Most Unique Amenities at California Inns
Evening wine receptions, gourmet breakfasts, cozy robes, loaner bicycles, and free WiFi are just some of the creature comforts that are standard fare at many boutique hotels and bed and breakfast inns in California. But a handful of inns offer their guests truly unique and whimsical amenities. We’ve compiled a list of California inns with amenities you can’t find anywhere else.
Hotel Drisco
The long list of complimentary amenities at the Hotel Drisco dazzles even the most discerning guests. Located in San Francisco’s prestigious Pacific Heights neighborhood, the hotel has thought of every possible need and provided every indulgence to welcome and pamper guests. The hotel’s complimentary chauffeur service can whisk guests downtown or anywhere else in the city. International guests are greeted by the flags of their home countries flying above the entrance. Indulgent treats include individually wrapped Jelly Belly jelly beans in the lobby, handmade chocolate-dipped biscotti at teatime, and a nightly turndown service featuring dark chocolate shortbread. Other thoughtful amenities include reusable glass bottles with filtered water pitchers, pillow menus, adaptive sound machines, dimming alarm clocks, the elaborate complimentary breakfast and nightly wine reception, and much more. Guests will also find amusing touches like “Poo-Pourri” which provides a pleasant olfactory experience in the lavatory.
Inn at Moonlight Beach
A luxe wellness retreat in Encinitas, the Inn at Moonlight Beach provides a soothing welcome to its guests. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a warm pot of the inn’s signature organic wellness tea, house-crafted organic dark chocolate mandalas, and healthy treats from the inn’s own biodynamic garden. Guests also receive a flower herbal tea bath kit for enjoying a restorative, relaxing bath in the in-room soaking tub. The tea bath kits feature medicinal herbs and flowers grown and harvested from the inn’s biodynamic garden and are hand-assembled by the innkeepers into pouches with Epsom salt and essential oils. Other unique complimentary guest room amenities include a spa aromatherapy diffuser, a sound therapy machine, and a basket for harvesting fruits, vegetables, and herbs from the gardens surrounding the inn. The inn also offers a range of unique makers’ workshops including honey and olive oil herb infusions, organic soaps, succulent gardens, and more.
Timber Cove Resort
Perched on a bluff along the rugged Sonoma coastline, the iconic Timber Cove Resort was reimagined and renovated in 2016 to retain the architecture and authenticity of the original 1960s resort while bestowing the comforts and amenities of a modern boutique hotel. A strong midcentury vibe runs not only through the hotel’s warm-hued timbers but also the hotel’s unique amenities. All of the guest rooms feature Crosley LP record players with an enviable collection of vinyl records for spinning tunes ranging from jazz to R&B. In-room tea kettles and French-press coffeemakers allow guests to craft their own pour-over coffee while retro-styled Smeg refrigerators are stocked with munchies and libations. The hotel’s outdoor living room offers ping pong, foosball, billiards, custom-made bench swings, and an oceanside fire pit. The hotel also hosts live music on Wednesday nights and complimentary wine tastings featuring Sonoma County winemakers on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Nick’s Cove
Nestled along the water’s edge in a sheltered cove of Tomales Bay, Nick’s Cove is a collection of elegantly restored 1930s cottages imbued with a nostalgic charm. Each cottage is a luxurious hideaway with lofty down comforters, wood-burning stoves, heated bathroom floors, deep soaking tubs, and private decks with panoramic views of the tranquil waters. Nick’s Cove also features a legendary restaurant and oyster bar serving the freshest in local seafood. The inn’s unique amenities include the complimentary barbecued oysters delivered to the guests’ door upon arrival. An incredibly well-stocked in-suite honor bar allows guests to craft almost any cocktail of their choosing. In addition, the chef at Nick’s Cove hand-crafts decadent s’mores kits that can be enjoyed around the warm glow of the beachside fire pit.
Mar Vista Farm + Cottages
Just across Highway 1 from the Pacific Ocean, Mar Vista Farm + Cottages is a small, working farm along the “secret coast” of Mendocino County. 11 bright and airy vintage cottages are scattered around the property, all featuring cozy furnishings, fireplaces, and well-stocked kitchens. One of the most charming amenities is the complimentary farm-fresh eggs delivered to the guests’ doors each morning. Guests are also free to harvest veggies, herbs, and fruit from the farm’s edible gardens for preparing their own meals. In addition, guests can choose from a range of delightful provision add-ons including breakfast baskets, picnic baskets, dinner baskets, s’mores baskets, and wine and cheese baskets. On Wednesday mornings, the innkeepers run into town to pick-up breads and pastries from a local bakery that is only open one day a week; be sure to place an order to have extraordinary croissants delivered to your door. Daily “goat gabs” and “chicken chats” provide the chance for guests to bond with the farm’s Nubian goats and flock of 175+ chickens.
Courtwood Inn
While tennis courts are not entirely unique among hotels, the two championship courts at the Courtwood Inn in Murphys offer an intimate setting and the chance to take lessons from two award-winning USPTA tennis pros. Sprawling across a five-acre hilltop, the 8,000-square-foot, custom-designed cedar log lodge is owned and run by tennis pros Chris and Larry Parker. Chris was formerly National USPTA Player of the Year, and a tennis director in the Bay Area for over 15 years. Larry played varsity tennis at Cal/Berkeley, competed at Wimbledon, Australian Open, and US Open, and was formerly NorCal USPTA Pro of the Year and Player of the Year. Both have coached players of all levels, from beginners to nationally ranked. The inn features just five luxurious guest suites, each of which pay homage to the world’s major professional tennis tournaments and its players. The two championship tennis courts offer commanding views of the Sierra Foothills, and the inn’s small size ensures that there’s always a court open for play. The inn offers a range of tennis packages for improving your game.