Entry No. 44 — the San Diego file — filed under: soak
Floating Sound Bath at Spa Pendry
On select Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Spa Pendry clears its rooftop pool and lets a small group float on their backs in warm water at 6:10pm while sound healer Jazmine Amelia works gongs and singing bowls from the deck above — book a spot in the pool itself, not just a deck chair.
The story
Most Gaslamp Quarter hotel rooftops spend their weeknights pushing cocktails and poolside DJ sets. On select Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 6:10pm, Spa Pendry quietly clears out the loungers, turns off the speakers, and transforms its heated rooftop pool into an aquatic sound chamber.
Instead of laying on a yoga mat on a carpeted studio floor, you drift on your back in warm water while sound healer Jazmine Amelia works gongs and crystal singing bowls from the deck above. Because water conducts acoustic vibration much faster than air, the sound waves pass directly through the pool into your spine, suspending you in quiet resonance high above the J Street traffic.
What it's like
Arrive early enough to change before the 6:10pm start time. Make sure you book an actual pool floating spot rather than a deck chair—floating on your back in the heated pool with buoyancy props is where you feel the water vibration. The session runs for 60 minutes as dusk settles over downtown, after which you can use the accompanying dining credit on cocktails at The Pool House on the rooftop deck.
The move: Reserve two pool spots for the 60-minute Floating Sound Bath, then use the accompanying dining credit on cocktails at the Pool House as the downtown skyline lights up.
- 📍 Gaslamp Quarter
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 550 J St, San Diego, CA 92101
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Bar Kamon — After floating on your back in the rooftop pool, walk a few blocks into East Village to slip through a hidden bakery door into a 1920s Taisho-era Japanese cocktail lounge.
- Villa Montezuma — Pair physical acoustic resonance in the water with Victorian musical occultism at this nearby 1887 mansion built for a self-proclaimed psychic pianist.
- Sonic Gong Meditation at the Japanese Friendship Garden — If rooftop floating piques your appetite for sound baths, double down by laying mats on the koi deck in Balboa Park for a monthly full-group gong meditation.
Good to know
When does the floating sound bath take place?
Sessions run on select Wednesday and Thursday evenings starting at 6:10pm. Check Spa Pendry's seasonal schedule before planning your trip.
Do I need to book a pool spot specifically?
Yes. While deck chairs are sometimes available, booking a floating pool spot is essential to get the water-conducted sound experience.
Where is Spa Pendry located?
It is located inside Pendry San Diego at 550 J Street in the Gaslamp Quarter.
What is included with a session?
The 60-minute floating sound bath session includes floating pool access, sound healing led by Jazmine Amelia, and a dining credit for The Pool House.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · theresandiego.com
last checked: 2026-07-19