The Lido House Hotel is a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, located on the Balboa peninsula in Newport Beach. Set on the site of the former City Hall, the hotel features 130 guest rooms, one presidential suite, executive suites, and five three-story cottages. The hotel is ideally located by the marina, beach, and retail hub, and flanked by the harbor and sandy beaches located several blocks away. It is the only hotel with walking accessibility to the marina, beach, and Lido Marina Village.
Rooms
The rooms are on the small side but appropriately decorated with a nautical theme. They are sufficient for two people but a family might not have adequate space. Some rooms have patio balconies overlooking the pool but not all rooms come with a balcony.
There are no luggage racks and limited hooks and places to store or put away your items. Two water bottles are provided and there is a small fridge but no mini-bar or coffee. They do provide two tokens for coffee located outside of the hotel.
If you’re looking to avoid as much noise as possible request to stay away from the elevators, rooftop bar and higher floors. Avoid any room ending in 52. The rooftop bar typically closes at 10 pm during the weekdays and 12 am on the weekends.
Cottages
Embracing the ‘home away from home’ concept, the hotel also features five residential-style, three-level cottages, each with 1,300 square feet, including a rooftop patio, personal BBQ and fireplace. Each of the cottages features a distinct and authentic design motif created by a different local designer: Grace Blu Design, Jennifer Mehditash Design, Brooke Wagner Designer, Erica Bryen Design and Blackband Design.
Amenities and services include complimentary “lido limo” shuttle service, cruisers, beach equipment and an array of personalized services.
The Mayor’s Table Pacific Pub & Kitchen
The hotel’s main restaurant honors the site’s City Hall roots in its name and design with a menu of sustainable seafood and vegetable-forward fare; inventive, chef-driven cocktails; a raw bar; chef’s counter and vibrant open action kitchen. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunches on the weekend. There is live music at the bar on Fridays from 6pm- 9pm. The restaurant closes at a very early 9:30pm for those looking for late night fare.
Topside Roofdeck Bar
The only rooftop bar in Newport Beach offers a lively, sophisticated scene with fire pits and great views of the ocean, harbor and peninsula.
Hours and days are seasonal and they are almost always closed on Monday and Tuesday, open until 10pm on weekdays and 12pm on weekends.
This may be a beach bar but the dress code is not. No flip flops are allowed or tank tops or board shorts. You must be 21 and over at Topside.
Crew Coffee + Cremerie
Crew is a boutique shop focused on curated blends of coffee and really good ice cream, with a unique touch on classic flavors. Coffee is prepared in three styles: drip, espresso, and cold brew with homemade syrups and infusions. The ice cream includes classic flavors with the finest ingredients.
Boost Spa
Available for hotel guests and locals alike, the 1,500 sq. ft. spa has four treatment rooms with an ocean-inspired design. The spa area includes a relaxation lounge, retail venue and fitness facility. Services include: massage, facials, aromatherapy, body wraps, reflexology, and waxing.
Pool
The saltwater pool area is small and also includes a Jacuzzi tucked away in the back. Pool features include cabanas, lawn games, instagrammable structures and paintings and poolside service. The crowd can be a mix of families with small children along with younger couples, and groups of guys and girls celebrating bachelorettes, birthdays, etc.
Fitness Center
The gym is not large but has a nice selection of equipment such as Peloton bikes, treadmills, yoga mats, cross-fit style equipment and free weights. If a gym is part of your consideration set for a place to stay, this one will meet or exceed most hotel gyms.
If working outdoors is more your style, try the paved beach paths for running and biking, or running the beach shores to the pier and back. Paddleboard and kayak rentals are also close by.
Amenities
For a destination access fee the hotel offers wifi and gym access plus bikes, towels and chairs to head a few blocks away to the beach. This doesn’t include the valet fee and there is no self-parking.
For cottage guests, the “Lido Limo” shuttle service provides complimentary transportation to local sites and attractions. All guests can enjoy the complimentary bicycles available to ride.
