North Park’s Crown Jewel
Words by Ashley Locke
Photos provided by The Lafayette Hotel
The Lafayette doesn’t whisper its welcome. It throws open the door with jazz in the background and a martini in hand. This is not a hotel for people looking to fade into the background. It’s a Technicolor dreamscape where every hallway feels like a film set and every corner hides a surprise. And lucky for all of us, it sits right in the heart of San Diego’s North Park—a neighborhood that’s just as unapologetically colorful as the hotel itself.
You come to The Lafayette for the pool and the people-watching. You stay for the rococo bathrooms, the round-the-clock diner, and the fact that at any given moment, someone might be bowling, dancing, or debating which tiki cocktail to order next. It’s equal parts Hollywood glam and neighborhood hangout—and somehow, it all works.
The Lafayette has been around since 1946, hosting legends like Bob Hope, Ava Gardner, and Frank Sinatra. These days, the legends are local. The renovation by CH Projects brought in a wave of creative energy, transforming the property into a kaleidoscope of bold patterns, fringe-shaded lamps, and leopard-spotted footstools that make your great aunt’s living room look minimal. It’s campy, classy, and wildly comfortable.
And best of all? You don’t need to leave the property to have an unforgettable weekend—though you absolutely should, because North Park is a neighborhood made for wandering.
Independent bookstores, tucked-away bars, and Oaxacan small plates are all just steps away. Here’s how to do a weekend like a local—one who happens to sleep in a four-poster bed under tiger-print fabric.
Friday
4:00 PM: Check in at The Lafayette
Start your weekend with a stroll through the checkerboard-floored lobby. Grab an espresso tonic at the lobby’s coffee bar (yes, it doubles as the check-in desk), and don’t be surprised if the guy next to you in linen pants ends up on stage at Lou Lou’s Jungle Room later tonight.
5:00 PM: Shop North Park
Wander a few blocks down and pop into Artelexia for colorful Mexican gifts and local art. Stop into Verbatim Books for a stack of stories you didn’t know you needed, then swing by Gold Dust Collective for vintage finds and funky home goods.
7:00 PM: Dinner at Quixote
Back at the hotel, follow the candlelight to Quixote, where Chef José Cepeda blends Oaxacan recipes with just the right amount of modernity. Order the duck carnitas memelita and the crab corn doughnut. (Yes, a crab corn doughnut. Just trust us.)
9:00 PM: Live music at Lou Lou’s
Round out the night with a stop at Lou Lou’s, The Lafayette’s on-site music venue. Grab a seat, order a whiskey sour, and take in the scene that once hosted Nina Simone.
Saturday
9:00 AM: Breakfast at Beginner’s
Begin the day at Beginner’s, a retro diner that looks like it was airlifted in from the 1940s. Go for the banana bread pudding French toast or brekkie sando. Sit at the counter and sip diner coffee while plotting your day.
11:00 AM: Explore North Park on foot
Hit the shops on University Ave. Fivespace and Secret Sister are local staples. Need a second coffee? Communal Coffee is your spot—half café, half flower shop, fully Instagrammable.
1:00 PM: Lunch at Mabel’s Gone Fishing
This seafood and gin bar feels like a postcard from coastal Spain. The crudo is fresh, the wines are natural, and the vibe is relaxed in that perfectly California way.
3:00 PM: Poolside cocktails
Return to The Lafayette and post up on the checkerboard pool deck with a frozen drink in hand. If you got a poolside room, even better—you can nap and dip on repeat.
5:00 PM: Happy hour at Gutter
Bowling alleys aren’t usually this chic. Gutter, The Lafayette’s hidden bar, is equal parts speakeasy and spare-a-strike funhouse. Even if you don’t bowl, go for the Manhattan.
7:00 PM: Dinner at Fortunate Son
If you’re looking to explore outside the hotel for dinner, walk just a few blocks to Fortunate Son—a nostalgic take on Chinese-American classics, with honey walnut shrimp and orange chicken reimagined for the modern palette.
9:00 PM: Nightcap at the Lobby Bar
Return home to The Lafayette and order something from the lobby bar. Sink into a patterned banquette and people-watch. The crowd gets livelier as the night goes on.
Sunday
8:00 AM: One last diner moment
You’re going to want that French dip for breakfast. Beginner’s is open 24 hours for a reason. It’s hangover-friendly, but also just…excellent.
9:30 AM: Stroll through Balboa Park
It’s about a 20-minute walk to Balboa Park, where you can wander the rose gardens, peek into museums, or just enjoy the California sunshine one last time before checkout.
11:00 AM: Check out, maybe
You’ll think about asking for a late checkout. Maybe even one more night. And if you do, no one would blame you.
The Lafayette is a microcosm of North Park itself. It’s bold, curious, never boring, and completely local. So grab your robe, pick your poison, and settle in. There’s no wrong way to weekend here.
