Located on Banker's Hill in beautiful San Diego, California, this beautiful 1912 historical home is a treasure. Owner Lily and her husband are truly outstanding hosts and great stewards of the grand home. The home is clean, welcoming, has a lovely energy, and is in such a great location. My husband and I have stayed in many historical places, and Lily's home takes the cake. Lily's communication both prior to booking the room and during the process was excellent! So helpful.
Parking on the street is free, though during the day it can be a challenge, but after 4pm things tend to open up. I recommend parking your vehicle and simply keeping it in a good spot out front for the duration of your stay. You can easily walk to the Hillcrest district, enjoying outstanding restaurants (Hash House A Go-Go is a must-do) and fun thrift stores. The world famous San Diego Zoo and the gorgeous Balboa Park with its plentiful museums and gardens are just a short drive away, for which we did Lyft rides.
We stayed in the Dreamcatcher room. This second floor room is large, has it's own little bathroom and shower stall, a super comfortable bed, a desk, a tiny wardrobe, and an antique Singer sewing machine. There's a reading nook on the side window, bright and cheery. Large, original windows face the street, and provide good fresh air. There are both blinds and sheer curtains for your privacy. It's a bright and cheery room for sure. Hard wood floors compliment the house through out. Free wireless/internet connection that was super reliable.
Outside the room, on the mid landing of the stairs, you'll find a vintage-inspired mini fridge and microwave, fresh water, and little snacks. It's a really nice touch, and you can keep a few things in the fridge if you need to. The house is quiet and peaceful. There are three sitting rooms and a formal dining room. Via the dining room, you can access the backyard, which features a lovely soaking pool. There's abundant bamboo, lovely flowers and vines, a small table and chairs, and above all, it's just a quiet, peaceful place. Out front, the porch is the quintessential sitting spot. Lily has a lovely porch swing on one side, and on the other, another little table with four chairs. Other rooms upstairs: There are three other rooms available. There are two gorgeous shared bathrooms for those rooms. Again, super clean, super well maintained.
That's the thing: If you're looking for a quiet, peaceful, joyful place, this is it. The room cost is very affordable, and not having to pay expensive daily parking fees is a big plus.
If you have mobility issues, as with any old houses of the time period, keep in mind the only way to access the house is via a set of steps, and the flight of stairs takes you up to the second floor. If you enjoy antique homes, you'll absolutely love this one.
My only challenge, and please don't interpret this as a complaint, was the heat. We went there for our anniversary weekend, which is in mid-August. Yes, the dog-days of summer. And indeed, it was a very hot couple of days. The home DOES have central air conditioning, but it is an old home, and the vent system isn't as efficient as more modern day construction. With the original windows and high ceilings and the rooms being on the second floor of this two story home, it was hot. Ceiling fans are in all the bedrooms and make a big difference. Additionally, our room had a table-top fan, which helped. We were able to get a third fan which was brought to us within moments of me messaging Lily. It made all the difference. If you are a person with medical heat-sensitivity like me, I'd recommend visiting Lily's home in less hot seasons. It's absolutely worth staying there, and we plan on staying there again - in fact we're looking forward to it. But we won't do so in the hot summer months. We're actually looking forward to returning at some point in the late fall or winter months, even early spring.