The LaFayette Hotel and Club
Maximalist, Wes Anderson-meets-Old Hollywood glamour. Think crimson velvet, kaleidoscopic wallpaper, custom toile de jouy, canopy beds, and animal print — everywhere. There's a mezcalería inside a deconstructed 100-year-old Mexican church and a cocktail setup in every room. It's theatrical without being precious.
Book a room in the main building away from the pool if you want a quieter night's sleep — the pool party vibe can carry until late on weekends
Why It Matters
Listed on the US National Register of Historic Places (2012) and inducted into Historic Hotels of America (2024). The pool was designed in 1946 by Johnny Weissmuller — the Olympic swimmer who played Tarzan — and is the social heart of the property. Swizz Beats curated the hotel's bespoke soundtrack, played on a custom speaker system designed by Devon Turnbull. Named Esquire's New Hotel of the Year for 2024.
The LaFayette is a 1946 American Colonial Revival hotel on El Cajon Boulevard in North Park that's spent the better part of a decade as San Diego's most-talked-about property. Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, and Bob Hope were among its early regulars, and a poolside scene from Top Gun was filmed here. After closing in fall 2022 for its first-ever proper overhaul, it reopened in July 2023 with a $31 million renovation by CH Projects — the hospitality group behind much of San Diego's coolest nightlife — and Brooklyn design studio Post Company. The result: 141 rooms drenched in maximalist Victorian, Tudor, and Gothic detail, eight food-and-drink concepts, a legendary pool, a two-lane bowling alley, and a live jazz supper club. Esquire named it Hotel of the Year for 2024.
Where You'll Stay
14 room types available
Classic King
A step up in size with city views, these rooms deliver the full maximalist experience — wallpaper ceilings, saturated wall tones, fabric-draped canopy beds, and a stocked bar cart. Designed by Post Company and rooted in Victorian, Tudor, and Gothic detail.
King · 27 sqm
Classic Queens
Same footprint and design intent as the Classic King but configured for groups of up to four. Two queen beds, city views, and the full maximalist Post Company treatment.
Two Queens · 27 sqmFamily Suite
Two proper bedrooms — one with a king, one with a full-size bunk — and maximalist interiors throughout. The most practical option for families who want the full Lafayette experience without sharing a single room.
King + Bunk · 46 sqmPatio King Suite
The most spacious suite category at 60sqm, with a king bed, city views, walk-in shower, and a roll-top bath. The largest room on offer for couples who want to spread out without the multi-bedroom configuration.
King · 60 sqmPatio Queens Suite
The 60sqm queen-bed version of the Patio Suite. Same generous proportions and roll-top bath, but configured for up to four guests.
Two Queens · 60 sqmPenthouse
The suite with the starry former guestlist — named for a Hollywood legend, as all rooms are. City views, king bed, walk-in rainfall shower, and — crucially — a freestanding roll-top bath in the bedroom. If a bath is non-negotiable, this is your room.
King · 41 sqmPetite Bunk
The entry-level option, designed with families or groups sharing in mind. Bunk beds are built into maximalist, vintage-inspired interiors with kaleidoscopic wallpaper and moody saturated tones. Garden or courtyard views. Walk-in rainfall shower, no bathtub.
Bunk Beds · 23 sqmPetite King
The most compact king option. Moody maximalist interiors with vintage-inspired pieces and kaleidoscopic patterns. Garden or courtyard views. Walk-in rainfall shower. Good value entry into the hotel's vibe without breaking the bank.
King · 23 sqmPool Balcony King
A significant upgrade in both size and position — set just above the pool club with a private balcony overlooking the palm- and parasol-framed pool. The Fifties-postcard-pretty pool scene plays out directly below. Walk-in rainfall shower; no bathtub.
King · 41 sqmPool Balcony Queens
The group-friendly version of the Pool Balcony room. Two queens, a private balcony over the pool, and 41sqm. Great for sharing without sacrificing the view.
