Hotel Indigo San Diego del Mar by IHG
A coastal Del Mar boutique featuring two warm pools, pet-friendly rooms, and upscale glass-walled showers.
The verdict
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
Hotel Indigo San Diego Del Mar is a colorful boutique hotel decorated with marine motifs, hardwood floors, and two heated outdoor pools. Guests appreciate the quiet rooms, exceptionally comfortable beds, and bathrooms stocked with Aveda amenities. However, reviewers complain about sluggish internet connection speeds that force guests to tether to phone data, as well as pricey morning coffee. 2016
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- Guests consistently praise the comfortable pillowtop beds paired with blackout blinds for quiet nights of sleep. 9
- The bathrooms stand out with spacious glass-walled showers, teak benches, long vanities, and upscale Aveda toiletries. 1815
- The property amenities receive wide appreciation, particularly the two warm swimming pools, hot tub, and pet-friendly policies. drawn from the full read
- Front desk staff members routinely earn compliments for being friendly, welcoming, and helpful during check-in. 161513
The catch
- While some guests note standard accommodations are on the small side, others describe the executive suites as spacious with convenient wet bars and mini-fridges. drawn from the full read
- Some diners find the restaurant entrees and shareable plates very reasonably priced, whereas others complain about five-dollar morning coffee that tastes mediocre. drawn from the full read
Who it's for
- — Pet owners traveling to coastal Del Mar
- — Guests prioritizing quiet rooms and heated pools
- — IHG One Rewards members seeking boutique lodging
Skip it if
- — Remote workers who need fast internet speeds
- — Travelers demanding direct oceanfront beach access
- — Guests sensitive to overpriced hotel coffee
Seen on camera
7 moments · 2 videos · Hotel Indigo San Diego del Mar by IHG
Each moment is pulled at the second a cited reviewer said the words. Play it here, or open the original video at that timestamp.
“additional amenities at this hotel include complimentary wireless internet access concierge services and a pretty good l…”
youtube.com0:30“Harmony at the front desk was absolutely amazing she made amazing recommendations and made us feel so welcome when we ar…”
youtube.com1:02“I had to move hotels and I was worried about getting fined I immediately called the front desk the gal didn't seem to kn…”
youtube.com1:35“as soon as we arrived the reception staff were extremely helpful and lovely”
youtube.com1:52“we booked a suite that overlooked the baseball stadium excellent views”
youtube.com1:56“If you are looking for a location that puts you exactly where the action is, this is it. This four-star hotel is situate…”
youtube.com0:08“the suite was amazing sunken bath triple shower walk I'm wardrobe to die for and free safe for your valuables”
youtube.com2:00Frames are citations: each one links to its second in the source video, attributed to the creator who filmed it. Nothing here is supplied by the hotel. Creators who want a moment removed can ask and we take it down.
How to book
One night, standard room. Award prices move with demand and availability is not checked here.
Score breakdown
How the 78/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
84- “the suite was amazing sunken bath triple shower walk I'm wardrobe to die for and free safe for your valuables” 132:00
- “Some rooms come with ocean views, which I recommend-it's Del Mar, CA, after all (Del Mar translates to "of the sea"). You'll have plenty of space in the glass-enclosed shower-but you need to make sure that you book a room with a bathtub if it's necessary.” 17
Food
91Location
88- “Seating among the fire pits on the rooftop bar, Level 9, provides great views of the city and even a vantage point into Petco Park stadium two blocks away.” 18
- “If you are looking for a location that puts you exactly where the action is, this is it. This four-star hotel is situated right in the heart of the historic Gaslamp Quarter, placing you just a short distance from the city center and surrounded by the best dining and nightlife San Diego has to offer.” 30:08
Noise
90- “For my first anniversary (which has been quite awhile now), we stayed across the street from the Hotel Del, in the penthouse suite of the Glorietta Bay Inn. That was an amazing experience. The entire top floor with its own private elevator and a huge, private wrap-around deck with expansive views.” 1
- “Best for coastal vacationers, less so for anyone relying on the elevator.” 9
Room
80Service
83- “Harmony at the front desk was absolutely amazing she made amazing recommendations and made us feel so welcome when we arrived and had issues without our booking she was so helpful in getting our pramas resolved and did it with a smile on her face” 131:02
- “As soon as Duncan, my seven-year-old lab, and I checked into Del Mar's Hotel Indigo we knew that it was not just dog friendly, it was very dog friendly. By which I mean, the front desk clerk came from behind her desk, hugged Duncan and gave her a cookie.” 15
Bed & Sleep
85Value
79Where it is, how to reach it
Details checked 2026-09-06
Where it sits
Hotel Indigo San Diego del Mar by IHG and the 43 other hotels we cover in San Diego. Hover a marker for the hotel; click to open it.
