The Resort at Pelican Hill Review: Newport Coast, CA

We stayed two nights at The Resort at Pelican Hill (then another two nights in Santa Barbara) to celebrate a friend’s 60th birthday. The trip was a lot of fun, the birthday party was amazing, and the resort and local area exceeded my expectations. Here is my review of our two-night stay.

Note: The resort is currently being managed by Marriott (as of July 1, 2024) and will soon be rebranded as a St. Regis property. However, I don’t think the full rebrand will be in place until they finish a refresh and modernization of the rooms and public spaces.

Location

The Resort at Pelican Hill is on a 504-acre coastal estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Newport Coast, which is known for its luxury homes, high-end shopping, and dramatic seaside bluffs. This was my first time in the Newport Beach area, and it was even more beautiful than I expected.

The resort is easily accessible from three major airports—just a 15-minute drive from John Wayne Airport, about 45 minutes from LAX, and close to 2 hours from San Diego.

Lobby

At the center of the resort is the Main Estate, where the Great Room Social Lounge serves as a central gathering spot. The lobby and social areas’ decor is Mediterranean-inspired with coastal sophistication. It’s a great place for cocktails, socializing, and taking in the sunset views.

Rooms and Suites

The Bungalow Guest Rooms & Bungalow Suites are one-story residences with private terraces overlooking the garden or the ocean, hand-hewn wood-beam ceilings, fireplaces, and marble baths. The larger multi-bedroom Villas are designed like private homes, complete with full kitchens, indoor/outdoor living spaces, private garages, and access to a Villa-only Clubhouse with pool, fitness room, and concierge services.

We stayed in Bungalow 137, which is considered an ocean view bungalow. The room was huge (850 sq ft) with vaulted ceilings and a beautiful view overlooking the bluff and ocean. While the decor will need to be updated and refreshed to meet St Regis standards, what was there was still of very high quality and felt luxurious.

Restaurants and Bars

Dining and bar options at Pelican Hill include:

• Andrea — The resort’s signature fine-dining restaurant: Italian-inspired cuisine, handcrafted pastas made in a dedicated pasta room, seasonal menus, and a robust Italian wine list.
• Coliseum Pool & Grill — Casual poolside dining that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and poolside fare. Menu includes pizza, salads, sandwiches, lighter American/California fare — ideal for families or a relaxed meal.
• Pelican Grill & Bar — Located at the resort’s golf club; offers California-style fare (seafood, steaks, wood-oven pizzas) and wine pairings. Good for a more low-key yet refined meal.
• Caffè & Market — A coffeehouse/market offering espresso, pastries, gelato, market-style fare, and items for take-away — handy for breakfasts, snacks, or beach-side picnics.
• Caffè II — A lighter-fare café at the resort’s golf club offering breakfast, lunch, coffees, pastries, sandwiches, etc

We ate at the Coliseum Grill a couple of times, and the food was delicious.

Amenities

The resort has a five-star spa with 22 treatment rooms, steam rooms, saunas, saltwater soaks, and a spa boutique, complemented by a fitness center, movement studio, wellness classes, and guided beach walks.

The Coliseum Pool is an architectural highlight of the property — a 136-ft circular mosaic-tiled pool with cabanas, offering ocean and golf-course views. However, it was not the best in terms of poolside seating due to its shape and configuration.

For the Golf enthusiasts, there are two championship 18-hole courses designed by Tom Fazio, with beautiful views of the Pacific from most holes.

For beach access, the resort provides a shuttle to nearby Crystal Cove State Beach, along with chairs, umbrellas, towels, and concierge-assisted arrangements for a full beach day.

Pros and Cons:

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Pelican Hill. I loved Newport Coast; the hotel was very luxurious, and the rooms were extremely comfortable and big. I’m excited to see what will happen with the rebranding to St. Regis and will definitely come back!

Tim White

Tim White is the founder of milepro.com, a luxury travel resource featured in CNBC, Travel & Leisure, and other major media outlets. With over 2 million miles flown and 30+ years of business travel experience, he holds Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, and Hilton Diamond status — and has spent years decoding the world of luxury hotel programs, preferred partner benefits, and miles & points optimization so you don’t have to.