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Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown!

Guest house near Balboa Park in San Diego

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Photo gallery for Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown!

Terrace/patio
Smart TV, fireplace
3 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, travel crib
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Outdoor spa tub

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View in a map
San Diego, CA
  • Place, Balboa Park
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Waterfront Park
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Marine Corps Recruit Depot
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.)
    ‪6 min drive‬

Room options

About the area

San Diego

Heart of San Diego.Your stay at this Middletown guesthouse places you within 2 miles (3 km) of Balboa Park and Port of San Diego. USS Midway Museum and San Diego Zoo are also within 3 miles (5 km).
View more Guest houses in San DiegoOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Balboa Park - 2 min drive - 2.3 km
  • Waterfront Park - 3 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Marine Corps Recruit Depot - 3 min drive - 2.6 km
  • San Diego Bay - 3 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Port of San Diego - 4 min drive - 2.7 km

Getting around

  • Old Town Transit Center - 9 min drive
  • Middletown Station - 12 min walk
  • San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) - 10 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪bcb Cafe - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪North Park Beer Co. - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Aero Club Bar - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Slice House by Tony Gemignani - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪Moe Coffee - ‬11 min walk

About this property

Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown!

Location, Location, Location...Welcome to Union Street Gardens. We are dedicated to providing a peaceful, serene atmosphere in which our guests can relax after a long day of exploring beautiful sunny San Diego. This unique historic craftsman bungalow is minutes from downtown, Balboa Park, convention center, zoo, beaches and includes a Chef's kitchen, outdoor deck, gardens, fire pit and spa! Perfect for a family of 4 or two couples. Sorry no parties or large groups and no external guests please.

The space
This expansive and pristine 3 bed, 2.5 bath home is located in Mission Hills. Built in 1909, this historic craftsman home retains all of its original charm. Updated and perfectly maintained. Features include original hardwood floors, millwork, fireplace and a brand new Chef's kitchen. Beautiful outdoor gardens with a spa and fire pit as well as an outdoor deck with a Barbecue grill. Professionally decorated with our guests comfort in mind.

The house is enabled with super-fast, 5GHz, Gigabit/second WiFi.

The Chef's kitchen includes Italian-made Bertazzoni oven and range, Fisher Paykel refrigerator/freezer and All-Clad cookware.

Please note that we are meticulous about cleanliness. We follow CDC recommendations to achieve a clean and safe environment for our guests including deep cleaning and sanitization after each guest check-out.

Guest access
You have access to the entire house and personal patio deck with an outdoor grill as well as the backyard, spa, fire-pit and gardens. Please no gathering in the outside areas after 9 pm in consideration of our neighbors.

Other things to note
There are two houses on this property. The 1909 bungalow is all yours to enjoy, and the second house is where the home owner lives.

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Internet access

Things to do

  • Hot tub

Accessibility

  • Hardwood flooring in public areas

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2.5 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dining table
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Separate dining area
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Dryer
  • Fireplace
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Living room

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Rules

The outside areas including the garden, firepit and spa are for your use between 9 am - 9 pm in consideration of our neighbors.

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit in each accommodation.

Property Registration Number 621426, STR-02504L

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property
Beautiful Historic Gardens
Beautiful Historic Home Gardens Near Downtown!
Beautiful Historic Home and Gardens Near Downtown! San Diego
Beautiful Historic Home and Gardens Near Downtown! Guesthouse

Frequently asked questions

How close is Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown! to the airport?

This guesthouse is 2.2 mi (10-min drive) away from the San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown! have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this guesthouse.

How close is Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown! to the beach?

This guesthouse is 6.4 mi (16-min drive) from Mission Beach and 10.6 mi (20-min drive) from La Jolla Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown! offer free breakfast?

This guesthouse does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown!?

No, there is no casino at this guesthouse.

What time is check-in at Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown!?

Free parking is not available at this guesthouse.

Does Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown! have a pool?

This guesthouse does not have a pool.

Does Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown! have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this guesthouse.

How close is Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown! to downtown San Diego?

This guesthouse is 1.5 mi away from San Diego.

Beautiful historic home and gardens near downtown! Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 47 out of 50 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 50 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 50 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 50 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 50 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kyle T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had an excellent stay. The place was just what we needed for a warm getaway from the Midwest. The space had everything you'd need and the backyard patio was a beautiful feature. The location was also superb and felt like a short drive to wherever you needed to go. Next time in San Diego, we'd love to stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brittany C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved our stay. The home was welcoming and made everything easy, with fresh towels, laundry soap, and a dishwasher, which were key for us since we were in town for a trade show. After long days, it was so nice to come back, put our dishes from the show into the dishwasher, throw our tablecloths into the laundry, and truly relax. We spent evenings hanging out as a team around the fire pit out back or in the living room watching something random on Netflix. Sam was very friendly and easy to reach, which made the stay even better.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lisa O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another wonderful stay!!

