Name: Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Address: 1047 Fifth Avenue, Civic Core, San Diego, California, United States of America, San Diego, California, US
Price range: US$206–US$1,046 per night
Rating: 8.77

What guests think

Travellers describe Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel as stylish and clean with a central Gaslamp location, while noting the surrounding streets have many unhoused people, occasional strong odors, and some trolley or nightlife noise.

Rooms are generally spacious and comfortable with modern decor and good views, though some report maintenance issues, sliding-bathroom-door privacy, and outdated or nonworking TVs. Facilities like the rooftop pool, bar, cafe, and gym are appreciated, but valet-only parking is expensive and events or pool music can create noise. Service consistently earns praise for professionalism and helpfulness, though a few guests mention slow responses and confusion over amenity fees or breakfast credits. Expect a stylish downtown stay with great staff and lively surroundings.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Rooftop pool, bar/cafe, gym and loaner bikes are appreciated and add to the boutique feel. Valet-only parking is expensive, and occasional pool parties or music create noise; a few note the pool isn’t heated.

Related guest reviews

10

Garrett

6 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean rooms. Great coffee and tea in the morning. Nice pool and gym. Friendly staff!

10

Vanessa

6 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff was outstanding. Loved the pool.

10

Dana

28 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Staff was great upon check in. Greeted me when returning to the hotel throughout the day. Clean and well decorated. Would return when back in the area. Didn’t really use any of the amenities because I was out and about all day exploring the city but loved the options. Multiple restaurants, pool, fitness area, bar.

8

Cynthia

26 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The little extra charges. Valet only no self park. 65.00 valet plus 35.00 amenities. That's an additional 100.00 plus taxes and other fees.

10

Lisa

25 May 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Excellent option for a getaway. The outdoor pool deck and bar was fantastic fit a leisurely day.

8

Matthew

4 Jul 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

The hotel reception was wonderful. There is a pool and a fitness center. The room was spacious, but probably needs to be refreshed to a common/uniform style. There is no business center but there is a flexible space if you need to work. The hotel is the gem in the downtown area. Thank you!

10

Fernando

6 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great hotel, very close to Gaslamp. I love that they have bikes available for the day to explore the city

10

Aleksandra

15 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The stay was great, only thing it lacked is parking. You can only valet for $60 per day

10

Danielle

7 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Cute hotel, close to Gaslamp and Little Italy. Great rooftop pool and bar area.

8

John

26 May 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Downtown hotel so convenient for the gaslight area and Petco Park. Parking is expensive though.

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Cleanliness

Most guests find the property and rooms very clean, with housekeeping generally reliable. A smaller number reported odors, dirty windows or sofas, clogged drains, dust or pet hair, and other maintenance-related cleanliness lapses.

Related guest reviews

2

Jennifer

19 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel has bad smell

10

Daniel

23 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Though I only stayed a single night it meet my expectations. Room was very clean and didnt have carpet which was a plus for me. Water pressure was good. The room was overall comfortable. I will stay again in the future.

2

Cynthia

19 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Overall the hotel was dirty. The floors weren’t cleaned, the faucet was dirty, and we had bed stains. Wouldn’t recommend.

6

Kendra

8 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The hotel is downtown in a lively area, lots of things to do within walking distance. Couple of good bars, it’s right in the heart of Gaslamp. There’s a lot of unhoused/ addicts roaming around the area asking for change and food. The hotel did feel safe though. The staff was subpar except for the Sophia at the front desk! She was great! Check-in went kinda of quick. The room was dusty especially in the bathroom, there was pet fur in multiple places which made my allergies act up. We just used this place just to sleep after our long days on the town so I guess it’s whatever. Was not made aware that they charge you $150 incidental fee for each day you stay until after I checked out and saw multiple charges for $150 plus the $60 a day valet fee plus the $35 a day amenity fee. I requested a new set of towels at 6:45 am and didn’t get them until I called guest services at 8 pm because no one ever showed up. To be fair it was 4th of July weekend so hopefully during normal dates there’s more attention to detail being paid to guests needs. The hotel was ok but there are better places to stay for the amount of money it cost to have a good trip in downtown San Diego.

10

Claudia

15 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The hotel was very clean, the staff were very professional and eager to help, and the best thing was the sense of security.

2

Lateisha

21 Apr 2024

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Stayed 1 night

Id a beautiful view but the windows were dirty couldn't fully enjoy it.

10

Andrea

24 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Nice clean rooms, very spacious. Clean hotel all around.

