Doryman's Oceanfront Inn — Hotel in Newport Beach

The Dorymans's has a lot to offer but is missing in some key areas. On the positive side, the location is excellent, the building is charming (old, with lots of old features such as the fireplace in our room 2 were lovely), and the staff were super friendly. Additionally, being connected to 21 Oceanfront restaurant and being able to order food from there for room service was an added bonus. On the negative side, the building needs maintainance and the service needs work. Rooms whilst tidy need maintainance. Bathrooms need regrouting and a deep clean, in the rooms some power sockets were broken, and lamps weren't working. Also no breakfast to speak of - a few boxes of tired looking cereal and some plastic wrapped bagels with packets of cream cheese were not inspiring at all (thankfully there are lots of great breakfast places on the seafront). Additionally whilst you can order room service from 21 Oceanfront, you can't charge it to your room, and the staff don't even have a service trolley to bring the food to your room (so items are brought individually by hand, and the poor staff member has to take multiple trips, and then there's nowhere to eat in the room - we ended up clearing a side board and perching on the window ledge as a makeshift dining table). Lastly, not something that can be changed but as a caveat to those booking, the seafront, especially the early numbered rooms, can get very noisy in a Friday night and Sat/Sun mornings (fish Market outside opens at 4pm). Didn't bother us, but not one for light sleepers. Overall, whilst it was an interesting stay not one I'd repeat. Grossly overpriced at over $1000 for two nights (inc. Tax) even considering the location, and frankly for the price and the lack of breakfast service, we would have been better booking a holiday rental and just eating out (as we had to do this anyway). I'm aware that covid can't have been easy for small businesses like this in the hospitality sector, and this could be a fabulous and luxury boutique b&b, but instead just feels a little like the owners are coasting on the location and heritage of the building to justify the high prices without putting in the work required into maintainance and service offer....

The Dorymans's has a lot to offer but is missing in some key areas. |On the positive side, the location is excellent, the building is charming (old, with lots of old features such as the fireplace in our room 2 were lovely), and the staff were super friendly. Additionally, being connected to 21 Oceanfront restaurant and being able to order food from there for room service was an added bonus.|On the negative side, the building needs maintainance and the service needs work. Rooms whilst tidy need maintainance. Bathrooms need regrouting and a deep clean, in the rooms some power sockets were broken, and lamps weren't working. Also no breakfast to speak of - a few boxes of tired looking cereal and some plastic wrapped bagels with packets of cream cheese were not inspiring at all (thankfully there are lots of great breakfast places on the seafront). Additionally whilst you can order room service from 21 Oceanfront, you can't charge it to your room, and the staff don't even have a service trolley to bring the food to your room (so items are brought individually by hand, and the poor staff member has to take multiple trips, and then there's nowhere to eat in the room - we ended up clearing a side board and perching on the window ledge as a makeshift dining table). Lastly, not something that can be changed but as a caveat to those booking, the seafront, especially the early numbered rooms, can get very noisy in a Friday night and Sat/Sun mornings (fish Market outside opens at 4pm). Didn't bother us, but not one for light sleepers. |Overall, whilst it was an interesting stay not one I'd repeat. Grossly overpriced at over $1000 for two nights (inc. Tax) even considering the location, and frankly for the price and the lack of breakfast service, we would have been better booking a holiday rental and just eating out (as we had to do this anyway). I'm aware that covid can't have been easy for small businesses in the hospitality sector, and this could be a fabulous and luxury boutique b&b, but instead just feels a little like the owners are coasting on the location and heritage of the building to justify the high prices without putting in the work required into maintainance and service offer....

Such a great piece of Newport history the Doryman's Inn offers. If you are looking for a truly unique hotel to experience while being right at Newport Beach pier then this is THE place to book. The Hotel was built in 1891 or 1898 have read both and has an interesting legacy of usage. It started out as housing for the fishermen, was a brothel, as well as hotel. It's victorian roots are still the theme and so authentic. We were there for our anniversary and when I told the charming front desk girl, Cheyenne, she set about getting us into room 8 instead of the one booked. She excitedly explained its a honeymoon suite and thought it perfect for us. She was right. Corner room, ocean, pier and boardwalk view. Canopy bed and gas vintage fireplace. The bed was very comfy and so romantic. And get this..no phone in the room. I LOVED that detail. It's a small hotel so going to the breakfast room and patio was literally just steps away. We explored some staircases and discovered a back way into the resturant below. Dinner in their resturant was sublime!! Try the blueberry lemon drop (drink) too...sooo good. Beautiful bar off the resturant and the wine cellar is great. And here's a secret...the stairs to left of entry to patio right across from elevator and check in desk have a surprise at the bottom. I'm not spilling the beans but when you're leaving avoid the elevator and take those stairs. Go ALL the way to bottom. Once you open the door the hidden surprise will be discovered. So fun! The price for all this history, location and time travel is remarkably reasonable... Go go go and bask in...