One hundred Southern California hotels and 39 restaurants have earned the AAA Four Diamond Award®, the Automobile Club of Southern California announced today. Fourteen locations appear on the list for the first time, including 13 hotels:
- Andaz, San Diego
- Avenue of the Arts Wyndham Hotel, Costa Mesa
- Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa, Carlsbad
- Hyatt Regency, Long Beach
- Le Meridien Delfina, Santa Monica
- Luxe City Center Hotel, Los Angeles
- Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego
- Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, San Diego
- San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego
- Simpson House Inn, Santa Barbara
- The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Los Angeles
- Viejas Casino Resort & Spa, Alpine, San Diego
- W Los Angeles-Westwood, Los Angeles
There is one new AAA Four Diamond restaurant:
- The Marine Room, La Jolla
The coveted AAA Four Diamond Award is presented to hotel and restaurant general managers and executive chefs to recognize award-winning properties, which rank among the top 3.9 percent of 59,000 hotels and restaurants inspected by AAA and the Auto Club, the nation’s largest AAA affiliate.
“A combination of major renovations and investments in properties have increased the number of hotels on the AAA Four Diamond list this year,” according to the Auto Club’s Approved Accommodations Supervisor Patricia Marenco. “AAA Four Diamond hotels and restaurants are committed to providing guests with a high-quality and personalized experience in very comfortable surroundings,” said Marenco. “We’re always proud to recognize Southern California’s hotels and restaurants that earn the AAA Four Diamond rating. These establishments and their dedicated employees consistently exceed expectations of domestic and worldwide travelers.”
AAA’s Diamond rating program is the only hotel and restaurant review system in the nation that uses specially trained full-time field representatives who collectively visit some 1,200 hotels and restaurants every week. As part of AAA’s national network, the Auto Club’s own staff reviews establishments in Southern California without prior notification using objective and detailed rating procedures.
In order to achieve four diamonds, the lodging establishments must be “refined, stylish with upscale physical attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail,” according the Diamond rating guidelines. AAA profiles its lodging inspection process in this YouTube Video.
The list of AAA Four Diamond hotels and restaurants throughout Southern California follows, along with first year the establishment was rated:
| Inyo/Mono Counties Hotels | Year Rated | |
| Death Valley National Park | The Inn at Furnace Creek | 1987 |
| Mammoth Lakes | The Westin Monache Resort | 2011 |
| Los Angeles County Hotels | ||
| Beverly Hills | Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel | 1993 |
| SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills | 2009 | |
| Burbank | Hotel Amarano Burbank | 2011 |
| Glendale | Hilton Los Angeles North/Glendale | 2000 |
| & Executive Meeting Center | ||
| Hollywood | Loews Hollywood | 2008 |
| W Hollywood | 2010 | |
| Long Beach | Hyatt Regency Long Beach | 2013 |
| Los Angeles | Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills | 2011 |
| Hotel Bel-Air | 2012 | |
| Hotel Palomar La Westwood | 2011 | |
| Hyatt Regency Century Plaza | 1983 | |
| InterContinental Los Angeles Century City | 1988 | |
| Luxe City Center Hotel | 2013 | |
| JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live | 2011 | |
| Mr. C Beverly Hills | 2012 | |
| Omni Los Angeles Hotel At California Plaza | 2003 | |
| Sofitel Los Angeles At Beverly Hills | 1993 | |
| The Hotel Wilshire | 2012 | |
| The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles | 2011 | |
| The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites | 2013 | |
| W Los Angeles-Westwood | 2013 | |
| Pasadena | The Westin-Pasadena | 2005 |
| Rancho Palos Verdes | Terranea Resort | 2010 |
| San Gabriel | Hilton Los Angeles/San Gabriel | 2011 |
| Santa Monica | The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows | 2002 |
| JW Marriott Santa Monica Le Merigot | 2002 | |
| Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica | 2013 | |
| Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel | 1989 | |
| Shore Hotel | 2012 | |
| Universal City | Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City | 2007 |
| West Hollywood | The London West Hollywood | 2008 |
| Sunset Marquis Hotel & Villas | 2007 | |
| Los Angeles County Restaurants | ||
| Beverly Hills | Bouchon | 2011 |
| Cut by Wolfgang Puck | 2010 | |
| Spago Beverly Hills | 2004 | |
| The Blvd | 2011 | |
| Calabasas | Saddle Peak Lodge | 1997 |
| Glendale | Gennaro's Ristorante | 2000 |
| Los Angeles | Culina Modern Italian | 1995 |
| Patina | 1991 | |
| Pasadena | The Raymond Restaurant | 2005 |
| Santa Monica | Melisse | 2012 |
| Valentino Santa Monica | 1995 | |
| Orange County Hotels | ||
| Anaheim | Disneyland Hotel | 2011 |
| Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa | 2001 | |
| Costa Mesa | Avenue Of The Arts Wyndham Hotel | 2013 |
| Dana Point | Blue Lantern Inn | 1991 |
| Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa | 2004 | |
| Huntington Beach | The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel | 1991 |
| Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa | 2003 | |
