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Cozy 2bd/1ba ZEN GARDEN! 1 block to Zoo, Parks, Restaurants, Nightlife. Pets ok!

Photo gallery for Cozy 2bd/1ba ZEN GARDEN! 1 block to Zoo, Parks, Restaurants, Nightlife. Pets ok!

Living area
Living area
Private kitchen
Living area
Coffee and/or coffee maker

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 688 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air conditioning
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
San Diego, CA
  • San Diego Zoo
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Balboa Park
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Hotel Circle
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.)
    ‪15 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Common spaces

1 Double Sofa Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony
Garden

About this property

Cozy 2bd/1ba ZEN GARDEN! 1 block to Zoo, Parks, Restaurants, Nightlife. Pets ok!

This beautiful duplex located one block away from Balboa Park and the world renowned San Diego Zoo. Our place has been beautifully updated with stylish finishes and comfortable décor, and features two bedrooms, one bath, a beautiful deck and yard that overlooks a beautiful Canyon.

The deck and the enclosed yard are for your exclusive use.

Hillcrest is a neighborhood in San Diego located northwest of Balboa Park. It is an accepting urban village with a small town feel. Hillcrest is known for its tolerance, diversity and locally-owned businesses including eclectic restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs and boutique shopping. It is also known for its salons and spas, medical offices, two major hospitals and the largest concentration of LGBTQ+ owned businesses in the city.

Balboa Park is a cultural oasis that includes 17 museums, gardens galore and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. At 1,200 acres, Balboa Park is one of North America’s most iconic urban parks and a must see on any visit to San Diego

Being in the heart of the city, Balboa Park and Hillcrest are accessible by a number of major streets. Additionally, Hillcrest is among the most walkable neighborhoods in San Diego with a neighborhood Walk Score of 87. Rideshare is easily accessible. Many Bird scooters and bikes nearby.

Pet friendly, $99 per stay!
No smoking, loud music or parties. We do accept pets but it is important to pickup after them on a daily basis. Also, there will be an additional one time charge of $99 for pet cleaning.

Property manager

Efrain Cabas
Premier Host

Languages

English, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
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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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number 624461, STR-05897L

About the area

San Diego

Located in Hillcrest, a neighbourhood in San Diego, this holiday home is near theme parks. USS Midway Museum and Pechanga Arena are cultural highlights, and some of the area's popular attractions include San Diego Zoo and Waterfront Park. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Petco Park or Snapdragon Stadium.
Map
San Diego, CA

What's nearby

  • San Diego Zoo - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Balboa Park - 4 min drive - 3.7 km
  • Hotel Circle - 4 min drive - 4.6 km
  • Petco Park - 5 min drive - 4.5 km
  • San Diego Convention Center - 6 min drive - 5.4 km

Getting around

  • City College Trolley Station - 4 min drive
  • Old Town Transit Center - 11 min drive
  • San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.) - 15 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Sydney's Grill - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Hua Mei Cafe - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Rich's - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪The New Gossip Grill - ‬12 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Cozy 2bd/1ba ZEN GARDEN! 1 block to Zoo, Parks, Restaurants, Nightlife. Pets ok! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Cozy 2bd/1ba ZEN GARDEN! 1 block to Zoo, Parks, Restaurants, Nightlife. Pets ok!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Cozy 2bd/1ba ZEN GARDEN! 1 block to Zoo, Parks, Restaurants, Nightlife. Pets ok!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Cozy 2bd/1ba ZEN GARDEN! 1 block to Zoo, Parks, Restaurants, Nightlife. Pets ok! located?

