We like this hotel and it's the second time we've stayed there. A great location, and a wonderful breakfast. Comfortable and friendly. However, this time we stayed during a weekend, and Friday and Saturday nights the restaurant, which is in the center of the hotel, had parties and music, and we heard music and partying and laughing until quite late at night both nights. I don't know what if anything can be done about that noise.
We also stayed in a room near the elevator, which was noisy. We didn't ask to be moved, which we should have, as the front desk informed us when we left and complained about it. Parking is also an issue, since you either park on the street where there is one and two-hour parking, or across the street in a pretty pricy parking garage.

The hotel is located in a very good place, just a few miles from San Diego (no doubts about staying in La Jolla instead of San Diego), at a really enchanting area with gorgeous beaches, cliffs and coves. A lot of services nearby: restaurants, stores, drugstores, grocery stores, gas stations. Its light atmosphere and hospitality turn the stay very pleasant. Staff: helpful and sympathetic. Room: comfortable, clean, quiet (I recommend higher floors). Bathroom: ok. Efficient room service (the bathroom door needed to be fixed, which was done immediately after requesting). Breakfast: the only issue and negative point during the staying. Poor and not compatible to the hotel quality (bad bread options, no eggs, no cheese, no sausage…); the room used is very, very small (four small tables if I remember). There is an outer space, with large tables, but prohibitive in cold, rainy or windy days. We used the room service menu of Manhattan's Italian restaurant (located just off the lobby): very good, well served, not cheap, though. Valet parking: fast, very efficient (the own staff takes out and brings back the car). Actually, the hotel exceeded our expectations. I do recommend this hotel for families with kids.

The staff were helpful and friendly. I went out for take-out and when I got back to my room realized I had no plastic-ware and the restaurant let me borrow some silverware. Appreciated the turn down service and chocolates. It's a really cute boutique hotel.

We stayed 2 nights at the Empress Hotel. Our son was having eye surgery the next morning and we needed to be near Eye Center. The room was wonderful and very comfortable and relaxing. The staff couldn't have been more helpful. They seemed to know what we needed before we asked. They were a huge help with our son on the day we left. They made sure the car was right up front and helped with all our luggage.
We will definitely be staying there again and hopefully it will be for a vacation and not a medical appointment.
Thanks very much for a great 2 days!!
Mary