This is a stunningly beautiful place! The owner is the sweetheart, this is absolutely worth the stay! Very very clean, and they even offer Starbucks coffee for you in the morning. Parking is a little tight, but wasn't a problem and I stayed during a full occupancy weekend. The outdoor patio is spacious and well kept, this is a place for you smokers. My room came with a small fridge, a nice little TV, and a beautiful big bed. My room had a.c., and it worked fine. I was extremely happy with the professionalism of the staff, and the room. Quiet, clean, and even the soaps and conditioners were high quality. Very impressed, absolutely love this place

Renovated 1930's hotel. If you need a new modern hotel then this isn't it. If you are looking for customer service, you are not going to find a better place. The family who owns and runs this hotel are the kindest, nicest people you will ever meet. I absolutely recommend staying here.

It's easy to get a lot of positive reviews if you work hard to remove the reviews of customers who were unhappy with their stay. Bravo El Primero. Still... your hotel is dirty and that is the reality.

I had the loveliest conversations in the morning with the staff. They provided things that ensured me I was staying at the right place. They walk you to your room when you first arrive, and ensure everything is good. If you need anything at all they provide it. I loved how they put a special makeup washcloth in the bathroom. I kept my window open at night so there was fresh air coming in the room and it was so quiet I could hear a pin drop. They also had really good coffee in the morning. I highly recommend staying here.

Fantastic family run hotel, the owner made us feel truly welcome and was legitimately concerned with ensuring we had an enjoyable stay. The room was cozy, bed was comfy, everything was clean, and the shower was hot. I will 100% stay here again when I visit San Diego. Really lovely experience.

Cute older boutique hotel in the heart of old Chula Vista. Family owned and operated. Friendly folks. No amenities to speak of. Tea in the morning in the lobby. Free parking. Lots of restaurants and a 7-11 nearby. Room was nice with comfy bedding. Small tv. No in room coffee. My room had a tub with a sign that said not to use it. Apparently a full tub leaks into the room below. That should be remedied. All in all, a nice older place. Ask for a room in the rear as far away from the street as possible.

El Primero Boutique Hotel is a hidden gem! My partner and I stayed here for 1 night and very much enjoyed the old style and lounging in the courtyard. With only 20 rooms, this hotel stays quiet and calm. The staff was wonderful and accommodating. The location is also great with many restaurants and a convenience store just steps away. If you're looking for a cute place to sleep and don't need big name hotel amenities like breakfast and a pool, this hotel is for you!!

Older hotel, but filled with charm! The owners/staff were super amazing! They made us feel SO welcome.

I booked this downtown spot for one night because it looked nice and the reviews were solid. I stayed an extra night because it’s such a lovely place and room, walkable to food/drink, and especially because the proprietors were super friendly and warm people. Definitely will be back soon!

I wanted something close to the san diego marathan but not the in traffic and congested area. Apart from that, i wanted plenty of parking, and near walking distance of restaurants and stores so I could maneuver in and out. The place was perfect! Thankfully, due to some changes in my reservation I got to speak with Karen and she was very accommodating and kind while on the phone. She was amazing in person too! Some family members stayed in downtown S.D and they came over to this area to join us. Bet they regretted their decisions for their hotels that were pricier and parking hassle! Upon arrival, the A/C worked great, the toilets flushed great and the shower was full pressure. (Because something you think of when a hotel is pretty old!). Rooms were roomy, with TV. All I could ask for in a great price. Will make sure to return here for any future trips to the area.

We stayed here May this year which was 6mo ago its family owned and our stay was great. Karen made us feel like we were at home . This hotel was above and beyond our expectations. We Love that it is a historic hotel and it's rich in history. This is now our favorite place to stay when we are in town visiting family. There are some really good restaurants nearby and a coffee shop with pastries, all are in walking distance. We will definitely be back .👍thank you Karen for your hospitality.💝

We have stayed in the San Diego area many times as this is one of our preferred vacation locations. Hotels are quite expensive in the area and generally not very pleasing. We were beyond pleased with El Primero, the staff (owners) and the accommodations. I found some of the reviews offending, this is a historic hotel that they have worked hard to bring back to life. This is NOT a luxury hotel nor do they claim it to be such, it is much nicer than many of the places offered in the area. However, the location is amazing, the rooms are clean, the staff is BEYOND friendly and it is most certainly a wonderful place to stay. We were on the bottom floor, room closest to the lobby and we never heard a sound from any of the other guests, the staff is so amazing and so full of information on things to do and places to go. It is within walking distance to an array of amenities. We highly recommend El Primero and will most certainly stay here every time we visit southern California.

