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General Info

Reviews

Location

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About

Hotel

The Historic Penn Hotel

San Diego, California

The Fun Awaits

Perfect for nature loversOnly 2.2 km to Japanese Friendship Garden and 2.4 km to Centennial Park

Tourist attractions nearbyOnly 3.2 km to Balboa Park Carousel and 3.5 km to San Diego Zoo

Near shopping centersOnly 339 m to Westfield Horton Plaza and 1.2 km to Seaport Village

Nice location! Near public transportOnly 449 m to 5th Avenue Station and 1.5 km to Navy Pier

Reviews

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3.0/5

OkayFrom 20 reviews

5.0/518 Jun 2025

Troy

Very spacious, clean, and comfortable. Very close to everything in the gas lamp and a short walk to the Convention Center and the ballpark. The host was very responsive.

5.0/57 Apr 2025

Diana • Trip with Friends

Very spacious and walking distance to local bars

5.0/511 Mar 2025

Craig • Couple Trip

Really nice apartment. Great location in downtown, lots of space & nicely decorated etc. The master bed was very comfortable so we both slept well.

5.0/51 Mar 2025

Ryan • Solo Trip

No complaints at all.

4.0/510 Feb 2026

Kristi

Room was very clean. Would be helpful to have additional towels for the guest (face towels and hand towels)

4.0/516 Apr 2025

Brad

We had to book something quickly and found this spot. We didn’t realize it wasn’t a traditional hotel with a lobby and staff to greet you. It was a bit confusing how and where to go. The room was nice. Recently renovated and it was nicely done. Ours was a quick trip but the area around the hotel seems lively.

4.0/59 Feb 2025

Kristen

It is in a great part of San Diego! I was very confused about it being a hotel and then when I arrived, it clearly was not. Everything was done by email/messenger which was fine. It was very clean inside. It would be great for multiple people. Overall it was a good place to stay for the purpose for which I was there.

4.0/56 Feb 2025

Verified traveler • Family Trip

The property do not have people attending, you do everythig by messages, you have places to eat arround that you can reach walking. The room is very nice, clean and comfortable

3.0/522 Apr 2026

Todd • Solo Trip

The room was perfectly nice, although on the second floor my views were of other parts of the building itself and right above the noisy street level and taco place. The entry way/stairs/elevator/hallways were very out of date and worn. Not fun walking through the swarm of flies outside the entryway due to the garbage cans lined up. Room good, getting to and from a little less so.

3.0/526 Jan 2026

Gisela • Family Trip

Beautiful apartment. Well decorated, good space. Wish it had been cleaner. Located in a very noisy street. Wifi never worked. There is no lobby and the entrance to the building is really dirty and smelly. It gives you a bad impression.

3.0/510 Apr 2025

Heather

This property is not a hotel really. It is an apartment building on top of a very popular taco stand. The entrance is next to the garbage cans for the taco stand and because activity --it's probably more safe than it feels because the taco stand has security. That being said, the unit itself was fine. It's an older building with an elevator that is truly old school with gates and swinging doors. Age shows throughout but the unit was clean and spacious; bedding was less than desired--pretty cheap linens. During busy & expensive convention season, this worked. The gaslamp district is popping and you can walk to the big Hyatt or Marriott no problem.

3.0/52 Mar 2025

Arthur • Solo Trip

It wasn’t the nicest place so I’ll be fair it is an older building that was somewhat renovated more like lipstick on a pig!! Because there is no staff on site it just seems like a party hotel…. A bunch of disrespectful loud people that thought it was okay to rage and blast music like they’re parents weren’t home!!!!! the blinds were tore up a hole in the wall needlessl to say I would not be returning nor would I recommend to anyone I know. It was kinda clean but because it was such an old building it just had a funny stench and the floors were kinda sticky like too much cleaner. This is exactly what it looks like when you don’t have proper maid service!

2.0/511 Feb 2026

Dawn • Trip with Friends

Didn’t receive check in code by email until day after checked in. Had to call twice to receive code. We were warned that neighborhood as noisy… however the circuit breaker in the master bedroom was buzzing in our room or in walls between rooms? Seemed fixed after a text message but it only lasted a few hours the second afternoon. You may also want to look at the shower drain…. Very slow - if someone took a long shower there would be flooding. Did love the spacious room sizes and beds were comfortable.

2.0/59 Dec 2025

Jonathan

My stay was mixed. There is nobody there for checking in. Check-in was self-service, and it took additional steps to obtain the entry code. The room itself was clean with a comfortable bed, but the entryway area had an unpleasant odor, and parts of the interior looked worn. Noise from nearby nightlife was significant during the evenings, even with the provided earplugs. Some in-room amenities, including the dishwasher and trash can, were not functioning during my visit.

2.0/58 May 2025

Azeem • Solo Trip

Smell on the entrance due to larger garbage bins. Room was not the one shown in pictures while I was booking. Vents in the room are connected with other rooms and my room was smelling full of weed all the time. It is particularly coming from the vent in bathroom.

1.0/56 Apr 2026

Brandon

I left as soon as I arrived. This is not a real hotel but rather apartments/condos in a historic hotel building. There's no lobby, and the communication with staff was spotty. The entrance was crowded with trash cans and unhoused people. The elevator is extremely dated. The room was clean and updated, but all of the windows were cracked open when I arrived and one window didn't shut. Multiple lightbulbs out. The bed comforter/blanket had a cigarette burn in it. At night, the area is filled with people, music and police sirens. There's a club below it, so you can hear music throughout the entire night.

1.0/55 Feb 2026

Habiba

everything is in poor tattered condition. There is no human/ actual person available on-site to help with anything.

1.0/59 Apr 2025

Marko

Did not get the doors locked, either front door to street or my room door!?

1.0/53 Mar 2025

Nicholas

I didn’t even have the opportunity to stay here because the check in was entirely online and I received minimal information that made it difficult to check in and was also not issued a refund despite.

1.0/54 Feb 2025

Garrett

Horrible

Popular Facilities

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Children Facility

Info

No Elevators

Hotel Policy

Smoke-free Property

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Location

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511 F St, San Diego, California, US

Nearby Destinations

All distances are measured in straight lines. The actual travel distance may be different.

Accommodation Rules

Announcement

Guests are required to show a photo identification and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.This property will not accommodate hen, stag or similar parties.Please inform in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation.

Check-in Procedure

Check-in4:00 PM-2:00 AM

Check-out10:00

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking. There is no front desk at this property. To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation. Prior to arrival, guests must complete online registration with the property via a secure link. Guests will be asked to provide the property with a copy of their government-issued photo ID before arrival. Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions and an access code. Guests can access their accommodation through a private entrance. Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools.

Want to check in early? Fill out the Special Requests form on the booking page.

About The Historic Penn Hotel

The Historic Penn Hotel Location
With a stay at The Historic Penn Hotel, you'll be centrally located in San Diego, a short 9-minute walk from Petco Park and 12 minutes by foot from San Diego Convention Center. This hotel is 1.4 mi (2.2 km) from USS Midway Museum and 1.4 mi (2.3 km) from Balboa Park.

The Historic Penn Hotel Rooms
Make yourself at home in one of the 20 air-conditioned rooms featuring kitchens with full-sized refrigerators/freezers and stovetops. Your room comes with a memory foam bed. 42-inch Smart televisions with digital programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected. Conveniences include microwaves and irons/ironing boards.

Room Type and Price

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 - Fri, 28 Aug 2026 (1 night)

1 Room, 1 Adult, 0 Children