San Diego US Grant Hotel Transcends Time

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For close to a century, the US Grant Hotel in San Diego has maintained unwavering popularity due to its commanding presence and historic appeal, but its renovated digs are giving new-kid-on-the-block swanky Downtown hangouts a run for their money.

Downtown San Diego has certainly gone through a major face-lift in recent years, from the revamping of the Gaslamp Quarter's hotels and businesses to the edgy, cool-as-ice hotspots that now line its streets. Among the hyper-chic boutique hotels and hip rooftop watering holes, where often the trendier upgrades the better, the landmark US Grant Hotel has also done its share of sprucing up. The Grant has turned its attention to renovating and recapturing the luxurious allure and opulent grandeur of the past.

Having recently undergone a two-year, floor-to-ceiling makeover orchestrated by an internationally renowned team of interior designers, architects and craftsman, the US Grant Hotel has succeeded in turning back the hands of time - providing its visitors with a nostalgic look at the sophisticated architecture and elegant décor of yesteryear, while supplying all the modern amenities one would expect from a 21st century, 5-star metropolitan hotel.

Built in 1910 by Ulysses S. Grant Jr. to honor his father, the nation's 18th president, the 11-story US Grant Hotel has been a rest-stop to patrons such as Charles Lindbergh, John F. Kennedy and more than a dozen other US presidents. The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation bought the lavish hotel for $45 million in 2003 and has since spent an unprecedented $56 million on an upscale, all encompassing urban renovation. From the moment you enter the lobby, the grandiose setting absorbs your senses and seems to transcend time.

A grand piano fills the dramatic surroundings with lush sound. The lobby's original chandeliers - cascading from the ceilings in radiant elegance - have been restored and enlarged to exemplify their significant detail and opulence. Further tapping into the historic vein that runs throughout the hotel, the lobby's cultural center pays homage to the 12,000 year-old history of Native American tribes that thrived throughout Southern California. This cultural focal point displays authentic Indian artifacts and other period pieces from this era.

The period-rich details of the US Grant are pervasive throughout every guest room, ballroom and common area. Windows are wide, hallways are narrow, and thick, intricate molding line the ceilings and floors. Guests are immersed in luxury with each step they take; imported, custom wool carpets and silky rugs cover the ground while stone, marble and exotic woods weave a classic architectural tapestry. Antiquity also meets technology at the Grant: the hotel houses 22 state-of-the-art meeting rooms and a prestigious 9,300-square foot Presidential Ballroom that is the definitive venue for unsurpassed event accommodations.

Empire-era furnishings kissed with contemporary flair adorn every inch of the hotel's 270 guest rooms and 47 suites. Guest rooms showcase natural, elegant tones, white-on-white Italian linens on plush, pillow-top beds, marble baths and exclusive French and Native American commissioned art by noted French artist Yves Clement and White House-showcased artist Gene Locklear. The addition of 32" flat screen plasma TV's, cordless phones and WiFi capability provides for the ultimate experience in superior luxury and modern sophistication.

The Grant's Signature Suites feature two king beds, a six-shower-head shower and accommodate in-room spa treatments provided by the hotel's Spa Velia specialists. For the pinnacle in privacy and luxury, two multi-level Presidential Suites offer a private master bedroom, lower level living room and separate formal dining room and, along with the exquisite11th floor Penthouse Presidential Suite, provide sweeping aerial views of Downtown.

For dining, the legendary Grant Grill serves up an enticing and sophisticated culinary experience. The award-winning restaurant features California cuisine infused with authentic native flair; the vibrant and earthy spices drench the menu in flavor - entrée highlights include Executive Chef Mark Kropczynksi's succulent venison tenderloin and market-fresh jumbo diver scallops.

The Grill also features a growing wine list from regional wineries and offers rich stout from local breweries. Part of the renovation to enhance its decades of history, the Grant Grill and Lounge is set amid dark woods and smooth, creamy leather. Contemporary public tables and booths are available as well as the Grill's Vault Dining Room, when the mood calls for a more private, intimate fare.

Adjacent to Horton Plaza and minutes from Seaport Village, the San Diego Zoo and Lindberg Field Airport, the US Grant Hotel in San Diego remains a cultural landmark that has reinvented itself yet stayed true to its historic roots. And that may prove to be the hippest makeover of all.