Just as Huntington Beach blends laid-back surfer vibes with Orange County’s upscale, pristine aura, Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort combines two aesthetics. Steps from the iconic Huntington Beach Pier.
The gym has a modern touch with Peloton bikes, but the neon and vibrant floral art makes you feel like you’re in the 1960s, when artists like the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean sang about the city Let me be. Overlooking the ocean, it is luxurious yet no frills. Family-friendly amenities like complimentary boogie board rentals and S’more his kits won’t feel out of place, even for couples seeking a romantic getaway.
Shorebreak embraces the push and pull of the new and the old. Look at the Bluetooth-enabled record players in every room. It’s one of the many ingenuities that help Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach stand out in a landscape of beachfront boutiques. Amenities galore but nickel and dimming are virtually non-existent (other than annoying) Resort fee).
Our reviews of the Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort will help you find out if it’s the right place for your next Southern California vacation.
About Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort
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(Photo credit: Sally French)
Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort opened in 2009. A relatively new resort in a city with decades of surf culture.
Huntington Beach has only recently been named Surf City USA (at least officially) after a heated multi-year legal battle with another California surf town, Santa Cruz. That fight happened around the same time Huntington Beach was being remodeled well past its new moniker.
In 2004, Huntington Beach began construction on Pacific City. Pacific City is a large open-air shopping mall that now houses an Equinox gym and fine dining. A few years later came another major development project, The Strand. This is a downtown mixed-use project with shops, restaurants, offices, and a Shorebreak Hotel, a 157-room luxury boutique hotel then operated by Joie de Vivre Hospitality.
The hotel has since changed owners and is now the Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort, part of the IHG One Rewards Program.
Book Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort with Points
Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort is now part of the IHG family and you can redeem your IHG points for free nights at Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort. IHG One Rewards Program.
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IHG uses dynamic pricing, so point rates may vary from day to day. However, award nights at Shorebreak typically run between 69,000 and 120,000 points.
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(Photo credit: Sally French)
The hotel lobby is located on the second floor of the building. To get there, go through the bike and surfboard storage area on the ground floor. This area sets the tone for the experience ahead while serving a practical function.
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(Photo credit: Sally French)
Go up the stairs (or elevator) to the lobby with a playful and mature atmosphere. There is fruit-infused water, and depending on the time of day, coffee and adult beverages are sometimes free. Lobby activities include a Pac-Man game, a human-sized chessboard, and a foosball table.
The aesthetic of the hotel is bright and funky. It exudes relaxed, laid-back Huntington Beach style, but it’s also impeccably stylish. A neon sign near the elevator spits out phrases like “Stay Wild.”
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(Photo credit: Sally French)
Rooms are playful and mostly decorated with bright blue accents.
Some rooms have sea views, others overlook the courtyard. However, the cheapest rooms are often less than ideal. Some rooms, like mine, rightly claim to have partial sea views, but that’s just the backdrop to some neighboring buildings, which are more shabby than chic.
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(Photo credit: Sally French)
Standard rooms are relatively small but adequately equipped. Rooms have writing desks for those who work while traveling, and large showers (some with bathtubs). Lather up with Atelier Bloom bath amenities and dry in Frette Italian bathrobes and linens.
Located in the heart of downtown Huntington Beach, this location is ideal if your focus is on getting the most out of your time on the beach.
The famous Huntington Beach Pier is a 5-minute walk away. Here you’ll find Duke’s, a seafood restaurant named after the surfing legend who brought his culture to Huntington Beach.
You can also walk to Pacific City for more shops and restaurants.
Getting to Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort
As for nearby airports, you’re likely to fly into either John Wayne or Long Beach airports, both of which are usually within a 30-minute drive.
Depending on your plan, you may or may not need a rental car. Valet parking is $45 plus tax per night. (No standard parking options, no free airport shuttle.)
While the location is within walking distance to most of Huntington Beach’s major attractions, getting around other Orange County cities can be difficult, or at least costly. Rideshare services are available, but public transportation is pretty awful.
It’s relatively easy to book a shuttle service to big tourist destinations such as Disneyland (about 30 minutes by car).
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(Photo credit: Sally French)
The onsite restaurant is called Pacific Hideaway and offers both indoor and outdoor seating (pier views). Like the rest of the establishment, it is a fine dining restaurant with a casual atmosphere. Dishes are influenced by Latin American and Asian flavors such as Laotian Sausage Lettuce Wraps, Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower, and Chipotle Hummus with Macadamia Crumble.
