SANTA CRUZ, California — La Bahia Hotel & Spa opened its doors in September as the newest resort in Santa Cruz, California, and as the destination’s first luxury hotel. Located at the heart of Main Beach, where the tip of Monterey Bay meets the Pacific, the hotel stands proudly as a beacon of Santa Cruz’s rich heritage, hospitable culture and vibrant spirit.
The hotel offers more than 13,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. The Seaside Roof Deck is a 5,200-square-foot space with stunning ocean views out to Monterey Bay and east to the redwood mountains. Inside, the Bahia Ballroom features curved archways and residential-style niches that pay tribute to the original Spanish Mediterranean aesthetic. Its walls and ceilings are all custom millwork, reflecting the incredible precision and craftsmanship that has gone into the hotel’s vision.
The story of La Bahia began nearly a century ago as an oceanfront enclave of apartments and an accompanying hotel. Now, boasts 155 spacious guest rooms, including 29 suites, many with sweeping ocean views; four unique culinary concepts; a rooftop spa with signature oceanview sauna and zen deck; a robust roster of activities; inspired meetings and events spaces; and world-class partnerships.
Helmed by Executive Chef Fernando Reyes, the culinary program at La Bahia is inspired by Santa Cruz’s rich agricultural scene and elevated dining techniques. High Tide is the property’s signature restaurant with a Pacific Rim-inspired concept, and Low Tide Bar & Grill welcomes guests with craft cocktails, live music and an inviting patio for happy hours and morning coffees. Pearl, the elegant champagne bar, greets guests upon arrival, and Plunge is a lively poolside lounge with light bites and whimsical drinks.
The Spa at La Bahia includes four indoor and four outdoor treatment rooms, along with the signature oceanview sauna that overlooks Monterey Bay, two steam rooms and a rooftop zen deck that provides unobstructed ocean views.
The hotel offers beach butler service and private pool cabanas, and guests can explore on complimentary e-bikes or via RunGo’s four mapped routes to walk, hike or ride. The hotel has also partnered with Lincoln to provide access to brand-new Lincoln Navigator and hybrid Lincoln Nautilus vehicles, available on-site.
Designed by ForrestPerkins, La Bahia Hotel & Spa’s style evokes a seaside Mediterranean escape. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a grand porte cochère and energetic lobby along with Pearl. For a playful touch and a nod to the famed Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, which the hotel neighbors, families with children will receive a complimentary stuffed animal inspired by local marine life from a toy chest upon check-in. The exterior facade provides a stunning Spanish-Mediterranean presence, and one of the hotel’s most notable exterior features is its historic bell tower.
Guest rooms and suites will feature Nespresso Coffee Machines, Frette bathrobes and a serene design derived from ocean elements and Spanish patterns. Marble-clad bathrooms include dual vanities, an oversized walk-in shower and Le Labo bath products, and many bathrooms also feature a soaking tub.
For more information, visit labahiahotel.com.
