The Living Room & Beach at the W - San Diego - CA

Archive Alert! On the first July Monday, 2004 we were sitting at a pavement cafe in Montmartre, Paris where Fred was introducing Sam to the joys of charcuterie.

The Living Room & Beach at the W Hotel, 421 West B Street, San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 231-8220



Today my San Diego Section series concludes with a drink at the Bar. Although my trip to San Diego served to remind me that hotel dining is a risky business, drinking in hotel bars can be a much more pleasant experience. It is true that when I am in a swanky mood, I can sometimes be found seeking refreshment at a W Hotel bar.

I have some fun W-Hotel Bar memories to recall. Almost 5 years ago at the W in New Orleans, I first met D, who became my room mate and one of my best friends in the world when I later moved to America and San Francisco. Fred and I had some fun times in the Seattle W hotel bar where we met some great people. My favourite story about San Francisco's W hotel bar, is that it is where we met up with a multi-national group of friends (English, French and Australian) to get into the party spirit prior to going to watch the last Rugby World Cup final at the nearby Chieftain. How could I ever forget that glorious winning kick from England's Jonny Wilkinson in the last minute of extra time.



The first bar you come across in San Diego's W is situated in the hotel's lobby. Large, pale, crisp and clean, there is no surprise it is called The Living Room. Giant draft and chess sets and old-fashioned type-writers are personal touches that make you feel home from home. A huge panelled video towering above the bar is timed to match the sky. You can watch the sun set without ever venturing outside. This space is open 24 hours a day with the mood changing to quiet, peaceful and reflective in the mornings, to a raging party late on a Saturday night, when scantily clad-dancers bump and grind on the table tops for purposes of entertainment. The reason for this lively display is probably to help appease the hundreds of hopefuls queueing to gain access to the Beach Bar a couple of floors up, outside on the roof.



If you are a hotel guest, a trip to the beach is easy. You just visit the front desk and ask for a wrist band. This allows you to jump straight to the front of the line so you can go see what all the fuss is about.



Beach is a roof top bar, with heated sand, rentable cabanas and a fire pit.



A huge projector displays quirky tv showcasing Amercian classics on one wall, whilst the Saturday night crowd get busy and have make themselves look like they are having fun. Fred and I did a little people watching and concluded it is all about style. San Diego needs to wake up and find some substance to match.



PS. This review was a First Impression

All My San Diego Reviews: Rice at the W Hotel Cafe Bassam, Gas Lamp Chive, Gas Lamp Tartine, Coronado Cafe 222, Marina District Soleil @ the K The Living Room & The Beach at the W

Other San Diego Food Bloggers: mmm-yoso!!! The local's guide to San Diego eats

tagged with Bars and San Diego and Drink and First+Impressions

The Living Room & Beach at the W - San Diego - CA