by Angela Fairhurst
In the original Surf City USA community of Huntington Beach, California is the Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort, a contemporary boutique hotel located near the iconic intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway. Amidst multiple shopping, dining, and entertainment options, the 157 rooms, including 20 suites, all have decks and balconies over 4 floors and reflect the beach vibe of the area with eclectic furnishings and surf décor. Views are of the ocean, courtyard or cityscape.
Amenities are plentiful. Flat-panel high-definition televisions, iPod docking stations, luxury bath essentials and spa bathrobes are standard in all the rooms, as is a yoga mat (yes, a yoga mat) and business amenities such as an executive desk, ergonomic chair, laptop-sized safe, and Wi-Fi.
The common areas expand past the comfortable lobby to include The Deck, a spacious landscaped courtyard with a life-size chess board and pieces, loads of comfortable seating and multiple fire pits.
As with all Kimpton’s, there is complimentary morning coffee and tea service in the lobby and hosted nightly wine hour from 5-6pm. This complimentary 24-hour fitness center has a rock climbing wall! Pets are always welcome with no fees or weight restrictions. Complimentary PUBLIC bikes are also available for guests to use.
Food here is exceptional. The Pacific Hideaway restaurant with an island-inspired look is located adjacent to the hotel lobby. The menu, curated by Executive ChefWyatt Lash, features tapas-type small plates such as sushi rice cakes with ahi tuna poke, to fried avocado tacos with tamarind and chiles-and larger plates, such as whole Mexican-beer-can chicken, served with salsas, tortillas, and other accoutrements.
Designed as a casual, yet polished and global restaurant, Pacific Hideaway’s signature architectural statement pieces include roll-up garage doors, a large hand-carved bar depicting ocean waves, an expansive patio and lounge and incredible views of Huntington Beach Pier and the Pacific Ocean. In-room dining comes directly from this restaurant.