Pelican Hill Resort | Newport Beach, CA: Review
Pelican Hill is a hotel I've grown up visiting, as it's close to home. Owned by the Irvine Company, which also holds significant real estate across South Orange County, the company excels in creating upscale communities and residences. However, despite their strength in residential properties, their hotel management has historically been a struggle. Previously, their portfolio included Fashion Island Hotel (now Pendry Newport Beach) and Hotel Irvine (now Hyatt Regency Irvine), both known for being high-end resorts but often criticized for tight management and financial underperformance. Among these, Pelican Hill has consistently stood out as the true five-star property.
Pelican Hill began in 1995 with five exclusive, guard-gated neighborhoods nestled in Newport Coast: Pelican Hill, Pelican Crest, Pelican Ridge, Pelican Point, and Pelican Heights. Home values range from $5 million up to $60 million, primarily featuring custom estates. Nearby Crystal Cove State Park offers scenic ocean trails, a private beach cove, and the popular Beachcomber restaurant directly on the sand. In 2008, the Resort at Pelican Hill opened, perfectly situated among these communities, offering world-class dining, expansive Villas and Bungalows, a championship golf course designed by renowned architect Thomas Fazio, and the iconic Coliseum pool—one of the largest circular pools in the world. The resort’s striking architecture echoes a picturesque Italian village, inspired by Andrea Palladio, Italy’s famed Renaissance architect from the 1500s.
Every aspect of Pelican Hill was meticulously designed, reflecting careful attention to detail. Recently, Irvine Company transitioned management operations to Marriott, with plans to rebrand the resort as a St. Regis following upcoming renovations. The Irvine Company will remain the resort's owner. For arrival, your best option is flying into Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, just minutes from the hotel. Alternatively, LAX is approximately 45 minutes to an hour away, depending on traffic.
Having stayed numerous times and frequently dining at the resort’s restaurants even when not lodging there, I've accumulated many experiences. Though I didn’t prioritize capturing detailed images previously, this review focuses on our recent family staycation during Easter at the Bungalows, along with selected photographs from previous stays at the Villas for context. The Bungalows are conveniently positioned near the main Coliseum pool, while the Villas enjoy access to both their exclusive Villas pool and the Coliseum pool.
Pulling up to valet and checking in was smooth, and the moment you drive onto the property and step inside, you’re immediately struck by how grand and stunning everything is — from the immaculate grounds to the beautifully kept architecture and landscaping.
Room:
One of my favorite things about Pelican Hill is that the accommodations aren’t typical hotel rooms stacked together. Each unit feels like a private mini apartment or villa, offering a more relaxed, residential experience. For shorter stays or a traditional resort feel, the Bungalows are perfect. Beautifully appointed and just a quick stroll from the Coliseum pool, they comfortably accommodate brief visits. Unlike the Villas, however, the Bungalows do not include kitchens.
The Villas range from two to four bedrooms, providing more space and amenities suitable for extended stays. Each villa features a kitchen, washer and dryer, and a private garage. They’re ideal for guests staying for longer periods—some visitors even choose to stay here for several months each year. Larger villas generally offer golf course views, while smaller villas on the opposite side of the street enjoy ocean and sunset vistas. The bungalows and villas are both privately gated with a guard and the villas have a north and south side.
For our recent Easter staycation, we reserved two separate bungalows, Rooms 131 and 138 — one with a garden view and one with an ocean view. Both were ideal for a quick family trip, each including two convenient parking spots directly outside. It was so nice to sit out on the patio in the evenings with everyone who came down for the weekend. We’d sip wine, snack on cheese and crackers, and catch up while watching the sun dip into the ocean before heading out to dinner each night. A few months earlier, during home renovations, we stayed in another bungalow located in the 300s section. Comparing the two stays, our Easter accommodations in the 100s section clearly offered superior ocean views, unless you're considering the Ocean-View Bungalow Suites, which are located at the lowest section, providing the most unobstructed panoramas.
Each bungalow is equipped with a Nespresso machine and complimentary coffee pods, as well as a spacious bathroom with a large shower and bathtub. Previously, we've also stayed in the two and three-bedroom Villas overlooking the golf course and ocean. The kitchens in these villas make it convenient and enjoyable if you prefer cooking or are celebrating a special occasion. While I wasn't actively blogging during earlier visits, I’ve included a few room pictures from those stays to give you a sense of the different accommodations offered.
Activities:
Pelican Hill is primarily about relaxation, poolside lounging, golfing, and dining, rather than extensive on-property activities. They do offer daily fitness classes and meditation sessions, along with occasional pop-ups or holiday-themed events. For example, during our Easter stay, they organized an Easter egg hunt for children and provided special menus and buffets at their restaurants.
