If there’s ever a time to get dressed up and order a cocktail somewhere completely decked out for Christmas, this is it. Christmas at the Lafayette Hotel is over the top in the best way, and I was obsessed from the moment we walked in. Every corner feels festive, the decorations are stunning, and yes, I took an unreasonable number of photos.
We stayed between Christmas and New Year’s and spent our evening having drinks at the Lobby Bar, an incredible dinner at Quixote, and then bowling and another round at The Gutter. All without leaving the hotel.
You don’t need to book a room to join in, either. Come for a holiday date night, dinner with girlfriends, or even just a hot chocolate and a look around. I loved making it an overnight getaway, but I’d happily come back for any of the above.
Quick Deets
- Do You Need To Stay At The Lafayette to Visit?
- Nope! You can come for drinks, dinner, or a look at the decorations without booking a room.
- Where is it?
- The hotel is located in San Diego’s North Park neighborhood, at 2223 El Cajon Boulevard.
- What’s the plan for an evening?
- Drinks at the Lobby Bar, dinner at Quixote, then bowling and another drink at The Gutter.
- Do you need reservations?
- We walked in for drinks and dinner, but I’d book Quixote if you want a table. We reserved our bowling lane ahead of time too. If you want to check out Lou Lou’s, you’ll need reservations for the Supper Club and live music nights.
- Where Can You Park?
- Valet is $15 for day visitors—just grab your car by 1 a.m.—or $38 per night for hotel guests, with in-and-out privileges. Street parking is also an option.
- What should you wear?
- People were a little dressed up, so it’s a fun excuse to pull out a holiday outfit!
- When can you see the Christmas decorations?
- For the 2026 holiday season, decorations are expected to be fully up by Thanksgiving and stay up through New Year’s Day.
- When did I visit?
- A weekday between Christmas and New Year’s.
What Is Christmas at the Lafayette Hotel Like?
The Lafayette does not hold back on Christmas, and I loved every second of it. They really make sure every corner of the property feels festive, and it’s worth taking some time to walk around rather than heading straight to your table.
It was busy even on a weekday, with couples, groups of girlfriends, and birthday celebrations all making a night of it. People were a little dressed up, the music was good, and it felt like everyone had found an excuse to celebrate.
We loved it as a couples getaway, but I’d just as happily come back with girlfriends for dinner and drinks. You don’t need a special occasion, though—it’s a fun excuse to put on a holiday outfit and go somewhere festive.
How to Spend a Holiday Evening at the Lafayette
Whether you’re coming for a quick drink or settling in for dinner and a night out, here’s how I’d spend a holiday visit to the Lafayette.
Start with Drinks at the Lobby Bar
We kept coming back to the Lobby Bar throughout our stay, so this is where I’d start your evening. Grab a drink, enjoy the decorations, and give yourself some time before dinner. There’s an outdoor seating area too if you feel like sitting outside.
We walked in for drinks, but it was busy even on a weekday. The music was good, people were dressed up, and it felt like everyone was there for a fun night out.
Have Dinner at Quixote
Quixote is the hotel’s Oaxacan-inspired restaurant, and the food was incredible. We had the pulpo, guacamole, and the Oaxacan fondue. The restaurant itself is dark, almost spooky, but still so chic. I loved the whole experience, and this would be my pick for dinner based on our stay.
We walked in for dinner, which worked out well for the two of us. If you want to sit at a table, especially with a group, I’d make a reservation rather than count on getting lucky during the holidays.
Or Dinner and Live Music at Lou Lou’s.
If you love the idea of dinner and live jazz, Lou Lou’s is another option for your evening. It’s the hotel’s supper club and live music venue, with a stage, dance floor, and a calendar that includes jazz, soul, salsa, and more. We didn’t get to go during our stay, but it’s on my list for next time.
On select Thursdays each month, Lou Lou’s hosts a supper club evening with a four-course dinner and a jazz show, which is $85 per person. I’d make this the main plan for your evening if the dates line up: start with a drink at the Lobby Bar, then head to Lou Lou’s for dinner and live jazz. Truly such a fun option for a holiday date night or a celebration with friends.
