Slightly less than perfectly adequate. ...especially for $200/night. Let's start with the positives, eh? -Located right in the middle of all of your La Jolla needs. - Thumbs up! -Overnight valet only $13 - Thumbs up! (Especially compared to the $35 in the Gaslamp) -Decently comfy beds. -Pretty good sized rooms too. -Free continental breakfast on a lovely... well... semi-lovely patio. Negatives? -Service. It's not that the service is bad necessarily, it's just not exactly efficient. All of the service people are nice enough, it just seems like they don't all know what they're supposed to do, how they're supposed to valet a car, or how they're supposed to take a reservation over the phone in less than 20 minutes. -No baths. Just a stand up shower thing. I don't always take a bath at hotels, but I'm not a fan of the just shower setup. -Old TVs. -Old Clocks. -Old Carpet. -Old sloooooow elevators. -Old everything. read more

I wandered into here yesterday afternoon since I was early for a meeting across the street. I am getting married over Labor Day weekend and thought I'd do some price checking on the hotel rooms as well as see how big they are. I was greeted by Seamus, and told him my situation: I need a large room, enough to accommodate 10-11 people for getting ready, close to my venue, and in a certain price range. He showed me three different rooms: the Spa Suite, the Superior King, and the Superior Double Queen. All the rooms were clean, beautiful, and spacious. I really enjoyed the Spa Suite and the Superior King. The couch in the Superior King folded out into a queen size bed which was a huge plus! Once he was finished with the tour, we went over dates and prices and he recommended that I get in touch with the sales manager Jean. I contacted Jean today and told her my situation and she helped me work a group deal since I'll have other wedding guests staying in the same hotel. The process was so easy and I'm so thankful! Wedding planning is stressful enough, and the fact that she was so accommodating, especially on such sort notice- totally impressed me! I ended up cancelling my original booking at the Estancia La Jolla and made reservations for the Empress instead. I spread the word around to my wedding party and guests and they will be booking here as well. Thank you again Seamus and Jean for your wonderful hospitality and excellent customer service. I can't wait to get ready on my big day here! read more

Honestly, when I booked the Empress Hotel, I didn't have high expectations. However, upon arrival, I was ecstatic that I chose this hotel. Pros 1. Location - The location for the price was AMAZING. The other hotels that are cheaper are much worse in comparison to the Empress. We were within a block or two of the beach and all of the attractions. 2. Decor - The hotel lobby was quaint, but immaculately decorated. It definitely leaves a great impression. 3. Service - I wish I remembered the desk clerk that helped us, because he was phenomenal. We were checking out that day and had a full schedule, and he was extremely accommodating. He gave us a 4 hour extension for check out, even though the hotel was fully booked for the next day. We only checked out an hour late, but it was still great. 4. Breakfast - Breakfast was on the 2nd floor, and they have it on the most gorgeous balcony. There were great pastries, yogurt, juice, and cereal. We didn't really utilize the breakfast, because I decided to take advantage of La Jolla's great brunches. However, it was great being able to pick up some yogurt. 5. Room - We were the very first room on the first floor, but it was surprising always quiet. We were never bothered by noises. Even though there was construction on the 2nd floor, we were never bothered by it. We were actually given the handicap room, and I was so glad that we did. It was larger than an usual room and had a standing shower. The standing shower was absolutely amazing after being at the beach all day. It made washing all of the sand off much easier. Cons Honestly, I don't think there were any cons. Overall, I would recommend the Empress Hotel in a heartbeat to any I knew. We were actually able to get the Empress hotel at a much cheaper rate than all of the other hotels within a .25 mile radius too. I believe we ended up spending $125 a night. I would definitely book the Empress Hotel again. read more

I'm a fan. Such a great boutique hotel with such a fantastic restaurant, Manhattans is old school, similar to Tracton's but better food and nicer. There are only 5 floors here and they have big jaccuzzi tubs, some ocean views, clean and beachy. Nice beds, couches, tv's. Feels like a one bedroom apt. A fitness room, a laundry space if you need to wash clothes. Apples are gratis if you need a snack as you arrive from a walk. Valet parking available. If you are lucky, you may find street parking but there is only 2 hour max. read more

