Moxy San Diego Downtown/Gaslamp Quarter

"Why we love it: A millennial-minded stay that looks great on Instagram The Highlights: - An affordable hotel in a prime location - Playful but comfy design - Fun spaces to meet fellow travelers The Review: The first California property from millennial-minded hotel brand Moxy, this Gaslamp Quarter hotel appeals directly to the Instagram-obsessed traveler. Everything here is designed for the perfect shot, from the neon sign in the entryway to the daily quotes scrawled in bright pink on the elevator mirrors. Guests check in either at the massive, square-shaped bar or the custom tricycle, at which point they receive a signature “Get Moxy #5” cocktail before being shown to one of 126 smartly designed rooms. Equipped with purposeful details like pegboards to hang clothing and beds framed by LED-lit platforms, rooms are small for two guests, but that’s kind of the point—at the Moxy, guests are encouraged to spend time in the hotel’s communal spaces instead. With places like the lobby lounge and library to hang out, that’s not a hard directive to follow. A feast for the senses, the lobby blends industrial style (exposed electrical conduits, steel finishing, wood accents) with nautical details (camouflage wall coverings, porthole mirrors, a shipping container). An LED light fixture by Canadian-based Moment Factory hangs overhead, while the first San Diego mural by L.A.-based artist Paul Nandee decorates the lounge area, which also features pinball machines, Jenga, and other games to keep guests entertained. If you need a little alone time, head upstairs to the library, where you can read under a topographic map of San Diego Bay, or hit the gym, equipped with pink boxing gloves and candy (guests are asked not to take themselves too seriously during their stay). Come evening however, it’s time to hit Bar Moxy for local beers and handcrafted cocktails. Should you want to explore the city, there’s also a grab-and-go area, where you can pick up coffee, snacks, and drinks before heading out to Sixth Avenue."

"Shrouded in secrecy since its opening, Gaslamp speakeasy Room 56 is hidden deep inside the Moxy San Diego. Accessed through the lobby’s mezzanine library, the bar lies beyond a bookcase; after making reservations via a mysterious webpage (text the code word to the number displayed) guests select a specific red book off the wall and will be greeted by a host, the “librarian”, and led down a winding staircase to an intimate and darkened 24-seat cocktail den. Named in homage to our founding fathers and the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, Room 56 is uninterested in being trendy, says Tim Billing, area manager of Azul Hospitality Group, one of the property’s partners. Its aim is simply to create a sophisticated and elegant experience with elements of intrigue for both hotel patrons and locals. “Bar arbiter” Valerie Bancroft (The Nolen) says her cocktail menu is designed to be timeless and classic, highlighting drinks that take a little extra care to build; the list includes the Common Bawd made with cream of coconut, lime, mint, Fresno chili pepper, and St. George Botanivore Gin and the Martha Mary Mercy, a twice-shaken sour with St. George All Purpose Vodka, blackberry, lemon, and vanilla orgeat. The bar also offers a limited food menu of six shared items, including scallop crudo, beef carpaccio, and shrimp cocktail, that rotates daily. Open Wednesday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., Room 56 feature live saxophone on Thursdays from 8 p.m. to midnight." - Candice Woo

"The first California location for Marriott International’s Moxy Hotels brand has opened in the Gaslamp. Designed for the Instagram crowd, the newly-built hotel forgoes the traditional registration counter for a check-in “trike” that pours a welcome cocktail on nitro and a lobby stocked with arcade games, swings, and a cocktail bar called Bar Moxy." - Candice Woo