If you have been following me for a few months now, you can see a little trend…I love Newport Beach! I honestly thought, “ok I am a city girl, a weekend here and there is great,” but I really do love it down there. Newport Beach has something for everyone. Whether you want to be by the water, enjoy great food and cocktails, have a great night life, shop all day long, or need a spa for some relaxation, Newport Beach has everything you need. Know who else has it all? The Island Hotel Newport Beach.
Tyler, Frank and I headed down to the Island Hotel Newport Beach for a weekend trip and were fully immersed in luxury. We checked into our corner suite where we found a plush bed, treats, and Fiji water waiting for Frank (talk about spoiled) and a beautiful, bright room attached to a living room with a pull out couch, eating area, and two patios overlooking Fashion Island. Double doors lead us into our bright bedroom that had a king size bed, a vanity area, and a bathroom big enough for all of us. We settled in, threw Frank a bone, and headed up to the 20th floor for the Island Club.
The Island Club is a must when you are staying at the Island Hotel. For $50 per couple per day, you have access to incredible views, breakfast Monday – Friday from 6 am – 10 am and Saturday – Sunday 6:30 am – 10:30 am (and it’s way more than typical fruit and muffins), snacks all day long, evening appetizers and desserts, beer and wine during the “Wine Down” hour from 5 – 7 pm daily, complimentary Wi-Fi, curbside check-in available, 20% off Spa retail, shoeshine service, dedicated concierge services, automatic turndown service each night, personal shopper from Fashion Island, daily newsletter of activities & weather information, access to wet areas in The Spa, dry cleaning/pressing up to four garments per night, and iMac workstations and DVD library. See, told you, it’s worth it! Anyways, we headed up to the Island Club, grabbed a glass of wine and snacks and did our usual of finishing up any work we had left from the week.
After we got the work out of the way, we headed to Fashion Island to meet some friends for happy hour. I love how the Island Hotel is so close to Fashion Island. You can walk over, ride a bike, or take the complimentary shuttle and having your bed be a few streets away is as convenient as it gets. We then had some drinks and great company at Aqua Lounge before heading to the Oak Grill for dinner.
The Oak Grill is super romantic, luxurious, and chic. We sat outside with a heat lamp and enjoyed a romantic evening with delicious food and some of the best wines around. We started with the Tandoor-Spiced Ahi Tartare with Crisp Asian Pears, California Avocado, Cucumber with Curry Oil & Papadum and the Roasted Quail with Brandy Cherries, Lentils & Foie Jus and then had entrees of Seared Diver Scallops with Brussels Sprouts, Pancetta, Butternut Squash Purée & Pomegranate Syrup and the Roasted Chilean Sea Bass with Baby Fennel, Beets, Parmesan Risotto, Red Watercress & Truffle Vinaigrette. The Quail was savory with hints of sweetness from the cherries and the Middle Eastern take on the Ahi Tuna was new and refreshing. The scallops are a must. Everything on that plate was amazing.
The next day, we borrowed bikes and took a short ride to Balboa Island. I had never explored Balboa Island and it is an adorable little street filled with shops, food, and a small town feel. We had a great time poking around stores and grabbing lunch before biking back to the hotel. I then said good bye to the boys and headed to the spa for some relaxation. I had the travel recovery massage, which is designed for the business traveler who need to unwind, relax and regain mental clarity and balance for a busy schedule. I may have not travelled far to get to the Island Hotel, but I was definitely in need of some mental clarify after my busy schedule. Between running hoopLA, my graphic design company, and planning a wedding, this massage couldn’t have come at a better time. The masseuse used an essential oil sequence to take me on a journey through the massage from relaxation to awaking, resulting in both balance and rejuvenation. I loved how she used oil to massage my head (she asked before). It was extremely relaxing and after I took an amazing shower in the spa, so I was fully refreshed. They have every amenity you could ask for.
We spent Saturday night enjoying the happy hour at the Island Club, grabbing a few cocktails at Aqua Lounge, and exploring Fashion Island. It was the perfect get away. With the Island Club, walking distance to Fashion Island, a short bike ride to Balboa Island, a romantic restaurant, a great night club (Aqua Lounge), and a high end spa, the Island Hotel has all your needs for a weekend away in luxury.
