Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa

Every visit here is wonderful. Their location right on the water can't be beat. If you can swing it, get a room on the ocean side - it's worth it because you will be rewarded with views of sea otters, sea lions, birds, and boats. Rooms are spacious, clean, and quiet. The hotel is elegant but with warm hospitality. I've stayed there 5 times and each experience has been wonderful. Shout out to the super friendly and fun parking valet folks and the concierge staff who reach out before your stay to see if you need anything. The front counter people are nice (painfully polite) but the friendliest folks are elsewhere in the hotel. I've been there when it was quiet in the dead of winter and also when it was bursting at the seams with events and the experience has always been consistent. I've visited the spa a few times and that's also been a lovely experience. I'm a traveler and it's one of my favorite hotels. It is not cheap so if you want that, there are lots of options in Monterey. This hotel does deliver value and keeps their promises for a great experience.

We stayed at Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. The hotel acknowledged the occasion by gifting us a bottle of wine, which was a nice gesture, though the quality could have been better for a luxury property. We booked through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, and the upgrade was honored. The upgraded room was very spacious and comfortable—more than enough space for us and our child, which we really appreciated. However, our late checkout request was denied, which was disappointing, especially since late checkout is typically a benefit of booking through Amex FHR. Valet parking was expensive but expected for a hotel of this caliber. What was frustrating was that EV charging was not complimentary. Paying over $40 for parking plus an additional $20 for charging feels excessive. Luxury hotels should offer complimentary EV charging, as many comparable properties already do. We dined at Schooners, and unfortunately the food was a letdown. Dishes were either overly salty or completely bland, which was surprising given the hotel’s reputation. Checkout itself was quick and not busy, but despite requesting an emailed receipt, it was never sent automatically. I had to call three days later to have it emailed, which should not be necessary at a hotel of this standard. Overall, the hotel has a beautiful location, spacious rooms, and attentive gestures, but several service and value-related issues prevented the experience from fully matching the expectations of a luxury anniversary stay.

We recently stayed at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa from February 20–22 to celebrate our wedding anniversary and my wife’s birthday. Although we initially had a misunderstanding about our room type, Miranda Zubiate, Front Office Supervisor, handled the situation with remarkable professionalism, patience, and respect. Later, we discovered that the room upgrade had actually been arranged by our daughters as a surprise gift. We returned to apologize, and Miranda responded with the same grace and warmth she showed from the beginning. She represents true hospitality — calm under pressure, respectful, and professional. The hotel is fortunate to have her.

We have been coming to the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa for many years to celebrate our wedding anniversaries and every year it just keeps getting better. This year out did last year! Chris Sommers and his staff are top notch and make us feel like family every time we visit! The hotel beds are so comfortable and the room is so quiet it is very hard to get out of bed! The bathrooms again were impeccably clean, the carpets look brand new and the views are absolutely amazing! The spa and sauna on the top floor gives amazing views of the entire coastline as far one can see! This year Chef Micheal Rotondo and his staff prepared the most delicious Thanksgiving Day dinner which even better than last year which was very tough to beat! We followed up at the Coastal Kitchen on Saturday night where Chef Michael astounded us again with his 5 course tasting meal paired up with Conrad’s wine pairing selections! The Coastal Kitchen is THE BEST restaurant on the Monterey Peninsula by far and is a 3 star Michellin quality gem where we were seated amongst the best viewing table overlooking the Monterey Bay! Do yourself a favor and visit the Coastal Kitchen for a dining experience you will never forget!! There is no better value for the money. Thank You Chris, Conrad, Chef Michael, Rachel, Sarah, Jesus, and Eli at the Coastal Kitchen. Hilary, Myrna, at the Front Desk. Anthony and Max in the valet and to the rest of the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa staff for such a wonderful and memorable experience in Monterey Bay. We will be back to see you next year again!

The staff was kind and accommodating. The room was clean and comfortable. Great location right on the beach and a short walk from the aquarium and everything else along Cannery Row. Would definitely stay here again.

My husband and I stayed here for 3 nights around the New Year holiday. We loved the location and how central it was to so many things we were doing (aquarium, walking trails, restaurants, coffee, etc). We ended up parking in the garage near the aquarium that was $27 per night. Not sure what the overnight valet was but we didn’t mind walking the couple blocks to it when we needed our car and wanted to save on cost. No issues the entire time parking there. Hotel staff put bags in our room and made check in easy. They also had umbrellas for us to use if it was going to be raining on our walks. The room was so clean and has everything you could need. Our bed was super comfy as well. Housekeeping each day did an amazing job too. We loved our stay here and would definitely recommend/stay again in the future.

It'll be the best hotel in Monterey for sure and the grounds and staff are great. The hotel is right in the middle of all the action. Schooners has some of the best clam chowder. The roof top fireplace, hot tub and sauna are great place to relax. The rooms come equipped with a kettle and a Nespresso machine, absolutely perfect! Highly recommend the partial ocean view. We left the window open all night to sleep with the waves. Room 1106 was great! The only constructive feedback I would give is that the bathroom,specifically the showers need an upgrade and there needs to be consistent hot water with great water pressure. Most people care about 4 things in a hotel: clean, shower water pressure, bed comfort and cold AC.

