Welcome the Second-Coming of Style in Point Loma: The Pearl Hotel
Published : 09/24/2007 by Michelle Guerin
It's no secret that luxury boutique hotels define the new standard of hospitality in San Diego. In years past, Downtown San Diego officially reconfigured hotel circle. Posh suites and comfortable accommodations are no longer enough. Deep within the Gaslamp Quarter, The Keating Hotel, The Ivy, and Hotel Solamar broke the chain. All-encompassing independent hotels complete with restaurants and nightlife are modernizing geometry and moving the focus downtown.
North of the boutique craze, Point Loma dining and hospitality options fall a few feet under par. This bayside community is currently home to a host of outdated motels down Rosecrans and chain restaurants within Liberty Station. Although the vintage appeal charms, a looming potential whispers it's time to transform.
Discover a new Point Loma, beginning with The Pearl Hotel. This 1960-70s Palm Springs and Los Angeles vintage-inspired boutique hotel solely represents the future of Point Loma: down to earth, up with style. The Pearl Hotel recently re-opened the familiar doors of The Sportsman's Lodge with a new twist. Affordable mid-century luxe is the vision of The Pearl; to be everything to everyone and to offer hospitality and dining alternatives to Downtown.
Don't expect electric lights or a gaudy exterior down Rosecrans; The Pearl boutique hotel maintains the original motel frame, offering a timeless contrast of then and now in Point Loma. Through the unassuming entryway, guests are transported within the shell of an oyster. The gentle hues and textures are surprisingly stunning. Shades of pink, seafoam green, teal, and ivory against rich brown wood and soft coral shag carpet communicate a bayside elegance both innate and new to Point Loma.
The intimate lobby introduces 23 classic suites. Although designated in three signature designs, no two suites are the same. The unique vision of The Pearl resonates in The Strand, The Jewel, and The Gem. Guest rooms feature wall-mounted LCD televisions with HBO, Roku SoundBridge Radio Wi-Fi Music Players, custom tile and wallpaper mosaic décor by Michael Soriano, luxury bed linens atop platform beds made of English walnut with steel accents, Spa H20 Plus bath accessories, and more--starting at only $159.
The Pearl adds a personalized touch to each suite with a one of a kind piece of art and an in-room pet. The Pearl showcases original work from ARTS, A Reason to Survive, a local program that empowers underprivileged youth with art. In addition to meaningful art, each guest is greeted by Sza Sza, Bruce Lee, Flo, or one of the many Japanese Fighting Fish that inhabit the suites. Housed in petite mounted glass bowls, these hotel-friendly pets accompany you throughout your stay.
The Pearl invites you to live large and live well in The Strand, the superior suite that soothes guests with spacious indoor/outdoor leisure space, high-speed internet, and the freedom of luxury. The Pearl offers four Stands so you're never left stranded.
The Jewel is the everyman suite, designed for reliable, dependable aspiring Hollywood stars. Without hyper-glam fixation, The Jewel's charisma excels in understated luxe. The Pearl features seventeen Jewels.
Similar to a pearl, The Gem is a rare evocative suite that attracts the eye with compact cool design. The bachelor-charm locks in guests with a 42-inch wall-mounted LCD television with complimentary X-Box gaming, suede wall cushions, and a mobile laptop desk. Stand in line pal, The Pearl offers only two Gems.
The Pearl Hotel re-imagines San Diego hotel guest interaction. With original architecture designed to enhance a community atmosphere, Pearl guests are encouraged to explore the indoor/outdoor lounge and restaurant with no rules and no restrictions. Without interior or exterior divides, poolside cabana seating, amenities, and entertainment at The Pearl are open to all, from sunrise to sunset and beyond.
From rich shades to strong textures, the indoor/outdoor poolside lounge exudes a positive energy without overwhelming the senses. Inside, embedded stone pillars from the original motel speak deep blue, pink, tan, and shades of seafoam green. The found artwork plays with soft coral shag carpet topped with oversized pillows and wooden chess boards. Outside, vintage meets tropical with the communal poolside cabana lounge. Cushioned seats within whicker frames come to life with understated modern décor, rich green plants, and ambient rhythms. Although posh in appearance, nightlife (and day-life) at The Pearl radiates with warmth and accessibility.
The Restaurant at The Pearl introduces independent dining to Point Loma. Elegant and affordable, this eclectic neighborhood bistro promises to be everything to everyone. From everyday business lunches to special occasion dinners, the well-rounded global menu at The Pearl offers a plethora of traditional and avant-garde dishes to please all. Consulting Chef Corey Heath created a versatile menu with Cuban, Asian, Italian, and Spanish influences. This classic and contemporary menu, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, is full of familiar favorites and exotic surprises.
Says Corey Heath, "We are the new kid in town. We're the only restaurant in Point Loma that offers this kind of cuisine in this kind of setting."
The Pearl Hotel is the brainchild of L.W.P. Group, a San Diego based commercial and real estate developing company with roots in San Diego restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels such as Onyx and Thin. Greg Strangman saw The Pearl's potential in the original bones of the building, and has seamlessly executed his vision into the Point Loma community.
Says Gerald "Dex" Poindexter, "Greg is a visionary guy, he always finds beauty. This is a community destination. The Pearl is an amalgam of experience--from Palm Spring to Los Angeles to San Diego. Travelers want an out of the box experience--to stay where the locals stay, eat where the locals eat, and see what the locals see."
The Pearl Hotel is an innovation in the San Diego bayside neighborhood, beginning what seams to be, the second-coming of style and luxury in Point Loma.
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