The Five Top View Condos in Downtown San Diego

Let’s explore the views of the water first. Some views of the water are limited to San Diego Bay, while others, if high enough, will also have a view of the Pacific Ocean. Depending on where the building is located in downtown San Diego, your view will vary dramatically depending on which floor you are on. If, for example, you are in the Marina district facing south, you will need to be on the 10th floor or higher to have a view of the water over the convention center. The buildings in the Marina district to which this applies are Horizons condos, Pinnacle condos, Cityfront Terrace condos, Renaissance condos, and Harbor Club condos.

In the Marina District and Columbia District buildings facing west, all now have unobstructed water views from anything but the lowest floors. However, that western water view will change dramatically in the next 10 years. The buildings that will be affected include the Pinnacle, Renaissance, Park Place, Electra and Grande Bayside condos. The western boardwalk will undergo a massive construction project that will include several hotels, office buildings, etc. that will obstruct current unobstructed views of the water. However, there will still be view corridors like there are currently regarding the southern water view (among the four hotels along the water). So in the end, the western water views will be similar to the current southern water views.

What about the views of the city? Almost all of the high-rise condo buildings in downtown San Diego that have a great view of the water will also have great views of the city to the east. Be careful when choosing a unit, as some buildings are so close that your view is obstructed by the building across the street. These are the hardest units to sell because everyone looking in a high-rise building wants a great view, so the discount you see in today’s price relative to main view units will also be experienced when you go to sell the unit.

This brings me to the last category, what about buildings with a great view of the water and a great view of the city? When choosing a San Diego condo that has both views, you need to be very careful because these buildings are often in the middle of the city at the risk of more buildings blocking your views of the water. Fortunately, there are many lots with views left to build a high-rise condo building and have already been talked about and artist renderings are available for the future building. So there is not much mystery there, perhaps the only mystery is when it will actually be built.

Naming names again, the buildings with the best water and city views from the same unit (let’s not say a west-facing unit and an east-facing unit, but a unit) are The Mark Condominiums in the East Village. This also has a huge, huge advantage, a sight directly onto the playing field at Petco Park, where the San Diego Padres play baseball. You have to be roughly on the 20th floor or higher to have that view on the playing field. Another great option for water and city views is the Electra condos, primarily the SE corner units.

In summary, here are the best buildings to buy a condo in San Diego if you want a great view in order. This list was written in 2009 but with a long-term vision for the next 10 years after future construction is built.

1. The Metropolitan condos (unobstructed views of the bay, ocean, and city, even lower floors).

2. The Mark Condominiums (Water, City and Stadium).

3. Bayside condos (unobstructed water views to the west and city views to the north).

4. Harbor Club Condos (unobstructed water views, 10th floor and up)

5. Mi Arbolito Condominiums (built on the highest elevation of all the condominiums, 360 degree view of Balboa Park, Bahia, City and Mountains).