Coastal village-style property above the Del Mar Bluffs — pool, beach access, and easy proximity to Torrey Pines and the Del Mar Racetrack. A well-rounded mid-range base for families exploring North County San Diego.
Why We Chose It
L'Auberge Del Mar sits at the center of Del Mar's charming commercial village — a 120-room boutique resort on a bluff above Del Mar State Beach with the refined scale that distinguishes it from San Diego's large resort properties. Del Mar is the kind of California beach town that San Diego's resident community treats as its own private seaside village: a compact, walkable main street with good restaurants and shops, a wide public beach for surfing and swimming, and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (horse racing season: July through September) that has been drawing a glamorous Southern California crowd since Bing Crosby founded it in 1937. L'Auberge is within walking distance of the village restaurants and a five-minute walk to the beach. The spa is the best north of La Jolla. The recommended mid-range option for travelers who want a sophisticated beach experience without the scale and crowds of downtown or Coronado.
What Stands Out
- Best boutique resort between La Jolla and Los Angeles — elegant scale on a bluff above Del Mar Beach
- Del Mar Village walkability: beach, restaurants, and shops within steps
- Del Mar Thoroughbred Club: racing season July–September, the glamorous San Diego summer tradition
- Spa: the best north of La Jolla
- Most recommended for travelers who want an upscale beach town rather than a resort complex