JETSETREPORT

La Playa Hotel

Historic hotel in residential enclave of Carmel

Hours 24
Phone (831) 624-6476
www.LaPlayaHotel.com

Camino Real at Eighth Carmel CA 93921 United States

hotels

Who's Going

SF Weekenders, Romantic Couples, Chain-Hotel Haters

Reason to Stay

Historic Hotel, Upscale Resturant, Beach Convenient

Hotel Type

Boutique Hotel

Unless you're a local than you've&nbsp; probably never even heard of it, La Playa Inn is one of Carmel's oldest and most striking hotels located in the seaside community famous for it ex-mayors and perky inn-owners. One of Carmel's only true beach hotels, the La Playa Hotel has made a name for itself over the years as an insider's weekend getaway from San Francisco. Its owners have had a Bay area connection stemming back to its original occupants. Artist Christopher Jorgensen designed the original building in 1904 as a weekend home for his new wife, a member of San Francisco's famous Ghirardelli family. <br /><br />Now belonging to San Francisco's Cope Family, owners of the Huntington Hotel on SF's Nob Hill, the La Playa is a choice destination for boutique hotel lovers and Carmel buffs. Along a quiet residential street guests arrive to park their own cars and carry their wheeled bags into the one-room reception area that hasn't changed a lot over the last twenty years. An eclectic mix of local antiques and well-used furnishings lead to a charming restaurant area overlooking a well-manicured garden with pool and lounge. The crowd varies from age-old visitors who walk the one-block trek to Ocean Avenue for shopping and lively restaurant scene to new-found lovers who spend the weekend in bed while annoying the two-person room service staff.&nbsp;

The Room

More grandma cozy than seaside chic, La Playa's entry-level guest room are located off sparse hallways with harsh carpeting and ash-colored doorways. Each room is decorated in a comfortable style reflecting Carmel's laid-back ways, think quilted bedspreads and hearty foam pillows. First timers struggle to find the hotel, closer to the beach than downtown, amongst the enormous houses and tranquil cottages of the residential area. Rooms range from cozy to adequate with upper rooms spaciously arranged with fireplaces and ocean views while lower rooms open to private patios and views of the pool. On busy weekends the pool is a splashy oasis of laughing children nd bewildered city folk who don't usually last long on the loungers. Carmel is rarely warm enough to swim. The hotel boasts a selection of intimate cottages perfect for larger families, each with stocked kitchens that are surprisingly affordable at around $650 a night. Guests opting for a less expensive “Village Facing” room should keep in mind their limited size and lack of view. All visitors to the hotel should keep in mind that the hotel's near-sixty rooms sell out months in advance.

Preferred Room

Homestead Cottage

Special Features

Romantic Getaway, Historic Hotel, Cottage Suites with Kitchens

Amenities

Restaurant, Bar, Lounge, Pool, Suites

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