The Sè San Diego is now officially the Hotel Palomar San Diego, a Kimpton Hotel. The name and brand will hopefully stick after what has been a very rocky start for a very stylish and hip hotel in San Diego near the Gaslamp Quarter.

Hotel Palomar San Diego

The original plan called for a 22-story condo-hotel named The Diegan. This was changed to the Setai San Diego after the developers tied up with the Setai Group.

The Setai name was also dropped after it turned into a legal hot potato, and the hotel ended up as the Sè hotel.

The $150 million Sè San Diego finally opened in late 2008, and the recession promptly forced it into bankruptcy before it could take off properly.

Kimpton purchased it out of bankruptcy for $49 million, and officially gave the hotel its fourth and latest identity as the Hotel Palomar San Diego at a dedication ceremony on Sept 27.

The 5th Avenue hotel has 183 guestrooms, including 17 skyline suites and 20 luxury flats. It has a 19-foot floor-to-ceiling ballroom, a pool deck and infinity pool offering day beds and private cabanas, and more than 20,000 square feet of event space adorned with art created by local artists in San Diego.

Under the Kimpton brand, Hotel Palomar will now offer the chain’s wellness offerings in addition to the existing spa and in-room spa services. There’ll be a daily hosted evening wine hour, and of course – the hotel’s pet friendly policies now include the gold-fish you get to keep in your room under Kimpton’s pet-friend program.

The new 2-story  Saltbox Dining and Drinking restaurant replaces the old Suite and Tender. The restaurant is now an American gastro-lounge, with “social plates” priced under $25 and meant for sharing.

Considering the hotel is still just as good as new, Kimpton hasn’t had to make any other major changes except an increased focus on art, including the giant rendering of the hotel by local artist Grant Pecoff that was unveiled during the dedication ceremony.

All said and done, it’s a sweet deal for new guests under Kimpton, considering that Se started out in 2008 as a luxury resort with rates as high as $500. They’re now offering pretty much the same thing under Hotel Palomar, but with nightly room rates starting at $159.

Hotel Palomar San Diego

Not to mention an artsy location that leads right into the Gaslamp Quarter. Hotel Palomar is also collaborating with several cultural organizations under the “Art in Motion” initiative to offer custom-tailored room packages, including with the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego Youth Symphony and House of Blues.

Photos – Se San Diego

Hotel Palomar San Diego - 1047 5th Avenue San Diego CA 92101; (888) 288-6601

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San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Boutique Hotels
Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego Unveils New Renovated Rooms

A room in the St Regis in San Francisco

San Francisco is a great place to visit in December–the weather can be fairly mild, SPCA kittens grace the windows of Macy’s, and hotels offer fantastic deals for visitors from near and far.

At the high end, check out the ultra-posh St Regis Hotel, where the “Holidays at the St Regis” package includes gingerbread cookies and egg nog, a delivery of hot chocolate for two, and a Vie Luxe candle. Especially during the holidays I love to meet friends for a drink in the slick, gorgeous bar, and I’ve heard Remede Spa is not-to-be-missed.

Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants created memorable packages at many of its San Francisco properties, from “The Art of Shopping” getaway at the Hotel Palomar near shopping mecca Union Square to the “Naughty or Nice?” package at the Argonaut Hotel, which includes either a trip to Alcatraz or a visit to the Exploratorium science museum.

Parents might especially love the “Holiday Memory Maker” package at Hotel Monaco. Your kids write letters to Santa on personalized stationery, then receive a surprise visit from elves who come bearing milk, cookies and a bedtime story.