Second stay...just as great as the first!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jaena Rae C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Everything we could have hoped for!

Our stay was fantastic! Very spacious for our party, and communication with the host was easy and quick. The location was perfect, close enough to the convention center but far from the hustle and bustle of downtown. We also saved money cooking and grilling instead of eating out for every meal. Thank you for everything!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sherry L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location and excellent accommodations!

Great experience! Location is very convenient and easy to get around. Backyard is very relaxing and peaceful. House has a great layout and the owners were very helpful and responsive! We had a great time in San Diego!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kelly O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Stay in San Diego

We had a wonderful week in San Diego staying at this beautiful historic home. Great location and easy to get to all the San Diego attractions. Very clean home! The yard with the hot tub and firepit is amazing and very relaxing.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location!

Property is centrally located and it was easy to get to places of interest. Good restaurants nearby. House was very clean when we arrived and hosts answered any questions before our arrival. We enjoyed the outdoor area - beautiful gardens with hot tub and sitting area with fire pit.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to stay!

This place is charming with much so much character. It is in a quiet neighborhood, centrally located in San Diego, and has great amenities. The hosts are communicative and provide information on the house and amenities. I appreciate how they sent videos on how the hot tub was to be used, how to turn on the firepit, etc. I would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect!

A lovely home, thoughtfully appointed and very comfortable. The location is super convenient. Gorgeous outdoor spaces. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Judy O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

San Diego short get away

Everything was perfect. The house was just as in the pictures. The San Diego attractions were all easy to get to. The communication with the owners and the ease of checking in and out was great. Will use this property again if we ever come back to San Diego.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robyn M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home, great location

Sam and David were great hosts and had everything ready upon our arrival. The house had all the amenities we needed and was within close proximity to all the places we visited. The neighborhood is quiet and peaceful as well. The backyard gardens were beautiful and my child loved searching for lizards and hummingbirds back there. We would absolutely stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Debi M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Dream Stay!

Fantastic restored Craftsman Home with amazing details, lovely furnishings, comfortable beds, divine bedding, beautiful outdoor space, gorgeous gardens and the WOW factor goes on and on. Great location with easy access to freeways. Fun neighborhood to explore. Hosts are super! The photos are very accurate. We travel a LOT and have to say this home is one of our favorites. Looking forward to staying again on a future visit to San Diego.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michele W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful House & Outside Space - Great Stay !!

The house is beautiful, and the outside area is magnificent. Sam and David have thought of all the little things. Plenty of household and bathroom essentials, which was greatly appreciated. Their communication was excellent! Their how to videos for the hot tub and fire pit were excellent. The firepit is cozy and easy to use, as is the hot tub.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

San Diego Gem

We loved our stay. The house is charming, clean and comfortable. They have maintained the historic charm but it is updated with all of the modern amenities. The outdoor spaces are lovely as well. The house is conveniently located near the airport and in between Mission Hills, Balboa Park one direction and the Waterfront-Gaslamp District on the other. If you are up for getting your steps in, all of these are walkable. All communications were detailed and clear. We would gladly stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tamra R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mother's Day Meet Up

We had a wonderful long weekend in San Diego at this beautiful restored craftsman home! The property has three comfortable beds (with their own bathrooms), nice long dining table and a spacious living area with large flat screen tv. We ate out on our time there but the kitchen would have had everything needed to cook and was sparkling clean. One great feature is the back deck table and chairs to enjoy coffee and the morning bird songs, or the lower garden chairs around the fire pit. The back garden area is quite beautiful and you'll see many hummingbirds buzzing in and out. The owners have done a magnificent job of combining the original pieces of the home with modern touches. Communication was easy and helpful. You won't be disappointed with your stay here! A+++
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

judy b.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

wonderful home and garden in a quiet neighborhood

My son and daughter-in-law joined my husband and me for a long weekend in San Diego, and this house was perfect. It was so much more than a place to stay that was convenient to Balboa Park and Gaslamp; we loved just hanging out in the house and its garden. We cooked, watched tv, played games, sat in the hot tub, and just enjoyed our time there. Our hosts have thought of almost everything--night lights conveniently set up, extra outlets, just about everything you'd need in the kitchen, etc. It felt spacious and cozy at the same time. While we didn't use the third bedroom, we appreciated having the extra powder room. It was on the pricy end for us but well worth it, and the hosts were responsive when we had to reduce our stay from 5 nights to 4. They were also available via text whenever we had questions but never intrusive. Thank you, Sam and David!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Steffi H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute House

