Center of Attention

The new intercontinental San Diego is an urban retreat geared to luxury travelers.

WRITTEN BY ANGELA FAIRHURST

A welcome addition to downtown San Diego, the new InterContinental San Diego-located within the new BRIC mixed-use complex at Broadway and Pacific Highway, between the Santa Fe Depot and the San Diego Bay waterfront-is at the heart of all the seaport action.

THE HOTEL

The front yard of this 19-story urban retreat is the park and plaza of Lane Field, the former baseball stadium and home of the San Diego Padres from 1936 to 1957; a plaque commemorates home plate. Reception is on the third floor. Natural light pours in through floor-to-ceiling windows in public areas, guest rooms and myriad event and meeting spaces. Complementing the glistening water views, interiors are designed with blues, grays and neutrals.

THE ROOMS

There are 400 well-appointed guest rooms, including 24 spacious suites. The bathrooms have convenient features, including a main mirror that turns into a night light with the push of a discrete button; a makeup mirror that automatically lights upon approach; and wall-mounted and handheld shower heads with the on-off handle strategically placed on the opposite wall, so you don’t get wet while adjusting the water temperature.

THE CLUB

Club InterContinental enhances guests’ stays with concierge services, such as complimentary breakfast, a full bar with premium spirits, dinner and event reservations, and a quiet place to relax and sit on the private terrace and enjoy the view. If not included with your room, access to the club is available for a $125 daily fee.

THE DINING

Vistal Bar + Restaurant, the hotel’s signature restaurant, has chef Amy DiBiase at the helm. The San Diego veteran buys the freshest local ingredients and catches of the day. Having also lived in Hawaii, she blends regional flavors of SoCal with influences from the Pacific Islands, Mediterranean fishing villages and Baja Peninsula, bringing fresh perspective to her cuisine, especially her famous gnudi. Vistal’s two water-view dining rooms, private terrace and 29-seat bar make it a prime place for visitors and locals to eat, drink and linger.

Also onsite, but with a separate entrance, is the first West Coast location of Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, with an interior that reportedly cost $10 million. The opulence is evident as soon as you set foot in the two-story restaurant, where a marble staircase is used to accesses a 7,000-bottle, temperature-controlled glass wine wall. Taking full advantage of the waterfront location, floorto-ceiling windows showcase the view. There’s indoor/ outdoor space, banquet seating, crystal chandeliers, two bars and five private dining rooms, not to mention USDA Prime wet and dry-aged steaks, fresh seafood and an award-winning wine list.

Finally, the 19th-floor rooftop, with a bar, café and pool bar, will open by the end of 2019.

THE FITNESS

On the fourth floor, a 3,300-square-foot health and wellness center features a yoga terrace with video wall that offers on-demand classes. An adjacent pool and sun deck provide unobstructed bay and sunset vistas.