What a wonderful experience here! Stayed 4 nights for a wedding and was very impressed. The rooms are neat and pretty big. The hotel staff is extremely friendly and helpful. Complimentary breakfast was a nice surprise and one of the best I've had - cereal, granola, several different yogurts, bagels, muffins, hard boiled eggs and even make your own waffles. Juices, milk and coffee also available. The hotel is in a perfect location, walking distance to everything! read more

I highly recommend this hotel - if you're going to La Jolla, stay here and look no further. The front desk staff were super friendly and accommodating. I came in like 3 hours before check-in, and not only did they have an available room for me, but they also gave me a free upgrade! The rooms are nice and clean. Just a few blocks from La Jolla cove, you honestly can't beat the location and value here. Location is excellent - the ocean is just 2-3 blocks away, you have restaurants and cafes all around you, and you can walk anywhere. Walk a couple blocks on the busy Prospect Ave and you will pay a lot more to stay there. They have free continental breakfast. It's not necessarily something I would rave about, but hey it's free! They even have an outdoor patio where you can sit down to have your breakfast. They also leave cookies out during the afternoon. read more

While I have no HUGE complains about this hotel, it was really nothing special. The location was convenient, and they had free apples in the lobby. Free continental breakfast is also included, but it ends at 9:30, and what sane person gets up that early while on vacation? Not me. Luckily there is a great breakfast restaurant right down the street called The Cottage, which serves breakfast until 11:30. They'll even deliver breakfast to your room! The bathroom in the room was disgusting. I'm pretty sure the guest before me was a gorilla or something, because there was hair all over the bathtub, floor, and even on the ceiling. Gross. The shower head was extremely frustrating too -- I'm 5'10" and I had to literally kneel over to wash my hair. If you're 5'7" or shorter, then you wont have a problem with the shower. The walls in the bathroom looked gross and dirty, and I made sure to examine every towel before I used it... The pillows were extremely uncomfortable. They felt like big marshmellows, and that's not a good thing. The walls were paper thin too -- I hear lots of, um, bouncing in the adjacent room. Other than that, the staff is friendly and helpful, and the location is very nice. Cautionary note: if you ask the front desk to call a cab for you, make sure you tell them a YELLOW CAB, and not a limo. For some reason they like to call limos, and limos are more expensive! read more

After looking for hours at hotels near La Jolla cove, we found this jewel! All the other places had horrible reviews and videos showing bed bugs!! Fast forward to checking in, very modern hotel. Compliment cookies at the front desk. The hotel also has it's own Italian restaurant which is amazingly gorgeous. At night, it was packed and a very Frank Sinatra feel to it with music and dim lighting! The smell itself was to die for. ( we had crab and lobster somewhere else otherwise we would have dinned there) The rooms are very clean, very modern. We had 2 little seashell chocolates on our pillows. Simple touches make everything. We also had complimentary slippers!! Yes to take home! Bathrobe was in the bathroom for you to use and to give back after. Now on to the location, very close to the beach. Just a little walk down and there you are! The bed was comfortable however the pillows sucked! My ears, neck, my whole body was aching. I didn't want to bring my own pillow to avoid any potential bed bugs in a worst scenario! Honestly bring your own pillow otherwise you will ache! Bring ear plugs too if you are sensitive to any noise! The air conditioning kept turning on and off all night it was bothersome! We will definitely come back! Next time with the right pillow and ear plugs! read more

I definitely recommend this hotel! Room: Jacuzzi spa suite, awesome. Not much more to say than the Jacuzzi had its own dimming lights. Lol Comp breakfast: I didn't personally try it, but my boyfriend loved it! He said it was very presentable and tastey. Service: [side note: There was a male and female working late shift yesterday and they did not greet us when we left the hotel nor when we entered back from grabbing food. Made us feel weird because we made eye contact.] But Ryan from front desk, absolutely amazing! He helped us out with early check-in, recommended numerous local eating spots, AND when I called for late check out I asked for 1:00 and he said make it 1:30 just in case. From management point of view, this is exactly the type of employee you would want working for and representing your business. Ryan truly is an asset to the Empress Hotel, we will make sure to stay here next time we are in the area! read more

Empress Hotel La Jolla - Jacuzzi with its own dimming lights...not sure how to feel about it lol - Hotels Near Me - La Jolla, California

