Steph C.
Yelp
My husband and I did an overnight in Paso Robles a couple weeks ago and snapped up the last available room at Hotel Cheval. This was our third trip to Paso and our first time staying at this hotel, which is small and often booked out weeks in advance.
We arrived late in the day, a little after 5:00, and the desk clerk knew who we were when we walked into the lobby. We were the last guests to check in, and she greeted my husband by name before asking for mine (he was the one who made the reservation). She was very friendly, and she sat us down and gave us a brief orientation on life at Hotel Cheval. Then she guided us across the courtyard to the Firetail room--one of sixteen on the property, each named for a horse.
It was a lovely room, large and inviting with a king bed and a sizable living area. Everything was clean and comfortable. Our room was directly off of the courtyard, as I believe most of the rooms are, so there was some noise when there were people out and about right outside our door.
The courtyard was wonderful, though, one of the chief attractions of Hotel Cheval. It was a cheerful space with lots of seating and roaring wood fireplaces, so luxurious on a cold night. There was s'mores service in the evening, provided by a super nice man who toasted the marshmallows and made the s'mores on demand, from an extensive printed menu. We got the Bullseye, with Reese's peanut butter cup, and the Silver, with Ande's thin mint chocolate, melting with gooey marshmallows between squares of graham cracker. The s'mores came on neat little plates with a side of wet wipes.
We also hit the Pony Club Bar for a round of pre-dinner cocktails and breakfast in the morning. It was a pleasant hotel bar, and I really liked the breakfast, which was included with our stay. The food was good and simple, described as elevated continental. We were given menus with all the options and told to check off whatever we wanted. I got smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, avocado toast, and a fruit cup with orange and grapes, as well as a satisfying latte. We ate at the bar, and it was all very fine and cozy.
We had a splendid time at Hotel Cheval. It was such a delightful place, a true boutique hotel with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and character in each square foot. The nightly rate was expensive, but there was no nickel-and-diming after that, with all amenities included, even parking. The location was perfect, too, smack in the middle of downtown Paso Robles. I don't know that we'd stay here every visit, but it was an idyllic destination for a one-night getaway. I look forward to coming back for more s'mores and equestrian charm.