I skipped the restaurant in favor of dining at Duke’s instead. However, we did take advantage of Shorebreak’s complimentary refreshments which were plentiful.
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(Photo credit: Sally French)
Wake up with complimentary morning coffee and tea service. This isn’t just drip coffee, it’s cold brew, coffee and your favorite flavored syrup. In-room Nespresso machines are available on request.
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(Photo credit: Sally French)
There is an Evening Social Hour with complimentary alcoholic beverages daily at 5 PM. Non-alcoholic drinks are also served in stylish glass bottles. Then there’s the DIY food activity, making s’mores. You can get a kit of skewers, marshmallows, and more that you can roast in the fire pit on the hotel’s outdoor deck.
Amenities are good except for coffee, evening socials, and s’mores (although there’s a resort fee of $40 plus tax).
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(Photo credit: Sally French)
Bicycles are available free of charge for cruising the Pacific Coast Highway and bike path that spans the beach. Kids can take advantage of custom-designed micro kickboard scooters (with Nutcase helmets).
Beach amenities include use of beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, boogie boards, children’s toys, and coolers. If you have a surfboard, there are storage lockers.
Gym
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(Photo credit: Sally French)
Even gym skeptics might struggle to miss an onsite gym that feels like a playground.
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(Photo credit: Sally French)
It has a squat rack, barbells, and bumper plates, which are rare in a hotel gym.
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(Photo credit: Sally French)
Perhaps most pleasing is the 40-foot wide climbing wall.
Kimpton pet amenities
As is the case with all Kimpton, NerdWallet’s Top Hotel Brands for Pets, Pets stay free with no deposit or fees. There are no restrictions on weight, height or type.
Guests can access Wag! Premium for your stay. This is a membership program for pet services such as dog walking and his 24/7 access to licensed veterinary professionals. There is usually an additional charge to use the service, but Kimpton makes it very easy to coordinate (e.g. helping guests book dog walks, or having a dog walker at the front desk to share keys). and adjust delivery).
Kimpton is very pet-friendly, but also pet-phobic (and allergic) friendly. Kimpton Shorebreak offers pet-free and allergy-friendly rooms upon request.
record library
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(Photo credit: Sally French)
Perhaps the most unique facility of them all is the record library. Each room is equipped with an in-room record player, giving guests access to the hotel’s vinyl library. Alas, the record player in my room kept skipping. I didn’t bother to ask for help but I’m sure the staff would have replaced it if I did.
Is the Kimpton in Huntington Beach worth it?
Point rates vary, but the Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort is one of the most expensive rewards in the IHG One Rewards portfolio. Cash rates are also volatile, with rates around $300 per night (including taxes and fees) during low season, but during peak nights such as the 4th of July weekend, a basic King Over $700 for a room.
Shorebreak properties are more expensive in Huntington Beach. It has many similarities with the Waterfront Beach Resort. Hilton Hotel. Both are similarly priced and are family friendly (probably most notably the Water He slide). The Pasea Hotel & Spa and the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa (part of the hotel) are also nearby. World of Hyatt), both typically set a much higher price point and offer a more sophisticated rather than retro vibe.
The Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach is perfect for:
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People who value walkability: If you spend most of your trip at the beach, bar-hopping downtown, hanging out on the pier, or biking the coast, this place is ideal. However, if you’re driving around Orange County, it’s a good idea to choose a more central location (you’ll pay less for parking).
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For all amenities: The $40-per-night resort fee is frustrating, but at least it covers the comforts like delicious s’more kits, spectacular rock walls, and beach cruiser bikes. If you don’t care about these things (or just don’t have the time), this property may not offer the greatest value. But if your intention is for a leisurely trip where you can attend most amenities, it might be worth the price.
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Pet owner: Kimpton’s pet policy is unbeatable. According to his NerdWallet analysis of pet policies for US hotel check-ins in 2023, the average hotel pet fee is $81.60.
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For those seeking a laid-back luxury experience: Many shorebreak experiences feel like summer camps. But unlike most summer camps, this is a pristine facility with carefully curated details, funky art and retro touches. If your record player doesn’t work, give it a rest.
(Top photo by Sally French)
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