10

jose

5 Jun 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

Excelente hotel con personal muy amable y dispuesto. Las instalaciones muy limpias y muy bonitas, las habitaciones muy cómodas y espaciosas. El restaurante tiene comida muy buena y de calidad.

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10

Michelle

26 Jan 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel was impeccably clean, as was our room. It has a very chill vibe, which was perfect for our trip to the San Diego Zoo...however I would DEFINITELY stay as a business traveler as well. Check in was easy and the VIP perks were really a wonderful addition! We weren't impressed with The Cafe's food. It was mediocre at best and was incredibly expensive. There were amazing restaurants nearby and walkable. I will ABSOLUTELY return to this hotel again! The staff are just fantastic!

10

Anthony

6 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything was great but there was hair all over the couch and in The shower. Other than that, place was clean and service Was friendly. A lot of unsavory types hanging around the outside of the hotel but as long as you got in and out Of your car or ride no one bothered you.

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Rooms

Rooms are often spacious, comfortable and stylish with good views and some balconies. Recurring drawbacks include street or trolley noise, sliding-bathroom-door privacy, lighting or temperature quirks, and occasional outdated/nonworking TVs or weak Wi‑Fi.

Related guest reviews

6

Carissa

24 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Property’s location is great and very convenient. Only downfall is that cleaning occurs extremely late after 4pm instead of the morning. Staff was friendly and helpful. Walls are super thin so you can hear everything in the morning when maintenance is doing work outside your door

8

Lori

5 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

I like luxury on a budget and was a bit disappointed with the Alma San Diego. Staff were amazing as was the bed. I would call the room minimalist. It was little more than a square. The tv remote didn't work, neither did the electrical outlets next to the bed for phone charging. Also the overhead light didn’t work. There were 2 small drawers for clothes and a very small closet. The trolley ran next to the hotel, thus there was a continual ringing about every 5 minutes. The property did provide a white noise machine that we used when in the room. Food choices were limited but it was very good. For the price, I won't return to this property.

6

Estella

28 Jan 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

Bed was comfortable enough, but we didn’t like the barn door for the bathroom because of the lack of privacy. Also because the shower door was an open style, the water splashed on the floor during every shower. We also had to have the key cards re-keyed four times in the two days we were there. The area in front was so congested with traffic and homeless that it made our coming and going very stressful.

6

Christine

15 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I made a decision to stay here over another hotel and I wish I hadn’t. Yes, it is clean. Bar staff and front desk were very kind. The valet parking is run separate of the hotel. It took a while to get our car when we called down. Close to thirty minutes. The worst part was waking up at 6:30 am to blinding sunshine in our room. I thought we had slept through checkout time and it was high noon. We had closed all of the sunshades and blinds before we went to bed hoping to sleep in the next morning as we were on a little vacation for our anniversary. I’m also assuming our room was facing the sun more in the morning. We were so disappointed. I wish we had been warned. We also had a balcony and asked if we could get a chair to sit outside since we noticed that other rooms had chairs. They said they would bring us one but never did. Needless to say this will be our last time staying here unless we need to stay awake for 24 hours Hotels are not cheep in Downtown San Diego. Choose wisely. Hope this helps someone.

10

Velanda

28 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Such a nice hotel. The room was spacious and clean. I really liked it. The only downside was that it was rather dark as only two bedside type side lights were available. The service was wonderful. Trey at the desk was w fantastic and quite helpful. Juan who worked at the Valet was also extremely helpful.

6

Kevin

27 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

It WAS convenient to the trolley line but as a result is surrounded by homeless and panhandlers. The room was dimly lit without opening all the curtains. No real door to the bathroom, just a sliding glass door. No fan in the bathroom so the mirror fogs easily from the shower (no tub) The room DOES have USB charging ports but no real night stand - just a mini shelf big enough for a phone. There is a digital safe in the closet and a mini fridge

10

Robert

20 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Had a corner balcony room. Size was amazing and beautifully decorated. Enjoyed the bar each day with great drinks.

