On California’s Monterey Peninsula, luxury means something a little bit different — upscale amenities and attentive service, for sure, but also a sense of serenity, relaxation and retreat. With its chiseled rocks, towering bluffs, thundering waves and quirky beach towns, the stretch of coast from Monterey through rugged Big Sur is all about nature, whether hiking through redwood groves or picnicking in an isolated cove. These 6 high-luxe getaways that will treat you to a wealth of natural beauty along with a heaping dose of pampering are our picks for Monterey’s best luxury hotels.
Featured photo of The Lodge at Pebble Beach by Kodiak Greenwood.
The Lodge at Pebble Beach
Home to world-renowned 17-Mile Drive and Pebble Beach Golf Links, the gated enclave of Pebble Beach also boasts several resorts that capitalize on the stunning ocean and fairway views. The oldest and most renowned, the Lodge at Pebble Beach, opened in 1919, the same year as the eponymous golf course, but it’s been expanded and modernized several times since then, including the 2017 addition of the modern Fairway One cottages. Spacious rooms and suites feature patios and balconies to bring the views even closer (making the Lodge among our favorite waterfront hotels in Monterey), with contemporary decor that has a classic, clubby feel; many offer gas-burning fireplaces, perfect for foggy days.
HIGHLIGHT: Besides the stunning ocean views, it’s all about access: Guests staying in a Pebble Beach resort can book a tee time at Pebble Beach Golf Links — often hailed as the top public golf course in the country — up to 18 months in advance, compared with 24 hours in advance for everyone else. You gain admission to the equally impressive but private Beach and Tennis Club, with its heated 25-meter lap pool perched just above the chilly Pacific.
The Inn at Spanish Bay
Hidden coves and beaches lie just below the boardwalk outside the Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach, where a bagpiper plays daily as the setting sun illuminates the Scottish-style Links at Spanish Bay. As with the resort’s Lodge at Pebble Beach and Casa Palmero, it’s among our choices for top luxury hotels in the region. Guests of the 269 rooms and suites get advance tee time reservations to the famed Pebble Beach golf course plus country club access, including the nearby private Spanish Bay Club and Tennis Pavilion as well as the Beach and Tennis Club some 5 miles south. The Inn at Spanish Bay also makes our list of best waterfront hotels in Monterey.
HIGHLIGHT: All of the roomy lodgings include fireplaces and most have balconies or patios. Foodies won’t have to walk far for fun. After listening to the bagpiper outside Sticks restaurant, check out Stave Wine Cellar for small bites, cheese and charcuterie paired with some of the 50 wines or eight craft beers by the glass. Then head to Peppoli at Pebble Beach for some of Monterey’s best Italian fare, or Roy’s at Pebble Beach for Hawaiian-fusion cuisine.
Casa Palmero
Like the much larger Lodge at Pebble Beach, with which it shares a spot on our best luxury hotels list, the more intimate, Mediterranean-style Casa Palmero gives guests preferred access to Pebble Beach tee times and a pass to use Pebble Beach’s exclusive Beach and Tennis Club. But the vibe is more sensual, thanks to the highly lauded Spa at Pebble Beach, yoga and other wellness classes; the sunny pool where sunbathers receive spa water, sunscreen and amuse-bouches; and gas fireplaces and soaking tubs in the 24 rooms. Casa Palmero fits the bill as a hotel for romance too.
HIGHLIGHT: The breakfast basket delivered to your door provides a good reason to cocoon in the morning. Even if you don’t have golf plans to get you out of bed later, you’ll want to take advantage of the divine spa, pool and Lexus sedan car service waiting to take you to Carmel.
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
If shopping, dining, spa treatments and sightseeing sound like your ideal getaway, then Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa should be on your list. On the quiet end of Cannery Row, but close to everything, the upscale hotel offers 290 recently renovated rooms and suites. For a special occasion, splurge on one of the hotel’s spacious luxury suites, like the 700 square-foot Spa Terrace Suite, which features a fireplace, wet bar, state-of-the-art entertainment system and a whirlpool tub on the private outdoor deck or go all out on the 2,100 square-foot Presidential Suite, which includes an expansive sun deck with a whirlpool tub and 180-degree views of Monterey Bay. Dine at the new fine-dining Coastal Kitchen or the lively Schooners Monterey on the patio overlooking the bay.
HIGHLIGHT: For the ultimate luxury, book a spa treatment in the private spa suite at onsite Vista Blue Spa. And why not add a charcuterie platter, chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of champagne to make it even more special?
Portola Hotel & Spa
In the heart of Old Monterey, Portola Hotel & Spa is steps to the historic Custom House Plaza, the shops and restaurants on Old Fisherman’s Wharf, quaint adobes and intriguing museums. Its recently renovated 379 rooms and suites feature a bright and light coastal palette with modern, streamlined furnishings. While all rooms are outfitted with thoughtful touches like headboards with built-in lighting and USB outlets, the spacious suites are downright luxurious, ranging from the 700 square-foot One-Bedroom Junior Suite, which includes a spacious living area and wet bar, to the 1,000 square-foot Presidential Suite boasting no less than five balconies with stunning views of Monterey Bay. For dinner, dine at clubby Jacks Monterey or the acclaimed indoor-outdoor Peter B’s Brewpub.
HIGHLIGHT: Indulge in a private candlelit bath at serene onsite spa, which offers more than 40 treatments, ranging from a Vitamin C facial and seaweed wrap to a CBD massage.
InterContinental The Clement Monterey
One of the newest structures in historic Cannery Row is the 220-room InterContinental The Clement Monterey, which spreads its rooms and facilities between a waterfront building and one across the street, connected by a second-story bridge. Both are an easy walk to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, shops and dining. The rooms here feel luxurious, with ocean views, balconies, gas fireplaces (perfect for foggy nights), soaking tubs, and plump beds with Frette linens. The street-side building hosts the well-regarded spa that pampers guests from head to toe and the fitness center, both of which overlook a courtyard with a heated pool.
HIGHLIGHT: At the end of the day, soak in the sea air and watch the sun go down over the bay, glass of bubbly in hand, from the expansive deck with firepits.
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