Keating Building, San Diego
Right in the thick of San Diego鈥檚 Gaslamp Quarter, where Victorian brick meets neon buzz, stands the Keating Building (or The Keating Hotel, if you鈥檙e feeling fancy). This five-story, red-brick, exquisite structure hosts 35 luxury rooms and is part time capsule, part design statement, and all attitude. From its doors, you can practically toss a napkin and hit the Convention Center, Balboa Theatre, or Petco Park.
Built back in 1890, the Keating was a marvel of its day 鈥� Romanesque Revival arches, steam heat, and even a wire-cage elevator that must have felt downright futuristic at the time. Its creator, George J. Keating, passed away before it was done, so the Reid Brothers 鈥� the same duo behind San Francisco鈥檚 Fairmont Hotel 鈥� took the reins. For a while, from 1893 until around 1912, the San Diego Savings Bank kept its vault here (in fact, their old safe remained on the premises until the 1980s).
Fast-forward a century or so, and the Italians arrived 鈥� specifically, the design team from Pininfarina, the same guys who make Ferraris look like sculpture. In the early 2000s, they stripped the old office interiors and injected sleek, modern flair: glass, chrome, and just enough mood lighting to make everyone look a little more glamorous...
The grand reopening in 2007 gave San Diego a new kind of luxury hotel 鈥� one where industrial bones met European style and history shared the same suite with high design. But fame came knocking again in 2012, when the Keating became a featured establishment on the reality TV show Hotel Hell, aired on FOX, and led by renowned chef Gordon Ramsay.
With this, the hotel gained further recognition and another round of polish 鈥� complete with a solid spot in pop-culture history. Today, it鈥檚 more than just a hotel but a century-old statement piece still glowing in the Gaslamp 鈥� where iron, brick, and bravado blend into one very stylish stay...
Built back in 1890, the Keating was a marvel of its day 鈥� Romanesque Revival arches, steam heat, and even a wire-cage elevator that must have felt downright futuristic at the time. Its creator, George J. Keating, passed away before it was done, so the Reid Brothers 鈥� the same duo behind San Francisco鈥檚 Fairmont Hotel 鈥� took the reins. For a while, from 1893 until around 1912, the San Diego Savings Bank kept its vault here (in fact, their old safe remained on the premises until the 1980s).
Fast-forward a century or so, and the Italians arrived 鈥� specifically, the design team from Pininfarina, the same guys who make Ferraris look like sculpture. In the early 2000s, they stripped the old office interiors and injected sleek, modern flair: glass, chrome, and just enough mood lighting to make everyone look a little more glamorous...
The grand reopening in 2007 gave San Diego a new kind of luxury hotel 鈥� one where industrial bones met European style and history shared the same suite with high design. But fame came knocking again in 2012, when the Keating became a featured establishment on the reality TV show Hotel Hell, aired on FOX, and led by renowned chef Gordon Ramsay.
With this, the hotel gained further recognition and another round of polish 鈥� complete with a solid spot in pop-culture history. Today, it鈥檚 more than just a hotel but a century-old statement piece still glowing in the Gaslamp 鈥� where iron, brick, and bravado blend into one very stylish stay...
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Diego. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 911爆料网 App
Keating Building on Map
Sight Name: Keating Building
Sight Location: San Diego, USA (See walking tours in San Diego)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: San Diego, USA (See walking tours in San Diego)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in San Diego, California
Create Your Own Walk in San Diego
Creating your own self-guided walk in San Diego is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Embarcadero Marina Walking Tour
Adjacent to downtown San Diego and the picturesque San Diego Bay is a vibrant waterfront area. Embarcadero Marina, a testament to the region's colorful maritime heritage, houses several outstanding ship museums and is home to other notable sites. The abundance of shopping and dining options, complete with the pristine views of the city skyline, delight numerous locals and tourists and make... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Old Town Walking Tour
Old Town is the oldest settled area in San Diego which claims to be the first site visited by Europeans on the West Coast of modern United States.
The Native American culture in the area, however, goes back thousands of years. Historically, this land had been a home to the Kumeyaay people who settled on the banks of the San Diego river since around 1000 AD. The first European explorer to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
The Native American culture in the area, however, goes back thousands of years. Historically, this land had been a home to the Kumeyaay people who settled on the banks of the San Diego river since around 1000 AD. The first European explorer to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Historic Gaslamp District Walking Tour
Downtown San Diego鈥檚 Gaslamp Quarter is vivid proof that history doesn鈥檛 have to sit quietly in a museum鈥攊t can dance, dine, and light up the night! Stretching across 16陆 lively blocks, this historic district is where Victorian architecture meets craft cocktails and neon signs. With over 90 preserved buildings, the Gaslamp is one of the largest collections of Victorian commercial structures... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Balboa Park Walking Tour
Balboa Park, named after Spanish explorer Vasco N煤帽ez de Balboa, is one of the largest and most culturally significant urban parks in the United States. Established in 1868 as 鈥淐ity Park,鈥� this 1,400-acre area began as undeveloped public land before its transformation in the early 20th century into a center of art, culture, and recreation. Its evolution truly began with the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Souvenir Shopping Guide: 14 Gifts That Say San Diego
San Diego is known for its beautiful, temperate climate, but you can鈥檛 take the weather home with you. If you want a piece of San Diego as a souvenir, it鈥檚 best to shop with the natives. Whether it is made locally or just made famous locally, following are 14 perfect gifts that capture the...