Pillar to Post: TRAVEL / 1888 SPIFFED UP TO 2025 STANDARDS

Hello to the very remodeled Hotel Del Coronado. 1888 never looked so modern

After more than a decade of phased renovations, the Hotel del Coronado has emerged with an updated sense of purpose that favors history and architecture over kitsch.

The sprawling beachfront property, now fully under Hilton’s Curio Collection, includes new dining venues, reconfigured rooms, and an expanded footprint that nods to its 19th-century origins without freezing in time.

The original 1888 Victorian building remains the focal point, now supported by several modern wings including The Cabanas, The Views, and the upscale Shore House residences.

A central retail plaza and subterranean garage have quietly replaced the former parking sprawl, keeping the campus walkable and visually consistent with its past.

The mix of preserved woodwork and newer steel-and-glass corridors allows guests to toggle between eras with a short walk. Service has stabilized after years of transition.

Room options span from family-leaning poolside setups to luxury beachside suites, with prices ranging wildly based on the wing and season. But the California Cabana Room with Fire Pit, tucked behind the main pool deck, remains a relative bargain—modernized, quiet, and with private outdoor space that competes with rooms at twice the rate.

Dining and Bars:

• Serea Coastal Cuisine – Mediterranean-influenced seafood with ocean views, overseen by chef JoJo Ruiz.

• Babcock & Story Bar – Polished lobby bar offering classic cocktails and cold draft beer under a restored 1880s mahogany ceiling.

• Beach + Taco Shack – Flip-flop casual, serving fish tacos and canned drinks on the sand.

• Sun Deck – Rooftop light bites and craft cocktails facing west, open to the breeze. • Eno Market & Pizzeria – Quick-service café and wood-fired pizza joint for guests not looking to linger.

• Windsor Cottage – Reserved for Shore House guests, offering breakfast and sunset happy hour with a residential touch.

• Sundaes – Old-school ice cream parlor reworked with modern branding and family-friendly seating. While the Del still welcomes daytrippers in droves, the renovations have subtly rebalanced the property toward overnight guests and long-stay visitors. At sunset, the resort becomes quieter, more introspective—closer in spirit to the way it must have felt when electricity and sea air were the main luxuries.

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE...