CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA – CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA – A fashionable, sexy hotel with a perfect location on the beach. And just a two-minute walk to an adorable downtown.
The Beach Terrace Inn is a sleek hotel that’s been given a just-right facelift, with tons of stylish touches and just the right amount of cheeky attitude.
The check-in area is a bright spot at street level with big windows and an outside seating area with ocean views. Look for a minimalist design that’s still warm and friendly, with lots of light-coloured wood and a few tall, spiky plants.
I loved the little paper holder for our room key, which featured a tall, blonde woman in a retro, one-piece bathing suit holding a beach ball, with the words “Time to Play.”
Rooms (there are 48) begin at the beach, which is a few levels below the lobby owing to the property being built on a small cliff that runs along this part of Carlsbad Beach. Our room, 24, was probably 800 square feet, with a big-screen TV, a king-sized bed, a sofa, two chairs, white California blinds, a big desk for working and a mini-fridge. The bathroom was enormous and had a big shower and lots of storage, which is a bonus.
The breakfast room at The Beach Terrace Inn. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The room was directly over the top of the beach, making it perfect for an evening cocktail and for sunset viewing. My dad had a room that was a little smaller but still quite large, with a view of the pool and the beach.
The pool is quite striking, flanked on the ocean side by bright orange umbrellas and panes of glass to shield sunbathers from the wind. There’s also a small hot tub and dispensers with cold water.
Their new breakfast area opened the day after we arrived, so our timing was perfect. It’s a stunning space that sits on the top floor, with a side patio for al fresco dining and great beach views from inside and out. They’ve done a great job with the décor, too, with more light-coloured wood balanced with ocean blue accents. Breakfast is included in the rate and it’s quite good; fresh fruit, yogurt, breakfast sandwiches with eggs, pastries, strong coffee, juice and much more.
Pull up a beach chair and enjoy the ocean breeze at Beach Terrace Inn in Carlsbad, California. JIM BYERS PHOTO
We enjoyed a memorable meal at Chandlers Chandlers Chandlers at Cape Rey, a hotel in south Carlsbad that’s right across the road from the ocean.
Chef Teri McIlwain likes to showcase local fish and works with fishermen who supply fresh seafood for a select number of area restaurants. She also grows many of her own fruits and vegetables in the hotel garden, including apricots, guava, lemons and greens.
We had a wonderful Corvina sea bass encrusted with lobster and served with a creamy risotto, broccoli and cauliflower. McIlwain also makes a slight creamy cioppino, an Italian-style fish stew that’s especially popular in northern California. It was bursting with plump, sweet shrimp, mussels, clams and fish, with just the right amount of spice. Perhaps the best I’ve had anywhere.
The Rey of Sunshine is a great-tasting, light drink with Tito’s vodka, elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice and mint, while the blood orange old-fashioned is a nice twist on a classic cocktail.
Try the cioppino at Chandler’s in Carlsbad. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Park 101, about a five-minute walk from the Beach Terrace Inn, features craft beers by the score, a patio filled with youthful diners and very good barbeque specialties. We had great ribs with a nice dry rub, arugula cole slaw, fried zucchini chips with truffle oil (addictive) and roasted sprouts with walnuts and craisins. You order your food at the bar and then pull up a spot at one of their picnic tables, many of which are outside. There’s also a rooftop patio. They also have big TV’s for sporting events.
Shorehouse Kitchen has been in town less than a year (it’s part of a small San Diego chain, if you like, of two restaurants). There’s a wonderful, sunny patio with an opaque cover that keeps out the sun but lets in the light. I had a good salad with lots of greens, pineapple, tons of macadamia nuts and slightly overcooked shrimp, as well as a terrific chili or was it soup with white beans and a side of cornbread.
Both the atmosphere and food are top-notch at Campfire in Carlsbad. Check the teepee at the back of the patio! JIM BYERS PHOTO
Senor Grubby’s doesn’t sound very Mexican but it seems to attract a lot of locals. We had very good tacos with great tortilla chips and super authentic salsa, plus inexpensive but small margaritas.
We stopped at a downtown restaurant called Campfire for brunch on our last morning. It’s a novel approach, with almost? Everything cooked over a wood fire. The back section is an old Quonset hut, and there’s even a teepee for kids to play in outside.
The cheesy eggs with potato, scallion and creamy cheese were nice. But the quiche took the cake; served up with chiles, spinach, pork belly, bok choy and torpedo onions in a flaky crust. A phenomenal dish served by a super engaging waitress we just loved. The bar looks terrific but we didn’t try a morning drink.
MORE INFORMATION: https://visitcarlsbad.com/
NOTE: My flight to California, my room at the Beach Terrace Inn and my meals and activities were paid for by Visit Carlsbad. Officials at Visit Carlsbad did not see or endorse this story prior to publication.
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HELP! Your reviews of the best of the best in San Diego has by far been the most informative. However, I am still having a heck of a time deciding where is best to stay. We (2 adults, 1 o) are planning to visit San Diego in July but are flexible with the dates. From this page and other sites I have reviewed it seems as though the Catamaran and the Hotel Del Coronado are excellent choices. I love the idea of the studio with a kitchenette at the Cat but the HDC sounds lovely too. We will be renting a car to travel to the attractions (Legoland, Torrey Pines, etc.) so we want to be on the beach. I am beyond overwhelmed at making a decision. Is Coronado that much more appealing than La Jolla? Is La Jolla easier and withing walking distance to more family friendly eats, etc. Any insight you could provide would be greatly appreciated.