Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Hotels
Tribute Portfolio
9 (973 reviews)
1047 Fifth Avenue , San Diego , us

Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Pets allowed
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Good location
Responsive staff
Nice room quality
Great amenities
Excellent food quality
Cons:
Lack of attention to detail in cleanliness
Sketchy area outside the hotel

Categories

Cleanliness
8.08
The cleanliness was noted to lack attention to detail.
Service
9.55
Staff were responsive and accommodating throughout various experiences.
Location
9.09
The location was described as very good.
Room Quality
9.04
The room quality was praised in terms of comfort and amenities.
Amenities
9.07
Amenities provided, such as upgraded rooms and food services, were well-received.
Value for Money
9.03
Guests felt that the hotel offered good value for elite status.
Food and Beverage
9.08
Full breakfast and good beverage service contributed positively.
Overall Experience
9.05
Overall, guests had a positive experience despite minor issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-09 23:13

Property Description

Luxurious Amenities

Indulge in a stay at our hotel where every guestroom is thoughtfully designed with a spacious work area, gourmet honor bar, and Italian Frette linen. Unwind with a yoga mat and luxury bath amenities provided for your relaxation.

Convenient Location

Explore the vibrant Gaslamp district just a short walk away, or visit iconic attractions like Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo located nearby. With Petco Park and the airport within easy reach, your stay with us promises both convenience and excitement.

Exceptional Dining Experience

Savor exquisite dining options at The Desmond, open for dinner on select days, and The Cafe, serving daily delights in the hotel's cozy Living Room. Delight your taste buds with our culinary offerings during your stay.

Book your stay now at Kimpton Alma San Diego for a memorable and luxurious experience.

Important information:

Valet parking is available for an additional charge of USD 70 per day.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: SAN

Property Policies

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.

  • Groups

    When booking more than 9 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Parking

    Public parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and costs USD 60 per day.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 17 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Adults stay for US$20 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Property Accessibility

Total Disability Score: 35.71
Public Area
  • Ramp: No
  • Entrance Leveled: No
  • Pet Friendly: No
Reception And Restaurant
  • Reception Hearing Accessible: No
  • Reception Wheelchair Accessible: No
  • Restaurant Wheelchair Accessible: No
Elevator
  • Elevator Audio Signals: No
  • Elevator Braille Numbers: No
  • Elevator Contrasting Buttons: No
  • Elevator Visual Signs: No
Show all accessibility features

Guest Reviews

9
Based on 973 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.08
Service: 9.55
Location: 9.09
Room Quality: 9.04
Amenities: 9.07
Value for Money: 9.03
Food and Beverage: 9.08
Overall Experience: 9.05
R
Rachel couple us
7
Comfortable stay in lively area
Pros:

The staff were so friendly! Hotel was very cute, and appreciated the coffee and breakfast.

Cons:

Really wish the bathroom had a proper door.

2026-05-22 via Nuitee
D
desserya2026 Friends getaway
10
Had a wonderful stay!
Pros:

Ms Ana Lloren, was extremely friendly and went so far as to make sure we had a great time. Thank you so much

From the moment we arrived, the valet and front desk staff made us feel like royalty. The room was immaculate and boasted stunning views of the city. We loved relaxing and enjoying the pool.

2026-05-10 via Tripadvisor
B
Berryfusion Family Los Angeles, California
10
Best choice for Chase Edit Stay!
Pros:

We booked Alma San Diego last minute for a birthday celebration, and checked out one of the Chase/Edit hotels. We were a little worried about coming here based on other reviews but they couldn't be anymore wrong!

The hotel is very easy to find. There's only valet offered at the hotel, but we were able to easily find offsite parking during our entire stay. Walking from the offsite parking to the hotel was decent, with a few unhoused individuals who always left you alone.

Once we were at the hotel, it seemed super busy on a Friday night. We didn't get to check out the restaurant until breakfast the next day and it was more mellow during that time. If you eat there, I would recommend the Alma Breakfast Sandwhich. The breads they offer here are sooo good., And, I would skip the chilaquilles if you're used to the traditional style chilaquilles. I just ate the eggs on top of that dish and couldn't bring myself to eat the tortilla chips offered with it.

