Abpopa Hillcrest

United States , San Diego - CA
San Diego, 3776 Fourth Ave
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100 reviews shown

8/10

Excellent

15 Mar 2026

Reut

Modern, clean, and convenient. The rooms are nice, but the downstairs cafe is the real winner. Great coffee and delicious breakfast options (the acai bowls are a must-try!). Would definitely stay here again.

6/10

Pleasant

13 Mar 2026

Harlee

Room definitely needs some love. Scuffed, scratched walls, dust buildup in higher areas. If you rent a loft bed room, beware, it's not easy going up and down, especially in the middle of the night. Mattress was very soft, pillows lumpy. There are no blackout curtains, so it is quite light in the room at night.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Mar 2026

Robert

The hotel is strategically located in the San Diego Hillcrest area is walking distance to the restaurants,bars,shopping. The hotel had easy check-in and check out services. The hotel room has a large open floor plan with lots of light.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Mar 2026

Stephanie

This has been my Favourite! stay in quite some time. I booked the Panoramic room and was not disappointed! It is the largest room offered. Essentially a loft apartment. Watching the sunset was amazing ( I posted to my socials it was so beautiful). The next morning, I wandered down to the outdoor cafe in the lobby and treated myself to an amazing breakfast and latte. It is a quirky, funky and fabulous hotel. NOTHING ordinary about it. LOVE,LOVE,LOVE!

Self

8/10

Excellent

12 Mar 2026

Lance

Ac and heater in room on wall didnt work. I would set a temperature and it wouo

10/10

Exceptional

26 Feb 2026

Madeline

Manager was super attentive! Room was clean and the location of the hotel was great.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

22 Feb 2026

David

Great location for a traveler that doesn’t require a lot of hand holding as staff is rarely on site. Bathrooms are functional rather than spa-like. Thin walls provide an opportunity to learn about your neighbors without even having to meet them.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

31 Jan 2026

Paul

Lack of parking at site and adjacent public parking was sketchy with large unhoused population (unsanitary lot).

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jan 2026

DOLLY ROSE

Spacious, clean & a stellar team!

Business_and_leisure Self

2/10

Poor

26 Jan 2026

Knute

I do not recommend taking a chance on this hotel. I was charged for a room and was never given the promised codes for entry requiring me to re-book elsewhere. I was not the only guest for whom this happened.

Self

8/10

Excellent

23 Jan 2026

Johnny

Helpful staff, available by text message.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

20 Jan 2026

Guillermo

Easy check in, clean room, peaceful stay.

8/10

Excellent

19 Jan 2026

Jenette

A unique hotel with a great restaurant on the first floor. Lots of natural light.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jan 2026

david

Fun, convenient, clean, good value.

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jan 2026

david

You’ll love it… little noisy, but fun and convenient…

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jan 2026

david

Cool place… small, but interesting little modular studio rooms. I’ll be back

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jan 2026

david

Lots of homeless people on streets in that area… but once you’re in the building it feels safe. Great and interesting rooms and decor… each room is different and each time I’ve stayed I’ve had a whole different experience. I like it and gooseberries (the restaurant downstairs.) is amazing!

Business Self

8/10

Excellent

16 Jan 2026

Samuel

Easy check-in. Good location

10/10

Exceptional

10 Jan 2026

John

It's a great location. Plenty of bars and restaurants you can walk to.
It's a quirky space with excellent views. Lots of windows.
It can get a little hot in the afternoon. Just shut some of the blinds and the AC will catch up.
The bed was comfy. The stairs up to the bed took a little time to get use to.

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2026

Leonel

I don’t say this often, but staying here genuinely elevated my stay in Hillcrest. It was wondering to be within walking distance to numerous restaurants and clubs. The facility felt safe and well maintained. Despite
This being my first self-checkin experience, the hotel team made everything flawless. Thank you for the wonderful stay! I hope to be back soon.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jan 2026

Leslie

Clean room. Nice view. Great location.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Dec 2025

Herman

Nice area

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

29 Dec 2025

Jon

Support staff was fine, but the room was poor with cold cement floors and the HVAC system needed multiple trips by staff to get it working. Sink faucet was loose and so was the toilet. I would not stay there again.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

26 Dec 2025

James

Great stay as usual!

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

23 Dec 2025

Leo

Easy digital checkin, beautiful big room, kitchinette.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

16 Dec 2025

James

Nice room. Great location.

