From Wellness Getaways to Design-Led Urban Retreats, These Are California’s 20 Top Hotels

From abundant sunny days to epic surf spots and snow-topped mountains—not to mention towering stands of redwoods and desert landscapes—it’s no wonder California is the most visited U.S. state, with a projected 267.8 million visitors in 2025. It also claims more than its fair share of the country’s most iconic and beloved hotels, plus a steady stream of newcomers that keep the hospitality scene competitive. With such a wide range of experiences, choosing a place to stay is a crucial part of your trip planning.

As part of our Hotels We Love series, we’ve rounded up 21 of the top luxury hotels in California that showcase the diversity of landscapes and urban vibes. Whether you adore a thriving city, live for a mountain adventure, enjoy exquisite wine and food pairing, or are dreaming about a dip in the Pacific Ocean, there’s a hotel on this list for you.

Calamigos Guest Ranch and Beach Club

Photo by Idlewild Photo Co./Idlewild Photo Co.

• Location: Malibu
• Why we love it: A laid-back yet sumptuous Malibu mountain experience with beach access
• From: $1,200
• Book now

Down to earth yet ravishing, tucked away in Malibu’s mountains yet sprawling to the coast, Calamigos Guest Ranch and Beach Club offers charm and natural beauty across diverse landscapes, drawing return guests for decades. It’s only appropriate considering the 1937 property founded by J. Grant and Helen Gerson has been in the family—and operated by them—for five generations. It continues to evolve conscientiously. There weren’t big wood-fired ovens for outdoor pizza making sessions back then, nor were there luxurious custom beds, outdoor tubs, or a comprehensive spa, which all serve guests today.

Today, the 52 cottages, bungalows, suites, and estate rooms are romantic oases—some with trees growing through the wide wood decks—with recently refreshed decor and furnishings where guests are treated to gift-like amenities throughout their stays. While many of the 300 acres are shaded by old-growth trees, sun seekers will be happy at the exclusive Calamigos Beach Club right on the Pacific Coast Highway, where fantastic bites and cocktails are available both poolside and across the street on the quiet beach (a rare amenity in Southern California). Back in the mountains, the Ranch Club Restaurant is gunning for a Michelin star with its reimagined down-home style cooking, sourced locally and served both indoors and out under fairy lights.

Cavallo Point Lodge

Courtesy of Cavallo Point Lodge

• Location: Sausalito
• Why we love it: An historic escape within easy reach of San Francisco
• Loyalty program: I Prefer (Preferred Hotels & Resorts)
• From: $735
• Book now

Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in the former residences of high-ranking U.S. Army officers, scenic Cavallo Point Lodge is surrounded by some of the 75,000 acres that make up the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The 142 accommodations at the LEED Gold-certified luxury resort are located in either the original colonial revival residences with large verandas or newer lodgings with floor-to-ceiling windows facing San Francisco Bay. Contemporary interiors feature wood and leather furnishings and gas fireplaces.

Fresh-air activities range from paddleboarding and surfing in the bay to hiking and private yacht trips. Guests can also explore the area on one of the hotel’s complimentary vintage electronic bicycles. On-property pursuits include the Cooking School, a state-of-the-art facility for hands-on classes and demonstrations that focus on locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. The 11,000-square-foot Healing Arts Center & Spa offers soaks in a heated outdoor meditation pool and healing sessions with an shaman. Launched in fall 2022, the New American–meets-Mediterranean restaurant Sula showcases regional ingredients in such dishes as Dungeness crab pappardelle and Niman Ranch beef filet. Cavallo’s Mercantile shop, with a Bay Area–focused selection of crafts, jewelry, and clothing, hosts wine and cheese tastings and sits next to an art gallery with rotating exhibits by locals, including photographer David Liittschwager.

Desolation Hotel

Courtesy of the Desolation Hotel

• Location: South Lake Tahoe
• Why we love it: A sustainably-minded stay with tranquil, minimalist interiors
• From: $399
• Book now

Named after Desolation Wilderness, the micro resort of Desolation Hotel is a sustainably designed retreat in South Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Ski Resort that incorporates mindfully sourced furnishings with a smaller footprint. Any lumber not harvested from the site itself, for example, is Forest Stewardship Council certified. Strategically placed skylights reduce energy use and maximize natural light, while rooftop solar arrays help offset the hotel’s demand on the energy grid.

