The rhythmic pounding of the tide as it tumbled against the rocks welcomed us to Cambria. We’d come to the blue and white-trimmed Sand Pebbles Inn to enjoy California’s Central Coast. Perched atop a small bluff above Moonstone Beach in Cambria, the hotel has stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. This is one of the top hotels in Cambria and fully embodies the California “coastal chic” lifestyle.
Cambria is everything you’d expect from a small beach town. There’s the beach. And there’s the town. This leads to a harmonious blend of beautiful views and total relaxation. Our journey brought us to Cambria in search of wine.
The town sits in the middle of the Pacific Coast Wine Trail and just west of the Paso Robles AVA. There is no shortage of great wines here. However, wine tasting isn’t the only thing to do in Cambria. After a fun filled day, we found the inn to be the perfect place to lay our heads.
This is one of several hotels in the Cambria Inns Collection – a group of four boutique hotels in the Cambria area. Each is a little different, but the hotel fit our needs perfectly.
Check current prices at the Sand Pebbles Inn here.
The Sand Pebbles Inn
The Restaurant: There is not an on-site restaurant at the Sand Pebbles. However, there are two restaurants, the Sea Chest and the Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill, that are close to the hotel on Moonstone Beach Drive. We were craving seafood and opted for the Sea Chest. However, the hotel makes a first-rate breakfast with waffles cooked to order, yogurts, cereals, eggs and fruit.
The Concierge: The hotel is a small boutique hotel, so it doesn’t have a concierge per se. However, the hotel’s staff is very helpful and provided us with directions, recommendations and local advice.
The Room
The Rooms: The rooms at the inn are amply spacious and decorated in “coastal chic.” The furniture, particularly the dresser, is painted a distressed white. A small sitting table with two chairs provides space to enjoy a pre-dinner glass of the local wine while watching the sun descend over the Pacific.
Each room has a refrigerator and also a natural gas fireplace for the cooler winter nights. We visited in the summer and, while the room did not have air conditioning, the ceiling fan kept the room cool.
The WiFi: The hotel has excellent free wifi.
The Television: The room had a flat panel TV opposite the bed, although we didn’t watch any TV.
The Bathroom
The Bathroom: The bathrooms are spacious and have a shower/bathtub combination.
The Details
The Cost: Our partial ocean view king room was $249 on a Sunday night in the summer. The hotel offers great mid-week rates as well as a ‘stay one night, get the second night free’ special during the winter season. (Check current prices here.)
The Location: Located right on Moonstone Beach with stunning views of the beach and the Pacific Ocean. The hotel is a short five minute drive into the heart of Cambria.
The Transportation: The hotel is best reached via private car. There is ample free private parking at the hotel. There is a summer trolley service that operates on the weekends in the summer throughout the town.
The Airport Transfer: The nearest airport is the regional San Luis Obispo County Airport (SLO), which is 35 miles away. The airport is serviced by US Airways and United, as well as charter flights. The nearest major airports are San Francisco International Airport (SFO) 240 miles to the north and Los Angeles International (LAX) 240 miles to the south. Rental car facilities are available at each of the airports.
The Address: 6252 Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria, CA 93428
The Website: cambriainns.com. Check current prices here.
Sand Pebbles Inn Review
This is one of the top hotels in Cambria and is the perfect beachfront inn to explore California’s Central Coast.
We explored Cambria and the California Central Coast as guests of Visit Cambria. As always, opinions are our own.
