Sophisticated up-cycled beach motel with relaxed SoCal vibe in Laguna Beach

Hotel Joaquin / Laguna Beach / California / USA

How can one not love South California? Sun-kissed beaches evoking a sense of eternal Summer. A care free, youthful vibe where the surfers set the tone for the relaxed lifestyle. It is here you’ll find a hotel that embodies all of the above, the barefoot luxury destination, Joaquin.

The Joaquin is located right by the Pacific Coast Highway. If you don’t know where to look, you’ll miss it when you drive by, with its discreet white wooden facade. This up-cycled beach motel with 22 individually decorated rooms is a short stroll from Shaws Cove, one of many stunning coves along the coast. The man behind the design is Robert McKinley and the inspiration is 1950s SoCal beach culture. To me the hotel feels golden, even without the presence of the California sun. There is something about the warm wood, the terracotta tiles and the beachy colors that gives it a rich golden sheen.

Normally I guess this is a place where you spend most of your time outside but since the weather was unusual for these parts (read: Monsoon-style downpour) we got to hang out inside a lot which I guess we wouldn’t have otherwise. We really appreciated the art-filled living room space, next to the bar where there were plenty of magazines and games to keep you occupied while looking out over the raging Pacific in the distance. The design really felt like it could have been someones private living room with fluffy carpets, different textiles and just the right amount of accessories to create that homey feeling so many hotels strive for.

This homey feel was also central in our room. Our room had a warmth and coziness to it that invited us to kick back and relax while listening to some music on the turntable. But next time we come back, we are looking forward to enjoying this hotel the way it is supposed to be enjoyed, in glorious SoCal sunshine.

The bar/living room space has a soft and inviting, almost golden look.

The living room area is such a tactile and warm space.

This rug would have looked so good in our living room at home…

South California is an area where life is spent outside. The only issue was that when we stayed here, there were these crazy torrential rains. So we hade to use our imagination to picture how great it must be to hang in the garden under other circumstances. The space still looked amazing, though.

A hotel courtyard with real citrus trees is like a dream.

The interior of our room mirrored that of the living room/bar area. The same warm, golden design.

A very handsome looking book containing some valuable info about your stay.

The lighting set up in our room was very well planned and executed. A great way to create coziness in a hotel room. Especially during grey and rainy days.

Playing some Queen Tina on the turntable in our room.

This beach bag was on loan from the hotel. We didn’t use it during our stay… :-)

One of my favorite design features of the hotel was our shower. The brass against the subtle sage colored tiles. Beautiful!

I managed to snap a photo at a moment when the rain stopped for 5 minutes and it almost looked like it would clear up. It didn’t. But we still went for a dip in the pool.

Hanging out in the living room, playing chess and having drinks.

New day and new hopes for better times. M is checking the forecast. Heavy rain.

I love the design of the hotel. A certain kind of beachy, SoCal chic. Very relaxed but still classy.

Our favorite lunch spot, just down the road from the hotel. Classic LA cafe Urth that has a place in Laguna. Some comfort food, perfect for the soul.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…love all things South California. This hotel breaths beachy relaxed vibes framed by that effortless lifestyle that is an art form in this part of the world. If this is what you long for, you should book a stay here.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is the size. So many of the other hotels found in this area are mega beach resorts that are also a little on the generic and outdated side. I love that there are only 22 rooms and that the building, classic motel style, is built around a courtyard where you’ll find the pool with views of the Pacific.

What not to miss when staying here is…

…to chose what kind of vacation you are looking for. If you want to you can fill your days with activities like surfing, cycling, kayaking, running or you can just unplug and park yourself in the shade under an umbrella and watch the world go round. All types of vacationers are welcome here.

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