If any of you know me, you know I swoon over ocean views. At my recent stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton San Pedro, I didn’t have an ocean view, exactly, but I had a pretty spectacular view of the marina. Because I was on a quick two-day turnaround trip by myself, I didn’t have a whole lot of time to explore this Mediterranean-style hotel that sits just far enough away from the hectic chaos of Los Angeles (and its renowned traffic, I might add!), but from my quick stay, I can tell you that it’s a lovely option for anyone passing through the greater Los Angeles area, anyone who might be cruising out of the Los Angeles port, or anyone who wants to take some time to explore nearby Cabrillo Beach or the up-and-coming beach town of San Pedro.
In a nutshell: this place is pretty much the epitome of what West Coast paradise should be. It’s Mediterranean-inspired, it’s comfortable, and it’s light, balmy, and breezy. It’s not at all what I pictured when I imagined Los Angeles, what with its reputation of being enormous, polluted, expensive, and overdetermined.
The rooms, too, evoke a similar sense of tranquility here. While in some places a predominantly white room might seem too stark, here, the minimalist decor works pretty effortlessly with the breezy, sunny, southern California outdoors. The suites feature gorgeous marina views, a separate living room with sitting area, a small dining table, two chairs, a comfortable sofa chair, and both a microwave and a mini-fridge in case you bring home leftovers or want to chill a bottle of wine.
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I, in fact, did both (ate leftovers and drank wine, that is).
The Marina Bar & Grill, the hotel’s restaurant named after the eponymous marina on which it sits, offers an excellent array of American-style dining options, seafood, and pastas. For dinner, I ordered the house pinot grigio, some calamari, and a penne pasta with fresh octupus in a tangy red sauce. With a table overlooking the harbor and the cool California breezes wafting in through the open doors, it was magical.
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At the time of this review, rates for the DoubleTree by Hilton San Pedro start at $189/night for the Two Queen Beds with Marina View. The room I stayed in, the King Junior Suite with Marina View, starts at $229/night. The DoubleTree San Pedro is especially convenient for those needing a place to stay before or after cruising out of the Los Angeles port.
Check the hotel website for current rates or make a reservation through Booking.com or Expedia.
DoubleTree by Hilton San Pedro
2800 Via Cabrillo Marina
San Pedro, CA. 90731
(310) 514-3344
Article and photographs by Kristin Winet.