8/10

Excellent

14 Dec 2025

Sarah

Parking is a literal nightmare but the penthouse was a great room and we’d return

4/10

Poor

12 Dec 2025

Landon

Room was tiny and stuffy and hot, ceilings were so low that i couldn’t sit up straight in bed, had to sleep on the couch because it was so hot in here. sink is also the toilet ?

Business Self

4/10

Poor

12 Dec 2025

Sheldon

No one is really there, you enter with codes, you ride the elevator with codes, you get in your room with codes. Outside entry is unlit, at night, a risk. It's next door, or a door up, to a place like a 7/11, full of junkies, folks sprawled on the sidewalk, or standing about, you walk past this, to the dark gate and enter an entry code (suggest you do it quickly!) I would rate it, high risk at night and I'm a big guy. The room seemed like it might be cleaned weekly. The sink is part of the toilet tank. You straddle the toilet bowel, to wash your hands, face. The view, is not like the photos. I rented the better room \" \"Premier Studio, City View\"and my windows looked into a CLOSE adjoining property, I to keep the shades down. I had prepaid my room through Expedia $368.54, for two nights. I have my credit card set, to immediately notify me of a charge. After I checked out, a charge of $801. popped up on my Visa, it took several calls to get them to acknowledge the error/charge. Then a few more to reaffirm it wasn't put on my card. it, by no means, looked like the one in the photo, if there is one like that, it's a bet you'll get it, even though you are paying more, my room was quite small. There is free street parking in the neighborhood, a block away, glad I didn't pay the parking fee (2 hours parking after 10AM, so, just get to your car by noon ;)

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

09 Dec 2025

Robert

Huge penthouse with very large 270 degree window views of San Diego. Management was accomodating and gracious.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Dec 2025

Dustin

Super unique hotel. Freindly vibes and a very cool neighbourhood.

Leisure

2/10

Poor

04 Dec 2025

Agustin

The room was unsanitary and in horrible condition.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 Dec 2025

James

Abpopa is one of my favorite hotels in San Diego! Great stay

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

03 Dec 2025

George

Staff was exceptional AND CHANGING ROOM TO A NONE STAIR one WAS Easy. Location was amazing just a 10 minute walk to scripps Mercy Hospital. The in house restaurant was closed on tuesday. Otherwise a good stay.

Business_and_leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

02 Dec 2025

Kevin

Yes

Friends_and_family Family

2/10

Poor

01 Dec 2025

Michael

The room had an overwhelming scent. I lasted about an hour.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

27 Nov 2025

Suhwan

Good

8/10

Excellent

26 Nov 2025

Omar

Good spot. Thank you

Business Self

2/10

Poor

22 Nov 2025

Robert

Dirty….. everywhere. In need of painting, repair,… “loft bedroom” access was by climbing attic pull down type stairs. 3 separate numbers and instructions to 1)enter building, 2)upon entering elevator and 3)entering room. How about a passkey. No daily service. Poor and above all, the dirtiest hotel I’ve ever been in. Thank god I was by myself because I’d be totally embarrassed if I brought someone.

Business Self

8/10

Excellent

22 Nov 2025

Douglas

Large, clean room for the price. Cement floors, soft bed that dipped in the center (could use a better mattress), so not too comfortable. Lots of plugs. Hot water pot boiler was nice. Very easy check in. Need somewhere to hang clothes. Street parking is challenging if you don’t want to pay the hotel parking fee ($25) for one of the few spots on site. Good for a 1 night stay. Excellent value.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

20 Nov 2025

Roddy

Room was clean but the bed needs to be replaced. Little things were not working, like light switches, remotes and refrigerators. It's like the owners just gave up on general updates and simple repairs. Sad because the hotel seems promising because it is close to food, bars and Balboa Park. It wouldn't take much to make this hotel a winner.

Business Partner

6/10

Pleasant

19 Nov 2025

Wilson

Bathroom was a bit funky, but nice view with many windows

Business

10/10

Exceptional

18 Nov 2025

david

Great stay

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

18 Nov 2025

david

Great place

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

18 Nov 2025

david

Great place

2/10

Poor

16 Nov 2025

Hyung Wook

Terrible condition. I checked in and checked out immidietly.

Business_and_leisure Family

4/10

Poor

13 Nov 2025

Michael

Never got a check in text , never got WiFi info. Fail all around.