The location is great, beautiful grounds, nice ambiance inside the hotel. Our thermostat didn't work, no fan in the bathroom, beds were too soft. TV was outdated and slow- not a good UI- hard to connect. No USBC outlets. Getting to the spa was a trek. The hotel has multiple buildings and sort of a maze of passages. The service was good however, especially housekeeping did a nice job. It didn't seem quite worth the money and there were some basic amenities missing

Centrally located yet away from the hustle bustle. Valet was the best with in/out privileges using an app notification. The place is efficient. Easy to store luggage and they brought it to your room. Room was nice. Had all we needed. Location was easy in and out as there are people walking all over. The outside area was nice to hang around where we saw otters and sea lions. And restaurants to choose from nearby. And when you choose, you can easily walk over to touristy stuff. Valet service was the best!

I stayed at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, a stunning location with lovely amenities. However, I'm leaving this review because of an unfortunate and disappointing encounter at the front desk that deserves attention. While asking for directions, I politely said I hadn't understood something and asked if it could be repeated. In response, the front desk receptionist exaggeratedly gestured with her hands and said, "I guess that's how you Italians understand better." As an Italian woman, I found this both stereotyping and demeaning. I didn't appreciate being reduced to a caricature of my culture. I am from Northern Italy, where we don't fit that stereotype--and even if we did, mocking cultural traits in a hospitality setting is simply unprofessional. I brought this to the attention of the manager, hoping for a sincere acknowledgment. Instead, the receptionist defended her comment by saying she's Italian too--implying that gave her license to say something offensive. It didn't. And it still doesn't. What could've been a beautiful stay was tainted by a lack of awareness, and worse, a lack of meaningful accountability. I hope this hotel takes this as a learning moment: hospitality is about respect, not just amenities. When a guest takes the time to speak up, meet them with real curiosity--not excuses.

I wanted to love my romantic weekend getaway but unfortunately this "upscale" hotel fell extremely short. Typically, hotels go out of their way to make you feel at home, MPH&S does exactly the opposite. If you like to be told 'no' repeatedly, or if you love to spend unnecessary money, please book a stay here, otherwise, if you'd like to know what it's REALLY like, please continue on. PROS: It isn't all bad, I'm not some grouchy disgruntled patron. I did like some parts of the hotel. The beds were good, the coffee and snacks at Tidal Coffee were delicious, and the dinner at Schooners was amazing. HOWEVER, that's really all the juice I could squeeze out of this lemon of a hotel. (1) Valet only, no choice. I'm very particular about my car as it has a lower front bumper and unless you know how to angle out of a driveway, it could scrape. After initial check-in I said I'd rather park it myself (not allowed) so I relented and gave them the keys. Immediately the valet scraped my bumper leaving driveway. After they took my car, I then found out that I wouldn't be allowed to even access the vehicle (not allowed). I wanted to grab something that was buried in my glovebox but I was only allowed to (A) have them go get it (and rummage through my personal items, no thank you, defeats the whole reasoning behind a valet key) or (B) have them pull the car back up front so I can grab it and then they re-park. As mentioned about my bumper, I didn't like option #B and option #A was an invasion of privacy. I said screw it, I took my car and parked it downtown at the 24hr Cannery Row Parking Garage. Strike #1. (2) Our room was on the spa suites side (on the Tidal Coffee side), DO NOT GET A ROOM ON THIS SIDE OF THE HOTEL! We arrived Thursday night and we're awoken from 5:30AM - 6AM on a Friday morning while the garbage man rolled, emptied, put back over a dozen trash cans for the Chart House and the Hotel. The windows are paper thin, you hear every crash, bang, garbage bin. I sleep with a fan and noise machine and I'm not a light sleeper but this was terrible. I chalked it up to it being a weekday and figured the rest of our stay was safe. Wrong again. On Sunday mornings at 6:30AM/7AM they have laundry delivery service and you know what sounds exactly like an incessant alarm clock? A big truck backing up. BE WARNED! Do not get a room on the spa suites side of the hotel unless you are up at / before 5AM every morning. Strike #2. (3) When Sunday check-out day finally came around, I thought I was finally out of this hotel and free and clear and on my way home. When I went to get a luggage cart to bring up to my room so I can pull my car around, I was told I was not allowed (sensing a theme here?) to use a luggage cart, it would have to be brought up and loaded by a valet / bellhop. Are. You. Serious. So I have to wait and have someone handle my personal items just so you guys can collect tips? Nevermind, I hand-carried all my luggage to my car. Strike #3. Needless to say, I will never be returning to MPH&S, and I honestly wouldn't recommend it to anyone either. You can get a much better hotel that makes you feel special and at home (especially at this price point) if you look elsewhere. For such an upscale place to force themselves into my experience (we must drive your car, you can't go to it, don't touch the carts), I felt completely put off. I went into the weekend expecting to be treated like royalty by selecting such a highly rated and highly touted hotel. Only to leave the weekend with dark black circles under my eyes and feeling like I just paid over $1K for a half-way house for parolees.

