Hotel Pacific is the downtown Monterey pick for travelers who want space, character and walkability without resort prices: an all-suite hotel built in a Spanish-colonial style that echoes the adobes of Monterey's old capital district, with tiled walkways, flowering courtyards and fountains tucked between the buildings. The suites are the selling point, and the hotel claims some of the largest in the area: each has a separate sitting area, a gas fireplace (welcome on foggy evenings), and a patio or balcony in many cases, which makes it practical for families and comfortable for couples on longer stays. A continental breakfast is included, and the staff are known for a personal, small-hotel welcome. The location is excellent for exploring on foot: it sits across from the Monterey Conference Center, about half a mile from Old Fisherman's Wharf, a few steps from the historic adobes of Monterey State Historic Park, and within easy reach of the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, which runs along the waterfront to Cannery Row and the aquarium. Downtown restaurants, Alvarado Street and the farmers market are around the corner. Rooms face courtyards rather than the ocean, so this is not the place for bay views, and parking is an added cost as at most downtown hotels. Fit: families who need room to spread out, couples who want a fireplace and walkable dinners, and first-timers who want to see Monterey's history and waterfront on foot.
The hotel's architecture is a deliberate nod to Monterey's Spanish and Mexican past, when the town served as the capital of Alta California, and it sits in the heart of the district where those adobes survive. Staying here makes it easy to walk the Path of History, visit the Custom House and wander the wharf in the same morning.
Room craft
Ask for an upper-floor suite for more light and a balcony, or a courtyard-facing suite for quiet. Families should request suites with two beds plus the sofa area. Book ahead for summer weekends and big events such as Car Week and the Jazz Festival, when downtown fills.
Practicals
300 Pacific Street, downtown Monterey, across from the Conference Center and about half a mile from Old Fisherman's Wharf. Breakfast included; parking extra. Fit: families, couples and walkers who want central Monterey.
Why stay here
- ✓All-suite accommodations
- ✓Gas fireplace in every suite
- ✓Continental breakfast included
- ✓Fountain courtyards
- ✓Walk to Old Fishermans Wharf
- ✓Near Monterey State Historic Park
- ✓Patios or balconies in many suites
- ✓Across from the Conference Center
Good questions
Does Hotel Pacific have ocean views?+
No. Suites face the hotel's courtyards and the downtown area. The waterfront and Old Fisherman's Wharf are about half a mile away on foot.
Is breakfast included?+
Yes, a continental breakfast is included with stays.
Is it good for families?+
Yes. Every room is a suite with a separate sitting area, which gives families more space than a standard hotel room, and downtown attractions are walkable.
