The concept of the boutique hotel has officially hit SanDiego, and Downtown's Sofia Hotel is one of the city's newest initiates. Because the Sofia occupies the historic Pickwick Hotel location at 150 West Broadway, maintaining the historic charm was a primary goal in its development. Accordingly, the Sofia was inducted in to the National Trust Historic Hotels of America.  

The Sofia offers its guests a relaxing, contemporary décor enlivened with historic photographs of downtown San Diego. Rates are reasonable—rooms start at about $150 to $279 for a Jacuzzi suite. Considering the cost of standard hotel chains and other boutique hotels, as well as the uniqueness of The Sofia, the prices are a steal. The intimate scale of the hotel really makes it feel cozy, while the staff is friendly and accommodating. It's also a fabulous place for business travelers, with all the amenities a dedicated professional could ever need.

The Sofia also houses a restaurant called Currant, slated to open in July. The chef, Jonathan Pfleuger, is formerly of renowned Downtown restaurant, Anthony's Star of the Sea.