Alma San Diego Downtown, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

The gym is nice and the staff is friendly. Location is central to downtown San Diego. Beds were very comfortable.

There is a very high concentration of homeless right on the block such that I would not be comfortable with my partner walking around, even in day time. The rooms were a little dated. The hotel charges $35/night destination fee but you can then redeem $20 at their downstairs lobby, so it just feels like a way to force you to shop with them.

Very little to like here

Upon even arrival it was a mess. I was charged 3 times for one room. The lady said the system crashed each time I paid. I asked if I was being charged she said no. Upon checking later I indeed was. Homeless everywhere. The night was awful loud noisy and a homeless man screaming outside for nearly two hours. Couldn’t sleep and ruined an anniversary that was thoughtfully planned out. Avoid at all cost. My room wasn’t cheap price wise this placed felt like I paid for a motel 6

Bar inside, complimentary $20 for snacks and use room key to use elevator and get into building

No sign of how much deposit was and no parking

The property was clean, well-maintained, and had beautiful views. The front desk staff were consistently pleasant, and staff overall were helpful—when housekeeping was unavailable for the evening, security stepped in and promptly brought us extra bedding, which we really appreciated. Valet service was friendly and efficient. The location is convenient, with close proximity to Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo.

There were a few issues during our stay that impacted the overall experience. The shower in our room appeared to be installed incorrectly—the handle was positioned in a way that made it seem like there was no hot water. We only discovered that hot water worked after turning the handle toward the “cold” side, which was confusing and inconvenient. I also experienced a room service issue—due to a delivery mix-up, my order was sent to the wrong room, and by the time I received it, the food was cold. Additionally, I did not receive my drink but was still charged for it. The hotel is located at the edge of the Gaslamp Quarter near a convenience store that attracts a high volume of transient individuals, which affected the overall comfort of the surrounding area.

The room and the view from the 20th floor was absolutely stunning. I highly recommend upgrading to a room with a balcony if you can. There was not just one balcony but two, both looking in different directions over San Diego. The staff and room service were friendly and professional. I would recommend the Alma hotel to anyone visiting San Diego.

Beautiful property with a lovely bar and restaurant on the first floor. Breakfast was delicious and had great hours—it’s served until noon, which was a nice bonus. The staff were consistently available, friendly, and helpful throughout the stay.

Overall, I had a pleasant stay, but a few things are worth noting: 1. “Included breakfast” – This is actually a $50 credit to the downstairs restaurant. Prices are quite high (e.g., breakfast burrito ~$24, yogurt bowl ~$17, smoothie ~$16), so after tax and tip, it’s easy to exceed the credit—especially for two people, even without adding coffee or juice. This works better for solo travelers. 2. Location – The location is great and very convenient. However, during my stay there was a noticeable number of unhoused individuals congregating right outside the hotel, which made walking around alone feel a bit uncomfortable at times. This may be more of a general downtown issue than specific to the hotel. 3. Pool area – The rooftop pool was not heated and it was quite windy, so it didn’t feel as relaxing or luxurious as expected. Not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of. 4. Bathroom design – The bathroom has a sliding glass door as the main entrance and a half-glass shower enclosure. This led to water spilling onto the floor, and there was minimal privacy and sound insulation. There is also no bathroom fan.

The room was beautiful with a great view! Very comfortable bed. Loved the soaking tub and large balcony with seating. Also, the food and drinks at the Cafe Lounge Restaurants were really good! I would definitely stay at this hotel again.

My only small complaint is that there were no drawers available for clothing. The homeless population outside the hotel was a little alarming and it tends to be a bit noisy at night in the area. The hotel is located in the Gaslamp downtown area, so it was understandable.