Carte Hotel San Diego Downtown, Curio Collection By Hilton
9
Exceptional469 reviews
ParkingSelf parking (surcharge)Secured parkingRestaurantSwimming poolHeated pool
Check-in / Check-out
From 04:00 PM · Until 11:00 AM
Classification
4-Star Hotel
Amenities
Electric bicycle charging station, Fitness facilities (surcharge), Parking, Non-smoking rooms, Air conditioning, Swimming pool
Location
San Diego, us
Luxurious Amenities
Carte Hotel San Diego Downtown, Curio Collection By Hilton offers air-conditioned rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, free WiFi, and a fitness centre. Guests can also enjoy the sauna, hot tub, and sun terrace for ultimate relaxation.
Dining and Entertainment
Indulge in the hotel's restaurant or unwind in the shared lounge. With city views available in some rooms, guests can savor a memorable dining experience while taking in the sights.
Convenient Location
Situated in the heart of San Diego, this hotel provides easy access to popular attractions like the Maritime Museum and USS Midway Museum. The reception is ready to assist with area information, ensuring a seamless stay.
Book your stay at Carte Hotel San Diego Downtown, Curio Collection By Hilton for a luxurious and convenient experience.
Check-in from 04:00 PM. Check-out by 11:00 AM. Early check-in and late checkout may be available upon request.
Cancellation
Cancellation terms vary by rate. Flexible rates allow free cancellation up to 24–48 hours before arrival. Non-refundable rates cannot be canceled or modified.
Payment
All prices are all-inclusive with taxes and fees. A valid credit card is required at check-in. No additional resort or service fees will apply.
Important Information
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
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CARTE HOTEL SAN DIEGO DOWNTOWN, CURIO COLLECTION BY HILTON
Guest Reviews
What Guests Say
9.0
Exceptional
469 reviews
Highlights
+Great service
+Friendly staff
+Clean rooms
+Excellent location
Could Improve
–Issues with food quality
–Pool and jacuzzi problems
–Some maintenance concerns
Cleanliness8.6
The hotel was clean and quiet, although there were mentions of some maintenance issues.
Service9.6
The staff was super friendly, amazing, and provided excellent service.
Location9.7
Great location within walking distance of Little Italy and the waterfront.
Room Quality9.1
Rooms were spacious, clean, and well-equipped, albeit some mentioned cold temperatures.
Amenities9.1
Gym amenities were exceptional, although the pool area had some limitations.
Value for Money8.6
Some concerns about additional charges and questionable food quality.
Food and Beverage7.6
Horrible breakfast experience noted; overall not impressive.
Overall Experience9.6
Enjoyable stay with great service and location, despite some issues.
Andrew
Solo Traveller · Apr 2026
10
Liked:Staff, Gym
Disliked:Not always water in the room
via Nuitee
John
Extended Group · Apr 2026
10
Enjoyed my stay
Liked:Great hotel, very clean and comfortable. Would recommend.
via Nuitee
53robl
Family · Apr 2026
6
A Decent Basecamp, Not a Destination
Liked:This Curio property lives up to the standard in some important ways, but also falls short in others. Overall, I found it to be a very average stay...a hotel that wasn't unpleasant to stay at, but one in which I wouldn't go out of my way to stay at again. I'll try to be level headed in my review, in order to be of maximum usefulness to future travelers.
Let's get the obvious out of the way, and the complaint that seems to come up the most in previous reviews. Parking is, in fact, valet only, and very expensive ($70/night). If you look around at other downtown hotels, you'll find very similar parking rates per night. That's the San Diego market. That can be easily mitigated by using an app like SpotHero. We found a rate, within 2 blocks, for the entire week at about the same cost as one night of valet at the hotel. Our first night we were arriving late, and I used the valet to ease the check in process, so having the option is nice.
