La Jolla, CA
The San Diego area is home to a host of galleries, museums, playhouses and many other cultural destinations. Just minutes from the Empress Hotel of La Jolla, you’ll find a number of places to satisfy your love of the arts. We are sure that you’ll appreciate the intimate European boutique-style of our hotel in La Jolla while you enjoy the fine culture of this beautiful area.
Museum of Contemporary Art
MCASD is known for collecting works by promising emerging artists and under-recognized mid-career artists, as well as by major figures in contemporary art. Among the greatest strengths of the MCASD Collection are minimalism and Pop art of the 1960s and 70s, conceptual art from the 1960s to the present, installation art, Latin American art, and art from California and the San Diego/Tijuana region.
La Jolla Playhouse
LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE, a professional non-profit theatre, cultivates a local and national following with an insatiable appetite for audacious and diverse work. The Playhouse has received more than 300 awards for theatre excellence, including the 1993 Tony Award as America's Outstanding Regional Theatre. La Jolla Playhouse is nationally acclaimed for its innovative productions of classics, new plays and musicals. Since its inception, the Playhouse and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have worked closely together to create an integrated environment for the exciting and nationally visible theatre produced by the Playhouse and the nationally respected theatre training program offered by the Department of Theatre and Dance.
La Jolla Music Society
The La Jolla Music Society arranges world-class music and dance events in La Jolla and around San Diego, ranging from classical to jazz, solo to orchestral performances from world renowned artists.
One of the most celebrated events is Summerfest, (August) the prestigious, 22-year-old festival known for indoor performances of chamber music, dance and jazz. Summerfest consists of a total of 16 programs: 12 at La Jolla's 492-seat Sherwood Auditorium in the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, three at the 718-seat Stephen and Mary Birch North Park Theatre and one at the park in La Jolla.
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, located in the heart of La Jolla, California, is one of only 16 nonprofit membership libraries in the United States. This rare cultural institution, an important one to the greater San Diego area, offers a depth and accessibility of resources and programs found nowhere else in the region. The Athenaeum also presents an eclectic, year-round schedule of art exhibitions, concerts (classical, jazz, and new music), lectures, studio art classes through its School of the Arts, tours and special events.
La Jolla Concerts by the Sea
Free summer concerts at the La Jolla Cove, family friendly and fun for all ages offering a wide range of musical styles for everyone’s enjoyment. Plan a summer getaway at the Empress Hotel and wander down to the La Jolla Cove to listen to the musical sounds of instruments and the ocean waves.
Other Arts and Culture Destinations in the Area:
USS Midway
Live the adventure and honor the legend of the longest-serving aircraft in U.S. Navy history. The USS Midway was in service from the end of WWII to the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. Amazing tours, interactive docents and numerous exhibits are all a part of the experience. Address: 910 N. Harbor Drive. Phone: 619.544.9600
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is more than just a park – it is the largest urban green space in the United States, encompassing the San Diego Zoo, 15 different museums, venues for performing arts and of course expansive and diverse gardens. There is probably no place more perfect to see the natural beauty and cultural heritage of this area than Balboa Park.
Inside the park, guests will find 12 different eateries of all types as well as coffee and snack carts throughout the park. Admittance to the Botanical building, the gardens and the park itself is free, but there are entrance fees to the museums, attractions and institutions located within the park. 1549 El Prado. Phone: 619.239.0512
Old Town San Diego State Park
Experience life in the early history of San Diego at Old Town San Diego State Park. You will know what Mexican and early American life in the area was like from 1821 to 1872. From a working blacksmith shop, musicians and amazing activities, this is truly an unforgettable attraction! Phone: 619.220.5422
Contact the courteous staff at the Empress Hotel of La Jolla if you have any questions or need a recommendation.
