It might be the location on Steinbeck’s immortal Cannery Row, or it might be the ambiance and atmosphere of sea-breezy luxury, but there is definitely a touch of magic to the Monterey Plaza Hotel.
Built in 1985 on a footprint of the historical cannery, with 1000 linear feet of oceanfront property, it occupies four and a half acres of land – almost an entire city block and sits practically on the water.
At night, wrapped in a warm glow streaming from its windows, one of the hotel’s three buildings can pass for a docked cruise liner.
That’s how it looked from my room balcony, where I was nibbling on California cheese, admiring Pacific sunset and the twinkling lights of Santa Cruz across the Monterey Bay, and listening to the rhythmical rumble of waves down below.
I stayed just one night, coming to the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa for its Schooners restaurant opening, but it seemed all the more reason to make the best of it.
There are at least two things not to be missed at the Plaza – the newly expanded and reopened Schooners Coastal Kitchen & Bar, and Vista Blue Spa.
At the restaurant opening, VP & General Manager John Narigi introduced several distinguished guests from the city of Monterey government, the Woodside Hotels headquarters, and the Plaza Executive Chef James Waller.
Schooners, the ever-popular waterfront bar, suspended over the Bay, is now a posh full-size restaurant, beautifully remodeled, and with extensive upscale menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Fresh oysters and crab claws; beet and goat cheese salad in Little Gem leaves; scallop and shrimp ceviche, tuna poke, and grilled halibut were just a few of the Chef Waller’s tasty bites to compliment Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte from France, a bottle of which was “broken” for the occasion.
Signature desserts included Angel’s Food & Devil’s Sail; Schooners brownies, mango upside down cake, and peanut butter chocolate shortbread.
Next morning, waking up to the symphony of waves and seagulls, I couldn’t wait to see the nautical-themed bar with an outdoor terrace from where the guests can observe sea otters resting in kelp beds and sea lions swimming right underneath the dining area.
Painted in bright pastel tones, the terrace is warmed by the sun during the day, and employs inventive heaters with open flame burning inside a glass tube at night.
The bar is decorated with ship deck and sail motif, and has an inviting feel of a leisurely tropical lounge, only brand spanking new and squeaky clean.
It helps that the bar starts bright and early with serving lunch at 11:30 and switches to bar food at five to stay open till midnight.
At breakfast, I fought a temptation to order Schooners trademark crab cakes my table mates were raving about. In anticipation of my spa treatment later in the morning I decided to go with a lighter fare of smoked salmon with cream cheese, tomatoes, red onions, capers, and lemon.
I could’ve sat at the Schooners enjoying my orange juice and coffee in a sunlit nook all morning long, but I had to see more of the Plaza – a miniature town of endless pleasures for all senses.
The Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa has 290 deluxe guestrooms decorated with classic Biedermeier-style furniture and fabrics; luxurious penthouse suites with formal living rooms and stocked wet bars; three grandiose ballrooms, and plentiful meeting spaces. No wonder its popularity with group gatherings of all kinds runs high. A hundred weddings a year is celebrated at the charming little plaza with a leaping dolphin sculpture in the center of the Plaza Hotel.
Its Cannery Row location brings all the area attractions and activities to its doorstep. The world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium is just three blocks away. Fisherman’s Wharf, Old Town Monterey and the Maritime Museum are within walking distance as well. Kayaking, sailing, whale watching, scuba diving in the protected marine sanctuary of Monterey Bay, and golf at 19 local championship courses are readily available to the hotel guests.
It would be unwise, though, to leave the hotel without a visit to Vista Blue Spa on the top floor opening to a sundeck and whirlpool tub on the roof.
The spa and full-service fitness center are one well-equipped facility – clean, cozy, with comforting light, earthy color scheme, Buddhist art pieces on the walls, and the best beauty products in rather vast assortment. The staff of Vista Blue is its best asset, making everyone feel welcome and at ease and helping to customize a spa treatment.
After a heavenly massage I poured myself a glass of strawberry-infused water by a fireplace on the roof and indulged in lounging on the deck under the cloudless sky. The month was February.
The Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa is the premier resort on the Monterey Peninsula and a recipient of the 2011 Forbes Four-Star Award. It is located at 400 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940. Call Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa at (831) 646-1700 or (800) 334-3999 or visit at: www.montereyplazahotel.com.
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