The other big online complaint is the price of the food at the restaurant. I tend to agree with the assessment here. Food is very high for the quality ($7 black coffee, $18 stack of pancakes) and seems to be management's attempt to turn a profit despite the $15 destination credit everyone gets (which can ONLY be used at the restaurant) and the up to $30 Gold and Diamond member credits ($15/ per person, up to 2 people, that can be used at the restaurant or the snack shop). I'll only mention this one, because it's been discussed at length and more eloquently elsewhere, that I find it endlessly frustrating that some of these hotels join a loyalty system in order to benefit from the consumers who are loyal to that hotel system, but have no intention of offering any real value to those consumers. This hotel is the epitome of that philosophy.
The property itself is nice. The lobby is open and inviting. There are some nice features that add interest, like the leaves from Balboa Park that are imprinted in the patio outside the front doors. The restaurant space, also on the first floor, is bright from the numerous windows that look out onto the street. I used points to stay on an upper floor, 2 queens. Despite there being a slightly larger corner room available for our entire stay at the time of check in, this upgrade was not offered (again, don't expect much in the way of status benefits here, that's not the vibe). I was traveling with my two 11 year olds for five nights, and the room was plenty comfortable for us. It's wasn't particularly large, but the space was used well, with coffee maker (KCups), refrigerator, and safe. There were a few signs of wear and tear, but nothing that was egregious. And the bathroom was fantastic.... definitely larger than many downtown hotel rooms, with a glass enclosed shower that felt high end. It was great to have extra space in the bathroom, especially with an 11 year old girl that brought her entire skin care regimen!
The hotel is also in a great location, only a few blocks from Little Italy and the Embarcadero. It was great to be able to leave in the morning and be within a few minutes walk of numerous restaurants and the waterfront. There is also a gym attached to the hotel, and a full sized, class-providing one at that. It's a major selling point, and for good reason. If you want to maintain a workout on your trip, this hotel delivers. Unfortunately, I was traveling with little ones, and the gym only allowes adults 18 and older to work out, which makes sense considering the membership clientele, but something to take note of.
There is also a pool on the fourth floor, although this was closed most of the week we were there. This was not posted on the website, and so was disappointing to discover upon arriving. I informed the manager who reached out via text midweek, Jordan, that it felt like a bit of a scam to sell rooms without notifying potential customers of a significant closure. After some initial corporate speak (Anything we can do to Make It Right at this moment?), he responded back in a very human and friendly way, explaining way it had not been posted on the website. I appreciated that bit of real connection, especially since so many of my other interactions felt like I was nothing but a dollar.
The pool actually opened the last day we were there, and it was very nice. My kids and I had fun splashing around and playing Marco Polo, which was easy because the entire pool is fairly shallow. There is also a very large hot tub, as well.
I loved the fact the housekeeping showed up daily, and did a really nice job of cleaning our room. The counter to that, though, was the overall cheap feel of many of the in room amenities, like the toilet paper and bath towels, both of which are most accurately described as rough and thin.
Upon checkout, the very neutral front desk young lady asked if she should send the bill via email. She seemed slightly perturbed when I asked to have it printed, and more so when I pointed out that I was charged the destination fee despite having paid for our stay with points (one of the last true Hilton Diamond benefits left is not having to pay the resort/destination fee when using points). She argued for a minute, then finally concurred that the charge should be removed. There was not even the faintest hint of an apology to be given, which is fine.... just disappointing. I don't need a hotel to kiss my feet as a loyalty member, but the small niceties go a long way to make a member feel special. Whether that's acknowledging a customer's loyalty to the brand at check-in (which also wasn't done here) or apologizing for an inconvenience, those are the small details that can change a guests experience and star rating.
To sum up, Carte Hotel San Diego Downtown is entirely average. The structure is nice, the location great, and the gym fantastic. The obvious attempts at gaining Hilton business without providing any real value and the lack of a strong customer centric culture set it back considerably. The name Carte, I believe, is meant to convey the sense of having a passport to explore the surrounding neighborhood, and I would suggest that's the best way to use this hotel.... as a place to spend minimal time, with minimal expectations.
via tripadvisor
jonathanvC9730GG
Friends Getaway · Apr 2026
2
Horrible
Liked:They are a bunch of scammers not worth the price they’ll charge you Random fees and have an excuse for them do not recommend staying here .
