Tower23 Hotel

Rooms

Tower23 takes inspiration from the elements and the ocean. Contemporary and minimalist, decor is impeccably white with crisp lines, marine accented fabrics, teak headboards, desks and shelves, lots of space and a playful disposition. Picture windows and glass walls in the bathrooms allow light to flood in. Gadget-wise, you get a flatscreen TV, and an X-box with CD and DVD capability. There is a DVD library of titles to borrow but most guests prefer to download high-def films via the TV. Each room also has electronic door keys and do not disturb indicators, and a well-stocked minibar (personalised on request).

Bathrooms have step-in rain showers, piles of fluffy towels, Boca Terry bathrobes, a hairdryer and H2O toiletries.

Spirit Pads face onto the Tower Deck with its Zen garden and water feature. Sky Pads are slightly larger with a private balcony or cabana patio and have partial ocean views. Serentiy Pads (which we’re yet to see) and Surf Pads each have a full ocean view and a balcony (the difference being the angle of the view!).

Sanctuary Suites have a sitting area with a sofabed and wet bar, as well as a private balcony overlooking the Tower Deck and garden, with Pacific views. Sweet Suites have the bedroom and living spaces in 2 rooms, each with a balcony. Suites all have a whirlpool Jacuzzi tub in their bedroom in addition to rainfall showers in the bathrooms. These can also connect to a Surf Pad to create a 2-bedroom suite for larger groups or families.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Iron
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

JRDN surf:sky:spirit restaurant makes the most of the oceanfront setting. Its 10,000 sq.ft. linear glass-fronted space is perfectly positioned for surf-and-sunset gazing, and the umbrella-clad patio that runs its entire length allows alfresco drinking and dining all year round.

Inside, the first section houses the buzzy Bar (which serves a daily special Martini and other excellent cocktails as well as the full gamut of beers, wines and spirits) and the Lounge (often heaving at weekends), with the raw food bar along the back wall.

The next area holds the sophisticated steak and seafood JRDN Restaurant whose wave wall continuously changes colour, theatrically setting the scene for a wonderful meal. For such a trendy spot, (menu options are entitled 'way cool', 'getting warm', 'burning up' and 'pure sizzle'), we were impressed with the excellent service, high quality of the food, the wine and the presentation.

We chose the delicately flavoured butternut squash soup and dungeness crab cakes to start, followed by a duo of duck breast and confit on a sweet potato and chard hash, and the pan-seared scallops on crab risotto with artichokes. And were well pleased with all our choices.

For a bespoke dining experience, choose a cut of meat of fish from the 'burning up' menu (Executive Chef David Warner only serves locally produced, hormone-free and humanely reared Meyer Ranch beef, organic produce and sustainable seafood), a rub (eg blackened, tri peppercorn, truffle butter), a sauce (such as bearnaise, salsa verde, beurre blanc) and 2 sides (perhaps haricots verts, fingerling potatoes glazed with blue cheese, mascarpone polenta or grilled asparagus).

We were full to the brim after two courses so opted to retire to our Pad and order an artisanal cheese plate from the room service menu, and enjoyed a nightcap watching the scene on the Boardwalk and listening to the sound of the surf.

Breakfast is a la carte, and during the week is served in-room only with brunch in JRDN at weekends. From the 'mornin' sunshine' selection we went for yoghurt and fruit followed by eggs benedict and the stuffed apple and cinnamon French toast, washed down with coffee and freshly squeezed juice.

At the far end of the restaurant is the private Wine Room which features a 1,000 bottle wall, and its own section of patio complete with another fire pit.

Other eateries in the 'hood include Gringos for Mexican fare, Moondoggies, an upmarket sports grill, and Kono's, next door as an alternative to in-house breakfast.

Features include:

• Bar
• Kids' meals
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• If you're here to surf, paddle- or boogie board, you're in good company - join the throngs on Pacific Beach beside Crystal Pier. Lessons can be arranged and there's a surf shop opposite
  
• Although the beach adjacent is for surfing not swimming, there are swimming beaches just north and south
  
• Visit upscale La Jolla 5 minutes up the coast for its cliff walks and sea lions, galleries, shopping and San Diego's Museum of Contemporary Art
  
• The Boardwalk is a popular spot for inline skaters, cyclists, families with strollers, joggers and walkers - there's a bike hire shop next door to the hotel
  
• San Diego's many tourist sites include the zoo, Seaworld, San Diego Harbor and its Embarcadero, Legoland, Balboa Park and museums such as the Museum of Art and Natural History Museum
  
• Laidback Pacific Beach is also one of San Diego's happening neighbourhoods, with dozens of bars, eateries and clothing stores; there's quite a scene in the JRDN bar and lounge at weekends
  
• Go sailing in San Diego's main harbour or Sail Bay; kitesurfing and windsurfing are also popular pursuits; kayaking and fishing can be arranged
  
• Just 5 minutes south in Mission Beach you can go waterskiing and jet-skiing
  
• Go diving in La Jolla or off Point Loma
  
• In season (mid-Dec-mid-March) gray whales can be seen on their extraordinary migration from Alaska
  
• A yoga instructor can come to the hotel for private lessons, and there's a yoga studio close by
  
• Enjoy spa treatments (such as the sea goddess salt scrub or the laughing buddha facial) in your room on request; spa menu in room
  
• For nature rambles drive to Torrey Pines State Reserve just north in La Jolla; there's good birding all along the coast
  
• 24 hr fitness is a block away; the hotel has arranged for a membership discount at Powerhouse gym nearby
  
• For those enamoured of golf, the hotel can arrange for you to be taken to a course and a day's membership

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Kayaking
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Sailing
• Scuba diving
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Well being
• Whale watching
• Windsurfing
• Yoga

Kids

Children are welcome and under 14s are free. It's a great location but bear in mind that the beach opposite is best for surfing, not swimming, and there's no pool.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Stump up for a Sweet Suite and Surf Pad combo if you have 2 or more children as they connect, forming a 2-bedroom family suite sleeping up to 8 (if they will share a double bed). Or if you don't mind sharing a room, all twins have 2 double beds which can each sleep 2 adults on request. All pads can fit an extra bed for a child or a baby cot; Sanctuary Suites can fit 1 child on the sofabed, while Sweet Suites can fit 2, both can fit an additional baby cot.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 20 minutes
• Hospital: 10 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Tower 23 Hotel is on the Boardwalk in surfing community Pacific Beach in southern California. It's north of downtown San Diego, the airport and Mission Beach, and just south of La Jolla.

By Air:
Fly to San Diego (13km). You could also fly to Los Angeles (192km N) and drive south along the coast - click on the links below for more information.

From the Airport
A taxi from San Diego International Airport isn't too extortionate, and is perhaps the easiest option.

By Car:
There are plenty of car hire options at San Diego airport. See our car rental recommendations. The hotel has a garage underneath for valet parking and there are a few complimentary parking spots in front.

By Public Transport:
There is a bus stop in front of the hotel which takes you downtown and to La Jolla, but most people will prefer to drive.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to California and getting around