Drift Into SoCal’s Coastal Bliss at This Breezy Hotel and Spa in ‘Surf City USA’

This trip was my first time being away from my nine month old. I was feeling a little nervous as my Uber pulled up to the entrance of Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach, a small, surf-famous city a little south of Los Angeles. But between the valet who greeted me at the car, the woman who checked me into the hotel, and the cleaning staff I passed on the way up to the room, everyone seemed so genuinely happy to be there that I instantly felt more present.

This ended up being a theme over the course of my weekend-long stay at Paséa. Perhaps it’s the New Englander in me, but it felt like the entire place exuded that “California cool” that you hear so much about. The pool attendants, the restaurant servers, the spa staff — they were all as friendly as you might expect someone who lives and works in “Surf City USA” to be. That sense of ease and enjoyment lent an intangible charm to the overall guest experience.

Dreamy sheets and oceans views: The rooms at Paséa Hotel & Spa

Paséa has a few different room styles, including 10 ADA-compliant rooms out of the 250 total rooms. The styles range from standard rooms with oceanfront or partial ocean views to studios, one-bedroom suites, and a penthouse. All of them have at least one thing in common: a design scheme that immediately lets you know you’ve arrived someplace beachy and accordingly relaxing, with artwork and carpeting that reflect the waves outside (save the wood flooring in the penthouse) and a color palette so light and neutral that it makes even the sand pop.

All of the rooms offer a degree of hominess — with features like Keurig machines, streaming-capable Smart TVs, and ergonomic chairs at the in-room desks — but the 1,900-square-foot penthouse levels up the feeling of being home away from home. In addition to amenities like the two private balconies and the Toto toilet and soaking tub in the bathroom — not to mention a whole other bathroom with its own ADA-accessible bathtub — the penthouse comes with a kitchenette on request, a dining table with room for six, and a living room with a sleeper sofa to accommodate various guest configurations.

Whether or not you splurge for the penthouse, there’s one luxury that the Paséa affords all of its guests: insanely comfortable sleep. In my opinion, one of the most critical components to a great hotel stay is the bed, and Paséa delivered. I met with the hotel’s Director of Operations while I was there, and he shared that his team spent weeks meticulously hand selecting all of the hotel’s recently upgraded beds and Frette linens. While I can attest that the level of comfort was top notch, the piece de resistance that truly differentiates lounging in bed at Paséa versus in the comfort of your own home is the views of Pacific waves crashing lazily along the coast.

Pool days and spa escapes: Amenities at Paséa Hotel & Spa

At first glance, Paséa seems to have a younger clientele than some of the other hotels and resorts in the area. Legacy chains often attract families and older travelers with brand loyalty, whereas you might expect that a hip spot like Paséa to have more of a party atmosphere, although this couldn’t be further from the truth. Just look at the Ninth Island Pool.

Located in the heart of the hotel, Paséa’s Ninth Island Pool is the first thing you see when you arrive and look out beyond the lobby. Once again, the vibes here are just right. With access to super plush complimentary towels, poolside daybeds and in-pool loungers, a hot tub and wading pool, and a dedicated menu for poolside food and drink — all with a gorgeous panoramic backdrop of the Pacific Ocean — the Ninth Island Pool is the ultimate hangout.

For those looking for a semi-private space for a relaxed group hang, poolgoers have the option to rent a cabana for the day, where you can lounge in the shade and have access to a stocked mini-fridge and TV. I went to the pool more than once during my stay and got to spend some time both in the cabanas and regular poolside loungers. For my purposes the poolside loungers were sufficient, but the cabanas add another dynamic to the idea of lounging. Paséa also arranges transportation to the beach and has guests covered with equipment like chairs, umbrellas, and towels for when you prefer a beach day to a pool day.

The laidback energy I noticed on arrival and that carried to the Ninth Island Pool were cemented as soon I stepped into Aarna Spa. As anyone who’s ever had to care for children might understand, the primary goal for my weekend sans baby was to relax and rejuvenate. Paséa’s award-winning Balinese-inspired spa was the recipe for exactly that, offering massages, facials, and other spa treatments. Booking a service also grants you full-day access to all of the other spa amenities, including the jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, relaxation room, and spa garden.

I had the good fortune of enjoying an exquisite 50-minute Swedish massage the morning of my last day, after which I took a dip in the jacuzzi and spent some time in the sauna room. I then came back in the afternoon for an Arcona-exclusive facial offered in the spa’s boutique as part of a brand activation for one of the boutique’s product lines. The whole experience left me feeling pampered and rested, and it was a great way to cap off a wonderful weekend before heading home early the following morning.