The Monterey Plaza Hotel is a very classy place. The decor, the views, the staff, the rooms.. Loved all of that. My only issues were the water pressure in the showers, very low. Our room was street side, and the street was very loud. Still, the weather was so lovely we slept with the windows open despite the noise. The restaurants were great! The lobby lounge/bar was a highlight! We really enjoyed meeting some of the other guests, listening to the piano, and having a drink before our dinner reservation.

If you're planning a trip to Monterey, I highly recommend staying at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. The location is unbeatable--right on the waterfront with sweeping views of Monterey Bay. You're just a short walk from popular spots like Cannery Row and the Aquarium, but far enough away to enjoy a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere. Check-in was quick and easy, and the room was absolutely wonderful. Ours overlooked the ocean and marina--we fell asleep to the soothing sound of waves and even heard sea lions in the distance! The beds were incredibly comfortable, which made for a great night's sleep. Breakfast at the hotel's restaurant was another highlight. We sat outside and were pleasantly surprised by how delicious everything was--it really exceeded our expectations.

wonderful time beautiful place amazing smell when I walk in. The people are nice and the drinks are good in the lobby area

We spent two nights at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa in June while attending my husband's work event and the Monterey Grand Prix. Location is great as it's walking distance to many restaurants and shops. Parking is street or valet. We chose street parking to save money, but keep in mind there's a time limit. After our experience, we would recommend valet for added peace of mind. Check-in went smoothly. Service was excellent throughout our stay. Every staff member we encountered was friendly and eager to help. Most meals for the event were at the hotel, and the staff at the restaurant, Schooner's, was equally exceptional. There's also live piano music by the bar on certain nights. Our room was spacious and comfortable. It featured a king bed, large flat screen TV, a small refrigerator, and great views of the bay. One night, we chose to sleep with the patio doors open and listen to the relaxing sound of the waves. We had no issues with our room. We enjoyed our stay at Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa and hope to return in the future!

I am a long returning guest of the hotel. I inquired last week two different times about availability and if there were any special promotions available. I explained to the person on the phone that I had been coming to the hotel for many years and was a part of a special frequent program she said she didn't know anything about it and hung up on me.. 2 days later I call back and basically the same response and was told that someone would get back with me. The week has gone by and I've haven't heard from anyone, not to customer service that you'd expect at a hotel that is supposed to be customer service driven

We stayed here for a business meeting. The hotel is really nice. Staff is friendly too. This is the first hotel I've stayed in where you get turn down service. The conference food is excellent. They advertised skirt steak but it tastes more like tenderloin. The beef was tender and melt in your mouth good. My room was nice. It was clean. You get two cans of water to drink. The only thing that bothered me was that you can hear everything outside. I heard the water hitting against the hotel, the otters, birds everything. Couldn't really sleep well but that's me. I did enjoy my stay.

Amazing place!!! Vibes were immaculate. Everybody was so thoughtful and kind, ensuring that we were comfortable throughout our stay. Love how you can text the team so checking in and out was quite nice Definitely make time for the spa. They have two oversized tubs overlooking the water and the view is amazing. We loved our time up there. Also love how they play live music in the lobby and enjoyed yummy apps and wine before dinner. Dinner at Schooner's was amazing! The only complaint that I would have is the fact that they don't use top shelf liquor anymore in their drinks. Got one of their specialty drinks that doesn't taste the same and it was quite underwhelming. Would love to see better liquor used next time. Highly recommend for a romantic or self care getaway!!

Great location right by the water and walking distance to a lot of restaurants, the aquarium and even a CVS which was helpful for us. Their check in process is a little confusing as they don't let you take your own luggage up if you use a luggage cart but they also expect you to take a ticket to the front desk so they can then inform the bellman to bring it up...if you forget, your luggage cart just sits at the valet area which is what happened to us and I came back down to figure out what was going on. Also our credit card membership gives us upgrade eligibility but when I was at the front desk our agent indicated that we couldn't upgrade given they were at max capacity ~ however the man checking in right next to me had the same credit card membership and was granted an upgrade so it seemed a little disingenuous. They 'compensated' us with a bottle of wine instead.

This hotel is phenomenal We booked a partial ocean view room with a king bed for our anniversary and we were not disappointed. The staff was exceptional and attentive from the moment we arrived. The hotel restaurant (The Schooner) should not be missed. We stopped in for drinks and dessert and our server brought us complimentary champagne! Come for a spa day, weekend getaway, birthday or anniversary you will not be disappointed

