Message from The Sofia Hotel
An unforgettable experience for any guest lies in the hands of the host. Sofia's graciousness, charm, and attention to detail are everywhere from the fine linens and soothing toiletries, to the ambient bedside light, offering tired guests an opportunity to read or work from the comfort of their bed. Sofia is a sensible hostess who has thought of everything from a laptop safe to a mini-fridge.
Editorial by Citysearch
In ShortThough situated on Broadway in the heart of downtown, across from the Sprekels' blinking marquis and next door to the Greyhound bus terminal, the Sofia's fossil art pieces, sheer screens and shell window panels give the lobby an organic, calm feel. The broadband-wired rooms and suites come with fine linens and flat-screens, and all guests have access to the hotel's private yoga studio and fitness center, both open 24 hours.
Key Points
- Downtown San Diego
- Gaslamp District
- Convention Center
The Inside Scoop
- Fun Fact - The renovation, completed in December 2006, totaled $16 million in improvements.
- Know Before You Go - Valet the car, and hit the streets. The Sofia is within walking distance of many Gaslamp hot spots.
- Save Money - This is one classy, hip hotel that won't break the bank. Rooms start at just $149 per night. VIP Suites are just $289 per night.
- The Extras - The Sofia's conference center with video and Internet capabilities accommodates up to 88 people.
Insider Pages Reviews for The Sofia Hotel
We actually were able to get this hotel on a discount, and it was barely worth that. The room was cute and very nicely furnished, but it was very small, definitely not enough room to stretch your legs. Unfortunately our room also had an odd odor that made the room unpleasant.
We only stayed one night and the only parking they have is valet parking for $28. For one night it was really expensive so we had to drive around to find metered street parking. This made it harder for us to relax in our room when we had to continuously put money in the meter, not only that but the area around the hotel was very unsatisfactory with a few sleazy characters.
On the up side, however, the hotel staff were all very personable and very helpful. I don't recommend this hotel as a first choice, check around the area first before staying at this hotel.
Posted 12/15/08 | Report Abuse
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The staff is very nice, the hotel is clean, there is a free computer room in the lobby and free Wi-Fi in the lobby too.
Here is the one thing....the room is tiny and walls are a little thin. When I say tiny I mean there really is no standing room but if you are just looking for a room to crash with and a comfortable bed...this is a great hotel.
Posted 10/28/08 | Report Abuse
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Latest reviews from Citysearch.
Romantic Rooms
by leepottery
Good service, and reasonable priced hotel rooms. We stayed for a few nights at the Sofia hotel on an anniversary and were pleased.
Posted 12/08/08
Not Recommended
by Dbglobal
I too stayed at this hotel. Rooms were extra small, as other reviewer pointed out the hotel is across the street from the City Jailhouse and right next door to a Greyhound Bus Station. Considering what they are charging for a room, I would not recommend this hotel. Many other better hotels to stay at downtown.
Posted 12/03/08
Teeniest room I've ever stayed in
by kira2
My experiences of this hotel were so different from what other reviews led me to expect that I wonder if they were left by employees of the hotel. I travel a lot and stay at a variety of different hotels and this was one of my least favorites.
Location: it's 1 block from the San Diego county jail. You can google it to see for yourself how close it is. The people we saw milling around in the area were rather unsavory.
The room: At 5'6" and 130 I'm not a big person, but this room was too small for my husband and I. Even more so than many rooms I've had in Europe. Worse was that they put 2 double beds (which are the size smaller than a queen) in it. There was less than 12 inches between a bed and the wall, 2-3 feet between the beds, and about 2 feet between the other bed and wall. We had one of those racks that fits a suitcase and even if we'd had another for the 2nd suitcase there wouldn't have been anyplace to put it as there was barely enough space to walk around the foot of both beds without bumping into the desk, TV cabinet and closet.
We also found the shower cramped and agreed with another reviewer's comment that since there's no shower door the bathroom gets pretty wet during showers. The room WAS very pretty though, and the bed was comfortable if smaller than I would have liked. We strongly suggest getting a room with one bed if you decide to stay here.
The service was okay overall. The valets were very fast getting our car which mostly compensates for the desk staff at check-in who sent us on a wild goose chase looking for a late-night restaurant.
The Currant Brasserie in the lobby was pretty good, but the Sophia doesn't have room service.
Overall the Sofia has some nice features but I think we would have rather stayed in one of the big, chain hotels to save some money if we'd known what we know now.
Pros: Chic decor, good restaurant
Cons: Cramped rooms, seedy neighborhood near jail
Posted 09/24/08
Dying to go back!
by wellseverafter
My husband and I booked the Sofia Hotel last minute because we were spending a couple of days in San Diego. We didn't know what to expect before we got there, especially knowing it was downtown and seeing all kinds of interesting people hanging around. However, we were surprised and amazed at how nice the hotel was! The rooms are very, very tiny (probably because it is historic) but every detail is modern, quality, and beautiful. We stayed on the 7th floor and had a beautiful view of the city and the bay. We really wished we had more time there. Definitely check it out!
