A historic wooden Victorian resort on the California coast, Hotel Del Coronado has not only completed a massive renovation, but is forever cemented in movie history as the featured location on one of my favorite films: 1959’s “Some like it hot” starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis.
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Hotel del Coronado: Hollywood Icon, Now Fully Restored
Set on San Diego’s sun-drenched coast, the Hotel del Coronado—known simply as The Del—has always been more than just a resort. Opened in 1888 by Elisha Babcock and Hampton Story, the 750‑room Victorian wooden palace was the largest hotel in the world, built to be “the talk of the Western world”
And it was. Over the decades, The Del became a magnetic playground for the glitterati: Charlie Chaplin, Judy Garland, Babe Ruth, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford all checked in. But perhaps no guest is more famously tied to the hotel than Marilyn Monroe, who filmed the classic “Some Like It Hot” here in 1958, turning its red turrets and beachfront setting into a piece of Hollywood history.
A $550 Million Revival
Since 2019, The Del has been undergoing a massive six‑year renovation, culminating this spring . Blackstone’s $550 million investment has meticulously restored the original Victorian wing and grand public spaces—like the Crown and Coronet ballrooms, iconic lobby, veranda, and Naiad Queen fountain—preserving the hotel’s status as a National Historic Landmark
Highlights of the refresh include:
- Newly brightened guest rooms with floral fabrics, checkerboard marble baths, and modern comforts
- Two chic new restaurants: Nobu Del Coronado and Veranda, both offering seaside elegance and elevated flavor
- A historic renovation of the Ice House Museum, Spa & Salon, and expanded retail and event spaces
📍 Pop Passport Tip: Even if you’re not staying overnight, stop by for cocktails at the Sun Deck, the restored veranda (famous from Some Like It Hot) or a stroll through the historic lobby—it’s one of the most cinematic spots on the California coast.
Behind-the-Scenes of Some Like It Hot
While only the exterior scenes of the film were shot at The Del—presented onscreen as Florida’s Seminole Ritz—movie buffs often point out that the interior lobby, elevator, and stair layouts were clearly inspired by The Del itself
Local lore recalls throngs of fans actively “waiting for Marilyn”—with the San Diego Union-Tribune famously covering crowds gathering on the grand veranda, many hoping to catch a glimpse of Monroe
Legend also has it that scenes featuring Monroe disembarking from a speedboat were filmed in nearby Glorietta Bay—with the hotel’s palatial backdrop framed like a Riviera postcard
This isn’t just a renovation—it’s the full-circle revival of a cultural landmark. The hotel’s storied architecture and Hollywood heritage are now reborn and ready to be experienced again.
Carrie x