A standout restaurant and rooftop lounge: Dining at Paséa Hotel & Spa

One of Paséa’s highlights — if not its biggest draw — is Lorea, the hotel’s open-air oceanfront dining experience. Debuted last year as the crown jewel of a $5 million renovation, the restaurant has an impeccable yet playful menu, conceptually inspired by land and sea with a variety of interactive concepts like tableside-poured clam chowder, edible candles made from Turkish chili-lime butter, and a dry ice peach cobbler dessert.

At first thought, you might imagine that this sort of thing could be gimmicky, but the attention to detail and quality was refreshing: for example, the oshizushi (a traditional style of pressed sushi from Osaka) is served semi-deconstructed with toasted nori sheets on the side. According to Lorea’s Executive Chef, Scott Rackliff, “This is an intentional decision to preserve the crisp texture of the nori, allowing guests to dine at their own pace, enjoy their company and experience while not compromising the quality of the food.”

It’s hard to say what my favorite dish was because, truthfully, everything was incredible. Lorea’s commitment to incorporating locally sourced, seasonal ingredients means that about half of the menu changes three to four times per year. One of the most memorable bites I had was the spicy pork gyoza. I’d never tried fermented black beans before, but it might be my new favorite ingredient. This dish uses them two ways: dried and incorporated into the house chili crisp and ground into a powder, which you can drag the gyoza through before eating it.

The carrot cake was another standout. Chef Rackliff shared that he used this very recipe to snag his last three jobs. To put it in perspective, I flew home — all the way across the country to Rhode Island — with some leftovers so that my husband, a man who has never ever voluntarily eaten carrot cake, could try it. His response: “Okay, yeah, this is really good.”

I also stopped in for breakfast one morning, and that meal was equally as good. I ordered the smoked salmon flatbread and the oats and berries — both were delicious. I know what you’re thinking: Can oatmeal really be delicious? Surprisingly, the answer is yes.

Paséa’s other upgrade during the 2024 renovation went toward its rooftop lounge, Treehouse on PCH, which I had the pleasure of enjoying on the first night of my stay. With its firepit lounge seating and panoramic views of the Huntington coastline, I can see how this would be a popular hangout for both visitors and locals.

There’s quite a bit of overlap with Lorea in the menu offerings, which is hardly a negative. Of all the things I tried here, the tempura fish tacos were my favorite. I also tried Treehouse’s signature drink, the Pink Flamingo, which I’d recommend for anyone who likes mezcal. It’s complex and lime-forward, and while I’m usually not a fan of spicy drinks, this one felt well balanced, and I don’t think it would have been as good without the inclusion of the Thai-chili-infused Aperol.

Beach days with butlers: Things to do near Paséa Hotel & Spa

There’s a reason Huntington Beach is known as “Surf City USA.” Spending a day at the beach, whether taking a surfing lesson or simply taking in the view, is a must-do while you’re in town. I didn’t personally try my hand at surfing (though the concierge at the hotel would have been more than happy to point me in the right direction for a lesson). But I did enjoy an afternoon at the beach, which was made all the more enjoyable by the fact that Paséa’s beach butler pedicab service not only drove me down there but also carried down complimentary chairs and an umbrella and set them up for me.

I was even able to pick up a picnic basket from Lorea and enjoy one of the best turkey club sandwiches with salt and vinegar chips I think I’ve ever had (something about eating a sandwich and chips at the beach just hits different). Nighttime beach hangs also seem to be a thing here, as Huntington Beach currently has 500 fire pits at various locations along the beach, both on a first-come-first-served basis and by reservation.

Another option for taking in Huntington Beach’s world-famous oceanfront is picking up some of the hotel’s bikes (or renting an e-bike from a local shop like I did) and cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) boardwalk area. The sights couldn’t be more quintessentially California, and there’s plenty of cool things to see along the way — from Dog Beach, which hosted last year’s SoCal Corgi Beach Day, to Huntington Beach Pier and all the different beach concessions along the way.

Getting to Paséa Hotel & Spa

For those planning to fly in for their stay, there are two airport options: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which can be a 1- to 2.5-hour ride depending on traffic, or the smaller and closer Long Beach Municipal Airport Daugherty Field (LGB), which takes about 30 minutes without traffic. For those driving, Paséa is located right along the PCH, smack dab in the heart of Huntington Beach, about halfway between Laguna Beach and Long Beach.

Book Now