The services here is exceptional! We were greeted when we walked in. Alan, at the front desk, was highly experienced - he checked us in without much instruction after we discovered that the person who originally took our reservation (over the phone) and charged our card forgot to reserve our room. Alan was funny and made our check-in a pleasant experience despite the error not made on his part. The hotel provides complimentary breakfast with your stay. Also two complimentry bottles of water in the room. The room was clean and spacious enough to walk comfortably around the furniture. The bed was comfortable as well - felt like sleeping on a cloud! And, WiFi is free! Got a good rate during the month of March. The restaurant, Manhattan, inside the hotel had live Jazz music on Saturday night and the food was great! In short, great service, good location and good value here. I would recommend and would stay at this hotel again. Valet parking is $18 a night. There is also unresticted parking after 6pm. Before 6pm, it's limited to 2 hour parking. read more

The price is right, and the location is great. The rooms are huge, but there is a lot of unused space, and the tv is NOT huge, so I found myself squinting at the screen from the vast wasteland that was my bed. The free breakfast is very Hampton Inn, and it's in the tiniest room imaginable, making for some awkward jostling with guests in the grumpy morning hours.. Unless you just want to grab a yogurt to go, I suggest you find a cozy little diner in town instead. In nicer weather, I am sure the outdoor patio is a nice place to enjoy a piece of toast. The downstairs restaurant seems to be the main focus of the hotel, and you can smell the food a mile away. Every time I went to the lobby during dinnertime, it was GRILLED GARLIC SHRIMP assaulting my nostrils. The staff is a bit odd and distant (and occasionally absent), like they are not entirely sure what they are supposed to be doing. The place seems caught in a time trap, and is badly in need of some modernization. However, if amenities aren't important and you are looking for a great value, it might do the trick. read more

This is a very nice hotel. I was able to check in early which was a plus. The gentleman behind the desk was friendly and efficient. My room was nicely appointed with a king bed and a microwave and mini fridge in the closet. The room was quiet overnight. There is a free breakfast in the morning. It has various cereals, yogurt, bagels, bread, muffins and make yourself waffles. The man that working in the room blew his nose, then without washing his hands, took some of the waffle off the waffle maker (no gloves). He was then touching the other food items. Gross. If you want some snot with your breakfast you should be ok. I ate elsewhere. I would stay here again. read more

I booked this hotel for the La Jolla Half Marathon through the hotel website after reading the reviews on Tripadvisor and seeing that it was ranked the #2 hotel in La Jolla there. It also wasn't outrageously priced. I loved that it was within walking distance to everything La Jolla offers - the water, the Cove, all the boutiques and restaurants, etc., but it was a few blocks back that you were never caught in stopped traffic and never experienced road noise. The front desk promptly and cheerfully checked me in. We inquired about late check-out and offered us a time as late as 2pm! Luckily we didn't end up needing it, but I was extremely pleased and happy about that! They provided each of us in the room with an Otis Spunkmeyer cookie (who doesn't love a warm, surprise cookie!?) and off we went. The room was comfortable and well decorated. The bathroom and shower were really nice. The valet had only one guy which made it difficult for those dropping off their cars and wanting to pick theirs up...so improvements can be made there. However, we needed to get our car from valet very early the next morning, so I called the front desk to make sure they knew (and to make sure someone would be around to get it). The next morning when I called to see if they could get a head start on it, they already had pulled it up and had it waiting exactly when we said. I was impressed and very pleased with that! Later, we called down and asked for help getting a taxi. They were extremely helpful coordinating that, and making sure we got the best price comparing the taxi to a towncar which may have been cheaper. They went out of their way to help us get our bags put into our vehicle and I felt like they helped make everything easy for us. I would definitely recommend this hotel to friends and would stay here again in the future. read more

I really liked this hotel and would definitely stay here again if in the area. The location is perfect, with La Jolla Cove and many restaurants and shopping within walking distance. Our room was kept extremely clean and we had turn down service each night. Coffee in the room, a microwave and fridge. The shower had great pressure and something I'd never seen before--the controls are on the opposite side of the showerhead, so you don't have to stand in the water while you are finding the right temperature. Brilliant! Seamus at the front desk was a delight. I loved the atmosphere of the hotel restaurant, with kind of a wedding-style DJ and people dancing. The continental breakfast was adequate and the room in which it is served has a sunny patio I wasn't expecting. The only faults I would mention: The fitness room should just be removed. There are exactly 3 pieces of equipment and the treadmill doesn't go faster than a walk. However, this forced me to run outside and considering the gorgeous weather and spectacular beauty of the area, it's what I should've done in the first place. The parking situation is really weird and wasn't explained to us well. We were told there was no hotel parking and apparently there is, for the same price as a parking garage, I think. Otherwise, all the parking in the area is 1 or 2 hour, which is REALLY inconvenient. We managed okay, with a weekend and a holiday falling on our visit, but would've been good to know all our options. Great value and good experience overall--parking should be included, though. read more

