A Guide to the Architecture of
San Diego
Where to Stay, What to See, and What to Eat — Through a Designer’s Eyes
Welcome to San Diego
A city where ocean breezes meet Spanish Colonial domes, midcentury modern gems, and cutting-edge design, San Diego is a lesson of the past couple hundred years of architectural history. Beyond famous landmarks, the city is home to wonderful modern architecture that’ll satisfy your appetite for good design.
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
March–June and September–October offer ideal weather without the summer crowds. March and April are especially good months for architecture fans, because the San Diego Architectural Foundation hosts Open House San Diego usually in late March early April. The weekend-long event allows architecture enthusiasts the opportunity to talk to architects and tour landmarks.
Getting Around
San Diego is extremely car-friendly. That being said, San Diego International Airport is a short Uber drive from downtown, which is incredibly walkable. Parking is a challenge in downtown, though there are places to park for a price. It’s best to ditch the car when visiting the Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy.
Architecture Overview
San Diego’s architecture is shaped by its Spanish and Mexican heritage, its early 20th century growth, and postwar boom. Expect tons of Mission Revival buildings, midcentury modern beach houses, and sleek post-war modernist civic design.
Architecture Landmarks
The Classics
Mission San Diego de Alcalá (1769)
The first of California’s 21 missions, which inspired Southern California’s Mission Revival that became popular in the late 1800s.
Balboa Park (1915–1935)
San Diego’s architectural heart–a lush cultural campus with intricate plasterwork, bell towers, colonnades, and tiled courtyards, with a touch of modernism.
US Grant Hotel (1910)
Harrison Albright’s grand Beaux-Arts hotel in the heart of downtown features a luxurious interior.
The Modern Marvels
Salk Institute (1965)
What is easily Louis Kahn’s greatest achievement, the Salk Institute is a profound expression of material and siting. You’re going to want to book a tour to experience it better.
Central Library (2013)
Local architect, Rob Wellington Quigley, designed a modern library that simultaneously recaptured the grandeur of a civic library. The library is full of interesting public spaces.
Pacific Gate (2018)
Designed by the world-renowned architecture firm KPF, Pacific Gate is the city’s first “super prime” residential tower. More interestingly is the building’s curves that mimics waves.
Stay in Style
For architecture enthusiasts, you don’t just want to visit architectural landmarks, you want to be immersed in them. Check out these architecturally significant hotels.
Hotel del Coronado
$$$ | Coronado Island
A victorian masterpiece by the sea. It’s a National Historic Landmark and a rare surviving example of American wooden beach resort architecture. Completed in 1888, its red-turreted roof and intricate Queen Anne detailing evoked Gilded Age opulence–just steps from the Pacific. To add, it recently underwent a multi-year renovation and restoration.
Horton Grand Hotel
$$ | Downtown San Diego/Gaslamp Quarter
An architectural patchwork with a fascinating past, the Horton Grand is a reconstructed combination of two history 1880s hotels–the Grand Horton and the Brooklyn-Kahle. Dismantled and rebuilt brick by brick in the 1980s, it features ornate Victorian woodwork and details. A stay here feels like stepping into another century.
The Guild Hotel
$$$ | Downtown San Diego
A striking example of adaptive reuse, The Guild transforms a 1924 YMCA building into a sleek boutique hotel that marries historical bones with luxurious contemporary design. Exposed concrete, restored arches, and minimalist furnishings reflect a dialogue between old and new.
Design-Lover Dining
Enjoy a meal in a well-designed space.
Born and Raised
Location: 1909 India St
San Diego, CA 92101
Style: Art Deco Revival
Designer: Basile Studio
Why Go: An upscale steakhouse where the design is an indulgent as the menu. Geometric brass, terrazzo, and beautiful tile work.
Puesto at The Headquarters
Location: 789 W Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
Style: Mission Revival/Modern
Why Go: The adaptive reuse of San Diego’s old police headquarters is now home to a bold and vibrant Mexican restaurant.
Morning Glory
Location: 550 W Date St
San Diego, CA 92101
Designer: Paul Basile
Why Go: A great breakfast spot with a playful interior in the heart of Little Italy.
All Things Architecture 