The Bipartisan Restroom At Hotel Palomar

image
Author: Ron Donoho
Created: 01 Nov, 2012
Updated: 21 Nov, 2022
1 min read
Don't be surprised by the unisex potty at Hotel Palomar.

Don't be surprised by the unisex potty at Hotel Palomar.

A recent guest who had to use the restroom on the second floor of downtown San Diego’s Hotel Palomar, came out of the facility shaking his head.

“I guess I didn’t know San Diego was this hip,” he said, seemingly mildly amused.

Turns out the bathroom is a unisex potty.

It’s a trend more widely spotted in Los Angeles or Las Vegas. At the Hotel Palomar, which is part of the San Francisco-based chain of Kimpton boutique hotels, the sign outside the bathroom simply reads “His & Hers.”

It’s a major architectural feat, first installed when the property was privately built as the one-off Se Hotel. The walls, ceiling and floor of the washroom are covered in rolled granite and inlaid with Lucite.

Gentlemen and ladies share a waterfall sink in the middle of the room.

The bathroom is certainly a conversation piece – even if the conversation starts with, “Where are the stalls?” Turns out the stall doors are flush (if you will) with the granite walls, and not the easiest to discern.

And when you do find your way into some personal space, don’t look for a light switch. The lone source of interior illumination is a single bulb that shines up from the floor.

IVP Donate

The facility serves both the hotel’s Saltbox restaurant and Summersalt Rooftop Bar & Lounge.

Gals and guys who might ordinarily head to the restroom to speak in gender-specific tones would be well advised to save those conversations for another place.

Latest articles

Congress
New Report: We Already Know Who Will Win 81% of US House Races in 2026
New analysis from the nonpartisan better elections group FairVote reveals a grim picture of American democracy: Congressional elections are becoming even less competitive and easier to predict -- with the vast majority of House seats effectively decided long before voters cast their ballots....
28 Apr, 2025
-
2 min read
American flag on the back of a person at a gathering.
Do Moderates Matter -- Or Is the Political 'Middle' a Myth?
With the progressive wing of the Democratic Party moving to assert itself in the 2026 midterms, many on the left worry these new candidates will scare away moderate voters. Yet Donald Trump's victories in 2016 and 2024 show moderates don't appear to spook easily....
28 Apr, 2025
-
1 min read
People filling out forms.
Insurance Markets Need More Choice and Competition
Every individual has different preferences and needs according to personal life circumstances. Governments typically offer one-size-fits-all solutions. Consumers overwhelmingly want more options....
24 Apr, 2025
-
2 min read