Darn I forgot to check out the continental breakfast! Stayed here just for a night and no complaints. Staff and valet were very friendly, even took the time to draw out all the good eateries for me. I got placed in a handicap room on the first floor, perhaps because I have a service dog. I guessed I could have asked for a regular room but we only stayed here for a night so I didn't care to change. My only tiny complaint though, the a/c thermostat is right under the air register so when the hallways gets to 70 degrees it stops cooling even though the room is not as cool. I liked that there are a nice selection of free tv shows on demand! Valet 18.50 they bring the car in front for you pretty fast, save yourself the time of driving around looking for a parking lot. There is none. Hope to come back soon, La Jolla is a beautiful place read more

Some of my family and I stayed here for a UC San Diego Graduation a few weeks ago. The price was reasonable compared to the pricer places a few blocks away. We stayed on the 2nd floor since we wanted the rooms together. A king bed for one family, two queens (room 210) for my mom and I. Rooms are good size, clean, modern and a nice spacious bathroom with shower only. Free continental breakfasts available every day but we left so early for the graduation, we couldn't go. Little did we know that room 210 is very close to their restaurant one floor below. We went to bed early on a Saturday night for a 8 am graduation and we could hear thumping, laughing, and music coming from the restaurant. Not good. I called the front desk twice to ask the restaurant turn down the music (do they think they were a dance club?) It must have taken us an hour to finally fall asleep even though the noise continued. On Sunday afternoon, I brought up this topic to the front desk, expressing my displeasure and frustration losing sleep while on vacation. The room should not be used as sleeping quarters but something else. This was not acceptable. I suspect this was not their first complaint. On checkout day, Seamus Jordan, the hotel guest services rep, spoke with me. He apologized for the noise and would speak with the restaurant. For some time, he wanted the room to become storage, so my suspicions of past complaints was confirmed. To make amends, he kindly offered a free complimentary night when I return to La Jolla. Thank you. When staying at hotels, I prefer to be on a higher floor to be away from street traffic but not restaurant dance music. So if you stay here and need quiet, ask for a higher floor and avoid the 2nd floor. read more

Location is excellent, staff is friendly. From people POV, probably should give it more stars. Room was nice, however unpatched holes in the bathroom wall, unfinished wall surface... I believe it would be easy fix. read more

So glad we took a chance on this hotel. We wanted somewhere nice and local. The Empress was just perfect. Walking distance to local shops and restaurants. Very quiet in the evening when sleep is needed and extremely clean. Staff was knowledge, helpful and very accommodating. Valet is offered and very convenient. read more

My husband and I love this place! We ended up here after a tragic stay at another local hotel that was under construction. We found a deal to stay here online and were able to check in that night. The minute we got there, they were incredibly apologetic that they only had a room on the first floor, by their restaurant. We didn't care! That place is gorgeous! The lobby is filled with beautiful artwork and comfy seating. They offered us a bottle of wine and gave us chocolates! All this for a room we were totally cool with, in the first place! After check-in, we went to their restaurant and had a great time. There was live music and dancing, which I'm always happy with. The food was pretty good, but my favorite thing was the atmosphere. During our 3 day stay, they gave us all kinds of information on where to get good food or things to do. They greeted us when we'd go past the lobby and they were always willing to go the extra mile. We'll definitely be staying here again, if we go to La Jolla or San Diego. read more

The new renovations are FANTASTIC! It's modern, clean and fresh with a nautical theme. It's a perfect location in the heart of La Jolla, walking distance from everything. I loved the free WIFI & breakfast. Not to mention the restaurant in the hotel & bar the Manhattan is so fun for a late night drink and live music. I can honestly say to that the staff were so friendly and inviting when checking/ out or just walking in and out of the hotel. I was impressed with the hospitality and customer service, bravo. I highly recommend staying here while in La Jolla. read more