My family and I just got back from a two night stay at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa. Everything up until the last interaction we had at the hotel was 5 stars. Here's why I'm giving the hotel 2 stars. Prior to meeting the valet for my truck, I went to the front desk and checked out. She informed me my card on file hadn't gone through and that's when I realized I must have used my card for the online check-in that expired during our visit. It was a non-issue. I simply gave her my new card, paid and that was it. The valet drove up shortly after with my truck and proceeded to question us about our payment and ask me THREE times if I had paid. To which I repeated myself THREE times that yes I had paid our bill. Each time he asked, he looked at me like he did not believe me and his tone became more questioning. "Did you speak to the front desk bc there is an issue with your billing?" "Yes I just paid." "You paid?" "Yes I paid." "So you paid the full bill?" "Yes I paid the bill." At this point I was getting very frustrated and embarrassed. He's discussing this openly in front of everyone else that was around and treating us like we were about to ditch out on our bill. I didn't realize the valet at Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa were also accounts receivable or front desk management. Why was he even questioning me? Why was he questioning me repeatedly? Is it because I drive a Toyota Tundra and not a more luxurious vehicle? Sure felt like it. It felt completely inappropriate. Especially since we walked out the front lobby right next to the front desk to get our truck so that should have been an indicator that we just wrapped up our bill. It felt snobby and made us feel like we didn't belong. Even though we tipped every time the valet picked up and dropped off our truck and we tip housekeeping. Even after my husband got the keys, he brought it up AGAIN that there was a note on our account. Unbelievable. Aside from that interaction, the hotel is lovely, very comfortable, very clean and it is in a great location.

My review is based on comparisons to other hotels I've gone to within the same price point. Pros- location is amazing! Right on the water, which makes for great views... if you're on the ocean side, in the gym, or one of their restaurants. Beautiful views....truly. Cons- for the price point, I was pretty disappointed in everything outside of the location. Service- I noted two times before arrival (once upon booking, once upon online check-in) that we required a feather free room. At check-in at the front, I also reminded the hotel about it... and to my disappointment, we walked into a room with down pillows and down comforters! Grrrr. They did change it out, but still pretty frustrating. Gym and hot tub hours- both close quite early. 8pm for gym, 9pm for hot tub. I wasn't able to use either on the first day, so I walked around the hotel trying to get in some exercise. The next morning I woke up early to use the gym...wifi was down, so no TV to make the workout go faster! And the gym was hard to find (note: follow spa signs and you'll need to check-in at the spa). The Ritz and other Marriott as well as Intercontinental Hotels have 24/7 gyms, with their hot tubs and/or pools closing at 10pm. EV charging- the hotel has it, but for a fee. The Ritz and other Marriott hotels will charge for free as long as you're a hotel guest. Overall it was a pretty disappointing stay, and with price point, I'm not very happy.

The Worse customer service that I have ever had. Poor lighting in the room 1427 TV didn't work, bathroom sink very slow to drain, manager told us that if we didn't like it he would refund us our money and we could leave. Wasn't willing to discount the rate for the inconvenience. Terrible customer service.

Stunning resort. Beautiful, well kept, great service. Dinning is great here as well. Close to everything, including the Monterey Aquarium. Highly recommend.

From the valet contact when you first arrive the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa will exceed your expectations. The attentive friendly staff really helped us to enjoy this spectacular hotel. The Schooner restaurant was very accomodating for my severe food allergies. I am grateful for both well made food that tastes delicious and keeps me healthy. I travel often and this has become one of my top 10 hotels from around the world!

What can I say about this classic? The views , the service, the restaurants, the sea. Everything is an absolute vibe. The beds are comfortable and clean. Rooms are quaint, but you don't need much when you have the sea and the views. I love to wake up early and sit on the patio and just watch the sea, animals, people in boats or diving. The summer is absolutely divine. Spoil yourself and GO!

We had a reunion here and had a great time -- had private rooms for two different meals/meetings -- as well as many of the group stayed in the hotel. Convenient to the aquarium and other sights. My only minor gripe is that they only have one size of bed pillow for sleeping. I called front desk for smaller pillow but they don't offer any other sizes. Wish I'd brought my own pillow because I ended up with a sore neck...

Excellent hotel with gorgeous ocean views surrounding the property. The two bed rooms are very spacious. A lot of seating area in the lobby to lounge in. Very close walking distance to a lot of shops and restaurants. Cannery row is within walking distance.

We had an amazing stay at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. Perfect location in Cannery Row. We had a large group and several rooms. Clean hotel, nice lobby, lots of outside seating areas to enjoy the ocean. First night we ate at Schooners and Auerilio & his team took excellent care of our large party. We also walked to Monterey Bay Aquarium and dinner at the Sardine factory. Highly recommend the Monterey Plaza Hotel.

Booked this place 3 months in advance having never stayed in Monterey. Originally hoped to use the spa but found they were all booked up during our stay, but we did wait for the last minute. When we arrived, we found a charming bay front hotel with old world charm. Arriving a little before check in, we were told that our room wasn't ready but without missing a beat the concierge upgraded our room to a balcony room and sent us on our way. We spent the evening after dinner listening to the waves crash against the rocks outside and woke to the sea breeze blowing in through the patio doors. This place is a gem, tucked right between Fishermans Wharf and Cannery Row. Conveniently to everything. We hope to be back again next year. Highly recommend!!

Amazing views from this hotel. It has everything you need for a stay cation. It has a Spa, restaurant, lounge to relax and listen to music. The coffee shop across the way is very good!!! Our room was nice with a partial ocean view. Our mattress was horrible this time. It was old and lumpy. Unfortunately our neighbors had 2 tipper dogs that barked at all hours. The hotel only accepts service dogs. These were NOT service dogs. Why do people lie? Unfortunately the hotel can't question it. What a shame. We usually love it here but this trip was disappointing.

