The Spindrift Inn in Monterey, California
A Boutique Hotel on Cannery Row near the Monterey Bay Aquarium
Sep 13, 2009
The Spindrift Inn is an exceptional boutique hotel located on Cannery Row in Monterey, California. Whether one stays on the Bay side or the street side, the guest finds him- or herself in the very heart of Monterey. Within easy walking distance (there is also a free shuttle bus) of the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, Fisherman’s Wharf and many shops and restaurants, the Spindrift Inn makes the ideal, romantic hotel for couples travelling the Central Coast.
History of Monterey’s Spindrift Inn
Opened in 1927 as the Ocean View Hotel—the street was originally named Ocean View—the Spindrift Inn has a long history that, in many ways, parallels the history of Cannery Row. From turn of the century elegance to the destitution of the Depression, the grimy reality of cannery work and, finally, to revitalization largely through literature, the site on which the Spindrift Inn sits has been a stoic observer and, at times, participant in a geographical and cultural metamorphosis without equal.
The man behind the Ocean View Hotel was Maen Chang Wu, a Chinese investor and restaurateur. Most people know the role the Spanish played in settling Monterey, but Cannery Row’s history is really all about the Chinese. In the mid-nineteenth century, a Chinese settlement sprung up on the site of the current Monterey Bay Aquarium, a few blocks down from the Spindrift Inn. China Point, as it was known, became the center of the local fishing industry until, in 1906, it was destroyed by a devastating fire.
Later, the area directly around the Ocean View Hotel became the site of a new Chinese settlement, and it was here that the Monterey Bay Fishing and Canning Company was established. Guests staying on the street side of the Spindrift Inn have the dragon style roof of the facing building—dating from the late 1920s—to remind them of the area’s Chinese heritage.
Turn-of-the-Century Elegance with Modern Amenities
Today, the guest staying at the Spindrift Inn is treated to a turn-of-the-century experience with most of the modern amenities. Fireplaces in every room, lavish feather beds, evening turndown service, and complimentary breakfast brought to the room are but a few of the amenities that make the Spindrift Inn so popular. Guests arriving at 4 p.m. for check-in are greeted with complimentary wine (from local Ventana Vineyard) and cheese, which they may enjoy in the lobby or in their room. Those in the know, however, frequently take their wine and cheese to the rooftop garden to enjoy the expansive views of Monterey Bay.
The charm of the Spindrift Inn has much to do with architect Paul Davis’ redesign. “The design theme for Spindrift Inn,” says Davis, “was to recreate the intimate San Francisco style of small, fine, turn of the century hotel that patrons of that era would have sought on Monterey’s scenic coastline.” He goes on to explain that “the compact scale and elegant design of the Spindrift Inn evokes that nostalgic intimacy and romantic luxury for today’s guests of Cannery Row.”
Other Considerations When Staying at the Spindrift
Guests should plan to pay a hefty fee for valet parking ($18 as of this writing), but the Monterey Bay Aquarium two-day pass offered at the hotel for the same price as a one-day ticket is a deal not to be missed. The rooms on the second floor facing Cannery Row have balconies which are nice, albeit noisy (closing the balcony doors eliminates most of the noise). The second floor, Cannery Row corner rooms have a balcony that wraps around two sides of the room providing a glimpse of the Bay.
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