I was impressed by everything at this hotel. Checking in was a breeze and the front desk person (Ryan) made every perfect after knowing that I had a bad experience with the car rental company. Of course this is none of their fault and the rental agency is not affiliated with them. Valeted folks (John) were friendly and represented the company positively. The room was way better than I expected. We had an ocean view that was clean and included everything we need. The room was huge and we didn't even use the living room. We look forward to visiting again. read more

We had a fantastic experience at the Empress. We booked a room block for our wedding weekend, and from the beginning of the whole process to the end of the wedding, we received nothing but wonderful service. My parents and my husband's parents both booked suites to host our families, and I booked a suite for the night before and the night of our wedding. On Sunday, I didn't want to leave. I wanted to live there. I wanted to take a daily soak in the jacuzzi tub, and sleep each night on the amazingly comfotable, soft bed. The "regular" rooms were just a nice, according to my brother. Apparently, the Empress had done some renovations prior to our stay. Probably the most impressive point of service was the valet. Being a wedding group, we were in and out of the hotel constantly, running errands, meeting up with family and friends, etc. The valets were always prompt and friendly, even though I'm sure it was annoying to have to jog to the garage so often. One valet went to get my mom's camera out of her car. Another helped a friend of mine out when her car wouldn't start, offering to call a tow for her. Another even brought my husband's car down to La Jolla Cove on the night of our wedding, so we could put the empty kegs in it, then drove it for us right back up to the hotel. The front desk staff were always friendly; our guests even commented to us on how helpful they always were. The warm cookies in the lobby each day never hurt, either! If I could live at the Empress, I would. :-) read more

At its core, the Empress is a barebones hotel that offers comfortable accommodation, a half-decent continental breakfast and access to a great neighborhood: La Jolla Village. You can find fancier hotels in this area and pay extra money for a higher thread count in your sheets. But things here are very definitely A-OK, and the personnel are friendly. The lobby area looks nice, and there's usually a bowl of apples at the check-in desk. One evening I even saw some cookies. The rooms have complimentary WiFi, which I measured at about 0.5Mbps. This is fast enough for routine business but not "high speed." Inside my closet I discovered a small personal refrigerator and a microwave. If you're not happy with the coffee, waffles and hardboiled eggs for breakfast, you can go across to the Brick and Mortar (actually, the Brick and Bell) Cafe on Silverado. That's a happening place, and the pastries looked pretty good to me. read more

I wanted to give it three stars due to the location, but just about everything else is mediocre. It feels like the hotel is unsuccessfully trying to pose as a more upscale hotel. The front and lobby of the hotel looks nice, but that's about it. The rest of the building seems pretty old. The room felt very humid even though the AC was on and it wasn't nearly as humid outside. At times, I just opted to open the window and let in some fresh air. I was in a hurry to a meeting, but the bit of breakfast I had was good. There is no parking nearby (other than 2hr parking), but the valet service was pretty quick. Even though the location is good, there aren't good, quick late night restaurant options. We opted to drive into San Diego for In N Out and Domino's rather than one of the full-service restaurants. read more

Before we even arrived, we knew the service would be fantastic. We must have called at least 3 times with various questions and Ryan was always helpful and patient. When we arrived, everyone was friendly. The location is lovely, close to the beach and within walking distance of an outdoor mall and multiple restaurants. The room was clean. There was free coffee and water in our room, and housekeeping dropped off a welcome card with chocolates. We had two queen beds, both of which were comfortable. The breakfast was small, but everything was fresh. We enjoyed our stay here and would recommend it to other travelers. Don't forget your AAA discount! read more

Great spa room! Let's you enjoy the comfort of a bath while watching tv and your love sleep. Conveniently located in central La Jolla. Short walk to great restaurants, coffee shops and bars. read more

