Review: Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club

“So many toys,” my toddler said to me, cheerfully. But I hadn’t brought any of her plastic thingamabobs with me, and when I looked around the lawn — enclosed in trees and succulents, and surrounding a pergola — I didn’t spy any trucks or shovels buried under the fallen leaves. 

"Grass," she clarified, taking off in a giggly sprint. 

We were steps away from the terrace of our newly renovated suite at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club in Dana Point, Calif. Built in 2001 as a St. Regis, the hotel has changed hands several times, ultimately getting purchased by Ohana Real Estate Investors for a reported $497 million in November 2020. 

The new owners brought on Waldorf Astoria in January 2021 to manage, market and update the hotel. The 162-acre blufftop resort has plenty of natural “toys” that I enjoyed during a previous visit in 2019, but I was curious if the new brand — and the newly completed $30 million renovation of its 400 rooms — had elevated the guest experience. Plus, on this visit, I brought along my 22-month-old daughter so I could understand how the Orange County property has become such a popular family vacation option. 

The Monarch Bay Beach Club

My toddler’s new focus on “toys” followed us during our first night at the Monarch Bay Beach Club, where our dinner aligned with a dramatic winter sunset. 

“So many colors,” my daughter said, when I took her out for a mid-meal exploration of the sand. “Like Hawaii. And so many toys — sand, beach.”

She was looking for seashells while my husband and my parents enjoyed their appetizers of prawns, chips and guacamole at the handsome beach club, where wood paneling, ceramic vases filled with plants, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows provided a cozy, earthy perch for enjoying the ocean view. 

Opened following a renovation in July 2019, the beach club elevates the resort from a great property to a must-visit one. Reminiscent of Soho House’s Little Beach House in Malibu, Calif., this oceanfront eatery is also a members-only affair, available exclusively to beach club members and resort guests. 

The most significant change to Monarch Bay Beach Club was the re-structuring of the restaurant and bar, which opens entirely to the outdoors with an expanded bar counter and oceanfront views. Interior design was also refreshed, and the ocean-friendly-certified menu was also overhauled to feature an all-California wine list and dishes highlighting seasonal produce and sustainably caught seafood.

It’s not just about food, though. The beach club is primarily about fun, and parents will find it to be a lifesaver. 

The adventure begins near the hotel’s hilltop porte cochere, where a trolley makes its comfortable descent to the beach, weaving its way through the hotel’s golf course and through a tunnel. The various drivers of the tram share tidbits about the community, from famous homeowners residing nearby to extravagant home sale prices. 

And the drive quickly became a favorite for my daughter, who even requested to take back-to-back rides without getting out, something one driver confided happens “quite often” when little ones are onboard.

While the beach is always a hit with kids, schlepping gear makes it a pain for parents. The beach club takes care of this through its on-sand service staff, who set up our beach umbrella and chairs and provided towels. Best yet, my daughter was able to pick out her own sand bucket and shovel. Without worrying about stuff, we were able to relax, build sandcastles, draw Elmo in the sand and even spot numerous dolphins in the water. 

And for those who want to try out a new activity, the beach club offers equipment rentals and lessons for boogie boarding, surfing and stand-up paddleboarding. 

More Activities: The Pool and the Golf Links

When we first arrived, our bellman told us there is truly so much to do at the property — and he was right. 

The pool scene, for one, is a hit for families. It has three Jacuzzis, two heated pools, plenty of chairs and large private cabanas that include a television, towels and a minifridge filled with canned sparkling and still water, plus plenty of space to sprawl out. Sombra Cantina offers hearty poolside eats such as the Monarch Burger (also available with a vegan Impossible Burger patty), kids’ chicken tenders and nachos. 

Golfers will love the resort’s on-site clubhouse and Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed golf course, with some holes offering oceanfront views. And because the property offers the most current innovations throughout, guests — and those who simply want to tour the course — can rent an electric-powered Phat Scooter or GolfBoard. 

Renovated Guestrooms

Prior to the $30 million renovation of guestrooms — which was officially completed in September 2022 — suites and rooms were luxurious, but not particularly memorable. It’s clear that Chicago-based Whitespace Interiors sought to change that. 

The firm — which is behind the elegant design at properties such as Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North and The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay — infused the rooms with a coastal warmth and artistic flair that was missing before. Harkening the sand, different shades of gold and beige are present in the wallpaper behind the headboard, the curtains tucked behind crown molding, and the white-washed wood paneling around the television. A light-blue headboard and various paintings artfully conjure the ocean. I was pleased to see updated hardware — such as an upgraded firebox for Fireside Terrace Suites — as well as bigger differences, such as new wood flooring.

The hotel also converted 20 of its studio suites to one-bedroom suites, including an expansion to include a spacious living room separate from the bedroom, plus a private terrace. For our family of three, the Fireside Terrace One-Bedroom Suite setup was perfect, allowing our toddler to sleep in the living room, while we closed the pocket doors to our bedroom or snuck out to our firelit terrace. 

The bathroom can be accessed from the living room and the bedroom, and features a large glass-enclosed shower and two sinks. Ours had an oversize walk-in closet and a coffee station, but no tub. Although our toddler was excited to break from routine and stand like a big girl while we used the adjustable showerhead, families who need tubs should be sure to make a note of it.

Further enhancing our daughter’s nighttime routine was a pint-size robe and a pair of slippers, a new T-shirt, a teddy bear wearing a Waldorf Astoria T-shirt and various kids’ bath amenities. 

We all especially loved our location on the first floor, where we had easy access to the outdoors. As a family, we gathered around the fireplace for breakfast and in the evening, when we put the resort’s complimentary smores set to good use and my daughter bit into her first marshmallow.

More Must-Dos: The Spa and Bourbon Steak Orange County

The best family vacations have easily accessible locations for parents to detox and “retox.” Upon the change to Waldorf Astoria, the Waldorf Astoria Spa dropped its Miraval programming and treatments and has simplified to offer massages that can be easily customized with CBD oil, hot stones or a scalp treatment for best results. There are still 40 weekly fitness classes, including aerial yoga and beachfront mindful meditation, as well as an adults-only pool and Jacuzzi and a sauna, a steam room and a relaxation area.

Part of the promise of wellness is to delight the senses, and that’s exactly what happens at chef Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak Orange County, which offers excellent dining (even for this vegetarian) with a splash of performance and a whole lot of whiskey and wine. To start, diners are treated to their own personal French fries platter, featuring three different seasonings and dips. (Non-vegetarian fries are cooked in duck fat.)  

I could have inhaled my tajin-spiked fries dipped in green goddess dressing, but I had to make room for a feast of truffles: a warm brioche roll infused with truffle butter, off-menu risotto topped with fresh truffles, and the restaurant’s signature truffle mac and cheese. Of course, the steak (and seafood) here are considered to be top-notch, and my husband thoroughly enjoyed his shrimp starter and wagyu entree.

While there is no shortage of cocktails and wines on-site, my husband and I decided to try out the new Bourbon Barrel program that debuted in October — after all, we were enjoying our first date night in ages, thanks to babysitting grandparents. A mixologist rolled over his whiskey-stocked cart and made smoky tableside cocktails using high-end spirits. Somewhere between lighting an orange peel on fire and branding an ice cube with the restaurant’s logo, I couldn’t help but think of my daughter and her comments in the grass and the sand. 

Indeed, Monarch Beach Resort does have all the best toys needed to while away a few happy days.