West Cliff Inn: A Seaside Retreat Overlooking Monterey Bay
Perched on a hill overlooking the Monterey Bay and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the historic West Cliff Inn rises above Santa Cruz’s lively beach scene with a stately elegance. While just steps from the sand and amusement park rides, the lovingly restored 1877 Italianate Victorian offers a soothing seaside retreat. Two wrap-around porches invite guests to kick back in rocking chairs to take in the views and watch the sunset over the ocean. A verdant garden trimmed with boxwood and fragrant roses provides a buffer from the busy street. Inside, the restored architectural details and contemporary décor exude a coastal chic style with classic sophistication.
The History
The grand Victorian mansion was originally built for Sedgewick Lynch, a carpenter-turned-gold prospector who struck it rich during California’s Gold Rush. With his newfound fortune, Lynch made his way to Santa Cruz and chose the ocean view bluff to build his family’s home. The Victorian was designed by architect John Morrow and built for the then-astonishing sum of $12,000. Originally, the mansion was the only home on the cliff, but by the turn of the 20th century, other grand homes began to crop up along West Cliff Drive, giving birth to the nickname “Millionaires’ Row.”
Over the next century, the mansion served as a hospital, an office, and a vacation rental before falling into disrepair. In 2004, new owners partnered with the Four Sisters Collection to restore the home, unveiling the reimagined West Cliff Inn in 2007.
The Rooms
With just 10 guest rooms, the West Cliff Inn is an intimate retreat. The interiors feature soothing, coastal-inspired hues, rattan furnishings, and local artisan accents. The spacious, modern baths are finished with elegant marble vanities and tiled showers. Several of the rooms offer jetted spa tubs for a relaxing soak. Tucked away at the back of the hotel, room five boasts its own private deck with a hot tub for soaking under the stars and a pair of lounge chairs for basking in the sun. Room three has the best views of the ocean from its stunning bay windows. Nestled into the sloped ceilings of the third floor, a spacious studio offers a sitting room with a writing desk, fireplace, and wet bar, a separate bedroom with ocean views, and a marble bath with a soaking tub.
All the rooms feature luxurious beds with pillow-top mattresses and buttery-smooth linens. Gas fireplaces add warmth and ambiance on cool nights. Other thoughtful creature comforts include cozy robes, wine chillers, Keurig coffee machines, and clothing steamers. Just outside the guest room doors, an enormous stained-glass skylight illuminates the stairwell. Although not original to the mansion, it’s a showcase piece that serves a functional purpose in artful fashion.
Food and Drink
Served fireside in the dining room, the inn’s complimentary breakfast is a generous spread with a rotating selection of house-made quiches as the star attraction. Fresh fruit, yogurt, house-made granola, cereals, and assorted breads round out the offerings. Guests can help themselves to coffee, tea, sodas, and filtered water throughout the day. In the afternoons, gather by the fire for the inn’s complimentary wine hour. Pour a glass of wine, select some small bites, and head to the adjoining parlor to mingle with other guests. The inn’s freshly baked cookies are another irresistible treat for each night’s stay.
The Service
As part of the Four Sisters Collection, the service is warm and gracious with a personalized touch. Staff are quick to offer local recommendations, whether guests are seeking the best beaches, wine tasting rooms, or a romantic place for dinner. In addition to the inn’s signature breakfast and wine hour, an array of complimentary perks adds even more value to the stay. Free onsite parking is available for one car per reservation. The inn’s cruiser bikes encourage guests to ride the oceanfront path along West Cliff Drive or venture into downtown car-free. To enjoy a day on the sand, the inn offers beach towels, toys, and other beach gear.
The Destination
With its enviable location on West Cliff Drive, the inn is ideally positioned for exploring Santa Cruz. Guests can stroll or bike the scenic path while surfers ride the waves below. Along the route, an iconic bronze sculpture of a surfer with his board serves as a tribute. Less than a mile from the inn, Lighthouse Point is home to the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse and the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, which chronicles the history of surfing in Santa Cruz. The cliffs at Lighthouse Point provide the best vantage point for watching surfers try to catch the legendary waves at Steamer Lane.
Through the winter months, the cliffs also serve as a great perch for spotting gray whales passing through the Monterey Bay, as well as seals and otters playing offshore. At the end of West Cliff Drive, thousands of monarch butterflies congregate each fall and winter in a protected grove of eucalyptus at Natural Bridges State Beach. The park is also known for its tidepools and namesake rock formations rising above the waves.
From the inn, guests can wander down to Cowell’s Beach and stroll out along the wharf to grab a cup of clam chowder or rent a kayak. A bit further down Beach Street, take a ride on a historic carousel or wooden rollercoaster at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Just inland, Downtown Santa Cruz beckons with vibrant shops and eateries, including Bookshop Santa Cruz, Birichino, and Walnut Avenue Café. The long-standing Kuumbwa Jazz Center attracts talented musicians to its intimate concert space several nights a week. A couple of blocks away, Tea House Spa is a soothing oasis offering massage and private hot tubs overlooking tranquil bamboo gardens.
In Santa Cruz’s hip Westside neighborhood, several new wine tasting rooms, craft beer pubs, distilleries, and eateries have cropped up in recent years. The Swift Street Courtyard houses no less than six tasting rooms featuring local wines and live music on weekends. Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing and Humble Sea Brewing Co. are both just a stone’s throw away. Also nearby, Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen pours drinks featuring spirits locally crafted in copper stills.
