Located next to the legendary Torrey Pines Golf Course, the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines is a classic California hotel in one of the most beloved enclaves of San Diego.
Sure, the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines is a legend in and of itself, but does it stand the test of time?
Review: Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines (San Diego, CA)
Click here for the 1 King Guest Room walkthrough at Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
Image: hilton.com
Location
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines is located between the neighborhood of La Jolla and the Torrey Pines State Reserve (which is known for its many hiking trails and ocean views).
The hotel is located 15 miles North of San Diego International Airport, right next to the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course.
Image: hilton.com
Parking
As far as parking goes, the valet parking option will run you $45 per night, while the self-parking option will run you $35 per night (but the parking is in a covered parking garage).
The valet parking area
The entrance to the self-parking garage.
Hilton Honors Booking
During our stay at Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, we opted to pay the cash rate of $210.70 per night instead of using Hilton Honors points because we were able to stack an Amex offer for $50 off of $200 and the Hilton Aspire American Express card’s $250 resort credit.
This hotel charged a resort fee of $32 per night.
Hilton Honors Diamond Status Benefits
As a Hilton Honors Diamond Member, the benefits I should have received at Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines were an upgrade to a preferred room (if available), 1000 Hilton honors bonus points per stay, and a daily food and beverage credit of $12 per person.
While I did receive the bonus points and the food and beverage credits, I was not given a meaningful room upgrade.
Front Desk & Check-In
Although we arrived late, we found a dedicated line for Hilton Honors members that afforded us a quick check-in.
We were greeted and recognized for our Hilton Honors Diamond status, and before I could say anything, we were handed the keys to our room.
Diamond Member Room Upgrade
None.
First Impression
My first impression of the hotel was that it was far larger than I anticipated, and that it appeared it was a popular spot for conventions and weddings (as there were several going on at any given time during our stay).
From the exterior of the hotel alone, one could easily be mistaken that this was an ultra-high-end property like a Waldorf Astoria or a Ritz-Carlton.
However, moving inward from the public spaces and convention hallways, it was apparent the actual lodging portion of the hotel was a little bit dated and was showing its age.
Hallway
Room Entrance
The moment I arrived to the room, that overall feeling of upscale luxury slipped away fast.
I was instantly reminded this wasn’t a Waldorf Astoria, this was a Hilton. And that’s, OK. This Hilton was perhaps punching above its weight to begin with.
That is one smudgy door
Bedroom
With my expectations properly adjusted, I began my inspection of the room, and I’m pleased to report the room appeared to be very clean, although there were some visible signs of significant wear and tear on the furniture.
Although not a true upgrade, the room we received was large and came with the standard amenities you would find in any Hilton, although it was a little disappointing to see a very basic coffee machine.
The king bed was comfortable, and there were plenty of USB and standard electrical outlets.
Living Area
Mystery stain on the lampshade
Room Amenities
Closet
Bathroom
The bathroom was perhaps one of the nicest features of the room; it was well-lit, cleaned to a shine, and stocked with the Crabtree & Evelyn Verbena and Lavender line of toiletries.
Balcony
The room’s balcony was a decent size, although the view from the room was a muted garden view.
View From The Room
Room Condition
This is one of the most worn-down chairs I’ve ever seen
Torreyana Grille
Image: hilton.com
Breakfast Menu 
Breakfast At Torreyana Grille
We opted to use our $12 per person Diamond Member food and beverage credit for breakfast at Torreyana Restaurant.
We went with the country scrambled eggs ($19) and the ham egg and cheese croissant ($16).
Both dishes were good, but certainly not great.
And yes, as you can see from the pictures, these dishes were certainly overpriced.
This was $19. Missing that free U.S. Hilton Diamond breakfast benefit yet? I am!
This was $16
Torreyana Grille Dinner Menu
The Property Interior
The Property Exterior
Wait, it this the Waldorf Astoria?
Image: hilton.com
Walking The Trail Next To Torrey Pines Golf Course
Swimming Pool
Image: hilton.com
Image: hilton.com
Torrey Pines Golf Course
One day baby, one day. Image: hilton.com
The Bottom-Line Review: Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines (San Diego, CA)
Honestly, our stay at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines was not bad at all.
It certainly has a lot of things going for it, like its location in San Diego, its proximity to La Jolla, Torrey Pines, and the Torrey Pines golf course, and its beautiful exterior and hotel grounds. It’s easy to see why this is a popular place for weddings and conventions.
Now, for the negatives: I wasn’t blown away by the service, the lack of room upgrades for Diamond Members, and the “just OK” breakfast we had at Torreyana Grille. The interior of the hotel was dated and heavily trafficked, and the rooms had noticeable wear and tear.
With all that said, this is probably one of the nicer Hilton properties in California, but I just can’t help from thinking that with some modest interior decorative upgrades and room refreshes, the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines could easily be one of the crown jewels of the Hilton brand ( and easily compete with a property like the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach).
I can easily recommend the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines to golfers, convention goers, destination-wedding parties, and couples looking for a staycation.
Final Rating: 7.75 out of 10
