Keating Hotel

San Diego: Off the Beach and into the City

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San Diego's 70 miles of coastline has always lured visitors, but in the past several years, the urban landscape has started to rival the natural one. Neighbourhoods are developing, restaurants are opening, and - a sure sign of the city on the rise - stylish hotels are cropping up all over the town.

Where to stay
Built in 1910 by Ulysses S. Grant Jr., the US Grand Hotel (326 Broadway; 619-232-3121; www.usgrant.net; doubles from $400) reopens this month after a $53 million enchancement. Its residential-style rooms have a dash of eccentricity, such as headboards painted by French artist Yves Clement. The Keating Hotel (432 F St., 619-814-5700; www.thekeating.com; doubles from $429) was designed by Pininfarina, the Italian team behing Ferrari and Maserati. You'll find a few more brand names inside the 35 guest room: Band & Olufsen stereos, Dornbracht bath fixtures, and Lavazza espresso machines. Finally the $75 million renovation - complete with rooftoppool and four-level night club - of the Ivy Hotel (845 Sixth Ave;619-814-1000; www.theivyhotel.com) will be unveiled in late December.

Where to eat
Addison (5200 Grand Del Mar Way; 858-314-1900; www.thegranddelmar.com; dinner for two $150) at the Grand Del Mar resort has a Mediterranean menu heavy on local ingredients. Also opening this fall: Bondi (333 Fifth Ave., 619-342-0212; www.thebondi.com; dinner for two $76), an Australian restaurant and bar, and Jade Theater (701 E. Sixth St.; 619-843-7280; dinner for two $90), am multilevel lounge serving Southeast Asian fare.

What to do
After dinner, hit the expansive nightclub Stingaree (454 Sixth Ave., 619-544-9500) the town's hottest new haunt.