We've stayed at this hotel for years and always return. I prefer it to the Intercontinental over there. Clean rooms, nice staff. Excellent views.

You know the hotel's gonna be good when a live jazz flutist is playing in the lobby bar at check-in. My family of four spent four nights in a two-queen room for a post-Christmas holiday. It was a stay to remember. This hotel is right on the water, but just outside of the crowds to make it feel like it's giving you the best of everything. Seals float by in the waters outside. Everything, including the aquarium, is a short walk away. Also don't forget the hotel has complimentary bikes, which you can use on the adjacent bike trails. This is one of the pricier hotels in Monterey, and the restaurants are nearly-obnoxiously expensive, but I think it brings the value throughout. The gym is pleasant. The hot tubs are nice. I was even wowed by the housekeeping. And it could've been the post-Christmas comedown, but I had some of the nicest sleeps of the year in their bed. The view is priceless. Jazz flutes forever.

The Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa is our go-to hotel whenever we have our girl's trips in Monterey. Not inexpensive, but the rooms are very comfortable and the staff is always nice. It's conveniently located on Cannery Row. Valet parking is a bit steep at $40, but as street parking is hard to find it's just easier to go with the valet. Our only issue this time was that our two queen beds were really high for some reason. I mean, REALLY high. Climbing into bed was like climbing Mount Everest. And my friend who is not tall had to stand on a chair in order to climb into her bed. We've stayed here several times and we've never seen beds this high. Hopefully, these are just in a few rooms and not being rolled out into every room, or we may have to pack a portable ladder in our suitcase. Once we conquered the challenge of the beds, though, we found them to be quite comfortable. Hungry? The hotel has a few good restaurants (Schooners and Coastal Kitchen) plus a coffee place to refuel on your caffeine. I've never been to the spa but it's on my list. We love this hotel and will definitely be back. Although we'll call ahead to find out if we need to pack our ladders. Tip: Hotel pricing fluctuates quite a bit. Occasionally the hotel sends out emails with special deals on room rates, so hit their website and check out their offers online or sign up to get their offers emailed to you. If you're flexible on your dates you can usually find a good deal here.

My wife and I have been coming here for years now. The hotel itself is especially nice and an overall elevated experience. It starts when you pull in and they, ever so politely, take your luggage and stuff from your car then park your car. Then you walk into the lobby which has a sweeping view of the bay. A cute bar off to the opposite side from the checkin desk. You're checked in quickly, offered a glass of wine, and directed to your room. As you walk to your room the views and the hotel are all rather distracting, in a very good way. When you get to your room they bring your luggage right up and set it up for you in the room. Again super friendly and full of advice and answers to any questions you may have. The restaurant, Schooners, is very good with great outdoor seating with heaters for the chilly night air. The views from the restaurant are very nice. This hotel is walking distance from everything on canary row. The bay front location can't be beat. When we checked out there was a problem with the reservation. This was 100% an error on our part. But the manager, Hillary, was incredibly friendly, understanding, and helpful to resolve our error quickly and efficiently. I had to call her out for her help. It was greatly appreciated. I couldn't recommend this hotel more. Be aware, valet parking is ~$40 a day.

Upon arriving we were wonderfully greeted by every staff. Got upgraded to an end suite ocean view room. A little and slight inconvenience with the room, but Carson our hotel front desk representative was quick to handle the situation and all was good. The view is spectacular and it's walking distance to fisherman wharf. All and all a great place when in Monterey.

I think this place is a solid 4 stars. It's pricey, so I went in with high expectations and for the most part, I think they were met. My wife and I stayed a night here for our anniversary and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The selling point is definitely the views; and wow are they amazing. The ocean couldn't be any closer; such an amazing thing to wake up to. Service is stellar. EVERYone is so polite, respectful, and friendly. My only complaint: the in-room tv/entertainment station is sorta buggy. I think I spent about an hour trying to get the HBO Max streaming channel working. To be fair though, I could have called for technical support, but I didn't necessarily want to do all that. It wasn't a large enough issue to go through all that. Pro tip: if you have a portable Roku or Amazon fire stick, just bring that. Room service is good too. It's incredibly fast and punctual (20-30 minutes for a custom order). I will say though, I'm not sure in-room dining exceeds the other options in the surrounding area. One major highlight was Tidal Coffee (by far my favorite coffee shop in the entire area). I counted walk: it was 85 steps from our room (wow!). Amazing. Alright, I'll bring this to close. In short, despite a few small speed bumps, I would definitely come back for a fun trip. I'm glad we came.