Wow! It is possible to find a hotel where customer service is still a priority! We stayed here for our 7th wedding anniversary. I went strictly by the amazing reviews that I found on trip advisor and yelp. And I'm thankful I did! We arrived on a day when there was a huge rain storm! Needless to say our plans for hiking, until we could check in, were dashed! We arrived at the Empress and Ryan was at the front desk. We explained our situation and he was able to get us an early check in! Yippee! Ryan was personable, friendly, and went above and beyond to ensure that we were pleased! We were equally impressed by the young man who was the valet! He was working hard in the pouring rain, and made sure that our car got parked before our time expired on the spot where we self-parked! Our room was on the 5th floor. We were amazed at how quiet it was. The room was cozy, done in shades of calming blues, browns & creams. Our bed was so cushy & the pillows were heavenly! The shower was UH-MAZING, rain shower style but with a stronger pressure! We had a great view from our room (#508). The location of the Empress was A+! We walked everywhere, all of our meals, to the beach, and shopping! We were close to everything! It was so relaxing we didn't want to come home :) But alas our weekend had to come to an end. We will most definitely be back! Thank you Ryan & staff for an awesome anniversary weekend! read more

Empress Hotel La Jolla - A room with a view, room 508 - Hotels Near Me - La Jolla, California

Very friendly staff and services. Walking distance to so many great places to shop and eat. read more

Empress Hotel La Jolla - Very nice bed and robe - Hotels Near Me - La Jolla, California

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We're giving this a 5 b/c we paid $60 a night (!) for it on Priceline- if we'd paid full price, we probably would have given it a 4. When we asked about parking before we arrived (it was $17 or so a night to valet) they helpfully suggested parking on the street overnight which worked just fine. We were out by 9 am every day sightseeing anyway and that saved us a bunch of $. The breakfast was pretty good- cereal, bread, yogurt, juice, etc. but a fair selection of each. Beds were quite comfortable and room was very nice. We had a view of the street rather than ocean but not a big deal. Free internet in their business center, which you have to pay for at many hotels at this comfort level. The business center was open 24 hours, too. We loved the location in La Jolla- it was great to able to walk around and shop right in the area. We didn't eat in the hotel restaurant (Italian food), but it seemed quite popular and smelled good. We'd definitely stay here again. read more

I stayed here the weekend of my wedding and had a wonderful experience. I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by name at the front desk as I arrived to check in. While the lobby is small, it is beautiful with the dark wood and pretty blue couches. The room itself was honestly nothing too special but was still nice and had comfy beds. I think it's a bummer though that our room only had a window and no balcony to enjoy the gorgeous San Diego weather. The bathroom was very nice and had little cubbies underneath the sink which came in handy with four girls trying to get ready at the same time. It was convenient to each have somewhere to put our toiletries. The glass shower was large and had great water pressure. One downfall was the door. The door slides closed and doesn't have a lock. The first time I went to open the door, it wouldn't budge and I thought I was somehow locked inside. Come to find out, the door is magnetized so we had to pull extra hard each time we wanted to get out. Also, the handle on the outside of the bathroom door came unscrewed on one end and just hung there. One morning we needed some extra towels so we called room service. Within two minutes, they were at our door with new, fresh towels. Speedy service! The continental breakfast was nice and included waffles, yogurt, apples, hard-boiled eggs, muffins and danishes, and cereal as well as juice. There is a nice little patio to sit out on while you enjoy your breakfast too. As others have mentioned though, the main room where breakfast is served is tiny and a bit odd. I was expecting breakfast to be located somewhere near the lobby, but instead it's located on the second floor next to a hotel room. I would have given this hotel five stars if it weren't for the bathroom door issue and the painfully slow elevators. While the Empress isn't the most pricey hotel in La Jolla, it is still a nicer hotel and those few things should be maintained. I still absolutely loved my stay there. I didn't have a car and was able to walk everywhere... to a nail salon, to Vons (grocery store), to the beach, and tons of little restaurants and stores. You could even see the ocean from our window. If only they had those balconies... :) read more

We used this hotel for our wedding weekend, and we practically filled the entire hotel with our guests. The rates and location were fantastic. We got free suites because we had so many rooms in our block. Somer took great care of us and was very responsive during the planning process. She answered my numerous requests to swap people's reservations based on room styles, rates, etc. They were very accommodating when we needed to store lots of boxes with gift bags and alcohol a few days early. I didn't eat in the restaurant, but my dad said they had the best veal marsala. They offered my groom and me all kinds of little perks and we really loved it. (This review is part of my Yelp List of Wedding Vendors) read more

