Montage Laguna

Few words can describe the beauty of Southern California’s gem of a hotel, Montage Laguna Beach Resort & Spa. This elegant and modern Craftsman-style resort, perched on the cliffs of South Laguna Beach, affords some of the best views in the country — and perhaps the world. 

It's no wonder that a Montage Laguna Beach wedding is among the most sought-after locations in the state.

With 86 percent of California’s tourism coming from California residents, there’s plenty to see in this state. And Montage is a destination that should be on everyone’s must-see list.

Inside, period light fixtures, rich dark woods and ornate crown moldings recall turn-of- the-century elegance. 

Outside, wild cottontail bunnies hop among a lush landscape of billowing palms, colorful purple asters, breezy French lavender and Mexican sage. It’s easy to spend a whole afternoon just wandering the resort’s 30 acres of footpaths, white sand beaches, gardens and tide pools. 

Along the bluffs, teak meditation benches look out on the Pacific. The sand glistens gold in the sun; the ocean sparkles in a mosaic of light turquoise and navy blue. Rooms, which start at $475 in the winter months, are comfortable and elegant at the same time.

Each of its 262 accommodations has ocean views, private Craftsman-style porches, and is stocked with the finest luxury goods, from Bose radios and 27-inch flat screen TV/DVDs to sinfully soft bath robes and Baudelaire toiletries.

Laguna’s roots as an artist community date back to the early 1900s, when California’s Arts and Crafts movement was in full swing. Around 1905, one of the first artists to arrive was Norman St. Clair, whose sketches of Laguna Beach gained state-wide appreciation. These sketches attracted more artists to the area, and a tradition was born.

Since then, the hamlet has retained its flair. Several galleries, craft shops and museums line Pacific Coast Highway, and the town pays homage to its artistic roots with festivals such as “Pageant of the Masters” and its monthly “Art Walk.”

Montage itself has a fine collection of early California plein air artists. Among them: “Laguna Coastline” by WilliamWendt, “Pacific Tide, Laguna” by Edgar Payne, and “Laguna Sea, 1920” by Jean Mannheim. The collection also includes rare works on paper by the father of the Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris, and vintage photographs of California architecture and beach scenes.

“The art-work throughout Montage Resort and Spa captures the eclectic artistic development in California during the first part of the 20th century,” said art consultant Julie Cline of Newport Beach. “These styles were heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement in England; Art Nouveau glass and jewelry designs in France; and the exotic Moorish tile designs inspired by Antonio Gaudi of Spain.”

One of the most stunning displays at the resort is its mosaic-tiled infinity pool, complete with its own cabanas and white chaise lounges. Guests get their first glimpse of this shimmering waterscape upon entering the hotel, where a large floor-to-ceiling window invites guests to gaze out at the Pacific and down onto the pool below. It’s a truly stunning sight.

The resort’s 20,000-square-foot Spa Montage continues the Arts and Crafts theme with a signature pair of antique Calco Flamingo tiles dating back to 1926.

Montage spa is a serene, relaxing spot to spend the day, decorated in dark wood and rose marble with an outdoor waterfall and flickering fireplace to invite meditation. Among the spa’s signature treatments is the Laguna Beach Kur, an invigorating, ancient European treatment developed by monks that combines a very warm bubble bath scented with mustard and Eucalyptus followed by an ice cold body wrap to encourage detoxification. Non-resort guests may enjoy the spa with the purchase of a treatment and a $25 day pass.

One of Montage’s greatest claims to fame is its restaurant, Studio, serving up “modern French cuisine with California influences.”

Studio’s menu changes daily, but some of the restaurant’s offerings may start out with chilled heirloom tomato salad with shallots and aged balsamic vinegar followed by such seasonal entrees as grilled tenderloin of vintage beef with Idaho potato cake, asparagus and maitake mushrooms.

Perched on a 50-foot oceanfront bluff in its own private cottage, the restaurant offers expansive 280-degree views of the Pacific. It is an airy, comfortable place with 20-foot wood beamed ceilings, a striking 2,000-bottle wine vault, and a turn-of-the-century styled dark wood bar, where guests are invited to sample fine wines and tapas-styled dishes.

One of the nicest treats is its wine-by-the-glass program, offering an extensive list of highly coveted wines available in 3- and 6-ounce servings.

For a more casual dining experience, Montage has two additional restaurants: The Loft and Mosaic Bar & Grill. 

The Loft offers a more casual setting with equally stunning ocean views.  Serving up seasonal American country cooking, The Loft takes advantage of its copper wood-burning rotisserie with such entrees as roasted Shelton Ranch chicken with charred vegetables and wilted greens, fingerling potatoes and brown chicken gravy.

One of the nicest touches at The Loft is its Interactive Cheese Station, dedicated to the appreciation of rare artisan cheeses from around the globe. Here, the cheese sommelier assembles more than 20 different cow, sheep and goat cheese varieties for guests, paired with a selection of nuts, fruit compotes, vegetables or honey. The sommelier will also pair wines with each cheese selection.

It all sounds fancy enough, but don’t be afraid to bring the kids along.  The Loft has its own menu for children, ranging from kosher beef hot dogs to spaghetti and meatballs or grilled chicken with steamed broccoli.

Located poolside, Mosaic Bar & Grill is a great spot to spend a leisurely lunch while soaking up the fresh ocean breezes.  The menu offers up California-inspired cuisine such as shrimp and scallop spring rolls with sweet and sour rice vinegar, or a lobster hoagie sandwich with oven- dried tomato and arugula. An assortment of fresh salads, grilled burgers and children’s items rounds out the menu.

Montage is located at 30801 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, California, 92651. Call (949) 715-6000 or visit www.montagelagunabeach.com