Knowing that the breads at the restaurant are good, I'd also recommend their California Chicken Club. Also, there were reviews where people complianed that tey were ignored, or their food took a long time to arrived. We experienced the complete opposite. Everyone was super nice. The food arrived fast. The restaurant was never too busy during breakfast and lunch. Be aware that they allow dogs in the restaurant.

The rooms were very easy to get to. You could either take the elevator which was fast or the stairs. If you want to book a room that's on the same floor as the pool (which is open super late, 9am - 9pm), ask for the fourth floor. The pool is very clean, and never busy during our stay. Lots of towels provided.

Beds were firm at the Alma, and the bathrooms were clean. Be aware that there wasn't really a shower door. There was only half a glass and that's it.

While sleeping there, guests need to be aware that it's next door to the House of Blues. Because of that, you'll hear music at night sometimes or people yelling or fighting. Everyone in our group very easily slept through it on the fourth floor so it isn't too loud. You'll only hear it if you wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom.

Overall, the Alma was an excellent choice for a quick weekend trip. We would not hesistate to stay here in the future.

Also, if you get home and check your credit card bill and notice a extra charge, it's just a temporary hold that the hotel makes and it should be removed about a week after your stay. I called the hotel to ask and spoke to Grace who was super nice, friendly, and understanding. She was able to help clairfy what the charge was. She was even able to know who I was without me even telling her. How crazy is that! She told me later she used the caller ID to look me up and we had a good laugh about it.

2026-05-08 via Tripadvisor
B
BaseballFan2525 Solo travel
10
Awesome
Pros:

This is my second visit here and I am very happy that I got to see Lena again. She is just so sweet and she was so hospitable. Lena has made my stay wonderful twice now.

2026-05-07 via Tripadvisor
K
Karla extended_group mx
7
Good room probably will stay again in a bigger room
Pros:

Location was good, good value for money

Cons:

Some of the room looks like it needs renovating

2026-05-04 via Nuitee
X
X9311DXmichellem Couples
10
Amazing view , Super comfortable all around amazing experience
Pros:

Lena was amazing help! i’ll definitely be coming back after the service she provided

2026-05-01 via Tripadvisor
M
mayra couple us
8
Alma San Diego is great overall. Highly recommend.
Pros:

This is the second time staying at the alma san diego. The first time was when it was still under “kimpton.” The staff is always welcoming & the hotel is always clean. I also really liked that a room key is needed to enter the hotel as there is some homeless wandering at times.

Cons:

One thing I was unhappy about was that the bar by the pool is seasonal. First time we came it was open & it was so nice, but that’s minor. Also, when I booked our room, I reached out to them to confirm it was the correct room with the round separate tub & they confirmed that it was. Once we arrived, we were given a room I didn’t request so that was disappointing given that I asked a month or two ahead. The room i wanted was not available & they were not able to accommodate.

2026-04-30 via Nuitee
A
Anthony solo_traveller us
10
2026-04-27 via Nuitee
K
Krzysztof solo_traveller us
6
Decent value
Pros:

The gym is nice and the staff is friendly. Location is central to downtown San Diego. Beds were very comfortable.

Cons:

There is a very high concentration of homeless right on the block such that I would not be comfortable with my partner walking around, even in day time. The rooms were a little dated. The hotel charges $35/night destination fee but you can then redeem $20 at their downstairs lobby, so it just feels like a way to force you to shop with them.

2026-04-24 via Nuitee
K
Kyle couple us
10
2026-04-19 via Nuitee
B
Bronson couple us
1
Pros:

Very little to like here

Cons:

Upon even arrival it was a mess. I was charged 3 times for one room. The lady said the system crashed each time I paid. I asked if I was being charged she said no. Upon checking later I indeed was.