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
Falls short of what $$ usually buys
Scores 10 points below the mid-range median of 88, across 925 hotels in the same bracket. In San Diego it sits 6 points below the local median of 84.
- This hotel
- 78
- Bracket median
- 88
- Index median
- 88
Based on 925 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
- 5 mentions
- 2 mentions
- 1 mention
- 1 mention
No location within the hotel draws repeated complaints yet.
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
View the 70 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
- “we booked a suite that overlooked the baseball stadium excellent views” On camera131:56
- “The bedroom had a comfortable king bed with tables on each side.” 16
- “Though on the small side, the rooms are in mint condition with a hip decor characterized by dark hardwood floors and contrasting floral-patterned bedspreads.” 18
- “This orange banner or blanket hanging on the wall greeted me at the end of the suite hallway. There's a great Frigidaire mini-fridge.” 2
- “I spent the rest of the night in my room, watching Netflix and writing. I was very comfortable and loved the views.” 2
- “Room had a private balcony with incredible sunset views over the Pacific.” 7
- “the room was beautiful, and decorated with a fun twist of traditional, modern and beachy.” 20
- “To the right of that was a dresser with a TV on top. It was surprising and a little disappointing that the room didn't have a mini fridge.” 16
- “The exterior's painted white with marine blue and turquoise accents, a sure reminder of Del Mar's beaches. The marine motif, this time in warm colors, continues in each room's wall-size mural. The decor, inside and outside, never jars, always soothes.” 15
- “The Two Bed Executive is a spacious room with pillowtop queen beds and luxurious bed linens, a desk and ergonomic chair, 32" flat-screen TV, refrigerator, microwave, Keurig coffeemaker, and wet bar.” 4
- “The two-legged member of the team was equally happy with her bed and room. I had everything I needed to be comfortable: a comfy chair with a good reading lamp, a marble topped desk for my laptop, and a spa-sized shower.” 15
- “Hotel Indigo Gaslamp is my personal favorite. Especially if you can get a Petco Park view room.” 14
- “The lobby restaurant, Table 509 Bar & Kitchen, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with locally sourced ingredients, though the menu is somewhat limited.” 18
- “A rooftop pool, prime location, and mouthwatering meals-what more could you ask for?” 11
- “Whole place was clean, bed was super comfortable, service was fantastic, and the breakfast buffet was remarkable.” 8
- “later on during the day, we decided to enjoy lunch back at the Hotel Indigo San Diego Del Mar which also has a beautiful restaurant and bar located adjacent to the lobby.” 20
- “If you have kids, look at Staybridge Suites as well - much easier to get a room with a pullout plus it has a decent included breakfast (by US standards, at least).” 8
- “Breakfast this morning at Hotel Indigo downtown Los Angeles 10/10” 8
- “Better yet, enjoy one of the delicious homemade desserts on the balcony. Loved my cheesecake.” 15
- “Pricing is very reasonable, and the menu includes items designed for sharing so you can sample multiple things during one meal.” 17
- “I recommend getting your coffee elsewhere. It's $5 for a cup and the coffee isn't that great.” 2
- “You can also look forward to essential amenities that take the stress out of your travels, including free Wi-Fi to keep you connected, parking options to keep your vehicle secure, and delicious breakfast options to start your day right.” 3
- “Breakfast food and dinner at the restaurant were both tasty.” 7
- “plus the food is fantastic. the hubby and i opted for a poolside lunch and shared this awesome cheeseburger. it was soooo good!” 20
- “The accommodation is within easy reach of Ocean View Bar & Grill, which serves delectable meals.” 7
- “The in-hotel restaurant, Ocean View Bar and Grill, won my heart with its locally-sourced organic and seasonal ingredients.” 15
- “The food at Ocean View Bar and Grill is pretty great, and I love how it's now more of an indoor-outdoor space.” 17
- “For my first anniversary (which has been quite awhile now), we stayed across the street from the Hotel Del, in the penthouse suite of the Glorietta Bay Inn. That was an amazing experience. The entire top floor with its own private elevator and a huge, private wrap-around deck with expansive views.” 1
- “Best for coastal vacationers, less so for anyone relying on the elevator.” 9
- “i was especially surprised at the prices which were so reasonable with entrees starting at around $10. i expected the prices to be a lot higher for such a nice restaurant.” 20
