Laguna Beach, Calif. – October 16, 2024 – Casa Loma Beach Hotel, a 70-room bespoke, serene haven on the world-famous, rock-strewn cliffs of Laguna Beach, has debuted a $15 million renovation befitting the property’s location on the choicest slice of sea and sand on Main Beach. Renowned group Marc & Rose Hospitality enlisted the acclaimed Venice, California-based architecture and interior design studio Electric Bowery, as well as the lauded graphic and branding firm LAND, to reimagine what was formerly the beloved Inn at Laguna Beach. The celebrated oceanfront property’s transformation is influenced not only by the beauty of its clifftop landscape, but by a laidback Mallorcan mindset and the vivacity of California’s coastal spirit. The private, sensual, and understatedly-elegant refuge offers bespoke beach club service hiding in plain sight just steps from Laguna Main Beach, ensconced in stone and lush greenery. Boasting unrivaled ocean views, the luxury hideaway welcomes curious, adventurous and seasoned travelers for an experience akin to staying at an old friend’s coastal villa—where hospitality feels familial along the edge of the Pacific.
“Marc & Rose Hospitality is proud to bring together such a talented team of partners to re-enliven this Laguna Beach landmark,” said John Grossman, President of Marc & Rose. “We sought out not only partners, but like-minded friends who share our artistic passions and pursuits. The story of Casa Loma is revealed in the details—the intentional design choices capture a spirit of retreat both familiar and imaginative, thoughtfully curated with our favorite things by our favorite people.”
Overarching Design
Casa Loma evokes the journeys and byways of a life well lived, an homage to the individuals who have traversed the world in search of the unfamiliar and unobstructed. To hone the vision for the hotel, Marc & Rose embarked on a deep dive of Laguna Beach history alongside LAND and Electric Bowery, from the early days of Prohibition when the area’s counter-culture reputation began to develop, through its flowering as a self-reflective seaside sanctuary for creatives, bohemians, surfers, and crafts people. The resulting design narrative nods to the region’s creative heritage while tapping into the tones and textures of its beachside landscape.
“Throughout the design process, we worked closely with Marc & Rose to create a naturally-inspired destination that celebrates Laguna’s environment and embodies a creative ethos,” said Lucia Bartholomew, principal, Electric Bowery. “Our vision of fostering a sense of purpose and well-being is reflected at Casa Loma through the marriage of the local bohemian spirit with the natural energy of the sea.”
The overall design encourages beachside reflection and communing with others in vibrant, casual and tastefully-appointed spaces. Drawing inspiration from the artists, adventurers and intellectuals that inform the culture and idea of Laguna Beach, Electric Bowery, LAND & ORCA worked closely together to infuse each space with a subtle bohemian energy evocative of the town’s creative roots, offering a canvas for today’s innovative thinkers and artists. From a towering relief sculpture bathed in sunlight, to bespoke screen-printed artwork and woven throws, custom works are enchantingly folkloric and an enduring presence throughout the property.
Public Spaces
“LAND was enlisted to make the entire hotel one large immersive art experience – from the lobby mural, to the hand-painted canvas tapestries in select guest rooms, to the custom screen-printed and numbered framed original artworks,” said John Grossman, President of Marc & Rose. “Every aspect of Casa Loma, including the handcrafted wooden furniture and its vintage lobby sound system, feels organic to the space and its surroundings, but precise in its placement and design.”
The lobby bar and lounge is the social hub of the project; guests are immediately met by a sculpted mural that depicts a sun-worshiping goddess symbolizing the natural wonder of the Pacific Coast that lies just outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Calming color palettes of sandy neutrals, clay tones, and seaside greens frame panoramic views of the sea, and organic and sculpted forms are born from the ocean’s gentle waves and movement. These handcrafted and natural textures reflect the tradition of craft in Laguna Beach. Fired clay tiles adorn an intimate, curved check-in desk, and scraped sandy-colored plaster wraps custom, built-in banquettes, all illuminated by custom lighting fixtures by Electric Bowery. Curved archways throughout the property create inviting nooks for respite or clandestine conversation, each outfitted in hand-picked pieces ranging from ceramic sculptures and found artwork, to modern-bohemian ceramics and thick tomes of knowledge. Landscape designs by ORCA reflect the area’s local natural beauty and build on Electric Bowery’s cohesive approach inside and out that feels indelibly linked to the hotel’s environs.
