speech balloon.

Furniture is lightly vintage in nature too but entirely modern in build and function, and yellow, blue, beige and gray colors are bright and cheery to match. Overall, bedrooms and bathrooms are spacious and come with common amenities of pillow-top mattress with triple-sheeted bedding and down comforters, spa bathrobes, rain head showers, HD 55-inch LCD televisions, safes, refrigerators, hairdryers, coffeemakers with Seattle's Best brews, and KEYPR In-Room Service Tablets. Rooms also feature sitting areas, and the Primo King showcases an expanded space. Cool King Rooms are located on the top floor with large windows and high ceilings. Also with large windows and high ceilings on the top floor are the Suites, which additionally have a separate living area with a pull-out queen-size sofa and bigger bathrooms with double vanities. 

The health conscious will appreciate that the hotel is completely non-smoking and that is has a free fitness center for guest use. Wi-Fi access is also throughout the entire hotel. There’s also a computer workstation with a printer available in the lobby, and same day dry-cleaning and laundry service can be purchased. And for a fee per night, valet parking comes with unlimited in and out privileges.

Otherwise, the main feature is a small bar and lounge open with happy hour specials in the early evening. The handsome bar's semicircular counter and natural woods invite guests to stay for awhile and sip and savor a delicious drink, but a full restaurant and breakfast service is not on hand.

Further geared towards business, the hotel does offer meetings and conference space including 1,215 square feet in the City Scene Room for up to 50 guests. The property’s culinary team can cater food for events such as bridal showers or small weddings.