The El Cajon Boulevard thoroughfare in University Heights has seen massive changes
in the last few years, including new housing, taprooms, and rapid bus transit. CH Projects
purchased the Lafayette Hotel in 2021 for $25.8 million and just reopened after a
nine-month closure.
If you’ve been to the group’s restaurants and bars, including Raised by Wolves, Craft &
Commerce, and nearby Polite Provisions, you know that design is key to their properties’’ aesthetics. With one step through the completely reimagined lobby at the Lafayette, you’ll see a lobby bar where you can grab coffee and pastries and luxuriate in the well-appointed space with loads of seating. Records are stacked in a booth next to the front door and walking forward, I heard Afrobeat music thumping from the sound system.
Walking toward the rear, the ornate Lobby Bar is located to the right of the new
Beginner’s Diner, which is open 24/7 and has retro charm with breakfast (biscuits
and gravy and corned beef hash), small plates (think pickled beets and deviled eggs),
and milkshakes with or without booze.
You can opt for dinner or in the diner or make reservations for Quixote, the Oaxaca-inspired restaurant that replaced the old Red Fox Steakhouse. The crab and corn doughnut is an early fave, along with the tetela with duck carnitas. Chef Jose Cepeda’s food has racked up popular reviews, so it’s best to make
reservations on OpenTable before heading to the restaurant.
The Pool Bar will be a popular locals’ hangout with craft cocktails without the sting of hotel bar prices. There’s a variety of cocktails to choose from, and an airy fan overhead keeps bar patrons cool outdoors while they enjoy great views of the pool the Lafayette is known for.
For an evening nightcap with some fun, check out the Gutter, which includes pool tables, shuffleboard, and a two-lane bowling alley.
As you can imagine, there are plenty of elevated cocktails to be had in this area as well. In late 2023, the hotel will see the arrival of the upscale dining room, Le Horse, a spa, live music venue, Lulu’s Jungle Room, and jazz supper club The Mississippi Room. You can keep tabs with the hotel at their website at: lafayettehotelsd.com or on Instagram @thelafayette.