I booked this hotel last minute for work, after reading good reviews on Tripadvisor. To be honest, I was a little disappointed when I arrived. No one was outside at the valet area to assist me with my car and luggage, although I semi-parked. I guess you are supposed to "park" in the loading zone and go check in before they valet your car. I also was not impressed with the staff checking me in, as they were not friendly at all... not even a fake smile! I believe front-desk staff, especially those checking people in, need to excel in the area of customer service. However, my room was excellent. A big comfy bed, free bottled water and wifi, and free deluxe continental breakfast. The breakfast was actually really good for it being "free". They have a selection of pastries/baked goods, instant oatmeal for you health-conscious travelers, the coffee was delicious and strong, a variety of teas, Dannon yogurt (i thought it was interesting they also offered Dannon Activia), and hardboiled eggs. The outdoor patio is sooo relaxing, it makes you want to skip work. I would give the Empress 3 stars because my experience was okay, and the name and font used throughout the hotel sort of gave me chinese restaurant flashbacks. However, the view is AHMAYYYZING. If you have the chance and the moolah, definitely book a room with an ocean view because the sunset is oh so gorgeous. read more

Fantastic cozy place to stay for the weekend. I live here in La Jolla and enjoy doing staycations around La Jolla staying in and enjoying the luxuries of local hotels. This time I chose The empress hotel. Luxury with a beach twist. Everything you need within walking distance and the restaurant inside the hotel is fantastic. I believe it's the manhattan. Wonderful wine lounge. Special thanks to the front desk staff and general Manager Joel. read more

I was able to get a pretty good rate since the end of January seems to be their slower rate. I checked into the Empress for a "staycation" since I had been in a rough patch the past few weeks. Staff: Seemed to be very friendly. My reservations were not showing up, so it wasn't a smooth transition. I ended up having to call my credit card company. Not complaining though, the girl was as nice as she could be. She was new as well. Everything got straightened out and I got my room keys. Whenever I would return from somewhere, I would get a greeting from the front desk. Even going up the stairs to my room an employee said "hello" I took an apple from the front desk. It wasn't very fresh (bummer) Only keep the best of apples at the front desk please, makes a difference. Room: The sheets were good quality and comfy. Down comforter as suspected. The room felt more like an actual room than a hotel room. It was what I just needed for the day. I needed the room to feel like I was in a home, but somewhere where I could get some work done. Free Wifi which was a bonus. I had a window that allowed me to look outside and check out what was going on close to the Brick and Bell Cafe and the gym. So as I was working on paperwork, I could glance outside and still feel cozy. I had a small fridge, a microwave, a safety box, a nice round table to do my work on, a flat screen tv, and a heater which was important. Bathroom: Only disappointment, no bathtub :( I only had a shower, but it was a good shower with spa like tiles. Amenities were more upscale (not San Francisco Company) The mirror had a light and there was a fan feature for the post shower. It was clean. I'm not sure if the maid staff cleaned the room well as there were coffee remnants on the table where my tv stood. I gave a nice courteous call, but noticed it wasn't wiped down even the next day when maid service came in. I did however request that my room be cleaned by the time I got back and it definitely was. Breakfast: They have a waffle maker. The waffles were great! They had Santa Barbara Coffee Company coffee and mugs, cream, the sugar fixings etc. They had some pastries, hard boiled eggs, a tv in the breakfast room and various fruits and cereals. But if you are vacationing in La Jolla, you have to literally walk down to the Cottage. WONDERFUL BREAKFAST SPOT. Parking: It worked out for me. I was there on Sunday night, parking is free on the streets in La Jolla. Marking of tires doesn't start till 8:00 A.M., so I just went and got coffee at Brick and Bell, came back and checked my car. It was good for 2 hours (till 10:00) which I checked out around that time anyways. If you don't live in La Jolla, there are parking options (garages around) but if you are local and know the whole situation, then you can pretty much park for free by figuring out what streets run street cleaning, etc. At night on a Friday/Saturday it could get pretty noisy because the Manhattan goes off downstairs. I was right above the restaurant, but I was so tired I crashed anyways. Will definitely stay again if they run specials! By the way, the Manhattan is great to go and hang out at! Feels like you are in a speakeasy. Dark, with lounge act songs like Tony Bennett or Frank Sinatra songs :) read more

This was my first wknd away from my daughter and I stayed here for a friends wedding. I'm still breastfeeding and the hotel could not have been more accommodating. Every time I pumped they graciously took the milk and froze it for me. Customer service was great. read more

