The Lafayette Hotel is Esquire Magazine’s New Hotel of the Year

The Lafayette Hotel & Club has been named the 2024 New Hotel of the Year by Esquire Magazine! The recognition underscores its commitment to excellence in hospitality and design, setting a new standard for luxury accommodations in San Diego.

The Lafayette Hotel

The property, which opened in July of 2023, is the vision of local hospitality brand CH Projects, which also operates some of San Diego’s top restaurants and bars, including YoungBlood, Raised by Wolves, Born & Raised, Neighborhood, Craft & Commerce, and Ironside.

The iconic Lafayette Hotel & Club reopened its doors in the buzzing neighborhood of North Park in San Diego, California. This maximalist dream was developed by CH Projects, with a $31M renovation.

The historic hotel is a two-and-a-half-acre Colonial-style hotel originally built in 1946 by entrepreneur Larry Imig as a haven for young Hollywood hosting.

The redesign was the first proper restoration of the property and was designed by CH Projects and Brooklyn-based Post Company, with seven new food and beverage outlets, including:

  • Oaxacan mezcal bar and eatery
  • 24/7 classic American diner with a nod to traditional Greek and Jewish food influences
  • 2-lane bowling alley
  • Multiple bars
  • 139 rooms which exude maximalist design and touches of traditional Victorian, Tudor, and Gothic details
  • The signature pool, originally designed by Johnny Weissmuller

The new design reflects the hotel’s deep history and tradition with a mix of more modern elements.

The second phase of the property is rolling out, including the recently opened jazz club and music venue Lou Lou’s Jungle Room—which has hosted iconic performers and immortalized movie scenes, including the serenade in “Top Gun”—and a European-style restaurant and Turkish and Roman-inspired spa.

See you there!

More info on Esquire Magazine’s New Hotel of the Year, The Lafayette Hotel & Club, can be found here. Follow them on Instagram for updates.

See you there, San Diego!

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