The resort offers a convenient trolley service that can take you down to nearby Crystal Cove Beach and State Park, or the Beachcomber restaurant directly on the sand. If you’re staying with kids or simply looking to explore the area, I highly recommend venturing off-property occasionally. Balboa Island is charming and perfect for enjoying a classic Balboa bar. Nearby hiking trails, Fashion Island's beautiful outdoor mall with great snack options, and various local beaches are all worth exploring.
Before your visit, check Pelican Hill’s online activity calendar to see if there are any special events or activities planned during your stay.
Restaurants on Property:
Coliseum Pool & Grill:
Coliseum Pool & Grill sits overlooking the resort’s iconic Coliseum pool, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with beautiful views of the ocean, golf course, and pool area. You can choose outdoor seating with scenic vistas or opt for indoor dining, which features a bar and large television—perfect for catching a game. For this review, I'm focusing specifically on our recent dining experience. We sat outside, enjoying views of the pool, ocean, and golf course. Unfortunately, the service was noticeably slow throughout—from greeting us at the table, to bringing out our food, to checking in afterward. We ordered the Bucatini pasta with vegetables and the burger with bacon and truffle fries. While everything tasted good, nothing was outstanding. The burger buns could’ve been fresher or house-made, the pasta needed a touch more salt, and the truffle fries were mostly memorable for the delicious aioli we ordered on the side. Overall, Coliseum Pool & Grill is a convenient option for a meal during your stay, but don't expect an exceptionally high-end dining experience here.
Pelican Grill:
Located just down the hill from the main lobby, Pelican Grill is right next to the golf course, making it a favorite spot for golfers to walk over after a round, as well as for hotel guests and locals enjoying lunch or dinner. One thing both locals and golfers particularly appreciate is the upscale restaurant atmosphere combined with a casual lounge area featuring large TVs to catch all the sports action. During games, playoffs, and especially the Super Bowl, guests gather here to watch while enjoying higher-end dishes, great wine, cocktails, and even options like caviar—not your typical sports-bar fare. On the opposite side of the restaurant, the dining area offers a quieter setting with tables overlooking the kitchen and beautiful ocean views outside. Over the years, we’ve frequently visited Pelican Grill for many game nights and relaxed evenings.
On our most recent visit, we again sat in the lounge area near the fireplace and under the TVs to watch the NBA Finals. For dinner, we ordered the Chilean sea bass, braised beef short rib, gnocchi with spring vegetables, and a side of their house bread. For context, the sea bass recipe has remained unchanged on their menu for years as it’s one of their most popular dishes. Served on a bed of black forbidden rice with pickled shallots, citrus, toasted almonds, and coconut beurre blanc, the combination is exceptional and delicious every time. This dish is always a must-order for me. The short rib was perfectly cooked, served over black truffle whipped potatoes with a rich bordelaise sauce, another consistently great choice. The gnocchi with spring vegetables was something new we tried as an appetizer. It was good but not particularly memorable.
Pelican Grill continues to be one of our favorite spots, reliably delivering top-quality dishes in a comfortable and lively atmosphere. It strikes just the right balance between casual comfort and upscale dining.
The Great Room:
Located immediately to the left of the lobby when you enter the resort, The Great Room features a large, beautiful fireplace surrounded by comfortable couches and tables. It's an ideal spot to relax or socialize throughout the day, or to gather before heading to an off-property dinner. They serve tapas style food, cocktails, and wine daily from 3 PM to 11:30 PM. On Friday and Saturday evenings, The Great Room hosts live music from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. It's a great place to stop by before or after dinner to enjoy drinks, snacks, and live entertainment.
During our Easter stay, The Great Room was transformed for the Easter Buffet Brunch. They rearranged the couches to set up beautifully decorated tables around the fireplace. The buffet itself was located at the adjacent lounge bar, featuring an over-the-top spread that included an omelet station, various proteins, a caviar station, seafood bar, a dessert selection, fresh-made "bunny" bread, and an ice sculpture. For our family, this brunch was definitely worth the visit and added costs.
In-Room Dining:
The in-room dining at Pelican Hill is generally good, but from my experience, it can take a while for the food to reach your room. I suspect this is due to the resort's expansive layout, as kitchens are located further away compared to typical hotels where staff simply hop on an elevator to deliver.
On this recent stay, we ordered breakfast to our room and enjoyed the chia yogurt bowl, a fruit smoothie, potatoes, French toast, and scrambled eggs. The chia yogurt bowl was refreshing, and the French toast was notably thick and served with maple syrup. While we typically prefer dining at the restaurants onsite, if you do opt for room service, just remember to plan a bit ahead if you have somewhere to be afterward.