I really enjoyed my stay at the Empress. It was close enough to the main area of La Jolla that we could walk, the service was great, and the suite we were upgraded to was very spacious. The front desk personnel was very accommodating and held our luggage after check-out so we could leave our car in valet and do a bit more walking around before having to leave to go home. I'd stay here again. The only thing I'd like to see is some updated decor. I could tell they tried, but it still seemed like it was very 90s-esque and a little dark considering they're near the beach. I'd have more grays and light blues and greens to give it more of a spa/boutique hotel vibe. read more

You get a lot of bang for your buck here. It's close to a lot of attractions/restaurants/etc. in La Jolla, and is an easy drive from the freeway if you want to venture beyond La Jolla. Not to mention that you get a complimentary continental breakfast, robes and slippers, a spacious shower (no tub unless you get a jacuzzi room), a tablet in the room (for room service, scheduling cleanings, requesting late check-out, and any additional toiletries, etc., you may need) and comfy digs. Me gusta. This is definitely a boutique hotel, in terms of size, amenities, and interactions with staff. The room was average-sized, if not a bit smaller. But, it was just perfect for the boyfriend and I. Our particular favorite things were: the shower (not claustrophobic feeling), the padded headboard (when pillows just don't cut it when you're sitting up in bed), the robes and slippers (our room faced the street, so modesty is a must), and....the turndown chocolates! Granted, the knock on your door at about 7 p.m. can scare the bejeezus out of you if you're not expecting it - but it's all good. I mean....chocolate. Who doesn't like free chocolate just handed to them? The staff are very friendly and do go out of their way to make your stay an exceptional one. Valet (or, employees at the front desk acting as valets) was always prompt. So was room service (both for our dinner and for requesting extra towels after the shower leaked a lot the first time). After the shower leak (door did not seem to suction well), we needed more towels after mopping up the floor so a request was put in for *bath* towels on the tablet within a 15-30 minute timeframe. Not even 10 minutes later, someone showed up at our door and handed us *hand* towels. It made for a good laugh afterwards. Additionally, we ordered dinner from the restaurant downstairs, and asked for it within 30 minutes. It was at our door in less than 15 minutes. We were seriously impressed. Only minus of this hotel is that when the heat was turned on during a chillier night it smelled smoky, as if it had not been turned on in months. But, given the otherwise stellar stay, this was a minor annoyance. If we come back to the area, we'll definitely stay here again! read more

Would recommend?: Oh yes! My wife and I stayed here for a wedding, and it was a really great place to stay. Everyone is friendly, willing to lend a hand and help us figure out where to go. We even got to check in way early because we arrived right from the airport (and you can store your luggage there if you can't check-in early/check-out late) - which was just what we needed after getting up early for our flight. The rooms are nice and spacious, with a chair and a couch that are both comfortable enough. The turndown service was a nice touch - and a bit of a surprise when we came back our first night (usually that's not something you get in this price range). It seems that the hotel may have recently gone through a remodel, so everything felt fairly new. The continental breakfast was fine - though I would probably suggest eating just enough there to get you through to brunch at a local restaurant. read more

This was our first time staying at Empress Hotel and we could not be more satisfied! Upon checking-in, the employees at the front desk were very friendly and the valet guy offered to take our luggage up to our room without any hesitation. The rooms are very new and up-to-date and there was a tablet on the nightstand that you are able to request your car to have ready when you leave and you can request to have your room cleaned at a certain time if you wanted to. Those were both very useful for us! The hotel is located about 10 mins walking distance from La Jolla beach which was very convient because we didn't not have to drive and deal with traffic and finding a parking spot. After our stay, I got home and realized I had forgot a usb connecter for my phone. I gave the hotel a call and Ryan was able to locate it and offered to send it back to me without any hesitation! Exceptional service and we will definitely be staying here for our future visits to San Diego. Thank you Empress Hotel staff! read more

What a great find!! My sister and I came to SD to visit my nephew in college. We searched for an inexpensive place to stay and truly were surprised when we fell upon this quaint, clean, charming affordable hotel. Ryan, at the front desk, was very accommodating, friendly and helpful! He was full of suggestions and tips. Kyle, the valet/bellman was also accommodating and friendly! The room we had was newly remodeled....great amenities. The continental breakfast was served in a beautiful courtyard. I will definitely be back with my husband!! read more