An aura of coastal elegance and proximity to a nearby historic race track have long defined the luxurious L’Auberge Del Mar, which first opened its doors in 1989. Since 2008, a trio of million-dollar renovations have kept the greater San Diego property up to date with creature comforts and modern design flourishes, though the property’s overall design still largely aims to capture the look and feel of a genteel seaside retreat à la Southern California—a major draw for the generally older, monied regulars that return year after year to watch the horse races. As with other beachside cities in the area, including La Jolla, the persistent marine layer can often dampen the appeal of a day at the beach, but the heated swimming pool and jacuzzi on the expansive pool deck offers a compelling alternative for those still hoping to get in the water.
Why stay at L’Auberge Del Mar?
This upscale oceanfront hotel is a worthwhile splurge for those who plan to spend most of their time in and around Del Mar at the beach or racetrack. The Torrey Pines State Natural Preserve and its adjacent golf course are also a short drive away, while major San Diego attractions like the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and Balboa Park are a half hour drive away—not exactly close, but not far either.
During my quick overnight visit in the fall, I was able to explore the nearby shops and restaurants and take a stroll down to the nearby beach. For a weekend trip, you could have an excellent vacation without ever leaving the hotel, thanks to L’Auberge’s on-site spa, pool deck and tennis courts. The hotel also offers complimentary beach cruisers, beach gear and a shuttle that will take you to various stops within a two-mile radius (including the Del Mar Race Track).
What are the rooms like at L’Auberge Del Mar?
Across 121 rooms and suites, L’Auberge Del Mar offers kings or two-double rooms with four unique views: Garden, Village, Cabana, and Coastal. During my one-night stay, I was able to stay in a Coastal King (with) Fireplace, which overlooked the pool deck and had a partial view of the Pacific Ocean (making it the most expensive room type before suites).
All room types come in at an ultra-spacious 300-square-feet, with classic resort-style amenities including plush bathrobes and in-room coffee and tea. The all-gray color palette felt a little sedate for my taste, but I enjoyed the full marble countertops and shower in the bathroom. Oddly enough, the provided toiletries were suffused with a tropical, almost sweet-smelling scent that clashed with L’Auberge Del Mar’s overall aura of calming seaside serenity. Still, for the price, the ocean views and sense of luxury can’t be beat—as long as you’re booking one of the Coastal rooms.
What are the best restaurants and bars at L’Auberge Del Mar?
L’Auberge Del Mar offers four on-site concepts: Adelaide, a New American restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner; the Living Room Bar, which has an excellent happy hour that’s popular among locals; the Pool Bar, which serves breezy drinks and other; and Lyric Coffee, a specialty coffee bar located in the gift shop that uses beans sourced from the nearby, well-regarded Bird Rock Coffee Roasters. During my stay, I was only able to visit Adelaide, which I would only recommend for convenience. Most of the dishes were straightforward but unremarkableI despite the use of local ingredients, though the ribeye with supplemental chimichurri was decent.
What is the service like at L’Auberge Del Mar?
The service here is stellar and befitting of a fairly high-end resort. Upon arrival, porters were available to help with my luggage, and the hotel provided a bottle of Prosecco with two champagne flutes upon arrival. When I noticed one of the flutes was dirty, our porter quickly came back with a replacement.
What are the spa, gym and pool like at L’Auberge Del Mar?
In addition to the heated pool and jacuzzi on the deck, L’Auberge Del Mar also offers a fully functioning fitness center that includes treadmills, ellipticals, Peloton bikes, a rowing machine and a squat rack, plus free weights and kettlebells. The on-site spa, known as Spa L’Auberge, features the standard assortment of massages, body treatments and facials performed inside ten treatment rooms.The spa also offers an herbal-infused steam room, plus an open-air relaxation area with a fire pit and complimentary snacks and drinks.
What’s the area like around L’Auberge Del Mar?
The sleepy village surrounding L’Auberge Del Mar offers a smattering of shops and restaurants, but the real draws of the neighborhood are proximity to the beach, race track and golf course. For nature and hiking aficionados, the Torrey Pines State Natural Preserve is the perfect way to spend a morning or afternoon. The preserve’s namesake pine tree is a critically endangered species you can only find in this part of San Diego County and neighboring Santa Rose Island—and nowhere else in the world.
For destination dining, three Michelin star Addison is only a short drive away, and within walking distance of the hotel, you’ll also find Los Angeles ice cream staple Saffron and Rose, which is famous for its Persian-style ice cream and Middle Eastern flavors. Of course, with a car, the rest of San Diego’s attractions are about half hour to forty five minutes away.
Why should you book a stay at L’Auberge Del Mar?
L’Auberge Del Mar is ideal for travelers seeking out a resort-style weekend getaway with few major excursions to San Diego, plus frequent visitors to the race track. The on-site dining leaves a little to be desired, but the area restaurants and bars are more than happy to fill in that gap—and you can always spend fifteen minutes in the car driving to La Jolla or Encinitas for more options. Overall, the top-notch service and access to the nearby beach and golf course make it a worthy place for a ritzy vacation in greater San Diego.
DETAILS
Address: 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014
Price per night: Rooms start at $482 per night, midweek.
Closest transport: Solana Beach Station is a five minute drive from the hotel, and San Diego International Airport is a 30-minute drive.
Book now: via Booking.com
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