Opened in August 2022, Desolation Hotel features several structures wrapped around existing trees and 31 EV charging stations, including one in each townhouse’s private garage (handy for when that snowfall is heavy). The design of the 21 tranquil, minimalist accommodations is inspired by Scandinavia and Japan. The thoughtful townhouse-style layouts use dark sky lighting.

Book a full moon snowshoe tour or glide onto Heavenly Ski Resort’s after-hours VIP ski run Sundays. Outdoor soaking tubs encourage stargazing, even when there’s snow on the ground. The on-site restaurant, Maggie’s, pays homage to Maggie McPeak, an explorer who ascended nearly every major western alpine summit. The cocktail list has beverages named for dogs of staff members, and the can’t-miss entrée is the elk loin roulade with chestnut, spinach, and garlic. Located in South Lake, the hotel is an easy walk to shops, the lake, cross-country trails, and sledding areas. Read Afar’s top picks for hotels in Lake Tahoe.—Alexandra Cheney

Downtown Los Angeles Proper Hotel

Courtesy of Downtown Los Angeles Proper Hotel

• Location: Downtown Los Angeles
• Why we love it: Art, history, and design make photogenic magic
• Loyalty program: Marriott Bonvoy
• From: $269
• Book now

Prolific hotel designer Kelly Wearstler is behind the Downtown Los Angeles Proper Hotel, a bolt-hole of 147 guest rooms and suites in a landmark 1926 building. She infused the hotel with original artwork by such local creatives as Abel Macias and Ben Medansky, all while preserving the building’s layers of history (think original moldings and inlaid wood floors).

The building’s original layout was preserved, so guest room configurations have different combinations of furniture and textiles beneath high ceilings. Situated in a vibrant part of DTLA called South Park, the hotel offers plenty to do, see, and eat mere steps away, and when necessary, acts as a sanctuary, with its intimate rooftop pool and speakeasy-like Dahlia cocktail lounge. The two on-site restaurants—the Cali-driven Cara Cara and Portuguese-inflected Caldo Verde—are by the in-demand L.A. chef duo Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne.

Another plus: The hotel donates 1 percent of manpower, hotel space, and management fees toward bettering its community, specifically organizations including Mission LA, the People’s Concern, South Park BID, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Fairmont San Francisco

Courtesy of Fairmont San Francisco

• Location: San Francisco
• Why we love it: A reinvented grande dame steeped in history
• Loyalty program: Accor Live Limitless
• From: $300
• Book now

Fairmont San Francisco originally debuted to much fanfare in 1906 atop Nob Hill—only to be destroyed by the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, just weeks after opening. The following year, California architect Julia Morgan, who also designed Hearst Castle, rebuilt the entire hotel. Today it’s filled with a century’s worth of stories: It was the first U.S. hotel to hire a concierge, and it served as a film location for Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo. Tony Bennett sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” for the first time here in 1962. The Polynesian-themed, Mai Tai–slinging Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar is legendary. In 1926, the hotel added a 6,000-square-foot penthouse suite with a two-story library that prominent guests (including John F. Kennedy and Mick Jagger) have checked into; today it goes for $16,600 a night.

The hotel has evolved with the times—adding a health club and honeybee hives—while serving as a perennial playground and meeting place. The historic building and newer tower together feature 606 guest rooms and suites that were recently renovated; for a prime view, ask for a Golden Gate suite.

Farmhouse Inn

Courtesy of Farmhouse Inn

• Location: Forestville, Sonoma County
• Why we love it: A culinary and wellness getaway in an idyllic setting
• Loyalty program: I Prefer (Preferred Hotels & Resorts)
• From: $699
• Book now

Set on 10 tree-shaded acres in a quiet corner of Sonoma County, Farmhouse Inn has a storied past, with previous lives as a horse farm, bathhouse, and the first gay resort in the Russian River Valley. Today, the Foley Family owns and operates the luxury hotel. Each of Farmhouse Inn’s 25 rooms, suites, and cottages has a unique footprint and handsome white-washed furnishings. They feature fireplaces, patios, large bathtubs, and steam showers (with local artisanal soaps and scrubs). The farmhouse-chic aesthetic continues in the Wellness Barn spa, which offers body treatments using local remedies and holistic modalities meant to realign body and mind, as well as private yoga sessions and workshops.