We booked a room on their website, and wrote on the comments section we were bringing a service dog to be polite. While we were on our way to check in, the hotel called and let us know we were not welcome there, and that they would be canceling our room. They do not allow service dogs, even though we offered proof that he is fully trained. The owner tried to explain thay they believe he is a true service dog, but that it doesnt matter, they do not allow them. The owner apologized. We were originally charged but they refunded it same day, before they called us.

Wonderful small hotel in the historic 3rd Avenue district of Chula Vista. Many great local restaurants, bakeries and other small businesses within a short walk. It seemed like when we asked our navigation system how long it would take to drive to our destination every day, it told us "19 minutes." So it's very convenient to get to all the sights of San Diego The hotel was very quiet every night, with very little traffic noise so that we were able to get a good rest. The beds have just the right firmness This hotel is family owned and Karen, one of the owners and the person who we saw the most, is a very gracious and accommodating host We will recommend this hotel to all our friends. We're so happy that we found it!

Loved our stay here! Clean room, comfy bed, hot showers, cute courtyard, good location and family owned! We will definitely be back

My husband and I came out to explore the San Diego area and our stay was better than we could have ever imagined! The hotel itself is well cared for and beautiful, with lovely furnishings and the cutest outdoor patio, excellent teas and coffee, and interesting historical elements. We were delighted to spend some time getting to know the owner and her family - we mostly spoke with Sol and Karen, and both women were so friendly, kind, and upbeat, just two of the loveliest people one could imagine. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and will only stay at the El Primero from hereon out as San Diego visitors - the customer service is truly unbeatable!

This is a beautiful historical hotel. It located in a perfect spot surrounded by restaurants and other cool spots to hit up at walking distance. It's may be a hot spot but you can still get your beauty sleep with no worries of noisiness. All my nights were very peaceful and best of all I felt super safe. Another huge plus it's that there is a parking lot for guests so no stress. Customer service is amazing because you are made to feel like family ❣️. You fall in love with the owners because they are super sweet and they go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable. I am happy to help support family owned businesses especially when they do such an amazing job. If you would like to help support a local family owned business then book directly with the hotel vs going through a third party otherwise the third party takes a cut from them. The rooms are a small but they serve their purpose. I like that I was able to get a fridge in my room but you have to choose a room that comes with one. No microwave in my room but they were so sweet and let me use the employees microwave. My room had a giant bed, TV, bathroom, desk and side table with a lamp on each side, ac unit, closet to put clothes and stuff in. The hotel has a romantic eating area outside where they have held events for charity. No pets are allowed so it helps keep a nice clean hotel. I checked and No bed bugs in fact I didn't see any type of bug the whole time I stayed! I must be honest so I didn't find the bed and pillows to be so comfortable and they felt hard but I managed to go to sleep and stay asleep. When I go visit I will definitely stay here again.

Pros: Manager is helpful, personable and available. You get a nice place outside to chill etc, a courtyard. Coffee with milk, chocolate etc is given every morning (my favorite thing of the hotel). Located near park and across 7Eleven. Cons: Tiny room with just one chair and table despite being for two. TV is not "smart".

We really enjoyed staying at this hotel. Unfortunately it was for only one night but it is sure that, going back to San Diego, we will stay there again. The hotel is very nice, comfortable room, excellent location, but overall, the kindness and warm welcome we received there. We surely recommend this hotel.

