James Wolfe
Hotel del Coronado, known to everyone as The Del, has stood on Coronado Beach since 1888, and it is still the reason most people come to Coronado Island. It is a 28-acre beachfront resort built around a red-roofed Victorian hotel that has hosted presidents, film stars and generations of San Diego families. It is also a working resort, not a museum: the beach is the main attraction, the restaurants are busy, and the place rewards travelers who come to stay on the sand rather than just photograph the building.
This guide explains what The Del is actually like today, from its five neighborhoods to its dining rooms and beach, how to get there from San Diego, and who it suits best.
Quick Facts
- Address: 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118.
- Opened: 1888, as the original Victorian beachfront hotel.
- Landmark status: A National Historic Landmark since May 5, 1977.
- Size: A 28-acre beachfront destination with five neighborhoods for rooms, suites, villas and cottages.
- Dining: Ten venues, including Nobu Del Coronado, Serea and the Veranda.
- Getting there: By car over the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, or by the free commuter ferry from Broadway Pier in San Diego on weekday mornings.
A Short History
The Del’s story starts in 1886, when founders Elisha Babcock Jr. and Hampton L. Story formed the Coronado Beach Company and set out to build a resort on the island across the bay from San Diego. Construction began in 1887, and the hotel opened to its first guests in early 1888. The original building, now called The Victorian, is the red-roofed landmark at the center of the resort, and its Rotunda and its Crown Room, which measures 160 feet by 60 feet, are still the heart of the hotel.
The hotel’s own history timeline records the guests and moments that made it famous. John D. Spreckels became the owner in 1890. President Benjamin Harrison visited in 1891, and L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, is listed among the early guests in 1904. The hotel was the filming location for the 1958 film Some Like It Hot. In 1970, it hosted a state dinner for President Nixon, the first state dinner held outside the White House. The San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge opened in 1969, and the hotel was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977. The resort has kept growing: Beach Village, 78 luxury beachside accommodations, opened in 2007, and Shore House, 75 upscale beachside accommodations, opened in 2022.
The Five Neighborhoods
The Del describes itself as five unique neighborhoods in one stay, and the choice of neighborhood is the most important decision in booking here.
The Victorian is the original, iconic beachfront hotel, established in 1888 and designated a National Historic Landmark. It is the building in the photographs, and its rooms put you inside the history of the place. The Cabanas are the lively neighborhood, and The Views are the contemporary one: the official site presents the three as the resort’s three distinct neighborhoods for rooms and suites. Shore House and Beach Village are the villas and cottages: spacious beachfront villas and cottages with full kitchens, fireplaces and verandas, a curated concierge service, and dedicated pools and cafes. Beach Village opened in 2007 with 78 accommodations, and Shore House opened in 2022 with 75, and both are set apart from the main hotel for a quieter, more private stay.
Which to choose depends on the trip. The Victorian suits travelers who came for the history and want to sleep inside it. The Cabanas and The Views suit families and groups who want the resort’s energy and modern rooms. Shore House and Beach Village suit travelers who want space, a kitchen and privacy, and who are willing to pay for it. The official site lists each neighborhood separately, so compare them there before you book.
Dining at The Del
The Del lists ten dining venues, and they cover the whole day, from breakfast on the Veranda to cocktails at Babcock and Story Bar.
The Veranda serves breakfast and dinner, al fresco, with ocean views. Nobu Del Coronado serves lunch, dinner and a Tanoshi Hour, with the signature dishes and world-class sushi the brand is known for, also with ocean views. Serea is the sea-to-table restaurant, open for dinner daily and for brunch on weekends. The Sun Deck serves lunch and dinner, with cocktails and coastal favorites, and the Beach and Taco Shack serves lunch and evening food, with fish tacos, tropical drinks and live music. ENO Market and Pizzeria is an Italian-inspired marketplace and artisan pizzeria, open for the market and the pizzeria daily. SunLife Organics serves smoothies and bowls on Del Beach in the morning and afternoon, and Sundaes serves gelato and paleta popsicles in the afternoon and evening. Babcock and Story Bar, named for the hotel’s founders, serves cocktails and small plates with live music in an old-world setting.
Two venues are exclusive: the Shore House Bistro is for Shore House guests, and Beach Village dining, including Breezes at the Oval Pool, is for Beach Village guests. The Sunset Spritz Social runs Sunday to Thursday at the Sunset Bar, with $14 spritzes. With ten venues, most guests can eat every meal on the property, but Coronado village, with its own restaurants and shops, is a short walk up Orange Avenue.