6

Jane

12 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The electric buses which I’m thrilled to see our electric honk, loud enough where I can hear it up on the 18th floor and they’re consistently honking . I’m sure it’s to make sure no one is on the tracks. The hotel is fine. My room is nice and big because I upgraded myself for $30 not realizing that there was an additional $35 fee just for being here every day so that’s another 70 bucks that I didn’t know I would be responsible for All of the people that work here is sweet as can be and it’s not their fault they work in the most disgusting area in San Diego. Downtown San Diego just avoid it altogether. I don’t care what your rate is on your hotel room pay $50 more to stay somewhere nicer as far as the neighborhood goes. The room comes provided with two capsules for the Nespresso maker that are caffeinated and two that are decaf and coffee mat The pool looks inviting, but it’s a cold July day and overcast I ordered food at the bar for breakfast which they said I could take up to my room. I asked for scrambled eggs and well-done sausages, which all had clearly been premade before I ordered. They were stone cold by the time I got to my room. So maybe if the world were a little different I would consider staying here again, but to walk out the front door and feel like you’re in the middle of an apocalypse is not ideal . And my biggest tip should you choose to stay here and spend any time at all in your room ask for the rooms away from the tracks because they honk incessantl

6

Maria

29 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

TV didnt work. Poor wifi.

10

Paola

16 Dec 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Our new favorite hotel in SD. Easy check in and check out. Rooms were spacious, clean and with a great view. Staff members were extremely friendly, starting with the valet employees when we first arrived at the hotel. We would definitely return. Also, loved the artwork and decor of the room.

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Service

Service is widely praised as professional, warm and accommodating across front desk, valet and dining teams. A minority mention slow or uneven bar/restaurant service, delayed room readiness or requests, and confusion over amenity fees or credits.

Related guest reviews

10

Christopher

6 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

professional and courteous and attentive front desk, staff and weight staff. Nice selection and excellent food quality on the menu.

10

Alexis

25 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great people, had my question answer right away and they are really quick for things that you need for example towels,ice and bringing my car right away. We’ll definitely come back.

8

Michael

27 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I loved the decor and how beautifully designed everything is. I didn't like that we couldnt self park and we looked like a bunch of gypsy's unloading at the curb. The staff at the pool bar, ("leave of absence") was not friendly at all. We had to wait almost two hours after check-in to get our room and you think they would try to make you as comfortable as possible at the pool bar asking if you need drinks, trying to get you to spend money. We had two kids with us so to wait like we did was a big deal. But they just walked passed us and didn't even acknowledge we were there, we had to go to the bar and ask for drinks. Thank God for Sophia at the front desk. She was super sweet and was really apologetic for the wait, even though it was out of her control. The beds were very comfortable and we had a decent city view. Overall it was a nice time.

10

Corey

19 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The exceptional staff, from the concierge Sophia, who provided amazing service, with a smile, to Gabriel, the bartender, who made the stay even more enjoyable, and everyone in between…the customer service was outstanding.

10

Paul

2 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

All staff interactions were great, from the front desk, bell staff, housekeeping, and lobby bar/cafe. Everyone was eager to serve and had great attitudes.

10

Karen

4 Jan 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I stay here for a weekend trip and it was truly amazing. The property is beautiful, staff was incredible, the location was perfect, close enough to the night life but far enough where you aren’t in the middle of it. Will definitely be staying here again.

10

Jake

3 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The service was great, room was lovely, and people genuinely seemed to care.

4

Nolan

7 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff was awful. Do not stay here. Disruptive and unwelcoming property. Will not return.

10

Robert

8 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff was very professional

10

Alma

8 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Amazing customer service. Staff were attentive and helpful.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Location

Central, walkable base for Gaslamp, Petco Park and transit. Many reviews also highlight a large unhoused presence, dirty sidewalks and strong odors outside, plus some trolley or nightlife noise.

Related guest reviews

8

Neal

12 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The Alma hotel is great, loved the room decor and quality and the lobby bar was fun. The hotel is right next to a bus stop and tram so a bit of homeless around but that is the only downside.

10

Donna

30 Dec 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location for easy access to all that San Diego offers. Lovely property and kind and gracious staff.

8

esperanza

6 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The only thing i did not like is having all the homeless near the hotel.

10

Brent

30 Dec 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Unfortunately, for the downtown area you cannot escape the transient population or the traffic noise.

8

Francis

17 Jul 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

The hotel was clean, the location to the ball park was good. The room service was sufficient. No ice on the floor. The streets were dirty with lots of homeless people wandering.

6

Kayla

16 Dec 2024

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Stayed 3 nights

The hotel is beautiful but the location is not ideal. You’re better off getting a hotel closer to little Italy if you still want a downtown vibe.

10

Amy

17 Oct 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

The location was somewhat central for our day trips to La Jolla and Coronado Island, which was great. It felt like everything was not too far away from the hotel. That staff were friendly, professional and efficient. The area outside the hotel seems to not be in the best area. There were always more homeless people in this area than I saw anywhere else. Even the nearby CVS had heightened security with a guard at the door and every (and I mean EVERY) item locked up. We enjoyed our stay and never felt unsafe.

