"Why book? Don’t let the grandiose water fountains at the entrance deter you. The Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach is casual luxury at its best, where relaxation and fun pair up, whether chilling at the pool in a cabana, hitting the golf links in front of the resort, or sharing dinner with friends around the fire pit at the beach club. Set the scene The beach cities of Orange County range from quaint to trendy, but almost all of them get crowded, especially in the summer. Yet further down in Dana Point is where the crowds thin out and the gorgeous coastline of rocky cliffs, endless beaches, and bright blue ocean waves come into focus. The Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach sits a little bit back from the beach, about a half mile—and pulling up to the resort along a fairly nondescript suburban thoroughfare, you might wonder if you made a wrong turn somewhere. But the Italianate fountains at the entrance is your first hint that a resort wonderland awaits. Winding around the fountains, you’ll arrive at the hotel’s porte cochere, framed by two pillars and another towering water fountain. Once inside the lobby, the front desk seems almost like an afterthought compared with the stunning lit-up bar and open-air terrace at the back with views of the pools, the golf course (designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.), and the ocean. This lobby bar and terrace, 33 North, is the main hub for guests–stylish parents with young children in designer outfits and often accompanied by nattily dressed grandparents—to catch up with one another at the resort throughout the day. Other popular family spots are found around the pools and down at the beach club. At night, the resort makes it possible to have a choose-your-own-relaxation-adventure. Guests divide themselves between the property’s two restaurants (more on those below) or else, they hop an adorable little tram down to the private Monarch Bay Beach Club for drinks, dinner, and a show—the sunset. Of course, there’s always room service which is not just delightfully decadent, but sometimes the necessary call after a long day of fun. The backstory Built in 2001 atop the Monarch Bay, this hotel operated for many years as a St. Regis resort. In early 2021, after a few years as an independent hotel, the Monarch Beach Resort joined the Waldorf Astoria Collection, the luxury brand from Hilton Hotels. Aside from bringing the property up to Waldorf Astoria’s luxury standards, Hilton is also extending all of its Hilton Honors privileges to its members so they can earn or redeem points with their stay. The rooms Given the palatial layout of the resort, it’s to be expected that the guest rooms will be fit for a king...bed. In the resort-view rooms, which start at an ample 535 square feet, the king bed is the focal point, topped with oversized white pillows and crisp white linens imprinted with monarch butterflies, a nod to the area’s colorful inhabitants. Soothing and subtle ocean-inspired tones like sea glass and cream bedeck the walls, chaise lounges, and curtains. The bathrooms are equally royal, complete with Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries, a soaking tub with a window out to the guest room (and shutters to close for privacy), and dual marble vanities. The amenities are on par with what you expect from a five-star resort—a stocked mini-fridge, a drawer of gourmet snacks, robes, slippers, a Keurig machine, fast Wi-Fi, and plenty of USB ports to plug in your devices. Another nice touch was the large, well-lit mirror on the wall by the door so you can quickly critique your style before you head out. Despite having 400 rooms and several room categories, there isn’t much variation in decor, but there is plenty of variation in the views. If you’re seeking ocean views, you’ll have to book that room category, which comes at a premium over the resort views. For families, there are several rooms on the ground floor with patios that lead out to the pool area. For couples on a romantic getaway, a room higher up and on the northern side of the property will give a slightly more isolated vibe. Food and drink Chef Michael Mina grabs much of the culinary attention here with his Bourbon Steak restaurant just off the lobby, where angus and wagyu cuts are served alongside chilled shellfish and rich dishes like truffle mac and cheese and Duroc pork fried rice. The wine list is extensive but it sometimes gets shown up by the fresh, inventive cocktails, with a few crafted by the chef’s wife, Diane Mina. Everyday restaurant Aveo Table + Bar has a Mediterranean-inspired menu and unbeatable views on the patio overlooking the resort’s expansive lawn area, pools, and golf course. Down at the pools—there are two, with one dedicated just for families—Sombra cantina serves poolside favorites like chicken fingers and salads as well as Mexican dishes like ceviche and fish tacos. Go ahead, order that cucumber-jalapeño carafe for your crew. You’re on vacation. Yet the real treat of the resort’s dining scene is the Monarch Bay Beach Club restaurant. It’s only open to overnight resort guests and private members, which makes it an exclusive reservation to get. The dining room is small but cozy with simple American dishes on the menu like salads and steaks. The space feels more like a clubhouse than a hotel restaurant with bookshelves lined with seafaring tomes and photography books of Orange County, except this club comes with unobstructed views of the beach and ocean. A small bar and a wrap-around terrace offer additional ocean vantage points but plenty of people also opt for the low tables and chairs near the outdoor fireplace in the back, which are especially popular on cold nights (and in California, no matter the day-time temperature, it’s always cool at night.) The spa The Waldorf Astoria is opening a brand new spa this summer, exclusively for hotel guests, promising results-based clinical treatments, wellness-oriented add ons, and its own pool. The area The nearby area is full of high-end master planned communities, a common scene for Orange County, but a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway through the historic (for California, anyways) beach cities of Laguna Beach, Corona del Mar, and Newport Beach is well worth undertaking for a day. Crystal Cove Beach in Newport is an idyllic spot to explore for tide pooling or surfing. Or you can visit the Fun Zone of Balboa Island for a quintessential summer-at-the-boardwalk memory. Dana Point’s most popular event, however, is the Pageant of the Masters, held from July through September, which recreates famous works of arts using live actors. The service As a five-star hotel, The Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach takes service very seriously, with friendly on-the-dot responses from staffers, whether a guest is at the valet, by the pool, requesting toiletries from housekeeping, or speaking with the concierge. Yet the most helpful service is actually one that doesn’t require any face-to-face contact: A texting service adopted during the pandemic is manned by real employees, and is amazingly efficient, with answers on restaurant hours, resort services, and even room delivery for items purchased from the Parcel + Post gift shop. If you can, opt for the turndown service. A freshly made bed, dimmed lights, and chocolate wrapped in packaging that resembles a monarch beach butterfly is a dreamy way to end the day. For families This is the ultimate refined family-friendly getaway, with enough options to keep kids entertained and plenty of amenities to make traveling families comfortable, but without being too “kiddie” centric. The family pool, tucked behind the main pool, is easily accessible from a few guest rooms on the ground floor. A Monarch Beach Kids Club nearby is open for children ages 5-12, and there are plenty of games for kids to play on the great lawn like ping-pong, giant chess, and catch. Fireplaces dotted throughout the property are great for s’mores at night, and the restaurants, even the high-end Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak, all have special kids menus. Anything left to mention? The resort does have a daily resort fee, which includes group fitness classes (held daily), beach towels, chairs and umbrellas, bicycle rentals, preferred-green fees for golf, laundry of workout gear, two bottles of water daily, and a house car service. There is also valet parking for $60 per day, as self-parking is not available. Pets under 35 pounds are welcome, but require a $200 non-refundable fee." - Juliana Shallcross
