Hotel Review: Hotel Joaquin Laguna Beach in Orange County, California

Navigating a sleepy collection of residential Laguna Beach, Calif., streets in an electric Moke — picture a golf cart on steroids — Albert Conone told me about the time he broke his leg in three places.

Conone, an activity coordinator at Hotel Joaquin, where I was a guest, said the injury was from performing an aerial maneuver a few years back on his surfboard. 

“I’ve still got all the pins and screws in there,” he said. “But our bodies reject metal, so some of them are starting to stick out a little. I get the gibbers [heebie-jeebies] when I run my hand over them.”  

Seated shotgun in my wetsuit while Conone drove, I found myself grinning through a few of my own heebie-jeebies as I listened to the hair-raising account. Not too long before, we had strapped our short boards to the roof of the Moke outside Hotel Joaquin and set out for a nearby surf break Laguna locals call Thalia. En route, Conone gave me a little tour of neighboring shops and homes while telling me about growing up skating and surfing in the sun-soaked California beach town.  

“North Laguna Beach is a lot more mellow,” he said of the neighborhood surrounding Hotel Joaquin. “That’s something I’ve definitely learned working here.” 

After parking the Moke on a steep street fronting the ocean and setting the open-air vehicle’s emergency break, Conone smiled and asked, “Need some sunscreen?” 

Minutes later, the two of us were paddling beyond the shore break, beaming in the warm, morning sunshine and marveling at the surprisingly balmy summertime Pacific Ocean. The water was a startling blue, and waves were waist-high with some larger sets building occasionally along the horizon.

Enthusiastic throughout our session, Conone shouted all kinds of encouragement as I chased waves, and he seemed genuinely thrilled after I managed to catch and ride a little one.

Back at the Moke afterward, toweling off in the shade overlooking the beach and the Pacific, we both agreed days turn out better when you start in the ocean. 

Escape in Plain Sight 
Although the adults-only Hotel Joaquin fronts Pacific Coast Highway in Orange County’s Laguna Beach, after passing through the 22-room boutique’s front door, it’s easy to forget the four-lane highway. Guests arrive to a serene, residential vibe outfitted with a chic parlor and bar overlooking an ample pool and expansive views of the sea.

“We don’t really want it to feel like a hotel,” said Reinhard Neubert, vice president of hospitality for Makar Properties, which manages the boutique. “We encourage employees to engage all our guests and make them feel like they’re not in a hotel, but like they’re at home.”

First built in 1947, and long known as The Laguna Beach Motor Inn, the property previously functioned more like a bed-and-breakfast, according to Neubert. Acquired by current ownership in 2016, an extensive overhaul ensued, during which a full kitchen, a bar and a dining space were added and every guestroom was gutted.

“When we took over the building, it was in pretty bad shape,” Neubert said. “We did not change the outside walls of the building, but everything you see inside the building and inside the guestrooms is basically brand-new.” 

Bright rooms accented with clean lines and a relaxed, beachfront comfort greet travelers today. You won’t find any in-room televisions or telephones at Hotel Joaquin, but each guestroom features a record player and a pile of vinyl albums. And guests are encouraged to make use of the hotel’s signature app to connect with staff. 

Neubert was also quick to mention that each of the property’s rooms is a little different, noting the renovation’s design aesthetic was inspired in part by St. Barts in the Caribbean and “a little bit of the South of France and the Italian Amalfi Coast.”

Folks eager for time at the beach are just a brief stroll away from Shaw’s Cove, a popular stretch of soft sand walled by sea cliffs that’s just a three-minute walk from the hotel. Guests can also take advantage of beach lounge service, complete with chairs, umbrellas and even gourmet picnic meals. And for a fee, the hotel can set up a romantic, sunset beach dinner at Shaw’s, featuring a three-course custom menu. 

My Thalia surf session is just one example of many customizable, at-cost activity options the hotel offers, including stand-up paddleboarding; whale and dolphin watching boat trips; on-property yoga classes; surfing lessons; kayaking tours; and Laguna Beach shopping excursions onboard the property’s Moke.

“Most people who come to Laguna Beach think beach and ocean,” Neubert added. “But the hiking here is amazing. Our activity manager, who has been living here for 45 years, knows every single hike, and he will take you places where you really see Laguna Beach from a different perspective.”

The Real Deal 
Diane Schmieder, a Newport Beach, Calif.-based travel advisor working for Altour, said she rarely mixes business bookings with recommendations to her neighbors. But the food is so good at Hotel Joaquin’s Saline restaurant that she’s been encouraging friends and neighbors to stay at the boutique property — just to enjoy its first-rate cuisine.

“Every time I go, I think maybe it’s not going to be as good as I remember,” Schmieder said, describing chef Leo Bongarra’s food as light and healthy but flavorful. 

“But it’s even better somehow,” she continued. “It’s always better.”

Saline was undoubtedly a highlight of my recent stay, as well. A standout artichoke starter and a show-stopping seabass main were compelling excuses for a return visit. Plus, chef Bongarra made regular appearances throughout the evening, charming diners at every table with a megawatt smile and sharing stories of inspiration behind the locally sourced dishes.

“The hotel is very authentic to Laguna, and it’s not manufactured,” said Schmieder, who has also booked a number out-of-state clients for three-night stays at the property. “I feel like it’s how people live in Laguna, and you get that feeling, that sense of place. They haven’t created this look for what they think people want.” 

Neubert echoed that sentiment, saying ownership and Makar Properties worked to create an enduring, genuine experience.   

“Sometimes when you have newer hotels, people try to make it a hip hotel,” he explained. “That was not our intention. We want to be here for a long time.”

The property attracts many Southern California residents on staycations, according to Neubert, who noted the place has been consistently busy since opening last October. International bookings are also increasing, he said, and I met travelers from Germany and France during my recent visit. 

The Details 
Hotel Joaquin Laguna Beach
www.hoteljoaquin.com