Food and drink dominate the hospitality experience here. There’s welcome wine on arrival, plus gourmet s’mores kits by the firepit each night. At the beloved Restaurant at Farmhouse Inn, guests can choose from a curated three-course tasting menu or à la carte dishes including Celery Root & Dungeness Crab with English peas, yuzu emulsion, and mint. For creative coffees, juices, and smoothies, there’s the pool-centric Wellness Truck. Dedicated foodies can hop in one of the hotel’s Volvos to explore nearby world-class restaurants and wineries; some offer rare private tastings in partnership with Farmhouse Inn.

Hotel Bel-Air

Courtesy of Hotel Bel-Air

• Neighborhood: Bel-Air
• Why we love it: Timeless Hollywood elegance and exclusivity
• Loyalty program: Dorchester Collection Diamond Club
• From $1,065
• Book now

Hotel Bel-Air is an elegant hideaway within the hills of one of the most exclusive L.A. neighborhoods. For decades, the signature pink property has been beloved by celebrities and notable figures, including Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and Princess Diana. Airy, bright accommodations combine Old World glamour with contemporary style. Most of the 103 guest rooms and suites open directly onto gardens. (The 12-acre property has more than 1,200 types of plants.)

While it has undergone refreshes since it opened in the 1940s, the hotel recently added two new dining experiences. The Patisserie offers house-made pastries, savory bites, and artisanal coffee and teas, while the Living Room serves afternoon tea, light lunches, and specialty cocktails. Read Afar’s full list of top hotels in Los Angeles.—Chris Dong

Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton

Photo: Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton

• Location: Coronado, California (near San Diego)
• Why we love it: A reimagined Southern California resort where Gilded-Age glamour meets 21st-century style
• Loyalty program: Hilton Honors
• From: $435
• Book now

It’s not every day you see a hotel live up to its own mythology. But after a $550 million overhaul, the Hotel del Coronado—the Southern California beachfront grande dame where movie stars mingled with presidents—has pulled that off. The six-year restoration of a National Historic Landmark preserves the building’s iconic red turret and stained-glass windows, while refreshing nearly every corner of the 136-year-old property.

Today, the resort, nicknamed “Hotel Del” by locals, comprises 938 guest rooms spread across several distinct “neighborhoods” along the sandy shores of Coronado Island: the Victorian (the original landmarked building); Beach Village Cottages and Villas (a gated enclave with private pools); the Cabanas (beachfront rooms and terraces); the Views (a glass-railed high-rise); and Shore House, a newer cluster of residential-style suites anchored by its own pool. No two rooms in the Victorian building are alike. The renovation lightened and brightened the interiors while preserving a sense of history—think floral prints, vinyl raffia headboards, and checkerboard marble floors alongside contemporary art and lighter tones.

Some half a dozen dining options line the space between the main building and the beach. They include the 156-seat Nobu, as well as Veranda (try the halibut, olives, capers, and lemon) and Serẽa (a standout dish: spicy lobster rigatoni with Calabian chili). Read Afar’s full review of Hotel del Coronado.—Tim Chester

Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection

Courtesy of the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection

• Location: Santa Ynez Valley
• Why we love it: History meets contemporary style in California wine country
• From: $850
• Book now

Opened in February 2023, the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection, is set in a converted stagecoach stop and tavern in the middle of Los Olivos. Designed by AvroKO, the resort’s 67 guest rooms and cottages have a luxurious modern farmhouse look and feel. There are four historic cottages from the 1910s on the 6.5-acre property; the other accommodations are in new buildings that blend in with the existing architectural vernacular of the region (think wooden barns and white exteriors). In rooms, guests can enjoy Nespresso machines, Felt + Fat mugs, St. George Spirits gin, kilim-covered window seats, and outdoor patios or decks.

Since opening in 1886, Mattei’s has served as a lively watering hole for residents and travelers passing through. Though the building and grounds have been completely remodeled and expanded, the vibe is still welcoming to both locals and hotel guests. Today, executive chef Kevin Malone oversees all the hotel’s food and beverage. His food is hearty and refined, inspired by the property’s history and contemporary innovation, with a menu highlighting locally caught seafood, including a standout uni toast. Equally delicious are the produce (from nearby farms) and meat dishes, such as buttermilk fried Chicken & Caviar and Porkchop & Apples, with Vidalia onion soubise. Read Afar’s full review of the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection.—Julia Cosgrove

Le Petit Pali Laguna Beach

Courtesy of Le Petit Pali Laguna Beach

• Location: Laguna Beach
• Why we love it: A sweet seaside bed-and-breakfast retreat
• From: $350
• Book now

Preppy meets pastoral at the 41-room Laguna Beach newcomer Le Petit Pali Laguna Beach, a bed-and-breakfast hotel that opened in April 2025. Interiors are resplendent in bold stripes, floral prints, and plaids, with wicker, grasscloth walls, and paint colors pulled straight from the ocean. Accommodations are plenty Instagrammable, with Smeg mini fridges, fancy Grind espresso machines, Marshall speakers, impressionist paintings of beach scenes, and surf photography.

