The Hotel del Coronado has been the defining landmark of Coronado since it opened in 1888. Presidents have stayed there. Movies have been filmed there. L. Frank Baum reportedly drew inspiration for the Emerald City from its turrets and towers. But even icons need reinvention, and the Del has just completed the most ambitious one in its 138-year history — a $550 million renovation that has reshaped the property from its restaurants to its rooms.
The Dining Overhaul
The most visible changes are culinary. Nobu, the globally renowned Japanese restaurant chain founded by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, opened a Coronado location inside the hotel — bringing omakase, black cod miso, and a world-class sake program to the island for the first time. Veranda, a new coastal-inspired restaurant led by executive chef Brian Archibald, replaced the former Sheerwater space in April 2025. Archibald oversees all culinary operations across the property, including Serea Coastal Cuisine — the hotel's flagship sustainable seafood restaurant helmed by chef JoJo Ruiz — and the Sun Deck, a casual oceanfront spot that remains one of the best places on the island to watch the sunset.
Together, the Del now offers a dining portfolio that spans Japanese fine dining, sustainable coastal cuisine, California-fresh seasonal menus, and casual beach fare — a range that didn't exist on Coronado even two years ago. These options join the broader Coronado dining scene, which is experiencing its own independent restaurant boom along Orange Avenue.
The Property
Beyond the restaurants, the renovation touched nearly every corner of the 28-acre oceanfront property. Guest rooms have been refreshed with modern coastal design. Public spaces have been reimagined. The resort's grounds, gardens, and pool areas have been upgraded to reflect a more contemporary luxury standard while preserving the Victorian architecture that makes the Del unmistakable. The hotel continues to operate as a Hilton property under the Curio Collection brand.
What It Means for Coronado
The Hotel del Coronado isn't just a hotel — it's the economic engine of the southern end of the island. According to Del Coronado Realty, the property draws more than 500,000 guests annually, many of whom explore Orange Avenue, the beach, and the Ferry Landing during their stay. The renovation ensures that the Del remains competitive in a luxury hospitality market that is seeing new entrants — including The Bower and The Baby Grand — for the first time in decades.
For visitors and residents alike, the Del's reinvention is part of a larger story: Coronado's lodging and hospitality scene is deeper, more varied, and more ambitious than it has been at any point in the island's modern history.