A nice hotel. The family running the hotel is very kind and willing to help. The rooms might be a bit on the smaller side, but they are comfortable and the space is well used. I have been here a few times and it's always a nice stay

Old historical art deco building. Creeky floors and tub. Hard beds caused me to have backache. No hot water but only Luke warm from shower. No faucet hot water as nothing came out of the left knob. Remote for TV don’t work. Need new light bulb. Nicest folks as my heart ache writing this truthful review. Location is awesome 1 block from downtown 3rd street restaurants

Ok, first I have no idea how they use such high reviews. This place is like a motel with very basic rooms, very basic bathroom which is not appealing and the worst thing was the bed, it was extremely uncomfortable and it felt like I was sleeping on dodgy springs. The best part of the stay was when it was time to leave, even had a meal to celebrate the departure.

We stayed at El Primero for 2 nights. Karen, one of the owners, was so very nice and gave us the history of the hotel. The hotel is family run by Karen, her sister and her mom. We had the opportunity to meet all 3 while we were there, all were very hospitable. The rooms were very clean and the price was so very reasonable. Wish our stay was longer. The location was perfect as we could walk easily into town. Would highly recommend to family & friends.

Outstanding customer Service! This boutique hotel is family owned and the energy welcoming, relaxing and comforting. I also like a baby and it was difficult to get out of bed because it was so comfortable. I recommend you stay for a weekend or week, it's absolutely worth the stay. *Book directly through them*

The owners are very nice and welcoming. Karen one of the owners made me and my best friend feel like family .The breakfast was delious .Fruits ,eggs that looked like mini soufflés. And much more .Which we ate in the courtyard and it was lovely and very relaxing. The rooms are extremely comfy and the bathroom well stocked .I highly recommend El Primero. Everything is close and the people in town very friendly.

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! Karen, her mother, and her sister are absolutely THE BEST. What a beautiful hotel! I had the most marvelous stay ever. The location is just incredible as well.

This hotel is an amazing stay. Karen and her mother make you feel at home. They went above and beyond to accomodate me as I was staying for a medical procedure and they made sure I was taken care of well. It made my difficult procedure and recovery an easier process thanks to their kind service. The hotel is quiet and comfortable with a lot of places to visit within walking distance or a short drive. Highly recommend, thank you for your service during my time here!

Karen was extremely kind and flexible. I had to book the hotel very last minute. There's parking and serve tea and coffee in the mornings.

A really nice independently run hotel, they are very attentive to customers and the rooms are clean and nice if not a bit small (at least mine was). A nicely updated old school hotel that feels like a bed and breakfast.

Like Tina, Simply The Best! Karen and her staff/family were amazing to us. She went totally out of her way to accommodate our every need. We indeed arrived as guests and left as family. And the hotel itself is absolutely charming and retains all its original Art Deco touches. I’ll never stay anywhere else in the San Diego area. I love her. And the hotel.

This quaint Art Deco 1930 boutique hotel in Chula Vista has all the charm and warmth you'll need for your visit. Owned and operated by the Roqué family, the El Primero is he best kept secret in Chula Vista. Warm and inviting service and peace and quiet you'll enjoy. Check out this Yelp review for El Primero Hotel!

It was excellent, because the staff and owners make you feel like family!! They are so friendly and generous. I plan on staying there next time in town. This is a gem of a place.

We came to town to see a concert and we’re so glad to stay at this hotel. The staff was so incredibly friendly, Karen at the front desk let me print a documented i needed, and gave us great food recommendations. We will absolutely stay here again next time we’re in town!

Lovely boutique hotel. Rooms very nice and priced Affordably. The owners are so nice and accommodating. We will definitely stay here again!

The rooms are small. The floors creak. Ghost? Probably. The hotel is almost 100 years old, what do you expect? Well what I didn’t expect was the great customer service from the staff. Kate at the front desk was super welcoming and made us feel at home even if at was for a night. I had good nights sleep and a hot shower (yes there is hot water). The hotel is definitely cool if you like retro, classic and historical buildings. The rooms are small but clean. 7/11 across the street and several restaurants nearby although they do close early. Oh yeah NO BEDBUGS HERE!