Located in Hillcrest, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of San Diego Natural History Museum and San Diego Zoo. Balboa Park and Petco Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 136 out of 163 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 25 out of 163 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 163 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 163 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 163 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

9.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Daniya S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Love love love!
This location is amazing..the apartment is so cute and cozy! Extra blankets the fans in the room were an added bonus..the AC blew ice cold perfect for them muggy warm days! The view in the backyard was my fav listening to the birds early in the morning and looking at what felt like a cozy jungle oasis! Plus it was pet friendly so our pup got to enjoy SD too!! Will definitely book with the hosts again we had zero issues!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Christina G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Convenient location near Balboa Park
Nicely remodeled downstairs unit with small deck overlooking a lovely lush canyon. There’s a tiny bare yard that was useful for the dog. Parking is right in front. Quiet, safe neighborhood. Well stocked kitchen had everything we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
California Vacation
Property is in a great, central location - close to lots of things to see and do. Really appreciated that the host had some snacks and water/sodas available for us - what a nice extra touch! Property was clean and the owner was very attentive and easy to get in touch with. The only issue is that I found it to be fairly cold in the house (I am a cold-natured person), and even though there was heat - it didn’t do much to warm the house. They did have space heaters available though, so that was helpful. Would stay again if in the area.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sarah K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect Location
I stayed here for 10 days due to a flood at my apartment. It is in an amazing location with a very nice, very quiet street. Loved the porch and the little yard for my dog as well as the view of the canyon. Great communication by the owner when I had issues with noisy neighbors. Only (minor) negatives is the couch is quite hard and not great for lounging and the shower door needs to be longer to keep water fully inside. Minor things, overall.
Stayed 10 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

James G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful place.
This house in the Hillcrest section of San Diego is close to almost everything. From Balboa Naval Medical Center, to the harbor, to the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld, everything is pretty close. Grocery stores and restaurants are within one mile. The two concerns that we had were in regard to parking - very small lot and narrow driveway make it difficult to get in and out if anyone isn’t paying attention to the space limitations, and the fact that there were some very rambunctious kids in the upstairs unit. We were awakened each day at 6:30 by the “pitter-patter” of little feet (more like thumper to be honest.) This is a very nice place.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Francisco R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful gem in the heart of Hillcrest
This place is absolutely fantastic! Located within walking distance of some of the most beautiful sites in San Diego. Great restaurants also just minutes away. We made multiple trips to Balboa park, and the museums and gardens. The zoo was also a short walk. The whole neighborhood is very pet friendly as well.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Diane W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Efrain was great
Great communication, always got right back to me in a prompt manner
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Doug W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location!
The location is great for seeing the sites in San Diego! The layout worked perfect for us!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Megha M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
Functional but creaky
The home was clean and well amenitized but we heard ALOT of loud sounds in the night from the unit above, simply because of the poor construction quality. Host was accessible and easy to connect with however our listing was inaccurate (dishwasher was listed but not available) which made it hard for since we were traveling with a child.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

Kate P.

Liked: Check-in, location
Just Okay
Not quite a “zen” experience. We asked to cancel within 24 hours of booking due to a medical situation but host would not budge despite VRBO app stating it was still within the cancellation window. Had to make the trip with a sick child (due to no cancellation and not wanting to forfeit $2500), and the property was not quite as “zen” as anticipated. Positives: Beds were very comfortable. Location was great for walking around and closeness to Balboa Park. Neighborhood is very safe. Kitchen was well stocked. Parking was easy. Negatives: Entry door/doorway and back porch could use some TLC. Back “garden” was a plot of dirt with a view of the canyon which was beautiful but also the neighbors backyard. Upstairs unit was noisy into the night. Shower spray was heavy and made the bathroom wet due to only half of shower being enclosed. Sofa was very small, seating three max (pictures make it look larger). Communication with host wasn’t the best.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Yess P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family vacation
Easy check-in, easy contact with host, close to everything.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Dennis L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Zen garden review
Neighborhood was nice and it was centrally located. Very nice appliances. Taking a shower with half open shower door was very problematic because floor would flood. Entryway and patio to zen garden needs repairs.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

