The Guild Hotel kicked off the year with the announcement of their partnership with Be Saha Hospitality Group. The San Diego restaurant group is known for original concepts like Wormwood, Botanica, and Tahona, and have now taken over food and beverage operations at the Downtown hotel.
The first order of business for Be Saha is to reestablish the hotel’s courtyard restaurant, formerly occupied by Mediterranean-inspired eatery Luca. The hospitality group will introduce a new dining concept along with a revamped adaptation of the Guild Bar.
Be Saha is bringing along Tijuana Hall of Fame chef Ruffo Ibarra and owner of Baja’s Oryx Restaurante, plus Wormwood’s own culinary director Janina Garay.
Ibarra brings along years of experience working in globally renowned and Michelin-recognized restaurants, matched to Garay’s creative style of blending of Mexican and European flavors and techniques.
“This has been a long time coming,” says The Guild Hotel’s General Manager, Onal Kucuk, in a press release. “We’ve been searching for a food and beverage partner for a while now, but were patient in the process, waiting for the right fit. As a locally-owned hotel it was a priority of ours to work with a San Diego-based group. Be Saha makes for the perfect partner at The Guild Hotel, not only because they are local but also because of their artisanship and dedication to craft culture and social good.”
Be Saha’s founder Amar Harrag goes on to say, “Be Saha’s mission is to bridge borders between cultures and people, and The Guild Hotel is the perfect place to continue sharing stories of wanderers. We’re excited to give reverence to the heritage of this landmark, and we can’t think of anyone better than chef Ruffo Ibarra to create this new dining experience for locals and travelers. It is an honor to have him join our group and join forces with our culinary director, Janina Garay. We can’t wait to unveil the new concept.”
Originally a Navy and Army YMCA built in 1924, The Guild Hotel was restored and brought into the modern age in 2019. While Luca closed during the pandemic, Be Saha will bring new life back into the courtyard and bar-adjacent space.
Guests can soon expect updates to The Guild Bar, on-site events, room service, and the yet-to-be-named restaurant in Spring 2023. For more information about The Guild Hotel, visit their website.