Pros: The room was beautiful
Cons: If you want wi-fi in your room, you have to pay extra
Posted 07/24/08
Cute and Quaint
by zkarlo
PROS: Found this place based on the good user reviews. I agree 100% on what everyone says. This is a great place with a long history. Recent big renovation accompanied with a good price. Had to stay 4 days to get a discounted price on hotels dot com but was well worth the price. For the $95 average price per night it was well worth it. If you can stay in a corner hotel room on the south-east corner it has a fantastic view of the city and sunrise. We had room 300 and it was fantastic. Room is a bit small, but its quaint and very cute, perfect for the younger couple. Free wireless internet in the lobby and very reasonably priced in the room, not to mention that there is a good 3-5 free wireless connections available from the room.
CONS: Only bad thing I can say about the room is the shower. There is no bathtub which is not needed, but there is no door for the shower. I would recommend asking for a few extra towels ahead of time because the floor will get wet. Despite this slight annoying aspect, the room is fun and very enjoying.
Pros: Great location, Great look and feel. Great for the price
Cons: No shower door, gets wet, but just ask for extra towels.
Posted 12/31/07
WOW? what a gem!
by princesspower
We live in San Diego and just needed a nigh out. We decided to stay at The Sofia Hotel after it was recommended to us from a friend. What a hidden gem?. A NEW luxury boutique hotel in Downtown. The beds are GREAT. The rooms have everything you need including a refrigerator and microwave. They have a full business center where I was able to check my email and print out a large document to review? all FREE of charge. The staff was the friendliest I had ever come in contact with. From the front desk to the bellboys to housekeeping they were all so attentive, we felt like royalty! The hotel is located just outside of the Gaslamp where we walked and had a great dinner..thanks to a great recommendation from the concierges. If you are looking for a great value and a near perfect stay?. we would recommend The Sofia Hotel.
Posted 03/13/07
EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE!
by zeva_lewis
My husband and I recently stayed at The Sofia for a conference that was located at the Convention Center. We were amazed at the location of the hotel and how close it was to everything from the Gaslamp District for entertainment to the Convention Center for business. The entire staff at the hotel was by far the best we have experienced anywhere in a long time. What a breath of fresh air! This hotel delivered exceptional service at an exceptional price. A true value for those visiting San Diego.
Pros: Location, Quality of Service, Value
Posted 03/12/07
Loved it, Sheik Rooms and Excellent Service!
by sdcharger
I recently stayed here for a business trip. I absolutely loved the place! I was there in late February. For the most part, everything was smooth. I guess the hotel must have worked out its kinks. My TV was acting up a but the staff immediately fixed it. The rooms are very contemporary and have a very sheik vibe. The rooms are somewhat small but the comfort level makes up for it. The bedding, including the mattress reminded of a 4 or 5 star hotel. Honestly, the staff was extremely attentive to my needs. The Yoga studio and gym are really nice, even the bath products are great! I travel a lot for business and know a good hotel when I stay at one. Also, the location is walking distance from all the nightlife and shopping. The Sofia Hotel is highly recommended. Hope to be back soon!
Posted 02/24/07
Nice all around
by mattdianella
Great hotel for decent price. Can't beat the location in downtown San Diego. My friend and I stayed at the Sophia in late January '07 and absolutely loved it. It's location in downtown San Diego makes it so convenient to hip, fun restaurants and shopping. The hotel has a soft modern style with great amenities - flat screen TVs, big shower, comfortable beds, the works. Plus parking in downtown is tough, so the courteous valet was a huge plus. Overall, great hotel with a lot of style and the location can't be beat.
Posted 02/22/07
Poor Customer Serivce
by len_berg5
Upon arrival the entrance is inviting and very sheik. Checking in however was a nightmare. No air-conditioning in the lobby or hallways made for a miserable trip to the room carrying all our bags. Opening the door to our FIRST room we realized that there had been no maid service yet, due to the coffee on the table I wouldn?t be surprised if we just missed walking in on the last reservation. We then dragged our stuff back down to the lobby, explained our situation, and the front desk attendants handed us new keys to a different room with nothing but a simple apology. We took the inconveniently small elevator back up to our new room only to find that the keys they handed us did not work. Again, we walked back downstairs, explained our situation, and received nothing but a simple apology. No upgrade, no discount?!? The rooms themselves are fairly nice with a modern look to them but terribly small, I couldn?t imagine having more than two people in the room at once. By this time we figured the headaches were over until the next morning when we received two wake up calls in the morning that we had not requested, disturbing our sleep. The hotel is new and has potential, but has some very serious kinks to workout along the way. I would not recommend this hotel.
Pros: ambience
Cons: customer service
Posted 02/11/07
Good Location
by notasurfer
This hotel is in a good location, despite the fact that it is right by the bus station. Walking by the lobby, it looks cool inside. I heard there is going to be a restaurant here too pretty soon.
Posted 01/03/07