Masterpiece Hotel — Hotel in Morro Bay

As someone who lived in Morro Bay during the summer as a kid, it's still one of my favorite places to visit.

My wife and I stayed here for our 12th anniversary, and it was a great stay. The staff were friendly and well organized, they were short staffed and had signage to let guests know, but I never felt like I or my wife were ever not taken care of.

Room was standard hotel room, but the fireplace was very nice, and warmed the room well, balcony was a nice touch and my wife, and I enjoyed it after breakfast before we checked out. Bed was firm but not to firm, I'm not a good hotel sleeper so it took me a bit to fall asleep but no fault of the hotels. Sheets and comforter were clean white linen, floors were clean walked in socks and barefoot and did not have any noticeable black on them after sitting down.

Bathroom was clean, the only thing that might have made it better would have been a detachable showerhead, being 6'6" it's hard to get everywhere rinsed off (this is not just for this hotel but most of them).

Art in the rooms were nice, but I wish it had a more seaside resort feel, something to tie the hotel into the city since it's not a chain hotel. The rooms were very "white" and plain, more color in the art might have been able to break up the monotony. Small nitpicks but just my observation of something that could be improved in the future.

Hotel spa was nice, larger than I imagined it, floors are slippery (forgot to pack my flip flops, so that's on me) when wet (it's a hot tub of course they are wet) so please do better than I did and bring something to give you more traction. Very high chlorine levels but that's given in a water area with very high number of guests using it. Area had a device to allow those in wheelchairs to enjoy the hot tub as well, space is limited and there were only two chairs and a small table (think small bistro set) so not a lot of room to just lounge while others use the spa. The hot water felt great, and it was relaxing just to spend some time alone with my wife without our kids.

Continental breakfast was enjoyable when we went down, they had run out of waffle batter, but it wasn't a big deal I found other things to eat, but another guest informed the staff (who was not present when we arrived) and they refilled it.

Hard boiled eggs, English muffins, bread, cereal, oatmeal, fresh fruit (oranges and banana's) were what were available. They had hot coffee which my wife said was good, they also had orange juice and cranberry juice, and milk.

Something to tide us over until we went to Pismo to eat at Hoagies it did its job.

Overall, the stay was pleasant, and we will stay here again, when we come back...

I'm writing this in 2024 due to a Maps reminder of my last visit there with my wife a decade ago. Things may have evolved since then, I wouldn't know, but the Masterpiece was one of our favorite places to stay and we had come to know the place. First, the faux masterpieces hanging everywhere: if you have even the slightest familiarity with classical western art and perhaps even just a touch of a sense of humor about it, you'll be off to a great start. The included snack/breakfast periods were great times to be there as what they served was not a vast choice but worthwhile for the good quality, a step up from what they put out at the big chains. It was and likely still is served in the lower floor of the big cylindrical structure that forms the centerpiece of the architecture. The big windows make the room light and airy, and the big rounds that were then many of the tables made it very welcoming to be able to sit down and chat with other guests, or if you are traveling as a family. The gym is small but useful, and we ancient folk remember Jack LaLanne, a fitness icon of the 60s. In his later years he lived just a bit more than a few blocks away and worked out in that gym - there was a letter on the wall attesting to his approval and reminding us to get and stay in good condition. The upgraded rooms generally have a slight split-level layout which is kind of nice if you have a sweet tooth for that kind of thing. Back in the day if one was checking in at the earliest opportunity and it wasn't a really packed time, if one asked nicely it was possible to take a quick peek at your proposed room (provided other choices were available, and it may have helped that we were repeat customers). And then there is the penthouse. Not inexpensive and almost never discounted, it might be wise to book it well in advance. It occupies the entire top floor of the central cylinder, and you can not only look out of those great windows toward the bay, but a side door opens to a tiny deck toward the back side of the building to give an open view to the north over that part of Morro Bay and a bit of the landscape to the east. Others have described the fabulous hot tub/bath part of the suite, and the bed was huge and comfortable. While I realize things may have changed (or not!), I...

Please read. No idea how this place is well rated.||MLK weekend, 2025||Daughter and I looked forward to our stay. Reviews were awesome, room looked great (fireplace, balcony, 2 queen room).||I got a text at 5:15 pm asking when I’d be checking in. I replied, “by 7”. At 6:40 we arrived to an empty lobby. Nobody at the desk. There was a “be back at 7” sign. Phone went to voicemail, etc. I replied again to the text asking where everyone was. We waited 20 minutes until the employee arrived. No smile. No hello. Just a rant about being there alone and by state law she needs lunch, etc etc. Of course I know the laws…but maybe a text letting me know she’d be gone until 7? When I just stayed positive for the sake of a present kid and expressed sympathy for her job and apologized for being short, she ignored me. I aske if she heard me and she said “yes”. My daughter offered her a glass of water and she ignored her too.||||Our room was a wheelchair room on floor 1. No fireplace. No balcony. And the same lady slammed around in a housekeeping closet at 10pm that we shared a wall with.||||In the morning I watched another employee take a bloody pillow a gust gave him (he slipped at the jacuzzi and hurt himself..) and toss it in the back and say “she’ll clean it. IT’S CALLED OXI CLEAN” Pretty sure the sanitary solution is the trash. When this guy walked me back to my room to retrieve a left behind item he said the following…”he was probably drunk or stoned. He should’ve told me last night..it’s his fault”. He then told me his biggest problem was the “terrorists, excuse me, middle eastern guests upstairs. They’re worse than the French…Chinese are the same too”. I told him to stop talking. I’m not racist and he’s terrible. He followed me outside and gave a limp apology. I told him to not speak to me again. I’m so glad my daughter wasn’t there to hear it. She also was the reason I didn’t knock his rotten racist teeth down his throat.||||DO NOT STAY HERE. I’ll be filing a report...