Two Queens · 41 sqmPoolside King
Ground-floor rooms that open directly onto the pool via French doors — rattan chairs and a private seating area sit just back from the main poolside area. The most immersive pool experience of any room category. Expect more ambient noise on busy weekends.
King · 41 sqmPoolside Queens
Same poolside French-door access as the Poolside King but with two queen beds for groups of up to four. A call-only booking via Mr & Mrs Smith, reflecting its demand.
Two Queens · 41 sqmSuze Suites
The suites that ring the outdoor pool take the main building's maximalism and dial up the playfulness — think layered patterns, bright textiles, gathered bed skirts, ornate lighting, and a mirrored bar cart. They have a more relaxed, poolside-holiday feel compared to the Gothic grandeur of the main building.
VariousTownhouse
Two-story accommodations in a Spanish Mission style — a deliberate contrast to the Victorian/Gothic main building. Whimsical bright textiles and distinct furniture sit alongside textured flooring and wrought-iron details. Full kitchenettes, dining rooms, patios, and flexible bedroom configurations including bunk beds. Ideal for groups who want to live together in design-led style.
VariousThe Property
Eat & Drink
7 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Two-lane bowling alley in a speakeasy-style space inspired by Henry Frick's private bowling alley beneath the Frick Museum. Custom-made gravity-fed ball return system, elegant pool tables, and shuffleboard. Open late. Cocktails throughout.
Table hockey, basketball arcade, air hockey, foosball, and pool tables are all free to use at The Gutter. Open from 5pm, first-come-first-served. Bring a date or a group — this is legitimately the best no-cost nightlife in North Park.
Every room comes with a tri-mirrored bar cart stocked with a curated selection of fine spirits and mixers, glassware, ice bucket, and retro cocktail recipe cards curated by Paul McGee. French patio doors on pool-facing rooms let you host your own terrace session.
Regularly scheduled live music on the restored 1940s clam shell stage, Thursday through Saturday plus added dates. Standing room from ~$10; seated dinner experience ~$80pp. Gilbert Castellanos & The New Latin Jazz Sextet have a monthly residency.
Private cabanas available for rent poolside — the palatial main cabana and smaller poolside cabanas with fan-back chairs. Reserve in advance on busy weekends.
The iconic pool designed by Olympic swimmer Johnny Weissmuller in 1946 is open to non-guests via day passes. Hot tub sits at an elevated position overlooking the pool. Sun loungers, cabanas, Pool Bar service, and scalloped umbrellas. Hours 7am–10pm.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
ADA-compliant property with adapted rooms (four Classic ADA Queen rooms), pool lifts, wheelchair-accessible entrances and parking, accessible restrooms, and accessible dining in all restaurants and bars.
The hotel's entire music program was curated by music producer Swizz Beats, played on a custom speaker system designed by Devon Turnbull. Mornings lean into slower classics and bossa nova; afternoons shift into a clubby pool-party energy.
Over 15,000 square feet of meeting space including a ballroom. The ballroom can accommodate up to 300 guests for events. Suitable for conferences, weddings, and private gatherings.
High-speed WiFi (25+ Mbps) throughout the property and in all guest rooms.
Underground garage valet parking with 100+ spaces. $38 per night. Additional surface lots on property.
Dogs welcome. Pet fee applies: $100 per stay plus $100 one-time cleaning fee per Expedia listing.
The 1946 Johnny Weissmuller-designed pool is the property's social centerpiece. Checkered pool deck, terracotta patio, bougainvillea and jasmine plantings, striped chaise lounges, and rattan clamshell chairs. Heated. Hours 7am–10pm.
Elevated hot tub overlooking the main pool area.
On-site dry cleaning and laundry services available.
Guests booking directly get access to a text-based concierge available 24 hours a day. Handles dinner reservations, fresh towels, city tips — reportedly very responsive.
A boutique retail space in the lobby carved from rich millwork, featuring a curated product collection by Swish Studios. Hotel robes and branded merchandise also available via CH Projects online.
In-house gym decked out in maximalist purple workout equipment. On-brand and functional.
BUILD YOUR THE LAFAYETTE HOTEL AND CLUB PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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