Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what hits you first when you walk into the Monterey Plaza? It’s not the fancy lobby or the staff in their crisp uniforms – it’s the sound of sea lions barking right outside the windows. I mean, you’re literally sitting on top of the old Cannery Row waterfront, so these guys are basically your neighbors. Some people find it charming, others… well, let’s just say earplugs are your friend if you’re a light sleeper.

But honestly, once you get past the morning wake-up calls from the local wildlife, this place really delivers on that whole “luxury seaside experience” thing. The rooms facing the bay – and trust me, you want to pay extra for these – have floor-to-ceiling windows that make you feel like you’re on a ship. I’ve stayed in the corner suites a couple times, and watching the fog roll in over Monterey Bay while you’re sipping coffee in your bathrobe? Pretty magical. The spa’s actually worth the splurge too, especially if you can snag one of those treatments with the ocean view. They use some local seaweed stuff that sounds gimmicky but actually left my skin feeling amazing.

What I really appreciate about this hotel is how it works with the whole Cannery Row scene instead of trying to be above it. You can walk out the front door and you’re right in the thick of the tourist action – the aquarium’s maybe a five-minute stroll, and there are decent restaurants within stumbling distance if you don’t want to deal with the hotel’s dining room (which is good but pricey, even by Monterey standards). The concierge actually knows their stuff about tide pools and hiking trails around Point Lobos, not just the obvious tourist traps. Parking’s valet-only, which is kind of annoying, but honestly, trying to find street parking on Cannery Row is a nightmare anyway, so it sort of works out. The whole place has this old-California-meets-modern-luxury vibe that doesn’t feel forced – probably because the building actually has some history to it, being right where Steinbeck wrote about all those sardine canneries. Just don’t expect it to be quiet and secluded; this is prime real estate on one of the most visited stretches of coastline in California, so there’s always something happening outside your window.