Newly opened in San Diego, the Granger Hotel Gaslamp Quarter pays homage to the city’s rich history while providing a modern sanctuary exclusively for its guests and their friends. As the first hotel of its kind in the city and a proud member of Design Hotels, the Granger Hotel artfully blends original architectural elements from 1904 with contemporary artworks and a carefully curated selection of vintage and bespoke furnishings. Here, guests find themselves in a vibrant, private urban retreat, surrounded only by fellow travelers.
“A profound enthusiasm fuels our mission to shape the future of boutique hospitality in San Diego, the city that nurtured us,” say brothers Alvin and Kevin Mansour, the hotel’s Originals. “Our vision is rooted in a desire to merge the warmth of personalized service with unique design, appealing to the modern traveler who craves more than just a place to rest. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant heritage of our locale, every aspect of the hotel embodies the cultural subtleties of the area. From carefully curated local artwork to furnishings crafted by skilled artisans, each space narrates a story—one that invites guests to dive into the local experience.”
To bring the Granger Hotel to life, the Mansour brothers collaborated closely with Erika Baker, the lead designer and creative director at Oram Hotels. She curated a sophisticated blend of vintage and bespoke pieces alongside captivating artworks. Upon entering, guests are welcomed by a lobby adorned with a vintage Philip North painting and two custom murals, a joint effort between Baker and local muralist Taylor Wilson. One mural features an abstract depiction of an elephant and lion, while a stunning textured plaster wall artwork stretches over 50 feet, instilling a sense of dynamism throughout the area. Original 12-foot-tall windows flood the lobby with natural light, enhancing the vibrant color scheme of blush, chartreuse, and cerulean. These striking hues, combined with rich textures from velvet and animal-print upholstery, contrast beautifully with organic stones, handcrafted tiles, marbles, and lime wash, creating an atmosphere that is both sophisticated and playfully exuberant.
The sultry design, inspired by the aesthetics of the 1920s through the 1970s, permeates all 96 guestrooms, including four corner suites. Guests are welcomed by wide, dimly lit corridors adorned with the building’s original 120-year-old doors, which have been retrofitted for sound and safety. These corridors lead to studio loft-style rooms featuring handcrafted built-ins and custom rattan armoires, complemented by vintage books and unique artworks that contrast beautifully with the original tin ceilings and windows. Many of the artworks, created by Baker herself, blend watercolors, cartography, and collage, harmonizing seamlessly with the carefully curated vintage items like pottery and bedside lamps. The light, airy bathrooms are minimal yet elegant, showcasing colorful Italian marble mosaic flooring and stocked with bespoke Le Labo amenities.
In the lobby café 5th & Lox, guests can indulge in traditional American comfort foods, artisanal pastries, and seasonal fruits for breakfast. The Parlor Room, an intimate lounge within the lobby, tastefully reinterprets the neighborhood’s history as a haven for adult indulgence. Specialty espresso drinks take center stage in the morning, while as the sun sets, handcrafted cocktails crafted by a world-class bar team from The Guild Hotel, a sister property, are served at a stunning Cristallo-glass bar. This bar is beautifully accented by a historical nude painting by artist M. Negus. Throughout the Granger Hotel, guests can find cozy nooks to settle into, knowing they are in a space that feels like home.