| Laguna Beach | Surf & Sand Resort | 1991 |
| Newport Beach | The Balboa Bay Resort | 2004 |
| Fairmont Newport Beach | 2007 | |
| Orange County Restaurants | ||
| Anaheim | Napa Rose | 2010 |
| Dana Point | Raya | 2012 |
| Fullerton | The Cellar | 1990 |
| Huntington Beach | The Californian | 2003 |
| Laguna Beach | Studio | 2008 |
| Newport Beach | Palm Terrace Restaurant | 2007 |
| The First Cabin At The Balboa Bay Club & Resort | 2004 | |
| The Ritz Restaurant And Garden | 1993 | |
| Riverside County Hotels | ||
| Cabazon | Morongo Casino Resort & Spa | 2005 |
| Indian Wells | Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa | 1987 |
| Miramonte Resort And Spa | 2008 | |
| Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa | 2003 | |
| Palm Desert | JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa | 1987 |
| Palm Springs | The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn | 1997 |
| Rancho Mirage | Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa | 2009 |
| The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa | 2009 | |
| Riverside | The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa | 2010 |
| Temecula | Pechanga Resort and Casino | 2002 |
| Ponte Vineyard Inn | 2012 | |
| Riverside County Restaurants | ||
| Cabazon | Cielo | 2011 |
| Indian Wells | Sirocco | 2012 |
| Palm Springs | Europa Restaurant At The Villa Royale Inn | 2005 |
| Le Vallauris | 1993 | |
| Rancho Mirage | Wally's Desert Turtle | 1993 |
| Riverside | Duane's Prime Steaks & Seafood | 1995 |
| Temecula | Great Oak Steakhouse | 2012 |
| San Bernardino County Hotels | ||
| Lake Arrowhead | Lake Arrowhead Resort And Spa | 2010 |
| San Diego County Hotels | ||
| Carlsbad | Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa | 2013 |
| Coronado | Hotel Del Coronado | 2005 |
| Loews Coronado Bay | 1992 | |
| Del Mar | L'Auberge Del Mar | 2002 |
| Jamul | Jamul Haven | 2011 |
| Julian | Orchard Hill Country Inn | 1996 |
| La Jolla | Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa | 2005 |
| Hyatt Regency La Jolla | 1990 | |
| La Valencia Hotel | 2010 | |
| The Grande Colonial | 2008 | |
| Lakeside | Barona Resort & Casino | 2010 |
| Pala | Pala Casino Spa And Resort | 2004 |
| San Diego | Andaz San Diego | 2013 |
| Hard Rock Hotel San Diego | 2008 | |
| Hilton San Diego Bayfront | 2011 | |
| Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa And Marina | 2011 | |
| Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego | 2013 | |
| Omni San Diego Hotel | 2005 | |
| Pacific Terrace Hotel | 2007 | |
| Paradise Point Resort & Spa | 2011 | |
| Rancho Bernardo Inn | 1977 | |
| Rancho Valencia Resort And Spa | 2013 | |
| San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter | 2013 | |
| San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina | 1984 | |
| The US Grant, A Luxury Collection Hotel | 2007 | |
| The Westgate Hotel | 2007 | |
| The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter | 2012 | |
| The Westin San Diego | 1994 | |
| Viejas Casino & Resort | 2013 | |
| Valley Center | Harrah's Rincon Casino & Resort | 2009 |
| San Diego County Restaurants | ||
| Carlsbad | Argyle Steakhouse | 2012 |
| Vivace | 1999 | |
| La Jolla | A.R. Valentien | 2004 |
| Donovan's Steak & Chop House | 2010 | |
| George's California Modern | 2000 | |
| The Marine Room | 2013 | |
| Rancho Santa Fe | Mille Fleurs | 1991 |
| San Diego | Bertrand At Mister A's | 1994 |
| Grant Grill | 2007 | |
| San Luis Obispo County Hotels | ||
| Cayucos | Cayucos Sunset Inn | 2002 |
| Paso Robles | La Bellasera Hotel & Suites | 2011 |
| Pismo Beach | Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa | 2009 |
| Santa Barbara County Hotels | ||
| Los Olivos | Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa | 2012 |
| Santa Barbara | The Fess Parker, A Doubletree By Hilton Resort | 2006 |
| Harbor View Inn | 1997 | |
| Inn On Summer Hill | 1990 | |
| Simpson House Inn | 2013 | |
| Santa Ynez | Chumash Casino Resort & Spa | 2004 |
| Santa Ynez Inn | 2002 | |
| Solvang | Hotel Corque | 2011 |
| The Ballard Inn | 1993 | |
| Petersen Village Inn | 1984 | |
| Santa Barbara County Restaurants | ||
| Santa Ynez | The Willows | 2005 |
| Solvang | The Ballard Inn Restaurant | 2005 |
| Ventura County Hotels | ||
| Westlake Village | Westlake Village Inn | 2011 |
| Ventura County Restaurants | ||
| Ojai | Maravilla | 2012 |
| Westlake Village | Hampton's | 2007 |
Lodging inspections include at least one unannounced inspection each year. Inspectors review and rate exterior, grounds and public areas, room décor, ambiance and amenities, guest room, bathrooms, housekeeping and maintenance, management and staff and guest services. Once the inspection process is complete, properties that meet all requirements receive a rating of one to five Diamonds.
AAA rates more properties than any other rating entity. It’s the only rating system that covers the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean and the only rating system that conducts professional, on-site evaluations using published guidelines weighted by AAA member priorities.
Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants are listed in AAA trip planning products: the eTourBook® guides and AAA Mobile® app for tablets and smartphones, the TripTik® Travel Planner and Travel Guides on AAA.com and AAA TourBook® guides available at AAA/CAA offices.
For complete lists of AAA/CAA Four Diamond hotels and restaurants and rating definitions, visit AAA.com/Diamonds.