San Diego's only pier where visitors can sleep directly above the ocean, Crystal Pier San Diego stands at 4500 Ocean Blvd in the 92109 zip code. Completed in 1927 as Pickering's Pleasure Pier, the structure originally featured carnival attractions and the Crystal Ballroom, both of which closed within months of opening. The pier found its lasting identity when Cape Cod-style cottages were added in the late 1930s, and the Allen family took ownership in the 1960s, maintaining the property ever since. Today the Crystal Pier Hotel & Cottages operates the overnight accommodations, offering units with full kitchens, separate bedrooms and living rooms, private oceanside decks, and dedicated parking spots on the pier itself. The Pacific Terrace Hotel sits just north on the beachfront for visitors who prefer a full-service resort experience within view of the pier. During the day, the public portion of Crystal Pier opens at 8 a.m. for fishing, walking, and watching surfers ride the break below, then closes at sunset when hotel guests gain private access. General manager Julie Neal, who first worked at the pier in the 1990s, returned in 2021 to oversee operations and has noted that summer reservations often need to be booked 11 months in advance. The pier has hosted film shoots over the years, including scenes from the 1989 movie Night Rain, episodes of the 1990s TV series Renegade starring Lorenzo Lamas, and a stay by Pierce Brosnan while filming The Heist. Maintenance is constant on the wooden structure, with the privately owned section extending to the high-tide line and a city lease covering the stretch to the bait shop. The boardwalk at the base of the pier connects strollers to Pacific Beach's restaurant row, including JRDN Restaurant for oceanfront dining just a short walk south. No smoking and no pets are permitted on the pier or in the cottages.