The two-story, pet-friendly hotel sits within easy walking distance of Treasure Island Beach among other attractive sandy spots. Guests are treated like honored friends, welcomed with glasses of sparkling rosé; freshly baked cookies arrive at their rooms each night. Days start strong with a complimentary champagne continental breakfast, including locally made pastries and perfectly cooked eggs. The hotel serves small bites all day, offers beach basket picnics, and also has a glittering pool encircled by palm trees with a bar serving five different spritzes.

L’Horizon

Lisa Corson, AFAR Media

• Location: Palm Springs
• Why we love it: A desert oasis for wellness
• From: $500
• Book now

When you’re staying at the historic L’Horizon, it’s worth waking up early to watch the sun rise and turn the sky pink against the San Jacinto Mountains. Romance suffuses this upscale three-acre resort of low-slung bungalows, designed in 1952 and later refreshed by acclaimed designer Steve Hermann. The light-drenched Fireplace Junior Suite Bungalow—once Marilyn Monroe’s room of choice—is a favorite for couples, with its private outdoor shower and wood-burning copper fireplace, plus Frette robes and L’Horizon-branded eye masks.

The property’s restaurant, SO•PA, is equally alluring, thanks to a linear firepit and fountain outdoors and sparkling modern metallic chandeliers inside. While the menu of New American fare is inspired and simultaneously classic—try the signature pancakes with seasonal berry compote—the chef will also create, with advance notice and on request, a personalized tasting menu riffing off the day’s best produce and in keeping with any dietary restrictions. Pro tip: Hit the poolside sun beds early, then retreat to the indoor-outdoor spa for a deep-tissue rubdown or the signature Hermann Luxury Experience, two hours of head-to-toe pampering.

The Madrona

Photo by Matthew Millman

• Location: Healdsburg
• Why we love it: An eclectic, whimsical take on wine country elegance
• From: $595
• Book now

A stay at the Madrona, conceived by co-owner and sought-after residential interior designer Jay Jeffers, is a bit like stepping into an architectural magazine spread. The 24-room boutique hotel was originally built in 1881 as a private residence in a part of Healdsburg that’s walkable to downtown. In restoring and reinvigorating the Madrona, Jeffers carefully combined references ranging from Victorian to Moroccan for a wildly colorful, global look.

Guest rooms and bungalows are decorated with repurposed estate antiques, while the grounds invite lingering—private gardens, a pool, in-room spa treatments, or a movie night on the lawn by San Francisco’s Dolby Chadwick Gallery. Evenings are social, with cocktails highlighting rare spirits, seasonal garden dinners, and a supper series complementing the hotel’s California-inspired restaurant. Estate-grown ingredients anchor menus that also include weekend brunches. The Madrona also gives back: 1 percent of every restaurant check supports global regenerative agriculture through Zero Footprint, and each overnight stay contributes $2 to Farm to Pantry, a local nonprofit fighting food insecurity.

1 Hotel San Francisco

Courtesy of 1 Hotel San Francisco

• Location: San Francisco
• Why we love it: An urban idyll with an ambitious green agenda
• Loyalty program: Mission by 1 Hotels
• From: $500
• Book now

1 Hotel San Francisco brings Northern California’s natural beauty into the city with reclaimed materials—like redwood from the original Bay Bridge and salvaged driftwood art—paired with mossy greenery, stone, and hand-loomed rugs of natural fibers. Opened in 2022 on the Embarcadero, the 200-room hotel (14 of them suites) is San Francisco’s first property with LEED Gold certification, a Michelin Key, and a fleet of electric Audi house cars.

Guestrooms balance warmth and minimalism with reclaimed wood walls, distressed leather headboards, live plants, and sustainably sourced linens. The hotel’s indoor-outdoor restaurant, Terrene, serves shareable plates of local organic ingredients, some from the rooftop garden and beehives, with biodynamic wines from Napa and Sonoma. A zero-waste program run with Foodprint Group extends sustainability across all operations.

