The Resort at Pelican Hill, a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel, is nestled into a ridge that overlooks Newport Beach and the Pacific Ocean. Everything about the palatial Southern California retreat exudes Italian grandeur and classic elegance.
It’s an exciting time for The Resort, too, as this fall it begins transitioning to the world’s first St. Regis Estates property. The ultra-exclusive brand will bring the House of Astor’s tradition of grand estate living into the modern era.
“For the Astors, the founding family of the St. Regis brand, the ultimate luxury was retreating from the city to their country estates, where time with loved ones could be savored with exquisite ease amid settings rich in heritage and a rare sense of belonging,” says George Fleck, senior vice president and global brand leader, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. “With St. Regis Estates, we honor that legacy by celebrating each estate’s origins and creating escapes that bring people together to embrace beauty, connection and the simple pleasure of slowing down.”
The Resort at Pelican Hill was chosen for its expansive cinematic setting and architectural character, aspects that make a stay feel more like spending time in a residence than a conventional hotel. While it won’t debut as a St. Regis Estate until 2027, The Resort at Pelican Hill offers a memorable stay today. Here’s what makes the property so special.
The Architecture
Upon arrival, guests are driven into a massive circular driveway. The lobby, which feels like an entry to a villa on Lake Como, is modeled after the classical Renaissance designs of architect Andrea Palladio and boasts high, curved ceilings; clean lines; colonnades; large proportions; and oversized fireplaces.
The inviting bungalows and villas mimic this scale with tall ceilings, Italian plaster finishes, luxurious marble and handcrafted wood accents.
The Landscape
The luxury hotel sits on more than 500 acres of coastal land in Newport Beach — for scale, it’s bigger than Disneyland. The outdoor areas flow naturally into the resort, and the landscape is treated as an extension of the architecture.
The verdant grounds feature aged olive trees and statuesque palm trees. There are fragrant flowers, rose bushes in the backyard of the private villas, rows of lavender alongside the streets, plus cypress, figs, pines and more.
The Service
Hospitality is a premium at Pelican Hill, and all guests feel like VIPs. Whether you need a ride to Crystal Cove (the nearby beach) or want to set up your golf clubs on the driving range, someone is waiting and ready to help you.
Be it the lobby attendant who offers you a glass of prosecco with limoncello or the room service staff member who delivers an ice bucket, the team is thoughtful and friendly.
The Golf Courses
The Resort at Pelican Hill has two Tom Fazio-designed golf courses. The South Course reopened this summer with a renovation under the direction of renowned architect Brian Curley of Curley-Wagner Golf Design. The remodel rebuilt the bunkers, expanded tee boxes and added strategic refinements to elevate play. The fairways run up and down a ridge and through a valley, offering beautiful views of the ocean.
The wind from the Pacific is something to consider when making long drives. Of course, if you want an insider’s guide to the elements and other factors surrounding the 36 stunning holes, book a caddy to assist you on the greens.
The Spa
With 22 private treatment rooms, the Five-Star Spa at Pelican Hill is the largest sanctuary in Orange County. The locker rooms and lounge areas are separated by gender, but each has a Roman-inspired acqua colonnade. The space has a dramatic 28-foot Palladian rotunda, a saltwater soaking tub, a sauna, a steam room and a wall of water that creates a soothing, flowing sound. A massage, facial or body treatment in this gorgeous spa is a must for all hotel guests.
The Villas
The villas are two-, three- and four-bedroom private homes that guests can enjoy for the ultimate private stay. Book one, and you’ll have access to a clubhouse, pool, fitness center and great room, all dedicated places for villa guests only. Ranging from 2,200 square feet to 3,581 square feet, the exceptionally spacious villas have terraces, gourmet kitchens, dining areas, personal butlers and staff available around the clock.
There’s also a daily breakfast buffet at the clubhouse, made-to-order pizza on weekends and a literary partnership with Lido Village Books that’s produced a list of titles exclusive to villa guests.
The Pool
The Resort at Pelican Hill’s Coliseum Pool draws you in on looks alone. With a 136-foot diameter, it’s the world’s largest circular pool, and it’s dazzling. The radiant blue bottom is made from 1.1 million hand-cut mosaic glass tiles. The space surrounding the pool feels like an amphitheater, with private cabanas and terraced decks, perfect for sunbathing and people-watching.
The Views
Thanks to its hilltop location, the resort offers incredible vistas of the ocean and nearby towns virtually everywhere on the property. It’s hard not to feel instantly relaxed when the cool blue Pacific waters constantly twinkle in the background.
