For an affordable, millennial-chic motel experience, you can’t get much better than the Pearl. First built in 1959, this 23-room roadside property in Point Loma has been given a fresh coat of paint and modern upgrades courtesy of Casetta, a design-forward boutique hotel brand that prides itself on sustainability and attentive service. Despite touches like Parachute sheets and organic bath products by MoonCloth, the end result here can’t completely hide its no-frill roots. While front desk service, also available by text, is friendly and prompt, the guestrooms are quite small and lack some of the creature comforts associated with hotels. For instance, the half wall showers lack shelving for personal toiletries. There’s also no coffee maker or mini fridge available in each room. (And though they’re supposed to be standard in all but the “Mini Pearl” configurations, my room lacked a full-length mirror. I was in town for a wedding and wanted to see how my outfit looked, which rendered the mirror’s absence all the more noticeable.)
Though it was clear from the minute I stepped onto the property that the Pearl was a converted motel, I tried to keep an open mind over the course of the weekend. During my first morning, I enjoyed the complimentary breakfast, which includes specialty drip coffee from Casetta’s in-house brand and high-quality loose-leaf tea. We appreciated the Pearl’s one EV charging spot (which comes with complimentary parking), though I can imagine there can be a tussle between guests if more than one EV driver is on the premises. In the interest of sustainability, the hotel only offers housekeeping every other day, which translated to us running out of fresh towels during our two-night stay. The most frustrating aspect of the Pearl by far was the unreliable hotel keys—over the course of my two-night stay, my keycard stopped working no less than five times, forcing me or my partner to visit the front desk for a replacement. One key from the first pair of keys we were handed didn’t work from the outset.
The Pearl’s saving grace is its on-site restaurant, Ponyboy, which holds court over the hotel’s oyster-shaped saltwater pool. Run by alumni of San Diego’s Addison, the only three-star Michelin restaurant in Southern California, the restaurant offers killer happy hour (4–5pm) and dinner menus best described as “retro with a twist.” Mexican and Asian influences are cleverly threaded into mid-century American dishes like ambrosia (topped with Tajín seasoning) and grasshopper pie (which features pandan instead of mint). On my visit, I particularly enjoyed shareable cheese fondue, supplemented with delicious steak cut fries seasoned with malt vinegar, and the craggy-crusted chicken Kiev, the inside of which contained a treasure trove of truffle butter. The seasonal drinks are equally fabulous. For those who arrive ultra-early, happy hour brings $1 oysters, $3 mini hot dogs and a selection of four classic cocktails for $11 each.
Given the (usually) reasonable nightly price, I’d still recommend the Pearl for anyone looking for a relatively affordable stay in a quieter part of San Diego far away from the chaos of downtown. Just be sure to leave your traditional expectations around hotels at the door—this is essentially a glorified motel.
Neighborhood
Point Loma is a sleepy, fairly residential neighborhood that’s within walking distance of the water. However, the central location means you’re only a short drive away from Little Italy or Downtown San Diego and the Gaslamp Quarter, or farther north to La Jolla.
Nearby
Mitch’s Seafood: A casual all-day spot that offers a picturesque waterfront view with a sliver of the downtown skyline. Highlights include the locally caught grilled fish sandwiches, seafood cocktails and Baja-style fish tacos.
Liberty Station: This former naval training center is now the sprawling mixed-use home of bars, shops, art galleries and popular food hall Liberty Public Market.
Sunset Cliffs Beach: As the name conveys, a great place to visit in the late afternoon, but you can also come any time of day for hiking, surfing and exploring the area’s numerous tidepools and sea caves.
Time Out tip
Bring your toiletries in a Dopp bag if you have one—the bathrooms offer next-to-no counter space but there are several hooks on offer.