Three lush boutique properties promise a restorative experience in Southern California–or a bit farther south.
CASA TWIN DOLPHIN
Casa Twin Dolphin is a private rental residence at the Montage Los Cabos, the Orange County-based luxury brand’s first international property. The 9,580-square-foot structure was designed by Montecito-based architect Robert C. Glazier and Mexico City firm Bernardi + Peschard Arquitectura. The luxuriously furnished interior is imbued with the spirit of modern Mexico–bold and colorful– and each of the three master suites boasts its own spa-like bathroom. The exterior features private courtyards, two infinity-edge pools and a Jacuzzi, expansive gathering spaces, an outdoor kitchen and dining area, and a sunken fire pit. The casa includes a butler, daily chef-prepared breakfasts, a family-style barbecue, a mezcal tasting, a nightly aromatherapy menu, spa treatments, fitness classes and access to watersports equipment. An on-call shaman is also at the ready for guests whose needs are more spiritual than material.
PHOTO: COURTESY MLC ARCHITECTURAL
The Hoxton hotel opened this October in the former L.A. Railway Authority building, on the corner of 11th Street and Broadway. The 174 rooms are by London- based Ennismore Design Studio and pay homage to the 1922 Beaux Arts structure with French-inspired wall paneling, chevron flooring and decorative accents including handmade tiles and retro-style telephones and radios. For the public areas, Ennismore partnered with Soho House to create Art Deco-style spaces that reflect early Hollywood and the nearby Mayan and Orpheum theaters. The hotel features three dining options headed by Sunday Hospitality: Sibling Rival, an all-day American diner; Pilot, a rooftop restaurant and bar with a Mediterranean flair; and a basement bar scheduled to open next year. The L.A. location marks the ninth Hoxton property and continues the focus of creating welcoming hotels that make guests feel like locals with in-house cultural events.
PHOTO COURTESY THE HOXTON, DOWNTOWN L.A.
Since the 1920s, the Army-Navy YMCA building on West Broadway has been a San Diego icon. Built in the Italian Renaissance style, it has hosted tens of thousands of military guests over its near-century of hospitality and in 2007 the structure was designated historic by the city. Restored by Oram Hotels and enlivened by designer Sormeh Rienne, the refined interiors evoke a European boutique hotel with a decidedly casual feel. The colorful Guild Bar is a highlight of the lobby and just steps away is Luca, the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant headed by acclaimed chef Justin Vaiciunas. The 162 guest rooms are minimal in design with custom furnishings in a palette of soft blue, gray and green. Crowning the property is a two-bedroom penthouse featuring private gardens and expansive views of neighboring Little Italy and San Diego Bay.