Wellness is central: The 24/7 Field House fitness center has Peloton bikes; the Bamford spa’s treatments include a mineral salt soak in a rooftop stone tub.

Post Ranch Inn

Courtesy of Post Ranch Inn

• Location: Big Sur
• Why we love it: Sustainable luxury with ocean views
• Loyalty program: I Prefer (Preferred Hotels & Resorts)
• From: $1,825
• Book now
  

For more than 30 years, the Post Ranch Inn, which sits along a cliff 1,200 feet above the Pacific Ocean, has been a go-to retreat for devotees who believe well-being starts with a place that honors its natural environment—and treads lightly on it, too. Big Sur architect Mickey Muennig designed the 40 guest rooms that rely on solar power; all were fashioned out of recycled wood, and the structures blend in with the Santa Lucia Mountains. Views through enormous windows face either the Pacific or the mountains. Wellness plays a role in every experience on offer, whether it’s a reflexology treatment, a shaman healing session, a doctor-led sleep program, or a private guided hike or meditation session in the nearby ancient forests.

Regent Santa Monica

Photos by Cody James

• Neighborhood: Santa Monica
• Why we love it: Coastal comfort at the epicenter of the action
• Loyalty program: IHG One Rewards
• From $1,100
• Book now

The last time the Regent brand was in Los Angeles, it was at the Regent Beverly Wilshire (now a Four Seasons) and had a starring role in 1990’s Pretty Woman. But how does the newly opened Regent Santa Monica Beach stack up—and stand out—in 2025 in a place with no shortage of alluring oceanfront hotels?

First, location, location, location. The back of the hotel abuts the famous Muscle Beach workout space near the even more famous pier. It’s hard to get closer to the quintessence of Santa Monica without riding the roller coaster. Occupying an entire city block, over some 116,000 square feet, in a former Loews hotel, the Regent has been reimagined and retouched to the tune of $150 million.

Second, the attention to detail. Throughout the hotel, furnishings and service are of a quality you’d expect from the Regent brand, a member of IHG Hotels and Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio. TV remotes are enclosed in leather boxes embossed with that signature R. Personal “experience managers” are only a text away for any requests, and rooms can be stocked with the food and drink you like—and can be set to your required temperature—before arrival. This is available to all guests, and it’s complimentary. Read Afar’s full review of the Regent Santa Monica.—Tim Chester

Rosewood Miramar Beach

Photo by Ryan Forbes

• Location: Montecito
• Why we love it: An elegant, see-and-be-seen resort on the American Riviera
• From: $1,695
• Book now

Name an A-lister or pop culture personality and they’ve likely checked into Rosewood Miramar Beach, a resort 10 minutes by car from Santa Barbara on its own picturesque beach. But that’s not the main selling point. Many of those guests and others come for the Beach House suites, guestrooms, and studios within easy reach of the sand, all with plump king-size beds and custom Rivolta Carmignani linens. For those who don’t need the sound of waves to fall asleep, there are Garden Bungalow and Lanai House rooms with their own patios or balconies.

The resort opened in 2019 on the site of Miramar by the Sea—an 1876 family estate turned resort that closed in 2000—blending history with modern indulgence. Guests can zip around in pastel-hued Moke and Jolly cars, book a falconry experience, lounge on a summertime swim raft, or enjoy kayak lessons, bocce, and beachside butler service. Two swimming pools and seven dining venues add to the mix, from AMA Sushi to the oceanfront Caruso’s, a Michelin-starred restaurant that also holds a Michelin Green Star for its sustainability efforts. Caruso’s sources produce from its own four-acre plot at Vega Vineyard & Farm, uses oils made from sugarcane plants and algae, and is working toward a zero-carbon footprint.

Sensei Porcupine Creek

Photo by Noah Webb

• Location: Rancho Mirage
• Why we love it: Intimate, transformative wellness meets exceptional dining
• From: $1,225 (two-night minimum stay)
• Book now

Opened in 2022, Sensei Porcupine Creek has quickly gained a reputation in the wellness world for deftly merging technology with holistic well-being. The resort sits on the 230-acre former estate of Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison and retains his private golf course now with a state-of-the-art drip irrigation system and native desert landscaping that minimize water usage. The 22-room casita and villa property is filled with shady porches trellises and more than 4,000 older palm trees, and draws water from its own well. Throughout the property are sculptures and artworks by such artists as Robert Indiana, Jaume Plensa, Yoshimoto Nara, and Keith Haring.

