|
By Buzzy Gordon
A Bay of Tranquility
Dolphin Bay Hotel and Residences
2727 Shell Beach Road
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
(805) 773-4300
(800) 516-0112
www.thedolphinbay.com
When strong winds lash the rugged coastline of central California, the Pacific Ocean is anything but. Even in its fury, however, the sea can be a powerfully beautiful thing to behold -- especially from the balcony of your luxury apartment at the Dolphin Bay Resort and Spa in Pismo Beach, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
When the air gets chilly, you can retreat into the warmth and comfort of your one- or two-bedroom temporary  residence, with living room, dining room, fully equipped kitchen, walk-in closets, washer/dryer, entertainment system with large-screen flat-panel television and combination TV-DVD player in the bedroom.
The Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa, a member of "Small Luxury Hotels of the World," is a resort that combines a condominium hotel and a residential community of owners of identical condominiums. Unfortunately for those hotel guests who understandably fall in love with their temporary accommodations, there are no more condos for sale; even the waiting list is full.
Perched on a bluff overlooking the ocean, one of the resort's greatest assets is the natural beauty of it surroundings. In the spring and fall, with luck, a careful watcher might see migrating whales, or playful porpoises. The grounds are as stunning at night as in the daytime: a beautifully lit fountain show plays over the infinity pool. The major drawback: the resort's only Jacuzzi spa is inside the pool enclosure and closes down every night at 9:00 p.m. – rather early for vacationers seeking to prolong a pleasant evening in a soothing whirlpool to the lulling sound of rhythmic surf.
Another attraction – for some patrons, justifiably, the prime attraction – is The  Lido Restaurant and Bar, the domain of a rising culinary star, Chef Evan Treadwell, master of California Coastal Cuisine. The Lido offers a gourmet dégustation menu: six tasting-sized courses that entertain the palate from appetizer to dessert like an opera diva trills expertly up and down octave-defying scales.
The brunch menu is also as delicious as it is ambitious. The restaurant serves up a feast for the eyes as well, with a centerpiece sculpture of Murano glass, while the remote-controlled windows keep the temperature comfortable at all times. One particularly delightful surprise is the wait staff: the young servers, most of them students working their way through a local college, are unfailingly bright and cheerful, with smiles and dispositions that enhance your mealtime experience. There was an occasional slip-up in the service, but it is impossible to stay annoyed in the face of such eagerness to please.
Finally, the hotel's spa, La Bonne Vie ("The Good Life"), is every bit as topnotch in its area of expertise as the Lido is when it comes to food. Its signature massage, Enchant, has a seductive description: "a luxurious massage beginning with warm oils followed by a moist herb-filled poultice used to trace energy pathways…" The reflexology massage, meanwhile, is professional, thorough and utterly relaxing; the therapist's touch on heretofore unknown pressure points from head to toe is practiced and practically stupor-inducing – if by a stupor one means slipping into a ultra-relaxed state with a smile on your face.
© April 2008 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
|