The Beach, Pools and Programming
The beach is the reason to come. The Del is a 28-acre beachfront destination, and the sand in front of the hotel is wide and flat, directly off the property. The resort’s programming changes with the season, and the official site lists seasonal experiences such as Victorian Tea, beachside igloos and Skating by The Sea, alongside holiday dining. Check the official experiences pages for what is running on your dates, since the seasonal calendar changes through the year.
Shore House and Beach Village have their own dedicated pools and cafes, which is part of what those areas offer. The beach in front of the hotel is wide and flat, and the Sun Deck and the Beach and Taco Shack give it a food and drink scene of its own.
Getting There: The Bridge and the Ferry
Coronado is an island, and there are two ways in. Most visitors drive over the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, which opened in 1969 and connects the island to downtown San Diego. The hotel’s address is 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118, and Beach Village has its own address, 1277 R.H. Dana Place.
The other way in is the ferry. The City of Coronado runs a free commuter ferry for pedestrians and bicyclists between the Coronado Ferry Landing and Broadway Pier in San Diego. It operates Monday through Friday during morning commute hours, and morning commuters receive a voucher for a free same-day return trip. It is a commuter service, not an all-day tourist boat, so check the city’s Alternative Transportation page for the current schedule before you plan around it. If you are flying in, San Diego International Airport is the nearest airport, and the drive from the airport to the hotel crosses the bay by the bridge.
Who The Del Suits Best
The Del suits travelers who want a beach vacation with history attached: families who want the beach and the pools, couples who want the Victorian setting, and anyone who likes a resort where the building is as much the attraction as the sand. It is at its best for a multi-night stay, when the neighborhoods, the restaurants and the beach have time to work together.
It also suits travelers who want a resort that can hold a whole trip on its own. With ten restaurants, a beach, pools and seasonal programming, you can spend days without leaving the property, and Coronado village is a short walk up Orange Avenue when you want a change.
Who should look elsewhere? Travelers who want a quiet, adults-only escape should look elsewhere, because The Del is a family resort and a busy one, especially in summer and on holidays. Travelers who want a modern, minimalist hotel should also look elsewhere: the Victorian building is the point here, and its rooms are historic rather than new. And travelers who want to be in downtown San Diego should stay there, since the island is a bridge or a ferry ride away from the city.
The Del is one of America’s great historic hotels. For another landmark hotel stay on the other coast, read our guide to The Plaza Hotel in New York, and for another coastal itinerary, see our 3-day Lisbon itinerary.
Practical Tips for a Del Stay
- Pick the neighborhood first. The Victorian, the Cabanas, the Views, Shore House and Beach Village are different stays at different prices. Compare them on the official site before you book.
- Book dining ahead. Nobu, Serea and the Veranda are popular, and the Sunset Spritz Social and Victorian Tea are seasonal.
- Plan the ferry carefully. The free commuter ferry runs weekday mornings only. If you want the ferry, check the city’s schedule; otherwise drive the bridge.
- Allow time for the bridge. The bridge is the only road in, and traffic builds at rush hour and on summer weekends.
- Check the seasonal calendar. Skating by The Sea, the beachside igloos and holiday dining run at set times of year, so confirm what is on during your stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Hotel del Coronado open?
In 1888. The hotel was founded by Elisha Babcock Jr. and Hampton L. Story, construction began in 1887, and the first guests arrived in early 1888. It has been a National Historic Landmark since May 5, 1977.
Where is Hotel del Coronado?
At 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118, on Coronado Beach across the bay from downtown San Diego. Most visitors arrive by car over the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, which opened in 1969.
Can I visit Hotel del Coronado without staying there?
The main restaurants take reservations, and the beach in front of the hotel is public. The Shore House Bistro and Beach Village dining are exclusive to guests of those areas. Check the official site for current visitor access and reservations.
How do I get to Hotel del Coronado from San Diego?
Drive over the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, or take the free commuter ferry between Broadway Pier in San Diego and the Coronado Ferry Landing. The ferry is for pedestrians and bicyclists and runs Monday through Friday during morning commute hours, with a voucher for a free same-day return trip. Check the City of Coronado’s Alternative Transportation page for the current schedule.
Sources checked November 9, 2026: the official Hotel del Coronado site (hoteldel.com) for rooms, dining, history and programming; the National Park Service list of National Historic Landmarks (nps.gov) for the landmark designation; and the City of Coronado’s Alternative Transportation page (coronado.ca.us) for the ferry. Room rates are not published on the official site’s stay pages, so none are quoted here; check the official booking pages for current prices.