10

Melissa

21 Jul 2025

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Stayed 5 nights

Love the location, walked to the seaport village, great location to food and entertainment, 7-11 next door attracts homeless people.

8

John

26 May 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Downtown hotel so convenient for the gaslight area and Petco Park. Parking is expensive though.

10

asuncion

31 Dec 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location, walkable to many restaurants, Petco Park and all downtown amenities

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Dining

The cafe, bar and breakfast earn frequent compliments for taste and quality, with coffee and credits appreciated. Some guests found options limited, prices high or service inconsistent, and a few reported confusion about breakfast-included versus credit.

Related guest reviews

10

Amy

27 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Clean, convenient, well-appointed hotel. We enjoyed dining at the hotel restaurant, found the reception staff very helpful and informative and the room was spacious and comfortable.

8

Kay

3 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Staff was friendly; but there was music at the pool one night and it was too loud. After turning on the white noise and pulling all the blinds the music still vibrated through our room. Food in dining area was good. Transportation was easy and the gaslight district was fun.

10

Adilene

23 Sept 2024

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Stayed 5 nights

The staff was great! And the cafe’s food was delicious!

8

Nigel

14 Sept 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

Very good property, well maintained, friendly staff. Breakfast was excellent and free coffee in the early morning was a welcome touch. Comfortable room.

10

Dawn

25 Jun 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

Absolutely perfect! Love our entire experience. Great atmosphere, food, pool, and cocktails. Central to everywhere we wanted to go!

6

Antonio Ivan

21 Apr 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

“Le ponen mucha crema a sus tacos” buen desayuno. Habitación con distribución incómoda. En desayuno es rico, aunque cobran y eso que se anuncian con desayuno incluido … lo cual es pésimo. Él estacionamiento es ma caro que otros hoteles cercanos.

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8

Nicole

10 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Good hotel, bed was comfy and the room was clean. Limited dining options but the food at the cafe was good. Washrooms in their dining facilities were often out of order.

10

Harley

6 Jan 2025

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Stayed 1 night

This property was lovely! The staff was very kind and accommodating. I really liked the room. It was decorated well and felt comfy and chic. The one subpar thing we experienced while here, was we sat down at the cafe for dinner at 4pm. The dinner menu looked delicious! Dinner begins at 4pm and we ordered right away, after about 30 minutes the server checked in again. We waited for over 50 minutes and then checked in again with our server, who checked with the kitchen and let us know that our order was never placed!!! It was extremely disappointing because it seems like the server never gave them our order. We left because we had a concert to go. So unfortunately we did not get to have dinner. Aside from that, the staff was very kind, the room was nice, and the hotel it self was great!

10

Hisham

16 May 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

The hotel was wonderful with a gym and outdoor pool. Conveniently located in downtown San Diego with easy access to everything! The room was spacious and very clean and the dining options were great, on the expensive side though like the rest of San Diego.

10

Jo

21 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Loved this place! Every staff member was friendly and helpful, and the food at the restaurant was great! The roof pool is a lovely place to spend the afternoon.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $366	2 $499	3 $863
4 $425	5 $399	6 $542	7 $507	8 $448	9 $431	10 $683
11 $974	12 $981	13 $1,046	14 $303	15 $280	16 $466	17 $581
18 $369	19 $332	20 $323	21 $325	22 $325	23 $367	24 $398
25 $234	26 $241	27 $266	28	29 $298	30 $323	31 $285

Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

About this property

Location

Room options

Room, 1 King Bed (San Diego View)

Studio Suite, 1 Bedroom, Balcony

Premium Room, 1 King Bed (Mobility Accessible, Roll-In Shower)

Suite, 1 Bedroom (Mobility Hearing Access, Roll-In Shower)

Room, 1 King Bed

Premium Room, 1 King Bed

Premium Room, 1 King Bed (Mobility Accessible, Tub)

Suite, 1 Bedroom, Bay View (Balcony)

Suite, 1 Bedroom

Room, 2 Double Beds

Presidential Suite, 2 Bedrooms

Room, 2 Double Beds (Mobility Accessible, Tub)

Room, 1 Queen Bed

Room, 2 Double Beds (Hearing Accessible)

Room, 1 King Bed, City View (Balcony)

Premium Room, 1 King Bed (Hearing Accessible)

Guest reviews of Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Security deposit

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Prices for upcoming dates

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19 $259
20	21 $256	22	23 $342	24 $267	25 $333	26 $285
27 $210	28 $206	29 $214	30 $212