JILL WEINLEIN

After graduating from UCLA, JIll traveled the world looking for unique destinations. She’s been writing about her travels for almost 30 years in various publications.

She writes a weekly restaurant review for the Beverly Press and Park LaBrea News. It’s inserted into the Los Angeles Times every Thursday and delivered to subscribers from Hancock Park to Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills to the Wilshire Corridor.

Winter Getaway at Tower23

BY JILL WEINLEIN

San Diego is temperate year-round and during the winter months, the So Cal destination usually offers clear skies and temperatures in the mid-60s. Since there aren’t as many visitors, it’s an ideal time to get away for a change of beachfront scenery.

Last month we drove down to Pacific Beach to stay at a newer property, Tower23 designed by renowned architect Graham T. Downes, AIA. The modern, concrete and glass three-story boutique hotel is named after its location near lifeguard tower 23 on Pacific Beach.

In the center of the hotel is an outside deck offering comfortable lounge chairs, a flickering fire pit and sparkling Zen water garden. This is the ultimate place to sit back and watch the world pass by as bicyclists, joggers, dog walkers and surfers enjoy the boardwalk below.

Upon check-in, guests receive a card to redeem for two complimentary sunset drinks to enjoy while sitting on the al fresco dining patio at the onsite restaurant, JRDN, or to take back up to their room to enjoy on their patio or balcony.

Rooms are named “pads” and our Surf Pad #221 offered a sliding door to allow cool coastal air inside, and two chairs to sit and watch rows of surfers catching waves directly in front and near the historic Crystal Beach Pier.

Pads have either two queen-sized beds or one king Tempur-Pedic bed with luxury linens and down comforters. There is a spacious walk-in shower, and two luxury blue robes in the closet, as well as an in-room personal safe.

Guests receive free wi-fi, a mini-refrigerator, and use of complimentary cruiser bicycles, beach chairs, boogie boards, umbrellas and beach toys.

Suites at the hotel are named Sanctuary, Sweet and Serenity. All have comfortable bedding, a ‘Chromatherapy’ floating whirlpool soaking tub, and a separate step-in shower. In the sitting area, there is a pull-out queen sleeper sofa, small wet bar and sliding door leading out to a patio or balcony overlooking the open air Tower Deck and ocean.

The two-bedroom Sweet Suite offers a floating King-sized bed in the middle of one of the rooms, with a private balcony and a separate living area with an additional private balcony looking out to the sand, surfers and the Pacific Ocean. The spacious bathroom offers a walk-in shower and a large Jacuzzi whirlpool tub.

During the day we rode the complimentary bicycles on paved paths along the boardwalk to Mission Bay. This area in San Diego offers designated bike paths all along the beach and bay.

Before sunset, we took a long beach walk to the rugged headlands of La Jolla and back to Crystal Pier before dinner at Tower23 Hotel’s onsite restaurant JRDN.

Tables are set outside for guests to enjoy classic, flavorful food that creatively reflects the season. One 70-foot long interior wall in the restaurant offers a “Theatre of Light” wave wall adding excitement to the restaurants decor with it’s changing colors.

Menu items at JRDN include butcher-cut steaks and meat, grilled local catch of the day, sushi, salads, sandwiches, burgers, braised short rib and Baja California style favorites.

Tower23 offers a flexible cancellation policy and specials when guests stay 3 nights or more. For a change of scenery, this oceanfront lifestyle hotel is the ultimate staycation in San Diego. To learn more visit t23hotel.com/special-offers/. 723 Fespar Street, (858)270-2323.