- “The boutique Del Mar hotel provides excellent value for the prestigious location.” 17
- “I used 28,000 IHG One Rewards points to reserve a standard king room. The price was a bit higher than I wanted.” 2
- “Hotel del is but super crowded and expensive. It's also on an Island so if you want to experience other parts of SD it's going to cost quite a bit for Ubers.” 1
- “as soon as we arrived the reception staff were extremely helpful and lovely” On camera131:52
- “the hotel manager was so friendly and treated us like family. beside telling us where all the fun things to do were, he also helped up send a personal greeting and photo from our family to all of the Hotel Indigo locations around the world.” 20
- “This time though they offered a 3pm checkout - four hours after the time we were due to check out - without us even asking for it to be that late. That was fantastic, especially because it meant that we then didn't have to kill time between checking out of this hotel and checking in at our next hotel which was only 30 minutes away in Carlsbad.” 16
- “Harmony at the front desk was absolutely amazing she made amazing recommendations and made us feel so welcome when we arrived and had issues without our booking she was so helpful in getting our pramas resolved and did it with a smile on her face” On camera131:02
- “Front desk representative Harmony provided a warm welcome - and looked at me like I was a crazy person for walking from the Santa Fe Depot train station.” 2
- “As soon as Duncan, my seven-year-old lab, and I checked into Del Mar's Hotel Indigo we knew that it was not just dog friendly, it was very dog friendly. By which I mean, the front desk clerk came from behind her desk, hugged Duncan and gave her a cookie.” 15
- “Service at the hotel was pretty good, although we had limited interactions with the front desk staff and declined housekeeping during our stay.” 16
- “Staff are knowledgeable about not only Del Mar's famous highlights like the beaches, boutique shops, and racetrack, but also the not so famous like Rusty Del Mar Surf Shop, a Del institution, where you can rent surfboards and hit the waves. Hotel staff are dedicated to seeing that you have a true Del Mar experience.” 4
- “Gloria was the front desk agent who checked us in and Shae said that she was incredibly friendly and helpful.” 16
- “I had to move hotels and I was worried about getting fined I immediately called the front desk the gal didn't seem to know how to help me and just told me to call the manager in the morning” On camera131:35
- “The property is clean, and the staff is wonderful.” 2
- “There are a few things they could improve like having a better internet speed and providing mini fridges in bedrooms, but overall it was a very nice stay.” 16
- “As mentioned earlier in the review though, Gloria at the front desk was lovely when Shae was checking in and the car valet team members were always friendly.” 16
- “It's in an excellent location, they're very good at providing benefits to those with IHG status, their staff members are friendly and it's an extremely pet-friendly hotel.” 16
- “One of the biggest practical wins here is the proximity to the airport. You are only about 10 minutes away from the terminal, which means less time sitting in traffic and more time actually enjoying San Diego.” 3
- “Despite its name, the Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp Quarter is actually in the East Village, just down the street from the historic Gaslamp Quarter, but this combines the best of both worlds: It's close to all the action but not overrun with noise from the nearby nightlife.” 18
- “Hotel Indigo in the Gaslamp District in San Diego is amazing with a view of padres stadium as well as being smack dab in the middle of the best neighborhood in one of my favorite cities.” 8
- “Seating among the fire pits on the rooftop bar, Level 9, provides great views of the city and even a vantage point into Petco Park stadium two blocks away.” 18
- “If you are looking for a location that puts you exactly where the action is, this is it. This four-star hotel is situated right in the heart of the historic Gaslamp Quarter, placing you just a short distance from the city center and surrounded by the best dining and nightlife San Diego has to offer.” On camera30:08
- “Except for a few runs from the nearby SDFD Station 4, the neighborhood was pretty quiet and relaxing.” 2
- “I agree, the Kona Kai is tucked away there by the marina, a private getaway with pretty views, but still close to most places in San Diego.” 1
