Surf-inspired boutique hotel near Heisler Park featuring a heated pool courtyard, daily wine hours, and bedtime cookies and milk.
Laguna Beach House, situated at 475 North Coast Highway, is a 36-room boutique hotel that captures the laid-back, vintage surf culture of Southern California. Formerly known as the Laguna Cliffs Inn, the property underwent a major 1.5 million dollar transformation under the direction of Marc and Rose Hospitality, formerly Classic Hotels and Resorts. The redesign stripped away the tired motel aesthetic, replacing it with a bright, airy coastal cottage feel. Guests are welcomed into a lobby where the daily surf report is written on a chalkboard each morning, and a large California flag hangs proudly on the wall. This property is also deeply committed to environmental responsibility, partnering with 1% for the Planet to donate a portion of its revenues to environmental non-profits.
The guest rooms are designed with a meticulous eye for authentic surf culture, featuring real surfboards mounted as art pieces above the beds and custom skateboards, crafted by legendary shapers Gordon and Smith, repurposed as towel racks. White plantation shutters open to views of either the central pool courtyard or the nearby ocean. Inside, the rooms are outfitted with comfortable pillow-top mattresses, refrigerators, and curated minibars stocked with local snacks. Guests can also take advantage of an in-room shopping program, which allows them to purchase curated beach essentials like canvas tote bags, paddle tennis sets, and disposable cameras directly from their rooms. The hotel's daily programming includes thoughtful, nostalgic rituals: complimentary coffee and yogurt are served at daybreak, a nightly wine hour runs from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the lobby, and warm cookies and milk are set out before bedtime.
The heart of the property is its central outdoor courtyard, which features a heated swimming pool, a hot tub, and a gas fire pit surrounded by comfortable lounge chairs where guests gather as the evening cools. While the hotel does not have its own restaurant or the rooftop deck found at some neighboring properties, its location makes exploring local dining exceptionally easy. The front desk acts as a beach concierge, providing complimentary chairs, umbrellas, towels, buckets, and sand shovels for a day on the sand. Main Beach and the scenic, manicured bluffs of Heisler Park are just a short walk away, while the shops, galleries, and restaurants of downtown Laguna Beach are easily accessible on foot. For those looking for full ocean views and a rooftop terrace, the hotel's sister property, Casa Loma Beach Hotel, sits just a few blocks south.
Skip packing heavy beach gear: the front desk provides complimentary chairs, umbrellas, towels, and sand toys. Make sure to return to the lobby by 5:00 PM for the nightly wine hour, followed by warm cookies and milk served right before bed.
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