Partner

2/10

Poor

12 Nov 2025

Ernest

We were very sad to stay here. We thought it would have a \"Bay View,\" but you could barely see a scratch of it in the distance. The shower flooded every time it was used. The bathroom mat stayed wet due to the flooding shower. Overall, it was not the experience we were hoping for.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Nov 2025

Tracy

Great place and perfect location

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Nov 2025

Joseph

Perfect location, everything I needed!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

01 Nov 2025

denise

Well, the breakfast wasn't free (it was $60), but it was quite good. The room was gigantic & had a fantastic view, and the location was great. Things in the room showed some use, though. The sink fixtures were falling apart, and some of the lights were burnt out. But we had a great stay, and the bed is super comfy. A nice spot that just needs a little more TLC than it is currently gettting.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Nov 2025

Erik

Spotless. Easy. Great location.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Oct 2025

Martita

Really good location in downtown Hillcrest and the restaurant below is excellent!

Self

8/10

Excellent

27 Oct 2025

Louix

This was my first time staying here, and I really loved it. Cannot beat the location. Room was large, very clean. I loved all the glass, The view was astounding. The only thing that could have been better was if they had a closet pole or dresser drawers. There was nowhere to put my clothes. Would definitely stay here again.

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

26 Oct 2025

Kaitlyn

The hotel itself was great. Amazing security and I loved my room. The bathroom to the door took some getting used to but overall; great hotel. The area around it is making me not stay here again. There was yelling constantly through the night or I couldn’t walk down to the restaurants because of the homeless

Business

4/10

Poor

24 Oct 2025

Ryan

Great views but the bathroom is not in its own room and has no privacy. It is basically a stall in the room. It feels very much like a hostel. The shower was dirty and the shower bar was held together with a paper towel.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

24 Oct 2025

Charles

It a

2/10

Poor

21 Oct 2025

David Anthony

This is an interesting hotel to say the least with respect to the concept of the rooms. I got a room with a full size bed that was up a tiny ladder. The ceiling was so low that you could not stand in the bedroom. I’m not a fan of the bathroom being in the middle of the room separated by only a foldable wall. Great location, it was clean, easy check in, and helpful staff. But it just felt more like a hostel.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

19 Oct 2025

Brittany

overall satisfied

Self

10/10

Exceptional

18 Oct 2025

Michael

Lovely stay at Abpopa, cool layout feels modern, artsy. Excellent location for the Hillcrest nightlife, walkable to Balboa Park & Bankers Hill neighborhood. Definitely would stay again.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

17 Oct 2025

James

Nice spot

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

17 Oct 2025

Oleksandr

First time stay

Not super clean. Some furniture needs repair or upgrade. I had curtains stained in my room but the management was super responsive and moved me to a better room.
The Internet was slow though. Maybe it was just in my room because I saw lots of people were using their laptops downstairs.
Also the amount of homeless people around the hotel doesn’t add it a charm. The AC was working but because of the room design, the living area was not getting enough cool air, making it hot while it was freezing by the entrance and kitchen area.
This place has an interesting design, but I wish the maintenance of this place was better.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

07 Oct 2025

DOLLYROSE

I love this place! Secure, chic & clean.

Business_and_leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

06 Oct 2025

Matthew

Great spot if you want need to rest and small space,.better than most hotels.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Oct 2025

Andrew

Lovely quick stay!

Great experience in the middle of a lovely part of town. Space was exactly what I needed for my short stay, and was in excellent condition

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

03 Oct 2025

Zachary

It was interesting. Two lofts with two twin beds in one and a queen in the other. One twin bed was an actual mattress and the other was just a pad. The queen bed was very comfortable. The rooms are directly over a gas station (7-11). It really felt more like a hostel than a hotel. It served its purpose.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

01 Oct 2025

Huu Manh

I regret that I only had 1 night to experience the service at this place. Everything was great, the room was clean, not too big but comfortable. Plus points for this place being close to downtown and the places I wanted to go. I will come back.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

01 Oct 2025

Kenneth

Great room.. weird bathroom

This hotel was perfect location in Hillcrest. The room was great… lots of windows and great views while in bed. Nice living space and kitchen… comfortable bed. The weird and disappointing thing was the bathroom which was a toilet and shower behind a black plywood partition… so sharing this room, you want to have a comfort level with your partner. But beautiful room for sure.. not sure if all the rooms are… and Vincent was awesome helping with check in and information.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Oct 2025