chris l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
San Diego at Zen Garden
Property was exactly as described. Excellent location. Safe and quiet. So much to see and do. San Diego is a traveler’s dream. We would definitely stay again
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Anniversary Trip
This small home is clean and up to date and well stocked including some thoughtful extras like coffees and cold drinks and snacks. The deck is nice too.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patrick B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Efficient traveler
Perfect location for visiting the zoo and museums. A short walk. Hillcrest is a mellow community with all the amenities you'll need. It's one of the many reasons San Diego is such a great city.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Teresa C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We will stay here again in the future!
So many good things at this property. The cooking pots and pans were nice and I was actually able to do quite a bit of cooking (which I like). Beds were comfortable, lots of hot water, nice TV, etc..! The neighborhood is super cute and so close to Balboa Park. We took a nice long walk every day in the park (do not miss the rose garden). The only thing we could have used was a bath mat or a shower curtain because the shower has amazing pressure but the water goes everywhere. Great property, great hosts. Lots of communication.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Miguel A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Good
Good spot the area was good
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Victoria J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Girls trip
Great host, great communication, very clean and comfortable. Would be great for up to 4 people.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deanna H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay!
Well-equipped, very close to Zoo and Balboa Park. We were able to walk most places (no car) although there is a parking spot. Only con was the shower in bathroom sprayed water beyond the partition leaving floor and towels damp most of the time. Washer and dryer came in handy with supplied detergent.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deborah B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Enjoyrd our Stay!
This is a very nice house in a perfect location. A very quiet neighborhood close to Balboa Park, Museums and the Zoo. I would definetly stay there again. The home was clean, and had all the amenities needed for a pleasant stay. Thank you to the host Efrain!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barbara L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Comfortable and convenient
This apartment is a good fit for 2 - 4 people, with two bedrooms, a bathroom, comfortable living area and well-equipped kitchen. There is a washer/dryer combination but no dishwasher. A covered deck features a table and chairs. Easy walking distance to Hillcrest and Balboa Park, and close to several transit stops. One can get along easily without a car, but there IS parking on site. There are numerous good restaurants and coffee shops nearby, as well as grocery stores: Whole Foods, Ralph's, Trader Joes and Sprouts.
Stayed 14 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephen B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A great stay!
Beautifully renovated property in a great location. Very convenient access, well appointed and treats awaiting your arrival. Host was excellent. Highly recommended.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nancy W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
San Diego family trip
We wanted to enjoy the zoo. Beautiful weather and very close to the place.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

J T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Close to everything!
Location was great, perfect for anything in Balboa park. It came stocked with all the paper products and soap we needed for our three day stay, in addition to fun snacks, drinks, and k-cups!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

About the host

Hosted by Efrain Cabas

Host profile image
Local business owner, with a love for property and vintage cars, living in Hillcrest for the past 25 years. I live nearby, really enjoy hosting, and am quick to respond to guests quickly.

Why they chose this property

Our property is elegant, comfortable, secure, and in an amazing location. We are located in the heart of San Diego's neighborhood, Hillcrest, which is centrally located from downtown, Mission Valley, Balboa Park/Zoo, Sea World and the beaches.

Hillcrest is a neighborhood in San Diego located northwest of Balboa Park. It is an accepting urban village with a small town feel. Hillcrest is known for its tolerance, diversity and locally-owned businesses including eclectic restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs and boutique shopping. It is also known for its salons and spas, medical offices, two major hospitals and the largest concentration of LGBTQ+ owned businesses in the city.

Balboa Park is a cultural oasis that includes 17 museums, gardens galore and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. At 1,200 acres, Balboa Park is one of North America’s most iconic urban parks and a must see on any visit to San Diego

What makes this property unique

Relaxation awaits in our beautiful 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom unit, with new updates. The living area is very spacious with sofa, large TV and great views. The kitchen is fully stocked and ready for cooking. We provide coffee as well. A private patio awaits with beautiful canyon views!

Location is everything: We are located in the heart of San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood. Steps away from exquisite dining, night life and shopping. Less than one mile to the world famous San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park which hosts various museums, an Organ Pavilion, period architecture, street performers and local artisans.

A short drive to local beaches, harbor excursions and sights, the Padre's Petco Park, Sea Word and SDCCU Stadium (formally Qualcom Stadium).

Languages:

English, Spanish

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests