The LaFayette Pool

Review summary

1. S

   Sally

   San Diego

   5 reviews

   3.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on October 27, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   I was disappointed at the lack of lounge chairs available, and they were all claimed when we arrived. The big rub is that there’s really nowhere else to sit if you don’t have a lounge chair, so I feel that charging $40 to sit on cold tile in the walkway is unjustified. Mind you, this was off-season at the end of October, so I have no idea what people would do during peak season of summer! The service was good, the pool was nice, but standard (no hot tub is a bit of a bummer and it’s not a loungey pool with places to sit/relax), and the food was tasty. I feel the prices should be adjusted because what you’re essentially paying for is entry to the pool experience, and that was lacking (to say the least).
   

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2. T

   Tatianna

   Seattle

   12 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   12 reviews

   Dined on October 19, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The pool is so cute but it is impossible to get a chair. Luckily it’s a very large pool and you’re allowed to post up on the side of the pool with your towels! I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with curly fries and it was so tasty. I am also pregnant so I couldn’t enjoy any alcohol but they had great NA options which I loved! I had a virgin aperol spritz and NA Mex lager michelada!! I will definitely be back.
   

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3. C

   Colleen

   San Diego

   1 review

   vip
   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on September 26, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   The construction going on at the pool area was brutal. Shouldn’t be charging for pool pass if they are grinding tile there amthe whole time.
   

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4. A

   Ambria

   San Diego

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on September 22, 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 4

   I never even used the pool and lost over $150!! There was no lounge chairs. Or anywhere to hang out. Hotel guests take it all. When I asked for a refund they said no and I have to reschedule. I did and never made it back since you can’t use the pool until after 10am when everything is taken. So the hotel taken my money and I got no pool experience.
   

   The LaFayette PoolResponded on October 2, 2024

   Hi Ambria! I am so sorry to hear that this was your experience with us at The LaFayette Hotel. These passes have been refunded for you. We would love to invite you back to enjoy the pool on a day more suited for what you are looking for. Weekdays are a day passer's paradise with a typical abundance of lounge chairs available. We'd love to make it up to you. Let us know and your chlorine oasis awaits.
   

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5. J

   Jessica

   San Diego

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on September 21, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing venue enjoyed it so much! Service great! Rooms are soo beautiful and perfect amenities
   

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6. A

   Amanda

   San Diego

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on September 21, 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   This review is only for the pool/bar/restaurant experience. We purchased a pool day pass in part because we are local and just wanted a chill Palm Springs-esq pool day, and in part because their website advertises being able to upgrade the $50 pool pass to include chair rental. I called the day before to do this and was simply (rudely) told "oh ya we don't do that anymore." Well- maybe don't advertise it then? To add salt to that wound they didn't even check us in when we arrived. People clearly come to this pool without passes, total waste of $100. They also have a serious overcrowding problem here. Not only were the chairs all taken (we were told "saved" by 10am) but the entire pool deck was crowded with people. You couldn't actually get IN the pool because of all the people sitting around it. In the five hours we were there someone brought about ten towels out, at which point one of the dozens of influencers crowding the demo promptly snagged them all. I was told by an employee inside that they have one set of pool towels that they wash when people leave, problem is no one was leaving! So bring your own towels. To make matters SO much worse, there was ONE waitress for approximately 150 people poolside. We got maybe one visit every 90 minutes. She was great when we saw her, and this was no fault of her own. The drinks are disgusting and trying far too hard to be trendy. You don't mix four different liquors with fruit juice just because it makes a pretty color. I couldn't even finish their "mango" spritz, which tasted like aperol and hairspray. They also made one of the worst espresso martinis I've ever tasted. The food was average, pickle plate was actually wonderful (although interestingly enough didn't have one actual pickle on it, just pickled veggies). They clearly did a ton of work on the outter grounds and pool deck but this place is being severely mismanaged. It has a ton of potential but unless you're there for a tiktok photoshoot I'd skip it all together.
   

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7. R

   Raechel

   Portland

   3 reviews

   1.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on September 8, 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   We purchased day passes to the pool that very clearly stated towels were provided. The pool opened at 10am; we arrived at 9 to grab breakfast first, and were some of the first people in line. We were inside the pool area by 10:05am - and there were no towels. Couldn’t get in the pool because we had nothing to dry off with, and nothing to sit on the ground with (because all chairs were already taken by hotel guests who had early access to the pool.) We asked several employees if there were more towels somewhere; all of them were exceptionally curt and snapped that there’d be more towels soon. We waited a full hour in direct sun before finally giving up. I made these reservations over a month in advance and had traveled from out of state to enjoy this with friends - super disappointing on all accounts.
   

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8. V

   Victoria

   San Diego

   14 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   14 reviews

   Dined on September 7, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   Reviews like this really helped me enjoy this experience. Get there as early as possible. I arrived around 9:40 and was allowed to come in early (and actually got the last two lounge chairs). They definitely ran out of towels and didn't replenish them for HOURS! Like ran out before 11am and didn't get new ones until maybe 3pm. Service does get slow as the day picks up (they don't have enough servers) so order a little earlier than you may want things, especially lunch. The vibes are excellent, but be okay with sitting on the ground, or bringing your own small fold up chairs. You can def bring in your own water bottles, and maybe even your own subtle snacks (though we only brought in the water bottles). I would do it again, but it is a splurge for sure. FYI we did get wrist band checked. I know many are saying you don't need to get them. So just sharing that perspective.
   

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9. N

   Natalie

   San Diego

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on September 7, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Overall a fabulous time. The servers were friendly, bar service phenomenal, you can tell that all of the employees are enthusiastic about supporting the overall vibe. (Hannah? Bryan?) The vibe being “retro-mod opulent pool party at Jay Gatsby’s.” My cocktails were delicious (although expensive) and my sandwich was delicious (although very expensive.) If you come here, you’re looking for opulence and that means $20 for a club sandwich. My good time was dependent upon early planning. I’m lucky I read the reviews which stated you probably won’t be able to find lounge seats because they’re usually taken up by hotel guests. So I planned ahead with my own chair and sunbrella. Made all the difference. It’s pricey, but I had a good day.
   

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10. N

    Nancy

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 1, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4

    Bring your own towel. Pool water quality low. Good temp. People hog the lounge chairs all day so come at opening time and move someone's "hat" to the next chair.
    

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