El Primero Boutique Hotel, Chula Vista CA

Older hotel, but filled with charm! The owners/staff were super amazing! They made us feel SO welcome.

I wanted something close to the san diego marathan but not the in traffic and congested area. Apart from that, i wanted plenty of parking, and near walking distance of restaurants and stores so I could maneuver in and out. The place was perfect! Thankfully, due to some changes in my reservation I got to speak with Karen and she was very accommodating and kind while on the phone. She was amazing in person too! Some family members stayed in downtown S. D and they came over to this area to join us. Bet they regretted their decisions for their hotels that were pricier and parking hassle! Upon arrival, the A/C worked great, the toilets flushed great and the shower was full pressure. (Because something you think of when a hotel is pretty old!). Rooms were roomy, with TV. All I could ask for in a great price. Will make sure to return here for any future trips to the area.

Pros: Manager is helpful, personable and available. You get a nice place outside to chill etc, a courtyard. Coffee with milk, chocolate etc is given every morning (my favorite thing of the hotel). Located near park and across 7Eleven.

Cons: Tiny room with just one chair and table despite being for two. TV is not "smart".

This hotel is an amazing stay. Karen and her mother make you feel at home. They went above and beyond to accomodate me as I was staying for a medical procedure and they made sure I was taken care of well. It made my difficult procedure and recovery an easier process thanks to their kind service. The hotel is quiet and comfortable with a lot of places to visit within walking distance or a short drive. Highly recommend, thank you for your service during my time here!

I booked this downtown spot for one night because it looked nice and the reviews were solid. I stayed an extra night because it’s such a lovely place and room, walkable to food/drink, and especially because the proprietors were super friendly and warm people. Definitely will be back soon!

Karen was extremely kind and flexible. I had to book the hotel very last minute. There's parking and serve tea and coffee in the mornings.

A really nice independently run hotel, they are very attentive to customers and the rooms are clean and nice if not a bit small (at least mine was). A nicely updated old school hotel that feels like a bed and breakfast.

It's easy to get a lot of positive reviews if you work hard to remove the reviews of customers who were unhappy with their stay. Bravo El Primero. Still.your hotel is dirty and that is the reality.

This quaint Art Deco 1930 boutique hotel in Chula Vista has all the charm and warmth you'll need for your visit. Owned and operated by the Roqué family, the El Primero is he best kept secret in Chula Vista. Warm and inviting service and peace and quiet you'll enjoy.

Check out this Yelp review for El Primero Hotel!

We have stayed in the San Diego area many times as this is one of our preferred vacation locations. Hotels are quite expensive in the area and generally not very pleasing. We were beyond pleased with El Primero, the staff (owners) and the accommodations. I found some of the reviews offending, this is a historic hotel that they have worked hard to bring back to life. This is NOT a luxury hotel nor do they claim it to be such, it is much nicer than many of the places offered in the area. However, the location is amazing, the rooms are clean, the staff is BEYOND friendly and it is most certainly a wonderful place to stay. We were on the bottom floor, room closest to the lobby and we never heard a sound from any of the other guests, the staff is so amazing and so full of information on things to do and places to go. It is within walking distance to an array of amenities. We highly recommend El Primero and will most certainly stay here every time we visit southern California.

We stayed here May this year which was 6mo ago its family owned and our stay was great. Karen made us feel like we were at home. This hotel was above and beyond our expectations. We Love that it is a historic hotel and it's rich in history. This is now our favorite place to stay when we are in town visiting family. There are some really good restaurants nearby and a coffee shop with pastries, all are in walking distance. We will definitely be back.thank you Karen for your hospitality.

It was excellent, because the staff and owners make you feel like family! They are so friendly and generous. I plan on staying there next time in town. This is a gem of a place.

Like Tina, Simply The Best!

Karen and her staff/family were amazing to us. She went totally out of her way to accommodate our every need. We indeed arrived as guests and left as family. And the hotel itself is absolutely charming and retains all its original Art Deco touches. I’ll never stay anywhere else in the San Diego area. I love her. And the hotel.

My husband and I came out to explore the San Diego area and our stay was better than we could have ever imagined! The hotel itself is well cared for and beautiful, with lovely furnishings and the cutest outdoor patio, excellent teas and coffee, and interesting historical elements. We were delighted to spend some time getting to know the owner and her family - we mostly spoke with Sol and Karen, and both women were so friendly, kind, and upbeat, just two of the loveliest people one could imagine. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and will only stay at the El Primero from hereon out as San Diego visitors - the customer service is truly unbeatable!

We booked a room on their website, and wrote on the comments section we were bringing a service dog to be polite. While we were on our way to check in, the hotel called and let us know we were not welcome there, and that they would be canceling our room. They do not allow service dogs, even though we offered proof that he is fully trained. The owner tried to explain thay they believe he is a true service dog, but that it doesnt matter, they do not allow them. The owner apologized. We were originally charged but they refunded it same day, before they called us.

We came to town to see a concert and we’re so glad to stay at this hotel. The staff was so incredibly friendly, Karen at the front desk let me print a documented i needed, and gave us great food recommendations.
We will absolutely stay here again next time we’re in town!