Hotel San Luis Obispo

Although travel is primarily stalled, some places are gradually opening up. San Luis Obispo is one of those lucky spots and Hotel San Luis Obispo brings the charm of this community to the forefront.

Artisanal soaps, super-plush towels and an audio player designed in Europe that doubles as a conversation piece. These are just a few of the bespoke amenities that make the standout Hotel San Luis Obispo scream, “Choose me!” Basking in the sunshine of San Luis Obispo on California’s central coast, the contemporary boutique property which opened just last October is this laid-back community’s first high-end, resort-like destination hotel. No surprise then that since opening it has been booked to capacity.

Introducing San Luis Obispo

For the uninitiated, San Luis Obispo is a college town, an agriculture enclave, and a vacation destination all rolled into one. Not only do visitors come for Cal Poly University SLO and the abundance of beaches, they descend in droves to imbibe pours from family wineries, and to dine at its many restaurants, with cuisine from all over the globe and at prices from budget to deluxe. Furthermore, farm-to-table dining is ubiquitous here.

Nicknamed SLO, the town offers plenty of other lodging options, but many are smaller and more motel-style, some impossibly stuck in a 1980’s time warp. The Hotel San Luis Obispo is noteworthy for its luxury status and refreshing change of pace. Located in the trendy center of all the downtown action with shops and eateries, it delivers comfort on many levels with a gym and spa, pool, two restaurants, rooftop bar, lobby lounge and gift shop. Guests staying here feel like they are getting the full monty.

The Guestrooms

All 78 guestrooms are spacious, and each is filled with special touches like navy blue bathrobes, a pair of eye masks tucked inside a night table drawer, and complimentary snacks refilled daily. Unlike most hotels, your room comes equipped with a clear glass water bottle which can be refilled with either filtered still or sparkling from a tap found on every floor. An extensive amenities list includes both Nespresso coffee maker and tea kettle beside a pair of handmade ceramic mugs (available by the way in the gift shop) and a mini-frig, ideal for storing leftovers from Ox and Anchor, the hotel’s steak and seafood restaurant. White plantation shutters filter SLO’s sunny weather in the Paseo King room where crisp white linen bedding, matching duvet and down mattress toppers present a beachy look and feel. An adjacent seating area for two furnished with a sofa dressed with gray and white pillows and industrial lighting complete the look. White oak floors and walls finish off a clean and calm palette which is punched with original artwork of iconic SLO sights by Sara Frantz.

The hotel is whimsically unpredictable, especially in the baths where sliding barn doors painted navy blue provide privacy for the spacious walk-in showers with thick bath sheets that can practically double as blankets. And the Vifa Bluetooth audio player, a soft blue lunchbox shape with leather handle, offers the purest sound imaginable.

 A Community Living Room

The hotel showcases a fabulous collection of three-dimensional art pieces in its public spaces like the giant circular, cut out paper map of downtown SLO by Matthew Picton in the lobby and a sculpture series composed of thick knots by Windy Chien spread over several booths in the restaurant Piadina. And the building’s façade with its tall, corrugated steel circular cutout filled with living plants by artist David Brenner is simply dazzling.

Since its debut, the lobby has morphed into a dynamic community living room with its floor-to-ceiling, sliding glass wall that doubles the entertaining space and welcomes the outdoors in. Fireplaces inside and fire pits outside have made the attractive S.Low Bar the town’s newest watering hole. Local musicians play on weekends, elevating the airspace with energy and vibrancy. Board games are available for play, making this property family-friendly as well. And when the rooftop High Bar opens it will feature an intimate living room for private parties and groups.

The Pool, Spa & Cuisine

The outdoor pool and small Jacuzzi provide the R&R people crave. Adjacent is the SOL Spa, a haven of contentment, with seven treatment rooms and a shared co-ed lounge that embraces light and spaciousness with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. Locker rooms sport overhead rainshower fittings and sauna, naturally. And prior to every massage, spa guests are treated to a precious foot soak in a gleaming copper bowl filled with tiny dried herbs and flowers.

When it comes to cuisine the hotel offers two excellent options headed up by Ryan Fancher who had a stint at Napa’s famed French Laundry. Ox and Anchor features a stellar menu filled with creative appetizers, fine wines and cocktails. Meats hail from Omaha, Nebraska and include a rib eye, a hangar steak, and a filet mignon. These are perfectly paired with sauces composed by the chef that simply pop with deliciousness. Lobster and fish are either grilled or sautéed with tender loving care. Sides of pureed Yukon gold potatoes, roasted Brussel Sprouts with bacon and shallots, and lobster risotto are served in generous portions. Just be careful not to fill up on the homemade sourdough bread, ok? Craving dessert? Order the baked Alaska and watch the tiny flames flicker and dance when your server ignites it.

Piadina offers New American cuisine with an Italian spin, serving freshly baked pizzas from its wood-fired oven. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, its open kitchen and big picture windows create the perfect atmosphere in the surroundings. Every item on its menu, even a simple platter of toast points and smoked salmon is artfully Instagrammable.

Is the Hotel San Luis Obispo your kind of place?

If you despise hotels with modern décor and kitschy artwork possibly not. But if you get goosebumps thinking about out of the box design that pushes the envelope, fabulous food, and spa treatments to die for, then run and book a weekend in the SLO lane!