HotelChatter

One of the to-be-renovated rooms.

The renovation—which is being done by S.K.I.N., whose clients have included the U.S. Grant Hotel and Hotel Metropole on Catalina Island—is going for a muted, classy look. Inside the updated room we visited, the eggplant purple was replaced with silvers, deep grays and whites, making the small rooms a little more airy. To give the mostly white room some flavor, the wall behind the bed is papered with a silver and white damask-like print. In place of the dark, heavy curtains were light Roman shades. And the clunky 1980s boob tube in the armoire was swapped for a 32-inch wall-mounted flat-screen.

The bathroom also saw good improvements. Its door is made of blasted grey glass that looks like it could be see-through but isn't, so you can do your business without worry of peeping Toms. And instead of the unattractive checkerboard flooring and worn-looking tub, there's gray tiling and a glass shower stall.

General manager Marc Hamel says that the No. 1 complaint guests made was the lack of air-conditioning in rooms. Guests would have to open their windows, but the busy India Street gets pretty noisy with all of the action in the revitalized 'hood. So as part of the renovation, all rooms will get A/C by the summer. La Pensione will also have six newly created suites and an updated lobby. New additions include a gym and a meeting room space that will hold about eight. The renovation is scheduled to be completed by April.

One feature we're glad isn't changing is the open-air courtyard that connects the hotel to Caffe Italia. The above photo doesn't do it justice, since San Diego is having some rare rainstorms and the little tables and chairs were moved out. But it's the perfect place to kick back with a cappuccino and do some emailing with the free WiFi.

Usually, renovations equal more expensive rooms. As of now, rooms start at $80 a night. "We will try to keep the rate despite the remodeling," Hamel says. "We are gonna keep it fair."

[Photos: Jennifer Kester]