I would just like to take the time to leave a nice review for everyone at Monterey Plaza. Thanks so much for my lovely stay here. I was able to enjoy the beautiful gym and all it had to offer and some days I was alone and got to enjoy the elliptical the weight equipment and my favorite the treadmill that I feel now that I can't live without. Complimentary water as well in the spa which I thought was so beautiful and nice and it was also infused waters. when I checked in, I got a beautiful room and a complimentary glass of wine. I also really like the restaurant here and really enjoyed the gin lychee martini it was to die for. Oh and the Baja bowl, you absolutely have to get that from the restaurant. Now, as far as the rooms, Wi-Fi, the television and all the other amenities in the room, it was absolutely spot on, and the bathrooms were absolutely clean and perfect, and filled with perfect towels. Plenty of good sundries were replenished and were good quality. The staff as well was exceptionally friendly, and made it a point to always say hi and remember the guests. That's what truly makes Monterey Plaza exceptional is making you feel like you're finally home after your long day of being out and about. I could never wait for my morning to begin my morning to close so I can hear the wildlife outside my bedroom and stay in my wonderful bed. The beds are so cozy. This will be just one of the many stops I hope to make to Monterey Plaza in my life.

I have always liked this hotel. Great location by Cannery Row. Pretty pricey but sometimes you can get discounts through booking at expedia (or not sure if it was because we booked an hour before reaching the hotel haha)

Great view, reasonably nice bathroom. A great place to listen and enjoy the ocean. Our room was dated. The fan didn't work, and the desk light didn't work. I don't know if the heater worked, as the window leaked air [ sea breeze was pleasant but chilling]. Our room was in the Southern building. But to get anywhere you have to go on the lower level to the front lobby and then go outside, even for simply the coffee shop-. Overall great location, lots of nice outdoor atmosphere. But a very average guest experience. Just another nice older resort

My husband and I took a weekend trip w/our toddler to Monterey, with the intention of visiting the aquarium. Based off of all the positive ratings, we decided to book one room with a 2 queen size bed for 1 night. For just for one night, it was a whoopin' $900! And that was just for the room itself---nothing fancy. It was your typical average hotel room, with windows. For $900, there are tons of things they could have put in the room to make it worth the cost. At least include a hot tub, living space, or kitchen, maybe even a washer/dryer! Shoot---give us the executive suite! Or at least provide free breakfast??? Or at least free coffee. I went downstairs to ask for coffee, and was told they'd charge me--- NO THANKS! We were also told we get a balcony, but didn't have one in the room. We did get the Harbor view, which was not even impressive. But don't get me wrong, we did enjoy our time. We however did not interact with guest services or the staff as much as we did with the valet staff. They were very friendly and accommodating. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that we actually paid $900 for an average room that you can get anywhere. Next time, I ll be staying at the intercontinental again. At least there, I ll be closer to all the shopping places, and the aquarium. Well, now I can say, I came, I saw, and I wasn't wowed by it! That's my two cents!

Heaven on earth! we stayed here for several days and lucked out to have the most beautiful weather ever. we had an ocean view, balcony, and the sound of the waves crashing at night was amazing. The staff was wonderful, and they came promptly every day to clean the room, and in the evening for turndown service. Love the location of the property and the history behind it. We walked everywhere!! This will be the only place I will want to stay when coming to Monterey. Just amazing!

First Time Here We stayed for a conference. The hotel was located in the perfect location. Rooms: nice and clean Staff: nice and attentive Lobby: perfect for working remote while being mesmerized by the ocean's waves Restaurant: Schooners restaurant is a must visit. Even if you aren't staying there you need to book it, bring your shades and a jacket and sit on the patio. The food was reasonably priced and everything was fresh. We really enjoyed our lunch date. Hotel, was amazing, valet and hotel staff were so helpful and had a great attitude. Tips: tip the housekeepers with a QR Code but bring Cash to tip Valet since they don't have a QR code for them.

The 2 star review reflects my opinion and experience here. I will say, this would be a good hotel for someone who has the money to waste, however; for me, I could not justify paying over $700 for one night here. For somewhere that charges so much for their rooms, they should really provide free breakfast. Please note there is no parking unless you want to pay for valet parking.

It's been a few years since we last stayed at the Monterey Plaza Hotel but we are pleased to say the hotel remains everything we have come to love about staying here. The staff is kind and helpful and maintenance, cleanliness and housekeeping is outstanding. Hotel amenities are world class while just "fitting in" to the local environment. We've had the pleasure of using the spa for massages and the jacuzzis. Okay, if relaxation is what you seek, you'd have a difficult time improving on what they offer! There are kind of two ways to go when staying at the hotel. First, is the obvious ocean side stay. We enjoyed being on the water but be prepared for ocean wave sounds and seals and sea lions being noisy early in the morning. Second, the land facing rooms near the trail where walkers, joggers and cyclists enjoy the coast trail. It's much quieter at night while being steps away from the water. Both are excellent but you'll need to decide what's best for you. There are less expensive places to stay but certainly a no better place to spend your time or money. Enjoy!

