Theres nothing better than a girls’ trip, especially when it involves sunshine, ocean views, and a cozy-chic hotel right on the beach. My mom, two aunts, and I decided it was time for a little escape to take in the sights and sounds of the beach for a couple of days and San Diego totally delivered. Read on for the details of our Girls’ Getaway // Tower 23 Hotel in San Diego, CA.
To read more about our family vacations & adventures, my girls’ getaways and more, be sure to head to my full Travel Gallery. And more California-specific travels & adventures, go here.
Heading on a trip soon? Click here for my travel essentials and here for travel outfit ideas & inspo while you’re away! And go here for what to pack and wear for many fun destinations!
Girls Getaway // Tower 23 Hotel in San Diego, CA
Our girls’ getaway began when we hopped on an afternoon flight on Mother’s Day, departing from Phoenix, which was an easy, 50-minute flight. We landed before 4 pm, just in time to check out the hotel, stroll the boardwalk, and make it to our beachfront dinner reservation on property at JRDN.
We spent two nights at Tower 23 Hotel, and I’m still dreaming about our stay, the food, and those golden hour views.
Here’s a full breakdown of our stay (with all the details you’ll want if you’re planning something similar!).
First Impressions: Coastal Vibes From the Start
Tower 23 is in Pacific Beach, and you can feel the relaxed energy the second you pull up. It’s got that clean, modern, beachy boutique feel – think white walls, sleek wood finishes, and ocean air as your welcome scent. Check-in was a breeze, and the staff was super friendly and helpful from the moment we walked in the door!
There’s no stuffy hotel lobby vibe here. Just cool, coastal elegance and a literal front-row seat to the beach. Each floor had a cute, quaint sitting area with modern coastal touches perfect for sipping coffee or reading.
Our Room: Partial Ocean View Corner Suite (That Felt Full Ocean View!)
We stayed in the Partial Ocean View Corner Suite, which honestly didn’t feel partial at all. The views were amazing. The room had a large sliding door with a patio overlooking the sun deck, so you could see and hear the waves from bed. It was gorgeous!
The King bed suite was super spacious and perfect for sharing with my mom. My aunts had a two-queen bed room next door, so our suite’s little sitting area and balcony were perfect for when we all 4 wanted to be together – coffee in the morning and wine at happy hour!
The bathroom was modern with a soaking tub, walk-in shower, a pair of robes, big fluffy towels, and all the little touches that make you feel pampered.
Room highlights:
- spacious
- balcony with chairs (hello sunset watching!)
- cozy robes
- tons of space to spread out without feeling cramped
- wet bar and separate coffee bar
The Location: Right on the Beach, Literally
You cannot beat this location. Tower 23 is right on the Pacific Beach boardwalk, so you’re literally steps from the sand.
The property is south of La Jolla and north of Mission.
There are tons of restaurants, bars, and little shops within walking distance, and you don’t even need a car unless you want to explore further into San Diego. We mostly stayed local – beach time, people-watching, and lots of chatting over coffee & cocktails.
Our first afternoon in town, we explored the property and then set out for a sandy walk and beachfront cocktails. We strolled the boardwalk and then landed at World Famous for happy hour. Such a cute spot and was just starting to buzz for the dinner rush.’
After that, we decided to dip our toes in the sand before heading back to Tower 23 to get ready for dinner. It was such a beautiful night on the beach.
Dinner at JRDN: Oceanfront Dining Goals
JRDN, the hotel’s restaurant, was a total highlight. It’s trendy but super approachable, with the best views in the house. We had dinner there our first night, and it was a fabulous welcome to the property.
It didn’t hurt that we had a stunning view of the sunset that night or that it was Mother’s Day so we had extra reasons to toast and celebrate the start of our Mother/daughter/aunts girls’ trip!
We ordered and nibbled on the following:
- burrata + heirloom tomatoes
- crabby tuna roll
- truffle fries (obviously)
- braised short rib
- filet mignon
- salmon
The whole meal was fresh, flavorful, and the sparkling rosé & cocktails weren’t too bad either!
JRDN’s atmosphere was lively and colorful, with color-changing lights on one wall of the restaurant and the patio and a view of the water on the other side.
Stunning all around!
BEACH-BOUND
The next day we woke up, put on our comfy clothes, got a coffee at Konos and then went out to explore the boardwalk again.
It is such a lively, upbeat area – morning, noon & night! After our coffee walk, we decided to check out beach chairs & an umbrella from the lobby and make our way down to the sand.
After a short flight of stairs and a quick set-up, we were lounging with the sun on our faces and books in our hands. It was exactly what we needed!
EXPLORING NEARBY LA JOLLA
Later that afternoon, we decided to take a quick 15-minute Uber ride to La Jolla to check out the area. I’ve always wanted to pop into some of the shops on Prospect Street in La Jolla Village but we’ve always been to La Jolla with the boys, so I thought I’d take my mom and aunts there for some shopping, sipping and dinner!
There was a mix of well-known retailers and small luxury boutiques.
Midway through our shopping excursion, we stopped at Birdseye for a rooftop cocktail.
We ended up having an appetizer at George’s at the Cove and spotted some seals by the water. We’ve taken the boys to see the seals up close and personal, but it was fun to watch them from up above.
Next up was dinner on the Rooftop at Catania. The pasta & pizza were out of this world [we shared the Tagliatelle alla Portofino and the Sicilian Pistachio pizza] and the view just after sunset was so lovely.
Back to our room to chat & unwind in our pj’s!
Our last day, we did one last coffee walk, so we stopped at Konos of course.
We then took advantage of the sundeck with our books and magazines because it was SUCH a gorgeous day!
The sundeck was finally gleaming with rays of sunshine since we had some cloud coverage previously!
Then we had lunch at the Firehouse right near the property, before our early evening flights! We requested early checkout and then they held our luggage until we were ready to depart for the airport.
Everything was perfection.
What we loved most about Tower 23 was a relaxed and stylish environment without being overly trendy or pretentious. Everything felt elevated, but in a cool, casual way.
We saw couples, friend groups, and a few solo travelers, so it works for just about anyone, but for a girl’s trip? It was kind of perfect.
Final Thoughts: Would We Stay Again? 100% YES.
This trip was about reconnecting, slowing down, and just being together without distractions, and Tower 23 gave us the perfect space to do that. It had just the right mix of comfort, beauty, and walkability to make everything feel easy and fun.
If you’re thinking about a chill girls’ trip by the ocean, I can’t recommend this place enough. We left relaxed, sun-kissed, and already plotting a return. I would also visit here for a couple’s getaway because there’s so much in the area to do and see!
Have questions about the hotel or our trip? Drop them in the comments and I’ll be happy to share more details!
To read more about our family vacations & adventures, my girls’ getaways and more, be sure to head to my full Travel Gallery. And more California-specific travels & adventures, go here.
Heading on a trip soon? Click here for my travel essentials and here for travel outfit ideas & inspo while you’re away! And go here for what to pack and wear for many fun destinations!
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