- “The Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp Quarter is in a great location in the Gaslamp Quarter. It's not quite as central to downtown San Diego as The Westin that we also stayed at there, but it's only a block away from Petco Park which is fantastic if you're visiting for a Padres game.” 16
- “The hip rooms have sophisticated bathrooms and good views of downtown.” 18
- “I'm a big fan of Kimpton's Solamar, which is in the Gaslamp District (heart of the downtown area, many great restaurants and bars within walking distance).” 14
- “The Kimpton is really nice, and has a cool rooftop bar/restaurant/pool. Located in the Gaslamp district, so you're surrounded by restaurants and nightlife, and 5 minutes walk to Petco Park if you want to see a baseball game.” 14
- “additional amenities at this hotel include complimentary wireless internet access concierge services and a pretty good location” On camera130:30
- “Even though it's not super close to the touristy areas, it's near the train station and near some great food places.” 8
- “The perfect place to stay if you're flying in for a baseball game at Petco Park; some rooms look over the stadium” 5
- “Hotel Indigo Gaslamp is my personal favorite. Especially if you can get a Petco Park view room. Great location in gaslamp with great restaurants and bars steps from the property and easily accessible to seaport village and the beach.” 14
- “Great location in gaslamp with great restaurants and bars steps from the property and easily accessible to seaport village and the beach.” 14
- “Some rooms come with ocean views, which I recommend-it's Del Mar, CA, after all (Del Mar translates to "of the sea"). You'll have plenty of space in the glass-enclosed shower-but you need to make sure that you book a room with a bathtub if it's necessary.” 17
- “The bathroom was a fairly good size and had a long vanity.” 16
- “the suite was amazing sunken bath triple shower walk I'm wardrobe to die for and free safe for your valuables” On camera132:00
- “As mentioned earlier, the Hotel Indigo upgraded us to a room with a skyline view and it was a pretty good view.” 16
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Nothing reliable said about position on the floor.
- Noise rests on 2 sources — too thin to rely on.
- 12 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about Hotel Indigo San Diego del Mar by IHG
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Deep coverage · 53/100We read 22 sources for this property, and pulled 98 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-09-09.
Watch this hotel
We keep reading Hotel Indigo San Diego del Mar by IHG. Tell us when you're staying and we'll follow it until then — you'll hear from us only when the verdict is rewritten, the score moves, or new reviews land. No daily mail, and the watch closes itself after your stay.
Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
3 of 6 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 20 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 1Anniversary Hotel Recommendations? : r/asksandiegoreddit.comForum thread2026-03-29Current6 quotes used
“For my first anniversary (which has been quite awhile now), we stayed across the street from the Hotel Del, in the penthouse suite of the Glorietta Bay Inn. That was an amazing experience. The entire top floor with its o…”
Read originalreddit.com - 2Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp (Review)eyeoftheflyer.comReview site2025-06-03Recent8 quotes used
“The king bed was very comfortable. My only gripe: it needed more pillows.”
Read originaleyeoftheflyer.com - 18Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp Quarteroyster.comReview site2024-08-12Ageing8 quotes used
“The lobby restaurant, Table 509 Bar & Kitchen, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with locally sourced ingredients, though the menu is somewhat limited.”
Read originaloyster.com - 16Hotel Review: Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp Quarternohomejustroam.comReview site2022-01-26Ageing12 quotes used
“The bedroom had a comfortable king bed with tables on each side.”
Read originalnohomejustroam.com - 14Best IHG Hotels in San Diego. : r/awardtravelreddit.comForum thread2018-04-22Ageing5 quotes used
“I'm a big fan of Kimpton's Solamar, which is in the Gaslamp District (heart of the downtown area, many great restaurants and bars within walking distance).”
Read originalreddit.com - 17Hotel Indigo Del Mar Review: New Rooms & Value by the ...lajollamom.comReview site2014-10-09Ageing8 quotes used
“Some rooms come with ocean views, which I recommend-it's Del Mar, CA, after all (Del Mar translates to "of the sea"). You'll have plenty of space in the glass-enclosed shower-but you need to make sure that you book a roo…”
Read originallajollamom.com
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