Caffè & Market:
The Caffè & Market is another staple spot, even when I'm not staying on property. It offers beautiful views overlooking the golf course and ocean, making it an ideal place to enjoy a morning coffee. They also carry packaged salads, sandwiches, snacks, wine bottles, chocolate bars, candy, and fresh gelato. It's the perfect stop for grabbing something quick to take on the go or when you just want a light treat.
Spa:
The spa is beautiful and loved by both hotel guests and locals. While staying on property, you’re able to use the spa amenities daily even if you’re not booking a treatment, which I always appreciate and similar to how Four Seasons Downtown New York and Four Seasons Vail do it. When you book a treatment, you're first escorted to the locker rooms to change into a robe and slippers, then guided to the quiet lounge. Here, you'll find warm tea, refreshments, and small snacks to enjoy before and after your appointment. The spa is designed like a Roman bath with dry saunas, a salt-based jacuzzi whirlpool, steam rooms, eucalyptus showers, and a room with mirrors and products to freshen up. The treatment options here truly cover everything you might want for a day of pampering. The spa side offers massages, facials, and body treatments, while the salon side provides manicures and pedicures, blowouts, styling, haircuts, and keratin smoothing treatments, each in dedicated specialty rooms. I got the Renewal Therapeutic Massage and loved the essential oils they used.
Even if you don’t book a specific treatment during your stay, I highly recommend taking advantage of the spa’s amenities. Enjoy a rejuvenating steam session or unwind in the jacuzzi as it's a perfect way to start or end your day.
Pools:
There are two pools on the property: the main Coliseum Pool and the smaller, private Villas Pool. The Coliseum Pool is the iconic large circular pool that most guests flock to, especially families. It’s more lively, has beautiful views, and the Coliseum Pool & Grill restaurant sits right above it with a separate poolside menu. One afternoon we ordered truffle fries and a Caesar salad by the pool. The fries were great, but I don’t love that they serve the sauces in plastic Ken’s ranch and ketchup packets. They did bring the aioli out in a small dish when we asked, which I wish they’d do for all the sauces. The Caesar was solid with a great dressing, fresh shaved parmesan, good croutons, and anchovies on the side. I also ordered the Coliseum Riviera cocktail which was refreshing and light, made with tequila and pineapple. Service at the Coliseum Pool really stood out during our stay, unlike the Coliseum restaurant above. The pool staff was great, always setting us up quickly, checking in often, and bringing us our drinks, food, and extra towels quickly. If you're staying in the Villas, you also have access to the quieter Villas Pool and clubhouse. Many guests still opt to use the Coliseum Pool for its atmosphere and convenience. If you want a more private setup, the cabanas at the top of the Coliseum Pool are a great option, with TVs, privacy curtains, shaded lounge seating, and food and drink service.
Gym:
The gym is quaint and has what you need for a solid workout, but it’s not something we usually use during staycations since we’re so close. They do offer weekly on-property fitness classes like Pilates and yoga, so it’s worth checking the calendar ahead of your stay to see what’s scheduled. (I’ll get some pictures here soon!)
Things We Like at Pelican Hill:
What makes Pelican Hill stand out is how at home you feel the moment you pull up. Whether it’s the Bungalows or Villas, you’re not walking through long hotel hallways or waiting on an elevator — you're parking directly in front of your bungalow or pulling into your private garage at the Villas. It feels more like arriving at your own private property than checking into a hotel. There’s also a complimentary lot in front of valet, which is great for locals or quick visits. One of the staff members mentioned that now that Marriott took over management, they’re making a lot of changes soon — and one of those is that parking will no longer be free, which was always a nice perk if you live locally or just want to stop by.
The rooms are spacious, serene, and beautifully laid out, with private patios offering garden, golf course, or ocean views depending on your location. The Villas are especially great for extended stays with full kitchens, washers and dryers, and all the comforts you’d need for long term visits. They even offer 60 and 90 day discounts (or longer) in the Villas, which has made them a go to for locals remodeling their homes or people spending part of the year here.
We also love how spread out the resort is. It never feels cramped or overly crowded, which adds to the sense of privacy and ease.
The golf course is another favorite. Beautifully maintained, with ocean views throughout the course, it's considered one of the best in Southern California.
While we aren’t frequent Marriott Bonvoy users ourselves and tend to book through Amex, it’s great that you can now redeem Marriott points and enjoy Bonvoy perks. With the transition to St. Regis underway, this could be a huge benefit if you regularly stay at Marriott properties or hold one of their cards.
Shuttle service down to the beach and nearby shops is a nice added perk.
It’s nice to have such spacious bathrooms in every unit, with a deep soaking tub and large walk in showers that make getting ready or winding down feel more enjoyable.