Our team recently had the pleasure of staying at this home for our company retreat, and overall, it was a truly wonderful experience!The home itself is incredibly charming, beautifully decorated, and offers a very welcoming atmosphere. We especially appreciated the fantastic location, which was convenient for our needs, and the ample parking was a huge plus for our group. The thoughtful touch of provided Keurig pods made our mornings so much easier and more enjoyable – a definite highlight! While we didn't get a chance to utilize the outdoor space, it looked absolutely fabulous and very inviting. Having blackout shades was so great! We did note a couple of minor points that, if addressed, would elevate the stay even further, particularly for business travelers or groups. In the bathroom attached to the bedroom I used, there wasn't any shelf or storage space for personal hygiene products, which meant my toiletries and makeup bag had to stay on the floor. Additionally, a hook or designated hanging area for business attire in that bedroom would have been incredibly helpful. Lastly, when we went to do a load of laundry, we found there were no laundry detergent tabs provided.These are small things, but they would significantly enhance the comfort and convenience for future guests. Despite these minor observations, we had a fantastic stay and found the home to be a great fit for our company retreat. We would certainly recommend it!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Eric J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place!

This is a perfect location. It’s a nice neighborhood near Hillcrest and a short drive to anywhere you would want to go in San Diego. Lots of good restaurants near by. The house is spotless and the owners respond very quickly. The back of house is lovely with the hot tub, fire pit and lovely view.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Emilee N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location, very clean!! I will definitely stay here again if I come to sunny San Diego!!

Everything went smoothly. I needed the owners to unlock a locked bedroom door and they were very prompt in acting to help!!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Lindsey L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely older house with wonderful owners!

Sam and David’s home is beautifully renovated and decorated, keeping the character of the original house but with many modern conveniences—especially that beautiful kitchen! Sam and David were wonderful enough to accommodate our request for an early check in, which was much appreciated after a long early flight. They sent us short, clear videos to make sure we knew how to work the hot tub, fire pit, etc. I suspect their housekeeping may have been a bit rushed as a result of our early arrival—we found a dirty pan in the cupboard and some items (salt, dishwasher liquid, etc) had not been restocked. Our hosts quickly dropped off additional supplies when we got in touch, though. It would have been great to have an information sheet in the house with details such as where to leave trash (we initially assumed there was no recycling as there weren’t bins in the house), where to look for additional linens (dining room sideboard), etc. Supplying some dish cloths in the wonderful kitchen would be helpful, too—I hate to put nice cookware through the dishwasher, but also was leery of the well used sponge in the kitchen. The beds were all comfortable and we enjoyed the use of the hot tub and the amazing views from the garden. I also appreciated that there was plenty of room for everyone to eat, relax in the living room, and generally feel at home. Notes for future guests: -the listing notes that the house is not wheelchair accessible, but if anyone in your party has other mobility concerns you should be aware that the steps to the front door are older and there is no railing. My son with minor mobility challenges managed fine but just be careful! -the front loading washing machine seal should be wiped out regularly to prevent mildew, or even better the door should be left open after running a load to dry out (this would be a good suggestion to note in a guest information sheet) -if you find one cycle of the dryer is not getting your clothes very dry, Google the manual for it. We learned that there’s a heat exchange past the lint trap that needs regular cleaning—it cut the very long drying time in half! (But still be prepared for laundry to take a while.) -the kitchen and one bathroom seem to share a venting system, so run both fans at once. We would definitely consider this home for a future stay, it’s in a great location and has a lot of nice touches. The responsiveness of the owners whenever we needed something was great!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Paul D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice House and Location

Nicely done historic house, with a fantastic back yard and view.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Melanie L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous short stay before a hectic conference

What a gorgeous home! We couldn't fault it at all! Sam and David were so responsive to any queries we had. The rooms were spacious with comfortable beds. The property was super clean. And the outdoor patio area was a real treat - we loved the fire place and spa after big days of walking! What a beautiful and tranquil neighbourhood. Yet so close to the busier/touristy areas. I hope one day to return with my family! Thank you again!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

andrea W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!

Beautiful house! Inside and out. Very cozy, clean and met all of our expectations. The back patio , spa and fire pit was such a bonus. Owners of the property very responsive and accommodating. We had a fantastic stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Experience!

We enjoyed our stay very much. The property was clean and well-maintained, and the hosts were readily available for any questions we had. The property was well located for access to freeways, as well as places such as Balboa Park, downtown, the harbor, and the airport. Overall, our stay was a great success.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Allison C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay!

Great house, great location! It had everything we needed and well stocked kitchen and bathrooms. Beautiful back yard with plenty of space for dining, barbequing, enjoying the fire pit and hot tub. We also enjoyed the swinging basket chairs. The owners were friendly, resonsive and helpful. They have thought of everything to make this a lovely place to stay. Would definately stay again! Thank you David, Sam & Milan!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022