Homeless everywhere. The night was awful loud noisy and a homeless man screaming outside for nearly two hours. Couldn’t sleep and ruined an anniversary that was thoughtfully planned out. Avoid at all cost. My room wasn’t cheap price wise this placed felt like I paid for a motel 6

2026-04-17 via Nuitee
S
Samantha solo_traveller us
8
Amazing to go clubbing nearby
Pros:

Bar inside, complimentary $20 for snacks and use room key to use elevator and get into building

Cons:

No sign of how much deposit was and no parking

2026-04-11 via Nuitee
Y
Yulia family_with_children us
9
2026-04-09 via Nuitee
D
David couple us
8
2026-04-09 via Nuitee
R
Rudy family_with_children us
6
Beautiful property with great views and helpful staff, but several service and room issues took away from what could hav
Pros:

The property was clean, well-maintained, and had beautiful views. The front desk staff were consistently pleasant, and staff overall were helpful—when housekeeping was unavailable for the evening, security stepped in and promptly brought us extra bedding, which we really appreciated. Valet service was friendly and efficient. The location is convenient, with close proximity to Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo.

Cons:

There were a few issues during our stay that impacted the overall experience. The shower in our room appeared to be installed incorrectly—the handle was positioned in a way that made it seem like there was no hot water. We only discovered that hot water worked after turning the handle toward the “cold” side, which was confusing and inconvenient.

I also experienced a room service issue—due to a delivery mix-up, my order was sent to the wrong room, and by the time I received it, the food was cold. Additionally, I did not receive my drink but was still charged for it.

The hotel is located at the edge of the Gaslamp Quarter near a convenience store that attracts a high volume of transient individuals, which affected the overall comfort of the surrounding area.

2026-04-08 via Nuitee
E
Escape36676572077 Couples
10
A great stay at Alma hotel
Pros:

The room and the view from the 20th floor was absolutely stunning. I highly recommend upgrading to a room with a balcony if you can. There was not just one balcony but two, both looking in different directions over San Diego. The staff and room service were friendly and professional. I would recommend the Alma hotel to anyone visiting San Diego.

2026-04-07 via Tripadvisor
A
Anita couple us
6
Beautiful property, but the overall experience fell short of expectations for the price.
Pros:

Beautiful property with a lovely bar and restaurant on the first floor. Breakfast was delicious and had great hours—it’s served until noon, which was a nice bonus. The staff were consistently available, friendly, and helpful throughout the stay.

Cons:

Overall, I had a pleasant stay, but a few things are worth noting:
1. “Included breakfast” – This is actually a $50 credit to the downstairs restaurant. Prices are quite high (e.g., breakfast burrito ~$24, yogurt bowl ~$17, smoothie ~$16), so after tax and tip, it’s easy to exceed the credit—especially for two people, even without adding coffee or juice. This works better for solo travelers.
2. Location – The location is great and very convenient. However, during my stay there was a noticeable number of unhoused individuals congregating right outside the hotel, which made walking around alone feel a bit uncomfortable at times. This may be more of a general downtown issue than specific to the hotel.
3. Pool area – The rooftop pool was not heated and it was quite windy, so it didn’t feel as relaxing or luxurious as expected. Not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of.
4. Bathroom design – The bathroom has a sliding glass door as the main entrance and a half-glass shower enclosure. This led to water spilling onto the floor, and there was minimal privacy and sound insulation. There is also no bathroom fan.

2026-04-07 via Nuitee
T
Toni extended_group us
10
My stay at the Alma was a great experience.
Pros:

The room was beautiful with a great view! Very comfortable bed. Loved the soaking tub and large balcony with seating. Also, the food and drinks at the Cafe Lounge Restaurants were really good! I would definitely stay at this hotel again.

Cons:

My only small complaint is that there were no drawers available for clothing. The homeless population outside the hotel was a little alarming and it tends to be a bit noisy at night in the area. The hotel is located in the Gaslamp downtown area, so it was understandable.

2026-04-06 via Nuitee
B
Bridgette couple us
8
2026-03-26 via Nuitee
E
Ely couple us
10
2026-03-25 via Nuitee