The Best Beach Hotels to Book in Monterey, California

You don’t get more waterfront than having the surf crash right underneath the deck you’re relaxing on. Steps away from Cannery Row and Monterey Harbor, it’s all about the ocean vistas at this elegant beach hotel in Monterey – you don’t even have to get out of your cream-colored bed to enjoy the scenery. Pro tip: bring binoculars for spotting marine life. Sunset cocktails crafted from small-batch artisan spirits turn into dancing to daily live music in the hotel lounge or an evening soak in a hot tub out on the deck.

If the roof looks vaguely Asian, it’s because this was one of the first Monterey hotels on the beach to be built by a member of the local Chinese community, back in 1927. As Cannery Row became the wrong part of town during the Great Depression, the original hotel lost its splendor, but Spindrift Inn has gone back to its elegant roots, complete with hardwood floors, antiques, window seats and continental breakfast delivered on a silver tray. Monterey Bay Aquarium is just down the street and if you’re hungry, the Sardine Factory (phenomenal seafood) and Estéban Restaurant (Spain-meets-California) are both a short stroll away.

Nestled among the dunes backing Marina State Beach, this is one of the few hotels on the beach in Monterey where you can step out the door and immediately have sand between your toes. The bungalow rooms and suites have their own patios or terraces overlooking the dunes, and you can join a beach bonfire or yoga session; you can bring your pup, too. Unlike the ocean, the outdoor swimming pool is heated. As you approach the on-site Salt Wood Kitchen with its oyster bar, where chefs transform locally sourced produce into wood-grilled dishes, scents of lavender drift from the hotel garden.

Not many Monterey beach hotels can say that they truly are on the beach, but Monterey Tides even has a private beachfront at the eastern end of Del Monte Beach. Patterned carpets mimic the waves in the cream, gray and ocean-blue rooms; splurge on the floor-to-ceiling sea views. Rent a bike at the hotel for a ride out on the Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail, which goes right past the hotel. Then have a dip in the heated outdoor pool, where a high wooden wall provides shelter from the wind. Just off Cabrillo Highway and with plenty of parking, this pet-friendly hotel makes for a good stopover on your California road trip.

It’s not only the location that sets this inn apart from all the beach hotels in the Monterey area. Each of the 10 rooms is uniquely decorated, ranging from antique-filled – think claw-foot tubs – to taking the nautical theme to 11, with beds mounted on old boats. A 20-minute drive north of downtown Monterey, the inn overlooks the wetlands of the Old Salinas River, so bring binoculars – not only for birdwatching from the bathtub but also for spotting seals and sea otters from the deck. There’s a strict policy about quiet hours, which start at 8:30 at night, to ensure a good night’s sleep for all.

This Monterey beach hotel is perfectly positioned if you’re traveling with kids: it overlooks El Estero Lake with its park and playground, and you only need to cross the road to hit Monterey Bay Park and the beach. The Old Fisherman’s Wharf is within walking distance, too. Decorated in warm tones with blue comforters, the rooms surround a sunny courtyard with a heated pool and fun fountain for the kids to splash in. The shady gardens and flowers in pots along the second-floor walkway lend the place an almost tropical air. Fido, Spot and other well-behaved canine friends are welcome.

A member of Four Sisters Inns, this hotel – built in 1888 – is all about Victorian splendor: think floral-patterned wallpaper, Queen Anne chairs and four-poster beds. Some rooms have fireplaces and big tubs; others come with window seats and ocean views. You get a bespoke wine-and-cheese mini-picnic as part of your stay, so borrow a bike from the hotel, grab some freshly baked cookies and go explore: the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail is across the street, and a harbor seal lookout only a few hundred feet away.