Secret Garden Inn — Hotel in Del Mar

After checking in at the nearby Les Artistes Inn, the renovated parent inn, Secret Garden Inn is a short, two block trip north. Management on staff were friendly and welcoming, and gave me a nice history of their two properties as well as easy to follow directions from one property to the next. A dedicated entrance in the rear of the building offers parking and room access while avoiding the street access through the Secret Cafe. The style and architecture is Asian/Thai inspired and is a real treat. My room, Lotus, was clean and neat as were the supplied towels, robe and slippers. Bathing area offered a good sized tub as well as shower, and the water was hot and had great pressure. ||The ocean-view was a stretch. Like another reviewer stated, I could just barely see the water from my balcony over the tops of the actual beach-front properties and lots. Honestly, this should not be a marketable feature. ||All rooms shared a 'wet bar' area which was pretty sub-standard. Bottled water was provided in the mini-fridge.||Breakfast was included and was provided in the attached Secret Cafe, a short walk up the stairs from the rooms to the main street level. Breakfast was a choice of one either sweet or savory regular breakfast menu item, with juice/coffee. The Peruvian restaurant served Peruvian coffee, arguably one of the top 5 best coffees I've ever had, anywhere. Menu items were equally inspired and authentic. ||The location makes for easy walking to many stores and restaurants in Del Mar, as well as the beach. I would recommend Secret Garden Inn for solo travelers, or couples, but don't think there is much to offer for...

After checking in at the nearby Les Artistes Inn, the renovated parent inn, Secret Garden Inn is a short, two block trip north. Management on staff were friendly and welcoming, and gave me a nice history of their two properties as well as easy to follow directions from one property to the next. A dedicated entrance in the rear of the building offers parking and room access while avoiding the street access through the Secret Cafe. The style and architecture is Asian/Thai inspired and is a real treat. My room, Lotus, was clean and neat as were the supplied towels, robe and slippers. Bathing area offered a good sized tub as well as shower, and the water was hot and had great pressure. ||The ocean-view was a stretch. Like another reviewer stated, I could just barely see the water from my balcony over the tops of the actual beach-front properties and lots. Honestly, this should not be a marketable feature. ||All rooms shared a 'wet bar' area which was pretty sub-standard. Bottled water was provided in the mini-fridge.||Breakfast was included and was provided in the attached Secret Cafe, a short walk up the stairs from the rooms to the main street level. Breakfast was a choice of one either sweet or savory regular breakfast menu item, with juice/coffee. The Peruvian restaurant served Peruvian coffee, arguably one of the top 5 best coffees I've ever had, anywhere. Menu items were equally inspired and authentic. ||The location makes for easy walking to many stores and restaurants in Del Mar, as well as the beach. I would recommend Secret Garden Inn for solo travelers, or couples, but don't think there is much to offer for...

On first impressions you may be put off the Secret Garden Inn and if you are a regular 'standard four star stayer' then perhaps it won't be for you. But look past the faded glory of the entrance 'garden', the 'check in up the road' (it's only a block a way), and the 'back to front layout' AND you will be rewarded by a really elegantly designed and fantastically clean room with lovely design details.||||The 'bath in the room' and 'slightly reduced toilet privacy' might not suit all couples but when you are close to each other you'll really enjoy the rooms quirky feel. ||||And so it's not 'beach-front' and the sea-view is over a carpark/houses but when the sun sets you can just drink it all in from the veranda and frankly you're going to drive to the beach anyway aren't you? (easy free parking all along the streets fronting Del Mar Beach)||||Also you'll love the breakfast menu (because your bored of the 'same-old' aren't you) and the food in the evening is a really unique and genuinely fresh and home cooked taste.||||It's not for everyone but then your aren't...