The One Hotel You Need To Visit If You Want To Completely Unwind In Monterey California

Nestled among the wineries and beaches of sunny California, the Portola Hotel & Spa is a charming and well-appointed seaside resort just a short drive from the coastal views, seaside cliffs and winding, misty coastlines of Monterey Bay. Halfway through a road trip from San Francisco to L.A., Culture Trip pulled off the Pacific Coast Highway to check it out.

Ideally located in the heart of Monterey, the Portola is just steps from Fisherman’s Wharf, John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and National Marine Sanctuary, and a short drive to Big Sur, Carmel Valley, 17-Mile Drive, Carmel-by-the-Sea and the world-class Pebble Beach Golf Links.

The airy, sun-drenched lobby is an atrium-like space complete with living trees and natural wood elements – a nod to the Portola’s status as one of the first eco-friendly hotels in central California.

Guests are treated to a variety of on-site dining spaces: Peter B’s Brewpub, Monterey’s original craft brewery stocked with locally-brewed beer, 18 high-definition televisions and pub-style comfort foods, or Jacks Monterey, a sophisticated but unpretentious space specializing in small plates, high-quality seafood and wine.

At Jacks Monterey, we enjoyed the restaurant’s interpretation of a local delicacy – Jack’s Chowder with clams, dungeness crab, grilled artichoke hearts, bakers bacon ($8), and topped up with a Hamachi Crudo of yellow tail tuna, watermelon radish, pickled alba mushrooms and a serrano chili vinaigrette ($11). For mains, we dug into filet mignon with sauté of wild mushroom, potato puree and sauce bordelaise ($25) and butternut squash ravioli noisette ($15), which left us feeling full and satisfied.

Equipped with the largest day spa in Monterey County, the Portola offers an outdoor pool and hot tub, steam room, sauna, separate men’s and womens’ locker rooms, relaxation lounge, and a separate salon facility for manicures and pedicures.

The outdoor pool and hot tub at the Portola

In the morning, we woke up to the sounds of sealions barking in the harbour below, and took in the stunning harbor view over a cup of coffee on our balcony.

We decided to skip breakfast (though a tempting European-style buffet served with Peet’s Coffee® and bottomless mimosas is available for $20 per guest in the Club Room, the Portola’s third dining space) and set out to explore the riches of the area, including the nearby Bixby Bridge.

The Bixby Creek Bridge near Monterey, California

At check-out the next morning we were already dreaming about the family-run wineries, craft breweries and scenic drives we’d take in on our next trip back to the Portola.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.