Near San Diego Zoo, Lux Manor: Fire pit/Games/Secret Room & Coffee Bar provides a firepit, an arcade/games room and laundry facilities. Treat yourself to a massage or other spa services. Free in-room WiFi, with a speed of 500+ Mbps (good for 6+ people or 10+ devices), and a sauna are available to all guests.
Reviews
1010 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
6 bedrooms3 bathrooms232 sq m
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Air-conditioning
Outdoor space
The current price is AU$1,705
AU$1,705
includes taxes & fees
31 May - 1 June
Add dates for prices
About this property
Lux Manor: Fire pit/Games/Secret Room & Coffee Bar
Welcome to the first home ever built in Hillcrest (1903) - completely reimagined as a sophisticated, artistic retreat designed to create moments of wonder, peace, and joy! Sleeps 14 in spacious rooms. Rejuvenate in the infrared sauna. Discover Secret room through a bookshelf. Relax in private yard oasis with fire pit, putting green. Play in game room with pool table, Pac-Man, foosball. Rock n Roll room with guitars and vinyl. Wake up with coffee station. 1-2 blocks from everything. This is bliss!
## The Story Behind the Bliss
This is our one and only Airbnb, and we designed it ourselves with a clear vision: to create a space where every detail serves relaxation, peace, and joy. I'm a professional storyteller and keynote speaker who's spent 30 years teaching people to "follow your passion, live your bliss." My partner Polly has 30 years of hospitality expertise. Together, we renovated this historic home in 2022, transforming it into a contemporary sanctuary where at least one moment will make you say "OMG, that's cool!" We continue to pour enormous time, energy, and resources into making this house extraordinary.
## The Space - Bigger Than Photos Can Capture
The house sleeps 12-14 comfortably in rooms so spacious they surprise everyone - those 1903 bedrooms were built on a grand scale!
### Three king bedrooms downstairs:
**The Flower Room** (master) features X-ray flower photography on glass, flower stained-glass windows, and an en-suite 1/2 bathroom.
**The Rock n Roll Room** is themed for music lovers with an electric guitar on the wall, an acoustic guitar you can play, and a record player with a vinyl collection - perfect for those who've never played a record or haven't in years!
**The Hotel Resort Room** features a king bed with luxurious tufted headboard, golden accent pillows, and a window alcove with cushioned bench - perfect for reading or morning coffee. Curated beach art, TV, and closet. Light-filled and peaceful.
All our beds have high-end mattresses (not foam!) and beautiful linens because we believe great sleep is the foundation of a great vacation.
### Three bedrooms upstairs:
**The European Room** features two queen beds with a window view of a rounded chapel roof that makes you feel like you've woken up in a charming European village. Crisp white shiplap walls, beautiful original wood floors, TV, and AC keep it comfortable year-round.
**The Robert Mitchum Room** features a king bed with luxurious linens and iconic beach photography - including a stunning piece of Robert Mitchum dancing at Cannes. TV and closet. The room captures that classic California coastal spirit with effortless cool.
**The Secret Room bedroom** has a private double bed with its own bathroom across the hall - and here's where it gets fun: inside this bedroom is a bookcase, and behind that bookcase is a SECRET ROOM! Enter through the hidden door to find a mystical sanctuary with a glowing full moon light, cozy pillows, and personalized love reading cards. As one guest said: "All of the kids, aged 5 to 85, enjoyed looking for and sitting in the secret room."
**Three beautifully renovated bathrooms** - two downstairs (one en-suite), one upstairs.
## The Kitchen & Dining - Made for Gathering
The fully stocked kitchen features a show-stopping $15,000 working 1920s red stove that guests absolutely love, plus all modern conveniences. The dining table seats 10 under a beautiful lotus flower chandelier (the lotus symbolizes bliss!). There's also a bench-seat kitchen table perfect for morning coffee.
## The Living Room - Wonder & Comfort
Huge and open with a 58" TV (Netflix, HBO Max, Roku) and a sunporch, but the real magic is in the details. There's "Slow Dance" - an $800 art piece showing two feathers in magical slow motion. On the wall hangs a custom-made $1,600 3D wooden map of San Diego crafted in Europe, showing exactly where the House of Bliss sits in the city.
The coffee station is fully loaded with a Nespresso machine, high-end drip coffee maker with grinder, assorted teas, beautiful mugs, and everything you need for the perfect morning ritual.
Throughout the house, you'll find genuine 100-year-old oil lamps converted to electric, illuminating the space with pieces from its own era. Just inside the front door, a glowing orange sign declares: "Bliss Happens!" - and guests adopt this as their name for the house.
## Spaces That Invite You to Linger
**The Rug Room** serves as the heart of the home - a spacious gathering area centered by a beautiful Persian-style rug, featuring the coffee station, original leaded glass windows, vintage lighting, and an open flow that invites conversation and connection.
**The Sunporch** is a light-drenched retreat with floor-to-ceiling windows, skylights, and vintage seating overlooking the garden. The perfect spot for morning meditation, reading, or simply soaking in California sunshine.