Evelyn

Bathroom is a little odd but the space is beautiful. Everything was fantastic

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

28 Sep 2025

Caroline

Super dirty - as in sticky floor, stained furniture. Shower moldy. No mirror. Toilet had sink behind it to save water (ok) but how on earth would you wash your face or brush your teeth?!? The bowl was smaller than the tank cover. Straddling the toilet would be the only option. Odd elevator with a code that you had to punch into a box that was half off. Just…. Nasty.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Sep 2025

Finley

Very nice, would stay again.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Sep 2025

natascha

I absolutely LOVE this place. It’s my second time staying. The room are

8/10

Excellent

21 Sep 2025

Denise

Clean. Hot water good. Close to a lot of places to eat even the park is walking distance if you are up to it. Safe. Didnt like that there wasnt any face basin or anywhere to hang clothes.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

20 Sep 2025

Michelle

The staff was very attentive and friendly. It is more like staying in an apartment than hotel. I had a large corner room on the fourth floor that had a s mm all kitchen. I also appreciated the parking

Leisure

4/10

Poor

19 Sep 2025

richard

This is not a hotel. It is b&b. No one there. Check in horrible. Many codes to remember. Some rooms not acceptable for senior. Good location however

10/10

Exceptional

15 Sep 2025

Sandy

Great place

6/10

Pleasant

13 Sep 2025

Lourdes

Room to bright and to much construction

Family

10/10

Exceptional

12 Sep 2025

William

In the Heart of Hillcrest! Everything I needed is walking distance.
UCSD Hospital,Owen Clinic,Walgreens,Urban Mos,The Rail.
Feel so safe and The Staff made me me feel like Home Away From Home.
Extending my Stay for another Month
Truly Exceptional

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

08 Sep 2025

Edgar

Great place!

4/10

Poor

29 Aug 2025

tracy

The room was unique with loft, the bed comfortable and clean and [my] AC was working well. (Met other guests who were in a unit with no working AC). The windows were failing with condensation between the double pane, obstructing view. The furniture was very stained - so much, I wasn’t comfortable relaxing on them. Cobwebs, garbage in the upper corner of the room. Walls, ceilings and window coverings were marred with scuff marks or liquid stains of undetermined origin. Shower curtain had black mildew stains. No bathroom sink, so all hygiene routines happened at the kitchenette, stainless steel basin. 3 spoons and 2 knives provided in kitchenette.
Lots of nightly foot traffic in the elevators by single fellas~
This place had potential, but I will not be staying here again.

Business Self

8/10

Excellent

21 Aug 2025

Cameron

Fun and unique studio apartment. The cafe downstairs is great and the location is very convenient. The bed was uncomfortable and the bathroom is not great if traveling with more than yourself.

Business Family

10/10

Exceptional

14 Aug 2025

Nathan

i stayed in the split level cabin

stylish room, excellent walkable hillcrest location. we booked for 1 night and extended for another.

a few things to be aware of in advance if you’re a couple considering staying in the unit

1. the length of the bed barely fits in the space so if you’re on the far side u can get around the bed but just barely (maybe 6-9” of free space)

2. the bathroom is suboptimal — unnecessarily tiny and open at the top and only has a tiny eco sink above the toilet. the main sink i used was in the kitchen. with the design, bathroom noise travels so unit really much better for a single than a couple or good for a couple that doesn’t care

3. the picture of the room that i saw showed a desk but our room just had a narrow table big ebnough for the flat screen tv sitting on it, so i repurposed the living room table as a desk for my computer

despite some of the issues with the bed space and bathroom design, it was a great value for a really stylish unit in a great location.

for the right people, highly recommend

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Aug 2025

Megan

Perfect spot to be in the heart of the city

8/10

Excellent

05 Aug 2025

Shantelle

The check in was contactless but painless and convenient. This isn’t how conventional hotels are but I like it for what it is. It’s close to restaurants and shops.

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

03 Aug 2025

Verified traveler

Avoid like the plague.

I really WANTED to like this hotel, as it’s independent and eclectic. Sadly, it’s the second worst hotel I’ve ever stayed in. The rooms are utterly impractical. There is no closet, and not even hooks and hangers. There is a single “overcoat” hook by the front door. There is no bathroom. The toilet and shower are in the living room behind a moveable screen. There are two sets of steps (two steps each), one leading to the galley “kitchen” (just a counter, sink, mini fridge, microwave, and a few cupboards. The last set leads to the bed, which takes up the entire landing. The bed is ridiculously low, making it very difficult to get up from it, and the mattress was very uncomfortable. If you have ANY mobility issues, this is a death trap. It’s very easy to fall. The promotional materials don’t reveal the full impractical nature of the rooms. Hotels.com should de-platform this hotel, and the hotel should be investigated for ADA issues.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

01 Aug 2025

Michael

Front desk worker Paul was very nice and respectful & overall was a excellent and fun room for the night

Business_and_leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jul 2025

David

Close to everything

Great tiny little hotel next to everything in the Gaslamp area of San Diego.

