Watching the Waves from the Blue Dolphin Inn

If you are looking for a Cambria hotel with full ocean views, soothing decor and a terrific location steps from Moonstone Beach, Blue Dolphin Inn could be your next destination on California’s Central Coast.

When we started hunting for a spot to relax and enjoy a low-key anniversary, we knew we wanted ocean views and a place that was comfortable enough to both work in and rejuvenate. We’ve always loved Cambria, California, so it was a natural fit. While we have often stayed in downtown, the lure of the ocean inspired us to look at the hotels along Moonstone Beach.

Blue Dolphin Inn

Blue Dolphin Inn had everything we were looking for: a cozy room with views of the ocean from the bed, a large bathroom with a separate shower and jetted tub and a location that allowed us to enjoy the beauty of Moonstone Beach. When we found out that the stay included a breakfast picnic each morning, we were sold.

The Bedroom and Bath

As promised, the hotel bedroom offered a serene, comfortable place to recharge after busy days in and around Cambria. The bed was invitingly indulgent, and the fireplace was most welcome in early mornings and later nights. While not particularly designed for work, the room did have a desk and ample seating, so we were able to get some writing done during the cloudbursts.

The jetted tub was too tempting to resist. As I was still recuperating from treatment, it was a delight to take a long soak after walking the pathway that wraps along Moonstone Beach.

The Pros and Cons of the Patio

The room also opened up onto a spacious, furnished patio. The three rooms on the bottom had access to the patio, which enjoyed divisions, allowing for each room to have their own set of chairs and a table for outdoor dinners, etc. We loved sitting out there as the sun set while sipping a glass of Hearst Ranch wine or Linn’s pie.

On the other hand, for some reason, people chose to go out of their sliding doors to get to their cars rather than walking along the inside hotel corridor. This meant that every time our neighbors wanted to get to their car, they passed right in front of our bedroom glass doors to get to what was supposed to be a private gate. It didn’t make much sense – the interior corridor was both drier when it started raining and closer to the parking lot. And yet, they kept doing it. That was pretty disorienting and uncomfortable because the bed was right by the glass doors.

The hotel staff is supposed to advise people not to do that to protect everyone’s privacy, but that’s the way it goes. Finally, Andy politely asked our neighbors to avoid crossing right in front of the glass. I’m so confrontation adverse that I wouldn’t have said anything, so bonus points to him.

If you really want privacy, I’d recommend requesting one of the upper rooms. Those rooms still have great views, but they also have separate, private balconies. If you do need one of the downstairs rooms, choose the one on the end next to the exit because it is the farthest from any parking spaces.

Overall Impressions

Despite that bit of awkwardness, we really did enjoy our time at the Blue Dolphin Inn. We frequently made use of the delicious picnic breakfast, and we loved walking Moonstone Beach, even in the rain. We ran into a wedding taking place on the boardwalk, and we thoroughly enjoyed the peace of the waves and the riotous color of the flowers that seemed to bloom everywhere we looked. Naturally, the purple ones were my favorite.

Cambria continues to charm us. It’s about a 3.5/4-hour drive from Los Angeles, and we’ve loved every trip we’ve taken to the area.

How about you? Do you have a favorite hotel or place to visit in Cambria or San Simeon, California?