## The Game Room - Upstairs Entertainment
The game room features a pool table, ping pong, Pac-Man machine, foosball, Connect 4, couch, and TV - the perfect hangout space.
## The Outdoor Oasis - Your Private Urban Retreat
What truly surprises guests is our completely private backyard sanctuary in the heart of Hillcrest. While you're just 1-2 blocks from restaurants and nightlife, you have this peaceful escape with gas fire pit built into the outdoor table (no propane hassles!), putting green for friendly competition, cozy seating areas with loungers on artificial turf, string lights creating magical evening ambiance, misters along the fence to cool the space on warm days, tall standing heater for comfortable cool evenings, palm trees and thoughtful landscaping.
## The Laundry Room
Your own private washer and dryer with a sink and stocked with cleaning supplies for anything you might need during your stay. No shared facilities, no quarters needed - just the convenience of doing laundry whenever you want.
## The Details That Matter
Every stay includes a complimentary copy of my bestselling book "Man 1, Bank 0" - a true story that's entertained over a million people worldwide for three decades and toured as a smash-hit comedy show for 14 years.
As you walk upstairs, you'll see framed photos of 25-30 children from around the world. These are the children we sponsor with revenue from this Airbnb. Your stay directly supports their lives and futures.
Polly personally quality-checks the house for 2-4 hours after our professional cleaning team finishes - inspecting every inch to ensure perfection. You will arrive to find the house thoroughly clean and ready for you in every way.
## Guest Access
Self-check-in with late check-in and late check-out available by request. Two driveway parking spaces included, plus ample free street parking.
## Location - The Best of Both Worlds
As the first home ever built in Hillcrest, we're rooted in history while being perfectly positioned for modern convenience - 1-2 blocks from Whole Foods, restaurants, nightlife, coffee shops, movie theatre, comedy club, farmers market, and boutique stores. Five minutes to downtown Gaslamp District and Little Italy. Ten minutes from the airport. Close to San Diego Zoo, Convention Center, and PETCO Park. 15 minutes to the beach!
## Other things to note
This 120-year-old home has beautiful quirks - the dining room floor isn't perfectly level and some floorboards creak. We think it adds to the charm of living in Hillcrest's founding home.
You can smoke in the yard, but not in the home.
We designed this home to be sophisticated, artistic, and deeply intentional. Every element - from the secret room to the vintage stove to the tiny book worlds - serves one purpose: to create an experience of relaxation, peace, and joy.
This is our life's work made tangible. We can't wait to share it with you.
It's self-check-in, with late check-in and late check-out by request and availability.
Property amenities
Pool/Spa
Massage
Sauna
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Parking on site
Kitchen
Blender
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Electric kettle
Hob
Ice maker
Kitchen island
Kitchenette
Lobster/crab pot
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Toaster
Dining
Chef service
Dining table
Bedrooms
6 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
3 bathrooms
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Living spaces
Dining table
Living room
Separate dining area
Entertainment
Books
Games
Music library
Smart TV
Video games
Outdoor areas
Balcony
Firepit
Outdoor furniture
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Work spaces
Desk
Desk chair
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Concierge services
Iron/ironing board
Meal delivery service
Location highlights
Near a health/beauty spa
Near a hospital
Near a zoo
Near an outlet shopping centre
Near the marina
Things to do
Arcade/game room
Billiards/pool table
Table tennis
Birdwatching nearby
Whale watching nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
An adult aged 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
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
We allow events but not loud parties. Quiet hours.
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
Note from host: We allow events but not loud parties. Quiet hours.
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 and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
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
Property Registration Number STR-11502L, 642887
About the area
Hillcrest, a neighbourhood in San Diego, is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Balboa Park and Waterfront Park, while San Diego Zoo and USS Midway Museum are popular area attractions. Travelling with kids? Make time for Belmont Park, or head to an event or a match at Petco Park. Spend some time exploring the area's activities, including whale watching and birdwatching. Visit our San Diego travel guide
Is Lux Manor: Fire pit/Games/Secret Room & Coffee Bar pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Lux Manor: Fire pit/Games/Secret Room & Coffee Bar?
As of 28 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Lux Manor: Fire pit/Games/Secret Room & Coffee Bar on 31 May 2026 start from AU$1,705, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Lux Manor: Fire pit/Games/Secret Room & Coffee Bar?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Lux Manor: Fire pit/Games/Secret Room & Coffee Bar?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Lux Manor: Fire pit/Games/Secret Room & Coffee Bar?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Lux Manor: Fire pit/Games/Secret Room & Coffee Bar located?
This family-friendly San Diego holiday home is located in Hillcrest, within 1 mi (2 km) of UC San Diego Health and Balboa Park. San Diego Zoo and Port of San Diego are also within 3 miles (5 km).
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Lux Manor: Fire pit/Games/Secret Room & Coffee Bar Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
We came for my bachelor party. We had a great time going around town and exploring the breweries. This location is excellent and was in a great location to get to anywhere we needed. Would highly recommend.