La Valencia
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La Valencia in La Jolla
Tip of the Week: September 29, 2007
When is a hotel not just a hotel but a Lady?
"She's got style.
She's got grace.
She's a winner.
She's a Lady.
Whoa whoa whoa, she's a Lady."
The La Valencia Hotel was built in 1926, is still the prettiest girl on the block. Nicknamed "the Pink Lady", this hotel is more than just a place to stay in La Jolla.
She was considered a great escape for the Hollywood elite who would hang out there in the 1930's-1950's. Garbo. Groucho. Gish. Pickford. It has been said that Madonna, Pearl Jam, Pete Townsend and Martha Stewart- yes, ladies and gentlemen, Martha Stewart. Who knew?
Not interested in celebrity haunts? You don't need to be to appreciate the charm of this hotel. Just walk in and you'll see the famous floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the Cove. The real stars of the hotel are all the elements that make this place special. When you walk in you immediately see the 'old world' furnishings, the spanish mosaics and hand-painted murals and ceilings. The gold and blue domed tower was actually used as a civil defense lookout during WWII. As always, the views take the cake.
They don't make hotels like the La Valencia Hotel, anymore. Okay, so you may not like 'old world' charm. Fine. We can accept that. But, venture into La Valencia, anyway, and you'll get why it is so beloved.
If you live in San Diego and haven't visited "the Pink Lady" in a long time, or worse, you have never been- don't wait any longer. Grab a friend, grab someone and go have a drink or lunch on the patio. Take the time to appreciate
her and the grandeur of her day.
There is talk of this place being put up for sale. She was purchased in 1946 by the late real-estate magnate Willis Allen.
She is currently owned by Allen's son-in-law, developer Harry Collins, in partnership with a Getty trust In 1946, her price was $300k. So, if you do not have the chump change to buy her at 2007 property prices, you can at least, make a point to pick a beautiful day and visit the "Pink Lady".
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