Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Hotels
•
Tribute Portfolio
9 (937 reviews)
1047 Fifth Avenue , San Diego , us

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Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Pets allowed
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
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 7 days a week/24 hours a day for $65 per day. $35 ($39.44 inclusive of tax)
Daily Destination Fee-
Includes:
Daily $35 food and beverage credit
Daily bike rental for up to two guests
Daily glass of house wine for up to two guests
Daily Enhanced High-speed internet access (Wi-Fi)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 937 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
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
L
Lars Klejnstrup • couple • dk
9
Pros:

Vi havde et dejligt ophold på Hotel Alma, som er meget personligt og har et imødekommende personale. Hotellet ligger centralt i forhold til konferencecentret, kun 15 minutters gang væk, og også centralt placeret på 5th Avenue

Cons:

5th Avenue har en god og praktisk beliggenhed, men gaden er ikke speciel hyggelig og er mindre indbydende.

2026-03-23 • via Nuitee
C
Courtney • family_with_children • us
2
Worst Anniversary Trip
Pros:

Will not be returning

Cons:

Unclean room, staff is sneaky with adding charges and was gaslit by staff upon arrival to say I was in a different room than I booked.

2026-03-23 • via Nuitee
J
Jean-Briac • family_with_children • us
9
2026-03-20 • via Nuitee
R
Roberts • couple • us
9
2026-03-20 • via Nuitee
R
Roberto • solo_traveller • it
4
Pros:

Staff was overall kind and readily available.

Cons:

Upon arrival, after a quick inspection of my room, I couldn’t help but notice how most wooden surfaces had signs of wear. On one of the pillows I found two long strands of dark hair. On the same side of the bed floor a used scrunchie.
Next day during breakfast, multiple cockroaches were spotted, both by me and the guests sitting next to us. I had sent a package to the hotel. When I headed to the reception to retrieve it, there was an initially struggle to find it. Eventually a manager had to be called in to solve the issue.

2026-03-10 • via Nuitee
N
nekia • solo_traveller • us
9
2026-03-10 • via Nuitee
B
Bronson • couple • us
1
2026-03-09 • via Nuitee
T
Tameka's Taxes • family_with_children • us
8
2026-03-05 • via Nuitee
T
Takur • solo_traveller • us
10
Great people, great amenities, and clean environment! Being able to get get 20 a day for food was amazing! I had a great
Pros:

Amazing!!!!

Cons:

Very clean and well kept.

2026-03-03 • via Nuitee
K
Karapet • couple • us
9
2026-03-02 • via Nuitee