The bed
The Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club & Bungalows (2223 El Cajon Blvd.; [619] 296-2101, 131 rooms, rates start at $76), built in 1946 in the Grand Colonial style and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, has an “If only the walls could talk” vibe. The hotel has hosted such Tinseltown luminaries as Bob Hope and Ava Gardner. Legend has it that the pool was designed by Olympic swimmer Johnny Weissmuller, aka Tarzan. After a recent $6-million restoration, the hotel is ready for its close-up. My husband and I checked into our small, pleasant room in the main building, but I had instant envy: The best rooms were booked, including the two-story bungalows and the family suites with bunk beds.
The meal
It was a cold Saturday night, so we stopped at Caffé Calabria for a decadent hot Mexican cocoa. The Italian-style coffeehouse makes seriously good espresso too; it was once a Bank of America (the vault is still there). The Neapolitan pizzas smelled great, but we had other plans for dinner and headed to the Linkery (3794 N. 30th St.; [619] 255-8778, http://www.thelinkery.com), a rock star of the local dining scene. This farm-to-table indie is a shrine to handmade sausages, craft beer and much more. We had linguica with handmade sauerkraut and knocked back some brews.
Read more: Irene Lechowitzki, LA Times