There are outdoor fire pits and lawn games to enjoy. For Instagram stars and those looking for great group photos or selfies there are some great opportunities such as a mural of a mermaid or a unique teeter totter to sit on.
More on Amenities:
- There is no late night room service or dining.
- There is complimentary electric vehicle charging.
- Don’t expect Pelican Hill or Montage type of service or amenities.
The Hotel Crowd
The Lido House serves a vast array of people. Families with young kids, couples, vacationers, business travelers, locals, party goers and bachelor/bachelorette parties are all welcome. At night there is a bustle of locals and tourists heading to the rooftop lounge and the Mayor’s Table but they both are closed by 10pm.
Surrounding Area
The surrounding area has many things to do within walking distance or a short bike or drive away.
Beach Access
The sandy beaches are five short blocks away from the hotel beginning with the popular 32nd Street Beach. Although 32nd is quieter and less tourists than the Balboa or Newport Pier on 21st Street, it still can be a very lively scene. For less crowded beaches one only needs to walk up or down the paved beach boardwalk where you can also access all the piers and all the bars, restaurants, and shops.
Surfing: The waves at 32nd street are usually mild and family-friendly. Popular surf spots include 36th street and 54th-56th street. Depending on the season The Wedge can be an amazing place to go and see huge shore-breaking waves.
Mother’s Beach (aka 19th Street Beach) is a great bayside option for younger kids looking for calm, lapping waters where they can swim, float on rafts, and play in shallow waters. Mother’s beach also features a giant playground, picnic tables, restrooms, outdoor showers and volleyball. Adjacent to the beach is the Lighthouse Café offering beautiful views of the bay while you dine.
Lido Marina Village
Lido Marina Village is adjacent to the hotel and offers a unique collection of artisans, chefs, boutiques and shops along the Marina. There are many events scheduled throughout the year for people of all ages to enjoy.
Nearby Restaurants
Not a complete list, but this is a list of our favs on or near the peninsula.
Upscale: A Restaurant, Mastro’s
Lively Nightime Fare: Shorebird Restaurant, Helmsman Ale House
Seafood/Sushi: Bear Flag, Crab Cooker (Newport classic), The Cannery, Nobu, San Shi Go Sushi
Breakfast: Ruby’s (end of the Balboa pier), Lighthouse Café, Wilma’s Patio (Balboa Island), Beachcomber Café (Crystal Cove)
Dessert: Balboa bar or frozen banana at the Fun Zone or on Balboa Island.
Waterfront: SOL Mexican Cocina, Rusty Pelican, Malibu Farm Lido
More Activities
The harbor offers many marina activities such as surfing, sailing, sunset cruises, duffy or boat rentals, fishing excursions, whale watching, sunset cruises, bonfires, stand-up paddle boarding and much more. Farther out but not too far away there is shopping at Fashion Island or South Coast Plaza, hiking trails at Crystal Cove, golfing, entertainment, Ferry to Balboa Island (get a Balboa Bar), and the Balboa Fun Zone for kids. Catalina Island day trips are also available out of the harbor.
Disneyland is 19 miles or about 30 minutes (traffic may vary) away from the Lido House Hotel. Knott’s Berry Farm is 25 miles or about 40 minutes away from the Lido House Hotel.
Who Owns the Lido House Hotel?
R.D. Olson Development owns the Lido House Hotel and is part of the Marriott’s Autograph Collection Hotels. The man behind the development company is Bob Olson, whose Balboa Island home might offer a familiar look to the hotel. Known to many as the “gondola house”, it is designed as a Cape Cod-style home with a 5,500-square-foot home that pays homage to the Cape Cod area.
About Lido Isle: The Name Behind the Hotel
Lido Isle (not Lido Island), is a residential only island on a the Balboa Peninsula with one small bridge providing access a few blocks away from the hotel. It is residential only with no commercial or retail establishments located on the island. Originally the land was part sandbars and mudflats that was a converted to a man-made island by W. K. Parkinson starting in 1923. The island was renamed from Huntington Island to Lido Isle in homage to Lido di Venezia, the “Golden Island of Venice”.
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