17 Best Hotels in The Monterey Bay Area, California

Secluded on 300 hilltop acres of redwood and eucalyptus forest laced with hiking trails, this Mission-style complex also features a lovely terrace restaurant with expansive views of Monterey Bay. Guest rooms are furnished in an eclectic, bohemian style that pays homage to the artsy local community and the city's industrial past. Antique refrigerators conceal modern minibars, drums reclaimed from the historic tannery serve as bed tables, and headboards are made of authentic oversize abacuses you can play with.

Though it's in the middle of Santa Cruz, this inn has lush gardens, a running stream, and tall trees that make you feel as if you're in a secluded wood. All rooms have fireplaces (a few are electric) and featherbeds; most have private patios. Complimentary wine, cheese, and freshly baked cookies are available in the afternoon.

This sparkling hotel, set in the heart of the tourist district and opened in fall 2022, is a warm, welcoming, haven filled with custom-designed furnishings and local art that reflects the beachy Santa Cruz vibe. Hang out on the sofas in the lobby, private booths in the café, outdoor patio with fire pits, or poolside. Rooms are unusually spacious, with ample amenities.

This luxurious inn has a fresh, Mediterranean ambience with Moroccan touches. Rooms have wrought-iron bed frames and rattan armchairs; some rooms have fireplaces, some spa tubs, and four have a sunny veranda with an ocean view. The in-town location makes walking to area attractions easy, and pet owners will be pleased that animal companions are always welcome, a legacy of dog lover and former co-owner, the late actress Doris Day.

This turreted Queen Anne Victorian was completely remodeled and updated in early 2023, and although rooms still have things like vintage armoires and headboards, they now also have a swanky, contemporary vibe and modern amenities. The two most private rooms, which have fireplaces, balconies, and whirlpool tubs, are in the rear carriage house. Homemade cookies, sodas, and evening wine and hors d'oeuvres are complimentary. A buffet breakfast is served in the parlor or garden.

About a mile from the ocean and two blocks from Pacific Avenue, this stylish, forest-theme complex (part of the Marriott Autograph Collection) is among the few full-service hotels in town. Public spaces and rooms are designed to bring nature indoors—the reception desk is cut from an 18-foot reclaimed eucalyptus log, lamps resemble birds' nests, sculpted squirrels cling to the walls, and tree stumps serve as poolside tables. Room options range from kings with river-rock showers and double queens with tubs to six suites.

A 22-acre resort amid cypress forests on the Del Monte Golf Course, the Hyatt Regency Monterey is a good choice for business travelers and families (especially those with pets) seeking relatively affordable lodgings with numerous on-site services. Rooms and public spaces have a crisp, contemporary, seaside vibe and Monterey-themed art. The resort has two separate buildings next to an exclusive play zone for dogs and owners.

This inventively designed B&B in a former rail depot views itself as a link to the era of luxury train travel, and each double room or suite, complete with fireplace and featherbeds, is inspired by a different destination—Italy's Portofino, France's Côte d'Azur, Japan's Kyoto. One suite is decorated like a railroad baron's Pullman car. Some accommodations have private patios with hot tubs. This is a great place for an adults-only weekend.

The glassed-in parlor and many guest rooms at this 1899 Mediterranean-style villa have stunning ocean views. Thoughtful details such as robes and rocking chairs create an ambience of luxury and comfort. The inn is furnished with exquisite antiques, and the owner's collection of classic race cars is on display in the patio area. Lavish breakfasts—and winemaker dinners of up to 12 courses—are served on lace-clad tables set with china, crystal, and silver.

Movie star Clint Eastwood owns this sprawling property where accommodations include rooms in a converted barn and several cottages, some with fireplaces. The ranch is nicely decorated but low-key, with a 19th-century farmhouse as the central building, a sheep pasture, bird-filled wetlands, and a sweeping view of the ocean. Though the ranch belongs to Eastwood, relaxation, not celebrity, is the focus here.

Guests at this Cannery Row hotel can see frolicking sea otters from its wide outdoor patio and many room balconies. The architecture blends early California and Mediterranean styles and echoes elements of the old cannery design. Meticulously maintained, the property has both simple and luxurious accommodations. The top-floor spa offers a full array of treatments, perfect after a workout in the penthouse fitness center.

One of the area's best values, this hotel has a great waterfront location—2 miles north of Monterey, with views of the bay and the city skyline—and offers a surprising array of amenities. Rooms are modern getaways with platform beds and puffy duvets, flat-screen TVs, and fine linens. The grounds are pleasantly landscaped, and there's a large pool with a sunbathing area.

A favorite with generations of visitors, the Pine Inn is four blocks from the beach and has Victorian-style furnishings, complete with a grandfather clock, padded fabric wall panels, antique tapestries, and marble tabletops. The property includes a brick courtyard of specialty shops and a modern Italian restaurant. 

One of Monterey's largest hotels, and locally owned and operated for more than 40 years, the coastal-theme Portola anchors a prime city block between Custom House Plaza and the Monterey Conference Center. A lofty lobby atrium with live trees evokes the essence of Monterey Bay and welcomes you to its popular farm-to-table restaurant, Jacks Monterey, and adjacent Peter B's, a brewpub. The hotel's Spa on the Plaza is the largest day spa in Monterey County.

Location is the main appeal of this motel atop a waterfront bluff, where all rooms have an ocean view and the boardwalk is just down the street. Standard rooms have a fireplace and a refrigerator, and there are three luxury king spa rooms with balconies and two family cottages with private hot tubs. Studios and suites have kitchenettes, and three rooms have whirlpool tubs.

This boutique hotel on Cannery Row has beach access and a rooftop garden that overlooks the water. Designed in traditional American style, the spacious rooms (completely renovated in 2023) have sitting areas, hardwood floors, fireplaces, and down comforters. Oceanside rooms have window seats, and some rooms have balconies above Cannery Row. An afternoon wine-and-cheese hour takes place in the light-filled lobby, which has a soaring four-story ceiling.

This inn is nearly all suites, many of which have fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling glass walls that open onto ocean-view patios. The motif is reproduction old world, but all rooms have spa tubs and marble bathrooms. On weekends, evening aperitifs are served in the English garden courtyard, where a fire blazes on chilly nights.