We loved stumbling upon the Inn at Avila Beach back in 2015. We had been looking for a hotel with fantastic ocean views that allowed us to walk to the beach, restaurants, and the pier. At the time, they were planning significant renovations to the rooms, but we still loved the experience (you can read about it here). But when we were looking for a spot for my birthday, we decided it would be fun to return to the Inn at Avila Beach to see the room updates and find out how the town had changed over the last couple of years.
Avila Experience Suites
Having an oceanfront room was at the top of our list when looking into returning to Avila Beach. Luckily, the Inn at Avila Beach had hotel rooms with terrific views that had been fully updated since our last visit. I’m not going to lie; my favorite aspect of the room was its incredible balcony, spacious daybed on the balcony, and that view. But, their other amenities we also enjoyed.
Among the pluses, the fireplace was a delight on the first night. It was chilly, and we had been lounging with the doors open to hear the ocean waves crashing, so the fireplace allowed us to turn up the cozy factor. The large king bed faces the fireplace, but you also get terrific views of the ocean and the hills beyond Avila.
We really liked having a separate sitting area, and if this had been a serious working vacation, we would have used it more. As it was, we really only used the space to have easy access to our luggage.
They had a microwave and a refrigerator that we used often. There is plenty of storage space if you are inclined to unpack (I never unpack on short trips; meanwhile, Andy did use the closet).
There is a huge TV, but because it was not connected to any of the streaming services (and we didn’t bring our Roku or Google device), we mostly listened to podcasts, old radio shows, or watched on our computers.
The bathroom was nicely arranged, and they took some time with the details. I didn’t love that you had to touch the mirror to get the full light to come on, but it was a lovely space.
The artwork caught our eyes. We love seeing old photos of the towns as they developed, and there are pieces of interest in both rooms. I even liked the inspirational quote.
Inn at Avila Beach Amenities
I’m happy to report that they still do the free pie and ice cream treat every night from 8:00pm-9:00pm. Tea, coffee, water, and popsicles are available for free to guests all day, and a complimentary breakfast is served on the rooftop at Joe’s (more on that later). You can grab popcorn for movie nights (or movies in your room), beach cruisers are available (I opted out given my last biking fiasco), and even beach chairs and sand toys are at the ready.
Parking was plentiful. We rarely moved the car, so we never faced the challenge of trying to find a space, but there is free, safe parking right across the street from the hotel, too, so it feels like it should be easy enough to manage. Of course, we’ve never been at the hotel at the height of tourist season, so your MMV.
The Hotel Views and Location
Did I mention the hotel had incredible views? We were on the third floor of the Inn at Avila Beach, which afforded us sweeping views of the ocean, pier, and cliffs. It’s in the midst of downtown, so it is easy to walk to one of the many outdoor patios of the cafes, restaurants, and bars. And having so many outdoor options made me feel much safer dining with other people.
We loved being able to easily walk down to the beach. We explored the pier that appears to be undergoing renovations, and we even walked over to the park and the aquarium. In fact, I think the only time we drove was when we went out to Pirates Cove Beach Trail and then up to Morro Bay for a happy hour. We count it as a major win when we can walk to things rather than always driving places, so two thumbs up here.
Were there downsides?
As far as I can tell, there is no elevator at the Inn at Avila Beach. We were on the third floor. We were able to handle that, although it was less fun when we were carrying up our luggage and cooler. I have no idea if they have ground-floor accommodations, but if they do, they wouldn’t enjoy the views of the upper floors and wouldn’t have access to the café on the roof. If you have mobility issues, you should call the hotel before making a reservation.
Pets are not allowed. That’s fine for us because we don’t have a dog, but if you have a dog that travels with you, this may not be the place for you.
Avila Beach Off-Season
We love the quiet seasons in beach towns, so visiting Avila Beach in March was actually really nice. The weather was cool but delightful during the day. It made it easier to hike, and lunches outside were perfect.
Restaurants, cafes, wine bars, and other spots are open, and many seem to thrive. However, just like everywhere, you can tell that there are staffing issues following two years of the pandemic and it being off-season. You can tell that a lot of the staff is new, and we ran into some hiccups along the way at a number of places.
Still, we loved Blue Moon Over Avila. Also, if you just want to grab a sandwich, The Market has some great options. We took our sandwiches up to the hotel’s rooftop deck and ate them while enjoying the slower pace and terrific views. Something I would happily do again and again and again.