Casa Loma’s culinary offerings are analogous to that of a bespoke beach club within a hotel. The semi-exclusive experience is only available to hotel guests and Laguna Beach residents, and focuses on a European seaside food and beverage program to nourish and enliven visitors. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with welcome drinks featuring Madre agave spirits, straight from the rolling hills of the Oaxacan Sierra and the highest peaks of Los Altos, Jalisco. Tapas-style bites, fresh, organic fruits, artisanal cured meats, healthy vegetables, and whole grains are available on demand by the pool. Mediterranean cocktails including spritzes, port and tonic, crisp lagers, dry ciders and low-ABV refrescos are available in the lobby or on the show-stopping Pacific Terrace, where an exclusive gathering of new custom woven lounge chairs, raw-edge stools, and deep-seated poolside couches present one of the best gathering places on Main Beach. Come evening, cocktails and old-world wines are on offer, as well as wholesome and delicious cookies freshly baked by local favorite Rye Goods.
Seeking to marry the hotel’s visual impact with an audio experience, Marc & Rose installed vintage, reconditioned speakers alongside a hi-fi reel-to-reel player in the lobby with music curated by Uncanned, a firm specializing in soundscapes for hospitality. The hotel’s onsite radio station features an eclectic mix of coastal music from around the world, with influences from Spain’s Costa del Sol, the cliffs of Mallorca, the beaches of Baja, paired with a heavy dose of homegrown California music from the 1960s through today. This soundscape follows guests throughout their stay, from lobby to pool to terrace and back to their rooms.
Guest Rooms
The 70 newly-appointed guest rooms blend a Mediterranean sensibility with the comforts and colors of the neighboring sea. The influence of the original surfboard shapers is evident at every scale of design, especially in the guest rooms where the custom beds, built-in desks, sofas, and case goods take on sinuous forms. Lighting and banquette design—including guest room vanity fixtures by SKLO and custom lighting fixtures throughout the property by Kassandra Thatcher—are inspired by organic shapes found in the surrounding seascape. Relaxed textiles take on an elevated feel; traditional ticking stripes in muted, natural shades adorn custom chairs in each room, set against playful checkered benches and whimsical, eye-catching throw blankets. Thirty-eight rooms feature private balconies or patios, many overlooking the sweeping Pacific Ocean and Main Beach below. New world-class amenities also include D.S. & DURGA toiletries, Canyon Coffee pour-over set ups, and a Tivoli Model One Radio with Casa Loma’s custom radio station, offering another curated auditory journey for guests’ in-room moments.
Bespoke Brand Partners
Marc & Rose’s ethos of genuine hospitality is brought to life throughout the thoughtfully-designed spaces with equally-as-inspired global brand partnerships. Texas-based Joe Swec, a visual artist and muralist known for his classic American style and lettering, installed hand-painted works throughout Casa Loma, ranging from the in-room tapestries to the wayfinding signage around the property. Custom robes in each guest room are created by Guatemala-based textile manufacturer Luna Zorro, which also produced the sun hats for the lobby’s retail shop honoring the history of Maya artistry. Also available for purchase are organic T-shirts by Roark featuring artwork by LAND, which makes another not-so-subtle appearance on the beach towels available from Plunge Towels. Revisiting the full-sensory getaway experience, “Primitive Surf Sounds” is a custom vinyl created in partnership with Numero Group, with album art by LAND. Packaged with a unique sleeve and comprised of an eclectic collection of works that pay homage to the property and its Laguna Beach setting, the vinyl is the perfect take-home gift to remember time on the coast. The album can also be enjoyed in each suite, where it is accompanied by a record player and a collection of additional records featuring artists across genres and time periods, from Jimmy Cliff to the Beastie Boys.
Casa Loma Beach Hotel marks the second of two key historic restorations for Marc & Rose Hospitality on the Pacific Coast Highway, following hot on the heels of sister property La Playa Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The firm currently operates fourteen renowned hotels and restaurants throughout the American West including the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa, High Country Motor Lodge, Hotel Carmel, Laguna Beach House, and The Scott Resort & Spa.
Casa Loma is located at 211 N Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. For more information or to book a stay at Casa Loma, please contact 800-544-4479 or visit www.casalomalagunabeach.com. Exciting news and updates are also available on Instagram @casalomabeachhotel.