For all of the years I've been going to Monterey for diving, the Monterey Bay Aquarium or just a weekend getaway, I never stayed at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. Don't ask me why, because I don't have a good answer. So many meals have been spent at my favorite Monterey restaurant, Schooners, so what's up with me staying everywhere else but here? Guess I'm not very bright because this place is AMAZING! I decided to stay here for my birthday and it was truly magical. I went to check-in and was told that they had upgraded me to the *drumroll please** Bay View Suite!!!! The Bay View Suite is one step down from the luxurious Presidential Suite and it is jaw-dropping. There are three entrances, two bars, two full bathrooms, two fireplaces, three balconies, stunning views of Monterey Bay, and so much more. I'm not sure what good fairy scattered pixie dust over my head, but what a way to start my birthday trip. The room is right outside of the spa and entrance to the hot tubs, too. The staff at the hotel was welcoming and so nice, all the way from the valets, to the bell staff, the front desk, security, and management. They made me feel like a princess for my special day. Of course, Schooners did not disappoint either. I ate late and outside, surrounded by warm heaters and the sound of waves lapping at the sand. The Cioppino is to die for! The sous chef is a master of making the most delicate and flavorful sauce I've ever tasted in this dish. Honestly, I could eat it morning, noon and night. The hotel is located close to everything so that nothing is more than a short walk away, whether you're looking to head to the old wharf, the Aquarium or just stroll down the running path that traverses the entire city. From my heart, please know how special this treat was for me. I'll never forget their kindness and look forward to coming back here again and again.

Ethan at the lobby lounge is amazing, thank you for your attentiveness, always checking to make sure we are taken care of. Keep up the great work, you're awesome! Thanks for helping us cecelebrate our anniversary! Jeannie and Steve

While this hotel is grandeur with great views, the valet is trash. I was only there for a night, valet had my car for 6-8 hours max. I drove 4 hours to get home only to find my medicine bag (with important medications) and my boyfriend's Jordans stolen from my car. With what they advertise, I would think that they would employ better people to care for their guests. I shouldn't have to worry about someone rummaging through my car while in their care.

Based on the number of times we've stayed at the Monterey Plaza, I'm surprised that I've never written a review. We just returned from four wonderful days there. Beginning with valet and bell service which is polite, friendly and efficient. Check-in is always well staffed and quick. We were offered water by a few different employees. I love, love, love this hotel. Just walking through the doors gives me a feeling a peace and calm. The lobby has a glorious old-world feel and has been carefully updated through the years. I love the quirky floor plan and the long hallway past the restaurants. The rooms are elegant and well appointed with the most comfortable beds we've ever had in a hotel. And the views... I don't want to leave. I can wholeheartedly recommend all of the restaurants. The food and service are exceptional.

A nice and elegant hotel tucked in Monterey. The staff is very friendly and the rooms are spacious and comfortable. Room - We stayed in a partial ocean view room. Our room was 1006, a corner room that sees the sunrise. The king bed somehow seems larger than other king beds in other hotels we've stayed at. Not complaining :) and the pillows are down feather and generously stuffed. I found the bed to be very comfortable to watch tv on but turned out too be a bit too soft for sleep. This of course is personal preference. The bathroom was spacious. Nice large shower, a robe, big vanity, but no fan. The room has a fridge, but no microwave, and I believe I saw a coffee maker and electric kettle. The windows are single pane and open slightly for a nice breeze. Note - because it's a partial ocean view room and the windows are only single pane, the sound of the ocean is loud at night. While it's nice for me, I'm just sharing as a word of caution if you're a light sleeper. Customer Service - The hotel staff was friendly and always greeted us. We were offered wine on the house upon checking in and water bottles. When we picked up our car from the valet, they also offered us water bottles for the road. Parking - no self parking available, only valet and street parking. Street parking is paid from 8am - 8pm and valet runs you $35/night plus an additional tax. We were informed about the valet fee but not the additional tax. Room service - Meals are via the Schooners restaurant on site. Breakfast was delicious and delivered hot. It only took 20 minutes to get our food. Be aware of undisclosed charges though. There is a $5 delivery fee and $9 room tax that is not disclosed when you order. It would have been nice to know. Location - beautiful. There's shops, restaurants, an aquarium and kayaking activities all within walking distance. Word to the wise - Overall, this is a nice hotel for a romantic getaway or a special events. We however, would have appreciated if the staff would have been transparent about extra charges like delivery fees and additional taxes not disclosed prior to committing. This goes for the room service and the valet service I discussed earlier. The receptionist gave us an orientation of hours and services but not hidden or surprise fees. The TV in the room shows you your receipt, but the actual receipt ended up being more expensive when we checked out. For this reason, I am knocking one star off.

Our first time there, everything from the valet parking , to checking in and the room service was amazing. The best was how nice and helpful everyone was . Can't wait to go back

This is one of my favorite hotels in Monterey Bay! Our recent visit was at Christmas time so the hotel was all decked out with the tree and poinsettias and gingerbread houses! We really enjoyed our time here and loved dining in their seaside restaurant . We will definitely be back soon !

We had some bad news come up 48 hours prior to our visit and needed to cancel our reservation. It was prepaid and the hotel refused to work with us on even a partial refund or a reschedule for another visit. Shame.

