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The Grant's Lobby Lounge
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The
US Grant is an iconic, urban luxury hotel in Downtown San Diego. In true Southern California fashion, she just had some work done. After her $52 million facelift, she is ready for her close up.
Ulysses S Grant Jr. developed and built
The US Grant Hotel in honor of his father, the 18th US president and Civil War Hero
Ulysses S Grant. It was a passion piece, his and his wife’s, who really played a part in the initial planning of the aesthetics. Unfortunately, she never lived to see the greatest hotel of its time open its doors. Apparently she did not take her sudden, early passing very well and has opted to have her due and her day. Many events and several years later her spirit has been known to pop up and in to various rooms around the hotel, especially on the lower floor and party rooms.
Who can blame the dame? Dead or alive, any one with blood in the body, past or present would be drawn to the stunning aesthetics that have been impeccably restored to their original glamour and grandeur. Fear not, she is a good ghost, and a glamorous one, we are told.
As you step in to
The US Grant’s grand lobby, it truly is a step back in town. The hotel is steeped in history. If the walls could talk I would still be there having a high ball in the lobby, chatting them up. You can just feel the past, the frivolity, decadence, parties, passion, the pain and the many changes. It’s all in the building.
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The San Diego Seascape
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Today it is the epicenter of the geographic, cultural and historic center of the now thriving Downtown San Diego. This presidential palace is an 11-story 270-room historical landmark hotel welcoming guests to a spectacular array of lavish suites. There are varying suite types, inclusive of the presidential suite, truly suited for a real president.
The Grant has been a place of pleasure and refuge for many presidents from
Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Kennedy, Carter, Clinton, Bush and travelers alike.
The Grant has passed through many a hand, housed those wounded from war and has fallen in to states of disrepair through the years. After a 20 month and $52 million renovation, she is as glamorous as ever and ready for that close.
The Grant, listed on the
National Register of Historic Places is finally in the best of hands, a
Luxury Collection Hotel managed by the
Starwood Hotels and Resort and owned by
The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a Native American tribe, which owns the land.
Once cannot possibly be blue while at
The Grant, yet blue is the hue of choice throughout the property as it has always been associated with US presidents and has played a part at The White House since the famed Blue Room was introduced by
Mamie Van Buren in 1837. It too plays an important role with the
Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, as they associate blue with the ocean. They have made the coast their home since creation. So take note of the blue. If the salt air doesn’t relax you, the blue hue is sure to do the trick.
Their Native American color, culture and presence are woven effortlessly throughout
The Grant’s stunning property. They take the Native and American history and blend them seamlessly so to the naked eye doesn’t see where one begins and the other ends. Yet look closer, every doorknob, piece of artwork and banister has meaning. Each placement has a purpose. Just ask the staff as you walk around the museum style hotel, as they are well versed and truly impassioned about the place, as if their own history is woven in to the rug or their personal colors are on the wall.
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The Famed Indian Flower on the Lobby Rug
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The Grant staff is so genuinely happy. There was ease and a peace that passed freely from them to me upon arrival. As stunning as the lobby was, I found true love in my suite.
The Grant has five distinct suite types, and the highest ratio of suite to guest rooms in the city. My
Legacy Suite felt like an artist flat in Paris. French artist
Yves Clement has added a bit of the French decadence to each room. If you can’t sleep with an artist, you should at least sleep with their art.
Clement integrates art into the designs of each headboard as well as on pieces throughout the rooms. He calls them drippings. I call them divine. His black drippings on the white canvas made for sweet dreams midday and through the night.
My suite was pristine and clean yet, full of whimsy and creativity, truly French in nature. I once again was hard pressed to leave. My pace continued to slow down. After a few slices of my cheese plate and a sip of the delivered wine to my room, I was off.
My first night in, we met at the legendary
Grant Grill across from the iconic lobby lounge. The Lounge is open and grand. We countered that with the intimate very private dining room, with its mahogany walls and old grandeur. It was then that I really felt like a president or better yet, a mistress.
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The Grand Entrance at The US Grant
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The Grill features Market Fresh California Grill Cuisine with Native American influences. Once again, the California, Native and Classic American are mixed in with artistic and French influences. It’s the mix that makes
The Grant so artistic, unique, chic and truly seductive throughout.
Our spirited group opted for the Market Fresh Tasting, which I highly recommend. Each dish that evening was perfectly paired throughout the meal. We were off to a great start with Bay Scallops on a Risotto of Aged Gouda and English Peas paired with a clean Robert Sinskey “Abraxas” Scintilla Sonoma Vineyards Los Carneros 2006.
The Russia Rivers crisp Pinot Gris by J Vineyards 2006 then complemented the Roasted Ono, Jonah Crab Stuffed Squash Blossoms, and Summer Succotash. Mid meal, I truly peaked with the Leg of Lamb, Chorizo and Braised Greens with the Santa Lucia Highlands (2004) Novy Rosella’s Syrah. I tipped a few Syrahs in to my mix before moving on to Contra Cost County Zinfandel (2004), another great red, the Neyers “Pato” paired with Persille de Chevre, young Japanese onions glazed in honey. Knowing I didn’t have to drive, a mere hailing of the elevator allowed me to embrace the many divine wines. My only potential hurdle was a run-in with the ghostly
Grand Dame.
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A Guest Suite at The US Grant
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The Peach Tarte Tatin and Amoretto Ice Cream with the Chamomile Cordial was the perfect nightcap. It allowed for the suitest of dreams in my Parisian style flat, no ghosts included.
I highly recommend the Market Tasting Menu as it was just enough of each dish, a great way for the very talented chef Andrea Nieto to showcase his skills and for you to enjoy the impeccable pairing and extensive wine list in a classic old world setting.
I had complimentary coffee in the lobby while watching the world go by and a few great bites over breakfast and great wines in that decadent lounge at the Grill before bed while at
The Grant.
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Enjoying my Time at The US Grant
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The Grant is a perfect spot for a gal’s getaway, a romantic rendezvous, a destination I Do or to do a bit of business. Whatever your needs, they will surely sate them. It’s close to all of the major San Diego attractions from
The Gaslight District to the
Old Globe Theater, Torrey Pines State Reserve, The Natural History Museum, Coronado, The Enchanted Island & Hotel Del and finally the sea and the beach itself.
It’s all there in San Diego at
The US Grant with plenty of cultural, culinary and natural wonders to delight all the senses.
The US Grant may be a presidential palace, but it’s definitely made for a Queen! Enjoy!
The US Grant – 326 Broadway, San Diego, Ca. 92101 / Tel # 619 232 3121.
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