We love the design of the hotel and the grounds — everything feels thoughtfully crafted, with palm trees, roses, and lush greenery woven throughout the property to complement the Italian-inspired architecture.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind About Pelican Hill:
For years, one of the highlights of the resort was Andrea, their upscale Italian restaurant located just off The Great Room. It closed during Covid and hasn’t reopened since. Now that Marriott is managing the property and renovations are underway, the space remains closed. You currently only have two main dining options for dinner on-site: Coliseum Pool & Grill and Pelican Grill, so I’d recommend mixing in a few off property dinners at nearby spots like Ocean 48, RH Ocean Grill, Gulfstream, Mastro’s, Marche Moderne, Modo Mio, or Javier’s. I’ve been told a new high-end concept is in the works for the former Andrea space, led by a celebrity chef from LA. I’m curious to see who it is!
There’s no dedicated adult pool at the resort. The Coliseum Pool is beautiful and the main hub of the hotel, but it’s worth noting that it can get very loud on weekends or holidays when lots of families and kids are in town. If you’re hoping for a quiet baby moon or relaxing escape without needing to put in headphones, this might be something to consider. When it’s our big family enjoying and talking all day, this isn’t so noticeable, but if you’re wanting to completely relax and have quiet like an adult pool would give, definitely be aware of this and bring your headphones down. While not adults only either, the Villas Clubhouse Pool can often be a quieter alternative since most families tend to stick to the main pool. The pool is gorgeous despite all of that, and can be a positive if you do have kids.
Room service can take a while. Because the property is so spread out, food delivery to your Bungalow or Villa isn’t as quick as in a typical hotel setting. It’s still convenient and a nice perk, but just plan ahead if you have somewhere to be after your meal.
While the resort does offer a trolley service, it only runs to Crystal Cove Beach and The Beachcomber restaurant, not the nearby Crystal Cove shopping center where popular restaurants like Javier’s, Mastro’s, and Bear Flag are located. If you're planning to head there for dining, be sure to book one of the house Mercedes vehicles in advance or plan for a quick Uber.
Tips:
If you're staying in the Villas, take advantage of the kitchen and private garage to feel even more at home. It's perfect for longer stays or if you're traveling with family.
If you’re looking for a more private or elevated pool setup, the Coliseum Pool offers multiple cabanas on the top level that overlook the pool and golf course. They come with TVs, privacy curtains, lounge seating, and dedicated food and drink service. It’s a great option for groups, families, or simply having your own shaded space to relax.
Book spa treatments early, especially on weekends or during holidays, as appointments fill up quickly.
If you're sensitive to noise or want a more relaxing pool day, especially if you're traveling without kids, consider visiting the smaller, quieter Villas pool or bringing headphones to the Coliseum pool.
The resort is incredibly family-friendly, but plan some off property outings like Balboa Island or the beach to break up the day.
Complimentary Services:
Sunscreen and body lotion provided poolside for guest use.
Access to spa amenities such as dry saunas, eucalyptus infused steam rooms, heated saltwater jacuzzi, and Roman-style showers — even if you're not booking a treatment.
Resort trolley service to and from Crystal Cove Beach and nearby attractions like the Beachcomber restaurant on the beach.
In-room Nespresso machines with pods provided in every Bungalow and Villa.
Valet and self-parking included with your stay (two spots per Bungalow, private garage with Villas).
Mercedes-Benz house cars and golf carts are available to shuttle you around the resort and to nearby locations.
Pursuit Postscript:
Pelican Hill really does offer one of the most beautifully designed resorts in Southern California. The architecture alone makes you pause. The layout, inspired by Italian Renaissance design, combined with ocean views and the sprawling setup of private bungalows and villas, makes it feel much more like a home than a hotel. It definitely needs the addition of a third main restaurant, which is currently in the works as they revamp the space that used to house Andrea. I also wish they had an adults-only pool, especially during holiday weekends when the main pool can get lively.
All in all, it’s the kind of place that works whether you’re checking in for a local staycation, planning a longer extended visit, or booking a special occasion like a baby moon, golf getaway, or even a girls’ weekend or bachelorette. The full kitchens and spacious living areas in the Villas make hosting and relaxing feel effortless.
Special Shoutouts:
LJ Valdez at the Allegra gift shop near the spa was so kind and helpful — he truly went out of his way to assist us.
The team at the Caffè was a pleasure to talk to and had such a positive attitude. They shared great insight about the new ownership and the exciting changes ahead.
Huge thanks to the entire pool staff and servers who were completely on it during a packed Easter weekend — hustling non-stop to make sure everyone was taken care of.
The valet team is always so nice — they park my car out front, run to open the lobby doors, pull the car up quickly, and greet you with a smile every time.
