help choosing a la jolla hotel

Question

I’m trying to decide between three great hotels and could use some input. I’m looking for an upscale hotel with beautiful rooms and a prime location. I know it’s a good problem to have, but I’m torn between the Valencia Hotel, the Grande Colonial, and the Inn by the Sea. Price isn’t a concern. Ideally, I’d like a hotel with a restaurant offering room service, but that’s not a deal-breaker.

I like the casual vibe of the Inn by the Sea, and although the Valencia and Grande Colonial seem more upscale, I don't know if they might feel too stuffy or “scene-y” . Any thoughts or recommendations based on your experiences would be much appreciated!

Answer

Nice problem to have — all three are excellent La Jolla hotels, but they do have distinct personalities. Below I compare them on the things you care about (upscale rooms, location, vibe, and room-service/restaurant availability) and finish with a short, practical recommendation based on your preference for an upscale place that doesn’t feel too “scene-y.”

Quick summary (one-line)

La Valencia — Iconic “Pink Lady”: glamorous, ocean-view, lively pool/bar scene, full in-room dining and resort restaurants; feels elegant and social.
Grande Colonial — Classic boutique luxury: quietly refined, very central (Prospect Street), polished service, Michelin-plate restaurant (Nine-Ten) and full room service — feels upscale without flash.
Inn by the Sea — Casual, beachy boutique: comfortable, relaxed rooms with balconies, right in the village and close to the beach — more intimate and low-key than the other two (in-room breakfast/limited room service).

Detailed notes

La Valencia (the “Pink Lady”)

What you’ll like: dramatic ocean views, grand Mediterranean architecture, glamorous public spaces (iconic lobby bar, ocean-view pool), and multiple restaurants. It’s a destination in its own right — great if you enjoy hotel bars, poolside energy, and a picture-perfect stay. Room service and extensive dining are available. If you’d rather avoid anything too buzzy, note that La Valencia tends to be the most social of the three (pool and bar scene) so it can feel lively at prime hours.

Grande Colonial

What you’ll like: elegant, understated luxury and polished service. The hotel leans into a refined, classic La Jolla sensibility (fireplace lobby, rooftop/terrace options) and its on-site NINE-TEN restaurant has serious culinary chops — room service is offered from the restaurant. It feels upscale and well-appointed without the “scene” energy of a resort pool crowd. For someone who wants beautiful rooms + prime location + quiet sophistication, this is a top pick.

Inn by the Sea

What you’ll like: the most casual, local, beachy vibe. Large, comfortable rooms with balconies/patios, straightforward friendly service, close to shops and the shore — great if you want to be walking distance to restaurants, galleries, and the beach. The property emphasizes a relaxed, comfortable stay (in-room breakfast delivery is specifically noted; full-service dinner room service is more limited than at the other two). It’s the least “formal” of your options.

How they compare on your specific priorities

Upscale rooms & finishings: La Valencia ≈ Grande Colonial (both stylish and high quality). Inn by the Sea is nicely appointed but more casual.
Prime location: All three are in excellent La Jolla Village locations — La Valencia and Grande Colonial sit on/near Prospect (close to overlooks and Cove), Inn by the Sea is a short walk to the beach and restaurants (very convenient).
Vibe — “too stuffy / scene-y” concerns: La Valencia = most scene-oriented (pool/bar energy); Grande Colonial = refined, not stuffy; Inn by the Sea = casual and low-key.
Room service / restaurants: All three provide in-room dining options (La Valencia has full in-room dining; Grande Colonial offers room service via Nine-Ten; Inn by the Sea offers in-room breakfast and guest dining options). So you won’t be left wanting for food service in any of them.

Recommendation — based on what you said

If you want an upscale hotel with beautiful rooms and a prime location but are worried about anything feeling too “scene-y,” my pick would be the Grande Colonial. It’s elegantly polished and offers refined dining (Nine-Ten) and reliable room service, but it doesn’t carry the louder, resort-pool social energy that La Valencia can have. If you prefer something a touch more glamorous and don’t mind a livelier scene (poolside drinks, a bolder design vibe), choose La Valencia. If you’d prefer the most relaxed, casual, beach-front experience — especially if you plan to spend a lot of time walking the village and shoreline — Inn by the Sea is a very pleasant, lower-key alternative.

Final practical tips

If room service is a make-or-break detail, all three satisfy that requirement — Grande Colonial and La Valencia have full in-room dining from their restaurants, while Inn by the Sea highlights in-room breakfast and easy village dining.
Ask about a room facing the ocean (or with a balcony) at booking — the views at La Valencia and the Grande Colonial are particularly lovely and worth the slight premium.
If you want a quieter stay, request a room away from the pool/bar area at La Valencia (they can get lively). Grande Colonial and Inn by the Sea are naturally quieter options.