Hillcrest Inn San Diego Hotels in San Diego – GayOut Guide
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Hillcrest Inn San Diego

GayOut (20) 4.3
Google (221) 4.3
Tripadvisor See reviews ↓
What reviewers say

Visitors frequently praise the Hillcrest Inn San Diego's excellent location in the heart of Hillcrest, noting its walkability to shops and restaurants. However, some guests report issues with the condition of the rooms, mentioning worn-down fixtures, mold, rust, and inadequate lighting.

86
/ 100
GayOut Score
4.3 G4.3
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Address
3754 5th Ave, Hillcrest, San Diego, CA 92103
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Phone
+1 619-293-7078
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Website
hillcrestinn.com
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Price Range
$$
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About this place Hillcrest Inn San Diego

The Hillcrest Inn is the most conveniently located accommodation option for visitors whose primary focus is San Diego's gay neighbourhood. Situated on 5th Avenue in the heart of Hillcrest, the inn is within walking distance of Urban Mo's, the Gossip Grill, Rich's, Flicks, and the full commercial corridor of University Avenue. The accommodation is straightforward rather than luxurious — clean, comfortable rooms at a price point appropriate to a Hillcrest property — but the location advantage is significant: staying in Hillcrest means walking to bars and walking back, eliminating the rideshare calculation that applies to visitors staying downtown. The inn is explicitly gay-friendly and the clientele reflects the neighbourhood: predominantly LGBTQ+ guests who want to be in the community they are visiting. For visitors to San Diego primarily interested in the Hillcrest scene, the Hillcrest Inn is the practical first choice; for those who want a luxury hotel base, downtown San Diego's larger hotels offer more amenities at the cost of a 10-minute rideshare to Hillcrest.

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Google Reviews

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4.3
221 reviews

Based on 221 Google reviews.

Sean
Sean May 2026

Just ok—very affordable, and the person we interfaced with was easy to get a hold of, but the photos were not like the actual unit / things were very worn down and there was mold and rust all over the shower.

Juli Graves
Juli Graves May 2026

As a female solo traveler absolutely no. 0/10. There is no front desk. No security. In a questionable area and I live in downtown Seattle so I’m not sheltered. It’s touchiness check-in, there is an elevator but the stairwell is completely dark. No lights. There is one tiny mirror above the sink on the ‘kitchen area’ and impossible to get ready with it. The bed and pillows were horribly I uncomfortable. I biked this too. While traveling for work and liked the area for thrifting. The rooms in the website looked cute and they were but not conducive. A ‘3-star hotel’ is a stretch. More like an air bnb. The rooms was clean but that was its only high point.

Byron Abang
Byron Abang Apr 2026

The hospitality at this hotel is unmatched. As soon as I got there, I was greeted by my first name, not like a patron, but like a friend. I had a hiccup with my trip via Expedia, and Lee was so accommodating and got ahead of things before I even asked for them. The room was spacious, great location, and there’s a cute café with lots of food options in the hotel. Thanks for making the short weekend so awesome!

anthony cox
anthony cox Apr 2026

Simple room but everything you need could have had better shower but it worked only thing it really are some curtains the blinds let in to much light

Jim Rios
Jim Rios Apr 2026

Location is definitely what you are looking for. It’s not the typical hotel but if you can get past the quirky nature of the hotel, it’s actually great! I think one thing the rooms could offer would be to offer an iron and ironing board, and plugs easily accessible on both sides of the bed. The lighting is definitely on the nautical side but the mirror over the sink should have lighting facing the person for the hygiene/shaving purposes. Otherwise, it’s great

Jason Rivera
Jason Rivera Apr 2026

The location was great ! It was right in the middle of everything in hillcrest . We walked every place and didn’t miss a beat . It’s clean building and the manager Micheal was always available to help . The room could def use a ceiling fan or another fan to cool down . This wasn’t such a big deal because we were out the room most of the time walking around seeing SD

CC
CC Apr 2026

This is a very nice and well located hotel. It feels safe and very clean. We had a rough first night due to some people blasting music and stomping around, but management remedied the issue and assured us they would correct it. The individuals left and we were able to get some much needed rest. There is a fridge and microwave, super helpful since eating out isn’t always budget friendly. Downside is the small bathroom and shower, but those are minor inconveniences one can deal with. Breakfast cafe is great and right at the floor level. Delicious by the way and affordable. Go! Book with them and enjoy your stay in San Diego.

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Last updated on 3 August 2026

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