Very overpriced! I stayed for 1 night, and it was a gift. I had an "Inland View Room", so no views of the water; it overlooked the street, parking lot, and other buildings. The room itself was very clean, spacious, and very comfortable and nice. However, to have a view of the parking lot & street, and have a cost before tax and fees of $649, so the final cost was well over $700, I find exorbitant. I looked up the prices on the website, after the fact, to see if this was a fluke weekend, where prices were much higher. This was more of an average price for the Monterey Plaza Hotel interior view room. Inland view rooms ranged from $409 to $647 in July 2024. They ranged from $278 to $1339 in August 2024. Direct Ocean View Rooms were ranging from $619 to $1559 that I noted in July/Aug. 2024 per night. There is over a $1000 difference in price for the same room on different nights. $1000 per night for a room in itself is exorbitant, but to be the difference in price for various nights is outrageous. The rooms are very nice, but nothing that outstanding. They seemed very clean, which is appreciated. The front desk gave us a glass of red wine when we checked in, which is a very nice touch. However, I just stayed the week before in a luxury hotel with views of crashing waves from our balcony, just 20 minutes away, and we also received free happy hour nightly, free breakfasts daily, a free newspaper delivered daily, a bottle of champagne and a box of 4 Belgian chocolates, as well as freshly baked cookies in the lobby, fresh water with lemon in the lobby, all included in our stay for approx. $500/night at our other hotel. So, if the Monterey Plaza Hotel is going to charge this much, they need to seriously up their game. If you are staying here for a business trip, that you are not paying for, then this is a perfectly fine place to stay. If money is no option for you, this is likely in a very nice location to visit Cannery Row and Monterey Harbor. If you like to get value for your money, then I would investigate all of your options, as I feel this hotel is grossly overpriced. You will pay for valet parking, and we had to wait over a half hour for our car, when wanting to leave. We did dine at the restaurant on the patio, (I believe it is called Schooners), and it is a pretty view. I prefer to see waves over the still water in this part of town, but it is still nice. I had salmon, which was very tender, for $41. We also had an artichoke and crab spread of some sort over bread, which was also very tasty. They first sat us behind some heat lamps, with hardly any view. There were tables open by the edge, so we asked to be moved, which they first hesitated to do, but then allowed us to shift. That was a far superior experience to being stuffed behind metal lamps. I really have no real complaints about this hotel, and enjoyed my stay. If I had been the one paying for the room, however, I would never pay that amount for a room with no view; and I would hesitate greatly to pay if for the ocean view, as well. You can get much better views for lower prices. It is dependent upon what your priorities are.

Overall, we very much enjoyed our stay at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. We stayed for my birthday and received some complimentary wine. All staff were helpful and kind; and the interior hotel is beautifully designed. We got the partial ocean room and it was perfect for us. The sound of the waves lulled us to sleep and when we open the windows, we can smell the sea water. Sometimes, we can heard the birds calling at around 0500. The hotel provides binoculars to look at the sea otters swimming in the waters. Amenities provided by the hotel includes vanity kit (cotton balls, q-tips), shower cap and shampoo/body wash bottles in the shower. I believe toothbrush and toothpaste can be requested at the front desk but we had brought our own. My husband appreciated the strong water pressure of the showers. Valet is about 43 dollars (with in and out privileges) a night but we opted to leave our car in a nearby garage for about 20 a night. The hotel is on cannery row and is about 17 mins away by foot from Old Fisherman's Wharf. There is also a very neat (and very organized) thrift store nearby! We very much appreciate all the beautiful views and close proximity to the water. Would love to stay again someday!

Hubby made reservations back in June for our wedding anniversary; however, due to his health problems, we had to postpone our trip until the end of August. So this place is spacious, clean, service is friendly and the views are gorgeous. There is even binoculars for you to look out the windows! Since we postponed our trip until August, we will able to get a bay view and it's so beautiful! We checked in online and went to the front desk to get our keys. Catalina gave us a bottle of complimentary wine for our anniversary which was special! Of course, I had to check out the fitness center on the 5th floor in the Spa! As you enter, there is a table with fruit infused iced water, iced towels and regular towels. Wet sanitized wipes are available to clean the equipment before and after use. All my favorite props are there including free weights, bosu ball and stability ball so I made good use of them on both days that we stayed here. And the locker rooms are spacious, with toiletries available for your use! We also had breakfast at the Schooner Restaurant located at the lower level and service and food were good. We ordered the egg sandwich, two eggs with sausage, potatoes and wheat toast, coffee and orange juice! The hotel has valet service and that really helps and saves time and energy. Rooms are equipped with refrigerator, safe, complimentary bottled water, expresso k-cup like machine, plush slippers and robes! Wonderful place to just relax and only 5-10 walk to Monterey Bay Aquarium!

Upon arrival Anthony, valet parker was awesome! Professional, polite, engaging. Thank you Anthony! Check in was fast, efficient, didn't notice name badge, but very polite. Reserved two adjoining rooms-1120 & 1121, didn't particularly like the layout but nice rooms. Bathroom toilet has not been cleaned very well, hair on toilet, and adjoining room threshold was missing and dirty. Other than that room was nice. Made reservations at Schooner's and had "requested" a window table which I know is a challenge. We not only not able to get a window seat, we were put in a side room across from Schooner's check in - not a very nice area. Small, cramped, only part of the hotel that still has Christmas decorations. The hostess was fantastic. Our server Rebekah was the best. Rib eye steak wasn't a great cut, lobster was about the size of two shrimp - pricey for such a small portion. Was supposed to come with garlic mashed potatoes and yet there were no potatoes. Hanger steak was good. Spare rib bolognese was delish.