As ideal as the conditions are for golf and also tennis—with three world-class courts—the resort is also a foodie destination, thanks to the exclusive-to-guests Sensei by Nobu restaurant, a collaboration between famed Nobu Matsuhisa and prominent physician Dr. David Agus. At the heart of the resort is wellness, guided by Agus’s Sensei Wei philosophy—a mix of personal consultations, spa treatments, and bespoke coaching. That can translate to a mountain hike, laps at the BMW Performance Center, or a thermal body-mapping massage.

SingleThread

Courtesy of SingleThread

• Location: Healdsburg
• Why we love it: Stylish inn meets Michelin three-starred restaurant
• From: $1,400
• Book now

Foodies flock to the modern-day legend that is SingleThread, the three Michelin–starred restaurant and inn in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley, part of the culinary-focused Relais & Châteaux hotel collection. The hotel portion consists of five exquisitely designed suites inside the two-story building that farmer-chef owners Katina and Kyle Connaughton (with CEO Tony Greenberg) revamped to replace the old burned-down Healdsburg post office. The property’s Japanese sensibility is visible in such details as vases and dishes made by eighth-generation master potters from Japan and origami-like onion flower paper lanterns.

The accommodations, with 14-foot ceilings, are designed in cool grays with hardwood floors. They’re outfitted with heated flooring in the bathroom, California-made Botnia skincare kits, and onigiri welcome snacks. They’re also stocked with locally made libations including Pliny the Elder limited-edition beer and SingleThread wines. Guests have the exclusive privilege of booking an in-room donabe hot pot dinner, which might feature wagyu shabu shabu or seafood nabe. Staying overnight here also means you get to bypass the infinite restaurant wait list (all guests are guaranteed a reservation during their stay). Don’t miss a tour of SingleThread’s 24-acre regenerative farm, four miles away. It grows hundreds of crops that end up on plates at the inn and restaurant, ranging from Italian summer squash to purple Thai basil.

Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection

Courtesy of Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection

• Location: Napa Valley
• Why we love it: Handsome digs with access to the region’s best wineries
• From: $1,200
• Book now

In April 2022 Stanly Ranch debuted on 712 acres in Carneros. The resort, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, has 135 stand-alone cottages and suites. Most accommodations have sliding glass doors that lead to a private patio with daybeds for whiling away the afternoon. Wellness fanatics swear by the resort’s Halehouse Spa.

Specialists are on hand to customize experiences with emphases on hydration, nourishment, sleep, and movement. In most cases, plans incorporate a massage with herbs grown and sourced locally. A circuit program (featuring a cold plunge, tepidarium, and saunas) integrates contrast techniques to optimize physical performance and improve health. A movement studio offers HIIT classes, outdoor experiences, physical therapy, and more. The spa pool delivers memorable views of San Pablo Bay.

Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach

Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach

• Location: Dana Point, Orange County
• Why we love it: A coastal escape with family-friendly activities
• Loyalty program: Hilton Honors
• From: $810
• Book now

Located on a 150-foot cliff along the sun-soaked coast of Orange County, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach is fresh off a $30 million refreshment in 2022 that transformed all 400 guest rooms and suites, including upgraded firepits for the 77 ground-level Fireside Terrace Rooms. Hacienda-style Spanish colonial buildings and aquamarine striped pool umbrellas lend a quintessential SoCal feel, while the accommodations feature a palette with sandy and blue hues inspired by nature. At the end of 2024, the resort debuted a newly redesigned lobby and lobby bar, 33 North, with panoramic ocean views.

Visitors can stroll the property’s 175 acres studded with pools and palms, explore via e-bike, or soak in whirlpool hot tubs with infinity edges. Golfers flock to the resort for the 18-hole Robert Trent Jones, Jr. course, while wellness buffs take advantage of the spa’s 40 plus weekly classes, including kickboxing and beach yoga, plus spa treatments that include lymphatic therapies. Multiple dining options include Bourbon Steak Orange County, where chef Michael Mina’s menu leans into American steakhouse classics (filet mignon, steak tartare, black truffle mac and cheese). The crown jewel is the private Monarch Bay Beach Club, accessible via tram. Here, staff deliver drinks and snacks to guests, who sit with their feet in the sand on Adirondack chairs next to firepits. Families can spend an entire day at the club taking advantage of SUP or surf lessons, or playing games like cornhole and giant Jenga.

This story was originally published in July 2023. It was updated with new reporting in August 2025.