San Diego is known for having that quintessential SoCal vibe we’ve all seen in the movies.
While ‘America’s Finest City’ is just that – a fine city – there are ample scenic beach towns dotting the seemingly endless coastline filled with your typical dude-bro surfers and skateboarders.
But don’t fret! You can easily escape the ‘bruh’ this and ‘bruh’ that and hand signals with their pinky and thumb extended.
There are more ways to hang loose than catching waves and grinding handrails.
Most tourists set their sights for San Diego’s prime beachside real estate, but those who do are actually doing themselves a disservice by missing out on a slice of Mediterranean paradise away from the all-but-guaranteed packed beaches. (Although, crowds tend to dwindle down in fall)
Perhaps you’ve heard of Del Mar, a ritzy little beach town roughly 20 minutes from San Diego proper where celeb sightings are common and the average home costs $2.725 million – yes, that’s not a typo.
The average traveler’s beach home dreams may come to a screeching halt here, but splurging on a well-deserved vacation should never be out of the question.
Nestled inland amongst rolling hills and vast canyons lies the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, a lavish 5-star hotel oozing Mediterranean vibes, where adults can blissfully recharge by day, and indulge in Southern California’s only 3-star Michelin restaurant by night.
As a recent guest, I can’t recommend staying here enough. And if you must go to the beach, Del Mar’s pristine beaches are less than 15 minutes away.
No Passport Needed: Let The Mediterranean Come To You
Upon arriving, you’re glued to Fairmont Grand’s pure elegance as if every throw pillow, every cocktail glass, and every glistening chandelier are meticulously placed to exude class and luxury at every turn.
Fairmont Grand describes themselves on their website as a ‘Mediterranean estate’, which is certainly an understatement feeling more reminiscent of San Diego’s version of the Alhambra.
I walked the entire grounds multiple times, and while not classified as a “resort” per se, many aspects feel like one.
Home to multiple pools, a globally renowned golf course, and world-class 5-star spa honored by Forbes, this is the ultimate place to unwind all without even feeling like you’re in San Diego; at least how it’s often portrayed.
I booked a King Room overlooking the adults-only pool (more to come on that!) and was delighted to see how spacious it was. Even 5-star hotels can skimp on breathing room from time to time, but not here!
The bathroom alone felt bigger than my whole apartment and the gold-accented European-style soaking tub was the icing on the cake.
Not to mention, the mattress was truly heavenly, the complimentary coffee better than Starbucks, and the secluded balcony was surprisingly peaceful for a poolside room.
I couldn’t have asked for a better way to the cap the day than enjoying the cool evening breeze on the patio while catching up on reading and writing articles for you on their speedy wifi (you’re welcome!).
A Family-Friendly Hotel With A Private Haven For Adults
Remember in Dumb and Dumber when Lloyd attempted to make the ‘most annoying sound in the world’?
Well, for some of us, it’s whatever Jim Carrey’s dissonant vocal cords blurted out, and for others, like me, it’s the sound of screaming children…or my ex’s weird TikToks, but that’s a different story…
Kids can be a lot of fun and deserve a vacation like anyone else, but adults-only pools are a whole other level of peace, amirite?
Fairmont Grand Del Mar boasts 4 heated pools, but the 1 adults-only pool is free of kids running rampant and miserable parents realizing they need another vacation while on vacation.
Accompanied by an equally blissful secluded hot tub, the adults-only pool lived up to the name. I’ve been to other hotels where staff turn a blind eye to obviously obnoxious teenagers invading my quiet zone, but this was truly an adults-only haven.
Although, most impressive was how spotlessly clean the entire hotel was – a rarity for a kid-friendly and pet-friendly stay.
If the grown-ups need a safe space for the kiddos, check out the Explorer’s Club.
Whether You Rest Your Head Here Or Not, You Must Eat Here!
San Diego is one of the best foodie destinations in America, but dining at Fairmount Grand levels up your tastebuds.
Home to Addison, Southern California’s only 3-star Michelin restaurant, along with Amaya, a fabulous restaurant where Paris meets SoCal, you can’t go wrong.
Although, Addison’s twilight views are arguably as grand as their menus. Diner be warned, though, Addison is so sought-after you will need book a reservation well in advance, which can be done here on OpenTable.
The nearest open availability I could find is over a month away for a late 9pm dinner, for example.
Amaya, however, is not at all a bad alternative, where I had an incredible dinner to remember from savory appetizers like the Burgandy Escargot Vol Au Vent to locally sourced wine for dessert – yeah, you read that right.
The star of the show was the ‘Chef’s Special’, not even listed on the already impressive menu. So impressive in fact, the waiter had to make 4 trips before we decided what we wanted to order.
The imported Dover Sole was divine and cooked to perfection, so special thanks to our friendly, knowledgeable server, Ignacio, for the recommendation!
My girlfriend and I couldn’t stop raving about how amazing our meal was as we strolled through the beautiful grounds with a post-meal glass of wine in hand.
Their wine selection was extensive and so well incorporated with their impeccable cuisine that we opted for another round over dessert since Amaya allows guests to take wine to-go.
See? ‘Adulting’ really is another level here!
Tip: if ordering the Steak Tartare, ask for the ‘parmesan espuma’ on the side for the perfect bite paired with quite possibly the best bread I’ve ever had!
Horsing Around: Fairmont‘s Fun Activities
Fairmont Grand is a popular golf getaway, but there’s far more to do than hit the links. However, if you’re not avid golfer and would like to learn, clinics are offered for only $50 on Friday and Saturday.
After pigging out at Amaya, a Monday morning yoga sesh was out of the question for me, so I opted for a pool day.
On Tuesday, though, I made a visit the hotel’s very own Equestrian Center, which if you know anything about Del Mar, should be no surprise.
Del Mar is the ‘Kentucky Derby’ of San Diego, home to the very popular Del Mar Racetrack.
Fairmont Grand offers Equestrian Trail Rides, Pony Rides, along with the chance to ‘Feed the Horses‘ on Tuesdays; some of which are retired racehorses. Needless to say, they’re absolutely gorgeous animals!
Behind the Equestrian Center is a trailhead of hiking trails along the golf course, winding through open canyons for some terrific views of the surrounding scenery – the perfect way to start your day with a complimentary cup of coffee from your room, and best of all, hiking is free!
For a full calendar of events, check out Fairmont Grand’s Event Calendar.
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