There are also live music nights more frequently, though not every night. These are separate from the supper club dinner so for one of those evenings, I’d have dinner at Quixote first and come here afterward.
Live shows are 21+, with a mix of paid tickets and complimentary entry. On complimentary nights, seating is first come, first served, so I’d arrive early if you want a good seat!
Book Lou Lou’s Supper Club or Get Tickets for a Live Music Night →
End the Night at The Gutter: Drinks, Bowling, and Arcade Games
After dinner, we headed to The Gutter for bowling and another round of drinks. There are two bowling lanes, pool tables, and little arcade games throughout, and later in the evening it turns into a full-on bar. We had so much fun here, and I’d come back for drinks even without the bowling!
If you do want to bowl, we booked our lane ahead of time. Reservations are for one hour, which was $50. You can fit up to six people, and the price include shoes. One slightly confusing booking detail: the page says “per person,” but one person means one lane—so select one when booking for your group.
The Gutter is open daily from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., so there’s no rush to call it a night.
Book a Bowling Lane at The Gutter →
Credit: The Gutter
SpendIng an Afternoon at the Lafayette Instead?
If you’d rather visit during the day, I’d start with coffee in the lobby near the Lobby Bar. Sitting there surrounded by all the Christmas decorations still feels so magical, even with a coffee instead of a cocktail. Give yourself time to look around and take photos, then head to Beginner’s Diner for lunch.
We managed to do both before leaving the next day. My BLT was just okay, but the hot chocolate? Just might have been the best I’ve EVER had. I’d go back for that alone.
After lunch, you could grab another drink at the Lobby Bar or head just outside to the Pool Bar. You don’t need a pool pass to have a drink there, so it’s an easy spot to hang out if the weather’s nice. If you do want to swim, the pool is heated and day passes run around $48. People were swimming during our late-December stay, so pack a swimsuit if you’re tempted!
Coffee, Christmas decorations, lunch, and an afternoon cocktail—sounds like a pretty good holiday outing to me.
What to Know Before You Go
- A weekday can still be busy. Our visit fell between Christmas and New Year’s, and there was plenty going on.
- Book dinner if you want a table. We walked in and were able to get seats at the bar, but I’d reserve for a planned sit-down meal.
- Build your plan around your bookings. If you’re doing dinner, bowling, or a show, leave time between them to enjoy the hotel. Lou Lou’s runs on an event schedule, while The Gutter is open daily from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- Give yourself time to enjoy the hotel. Part of the fun is seeing the decorations and moving between the different spaces.
- Plan for Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. This year’s decorations are expected to be complete by Thanksgiving and remain through New Year’s Day, so there’s time to visit after Christmas too.
Is It Necessary to Stay Overnight?
You can have a really fun evening here without staying, but I loved making this an overnight trip. The rooms are just as fun as the rest of the hotel, and after dinner, drinks, and bowling, being able to walk back to our room was pretty ideal.
We also got to wake up, grab coffee in that gorgeous lobby, and take our time before heading home. If you’re coming from LA like we did, I’d absolutely consider making it a little holiday getaway. But if you’re local or already staying somewhere else in San Diego, you can enjoy plenty of what I loved about the Lafayette just by coming for the day or evening.
Is Checking out Christmas at the Lafayette Hotel Worth it?
The Lafayette was one of those places I was excited to visit, and then loved even more once I got there. The decorations are stunning, but having a great dinner, drinks, and bowling all in the same place made it such a fun trip. I think the Lafayette Hotel Christmas decorations are definitely worth making the trek to see!
I’d happily come back for another overnight stay or just meet friends for a festive evening. Honestly, even just coffee in that lobby and another hot chocolate from the diner would be enough to get me through the door!
For another easy getaway from LA, my Temecula Guide has all the deets on where to stay, eat, and go wine tasting.
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