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

25 Jul 2025

Serena

Cute but….

This is a cute hotel however you can tell that it was refurbished from a old apartment building. Although it was a spacious room there really wasn’t space for a woman to properly get ready. I had to do my make up in the mirror that was above the kitchen sink. The bed was very uncomfortable, although the sheets were comfortable, but it did not have a boxsprings. So you felt every single metal from the bed-frame.

Outside there were multiple drug addicts hanging in front of the building and next-door at 7 eleven. Parking was not explained. We parked on the street. We did not get a ticket thank God.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jul 2025

James

Always love my stay at Abpopa Hillcrest, one of my favorite hotels! Great location and hotel is stylish with great art

Business Self

4/10

Poor

24 Jul 2025

Seda

Did not sleep at all!! So much noise outside the windows! Trash truck started at 5am. From 3-5am it was gang cars playing reallly really loud music. I even recorded it.
The chairs in the room were filthy dirty with stains.

Business_and_leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jul 2025

Daniel

Loved the hotel - check in was so easy - staff was responsive - only note I would give to people is that the bathroom is not a private bathroom, just separated by a divider

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jul 2025

Najmuddin

The view of the rooms are amaing

4/10

Poor

13 Jul 2025

Laura R

We were moved to this property by Expedia after our reservation was mis-handled.
It looks spacious but the master bathroom is a plywood space that is open at the top for all noise to be heard.. and tiny. Sink to brush teeth is a ‘kitchette sink”. The floors were sticky; make noise when walked upon.
The other bathroom was a bathtub next to the bed in the CARPETED bedroom! Bed and tub next to each other with carpet as you get out if tub!!!! Reminded me of traveling in the 90’s in eastern block countries in Europe.
Noisy noisy dirty hillcrest neighborhood right next to 7-11.
Would never stay again nor recommend

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jul 2025

Elvis

stayed here every time we visit San Diego and we love the convenience of the options around us

Partner

4/10

Poor

05 Jul 2025

Jennifer

Would not stay af

Would only recommend if you’re staying one night, are a heavy sleeper and need to get up really early.
Pros:
Plenty of places to eat in the area
Close to old town and balboa park
Good water pressure in shower
Room had plenty of space
Cons:
Noisy - no soundproofing, so you get noise from the street and adjoining rooms
Blinds are thin and don’t block any light
No kettle or coffee maker or toaster
No bathroom cabinet, just a toilet next to the shower
No servicing, so you don’t get toilet paper topped up or rubbish removed during your stay
No drawers or wardrobe/hanging space for clothes
Kitchen crockery was just a corkscrew and butter knife
Air conditioning didn’t work
There was no laundry facilities (hotels.com said there was)

Partner

4/10

Poor

02 Jul 2025

Brandon

The bed is up a ladder you have to climb to get to it. The ceiling is only 6 feet tall in the little room that has the bed in it. There’s no cable or satellite television. It’s just a Roku TV so if you don’t have access, don’t book it here. There’s no front desk. In fact there’s no one that works here. You have to call a phone number paste it outside the gate to get the code to get in.

Not very user-friendly the bed was very comfortable. Other than that I have nothing else. Good to say. The restaurant downstairs for breakfast was excellent.

Business

8/10

Excellent

01 Jul 2025

Ryan

Great option to hotel chains

Great little spot with friendly staff who were always willing to help. Beds was comfortable, water pressure in the shower was great. Would stay again

Business

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jun 2025

Tim

I had a very smooth check-in. Just checked in on the building’s website. They gave me a passcode to get through the front gate passcode for the elevator and a passcode for the room. The room was pretty unique, sort of whimsical and fun. The bed was so comfortable I slept a full eight hours each night, which is very odd for me. I would definitely recommend staying here while in San Diego

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jun 2025

Alicia

Loved this area and much hotel vibe!it’s of natural light and windows are operable to a nice cool breeze was attainable!

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jun 2025

Matthew

Unique and homey, perfect for 1 night stay