With Top-Notch Dining and Dream-Worthy Bedding You Won’t Want to Leave
Written By: Si Si Penaloza
Balboa Bay has been synonymous with nautical chic since Humphrey Bogart wooed Lauren Bacall aboard his yacht that he moored near the Newport Yacht Club. At the heart of this legendary coast lies Balboa Bay Resort, the only waterfront resort in Newport Beach, boasting a prime 15 acres on the renowned harbor. True to this fabled legacy, the resort’s recent renovation celebrates such coastal influences in a sublime multimillion-dollar modernization by Kay Lang + Associates.
Founded in 1948 as a private yacht club, the public hotel was built and opened in 2003 then rebranded in 2013 as the Balboa Bay Resort to be more accessible. These days, it’s a sultry playground for screen stars, business elite and the occasional pro athlete. The property-wide update has been a point of passion and pride for Co-Owners Kevin Martin and Todd Pickup. As long-time Newport Beach residents, their mandate has been to cultivate an unparalleled social and hospitality hub worthy of the iconic harbor landmark. The revamped spa has been a hit with hedonists looking to de-stress after a day on the links while cruising aficionados book Duffy boats complete with Champagne and charcuterie.
“People come from all over the globe to experience the prestige of this particular part of the Pacific,” reveals Marketing Manager at Balboa Bay Resort, Kevin Gasparro. “The new lobby epitomizes the destination, it’s inviting, airy, cool and contemporary. This is where you truly experience quintessential Newport Beach; our mission statement is luxury, style and service perfectly balanced.”
Executive Chef Rachel Haggstrom’s culinary savoir-faire is a major draw with both local and international guests. She oversees Waterline, the resort’s signature seafood restaurant with drool-worthy bay views, and A&O Kitchen+Bar, the lobby-adjacent waterfront gastropub. Haggstrom presents vibrant, stylized plates with panache, importing expertise from a stint at The French Laundry and a childhood spent on her family’s Temecula citrus farm.
Each of the hotel’s 159 rooms, including 10 suites with private patios, have been updated to reflect a crisp, marine aesthetic. Kick back with in-room Keurig dark roast; or better yet, order up breakfast delivered to your platform bed, framed by an Instagram-ready headboard. With a pillow-top mattress this divine, dressed-in-decadence bed will have you ready to sleep in!
Balboa Bay Resort
1221 West Coast Hwy
Newport Beach, CA 92663
888.894.2788
