Hotel Review • North America • California
Woods Cove Inn: A New Reason to Love Laguna Beach's Quiet Side
Discover Woods Cove Inn, a newly reopened 22-room boutique hotel in Laguna Beach's Woods Cove neighborhood built for travelers who want to disconnect, settle in, and explore the coast.
Credit: Mariah Brink Photography
BY LAUREN HARANO
Why it works
Hotel Snapshot
Ask anyone who grew up on this stretch of the Southern California coast (myself included), and they'll tell you Laguna Beach has never needed reinventing. It's a town where canyon roads spill into hidden coves, art galleries line the downtown streets, and surf breaks come with their own set of unwritten rules. The vibe here is undeniably relaxed, a touch luxe, and downright quintessential California.
Woods Cove Inn gets that. Behind its low, black façade at 2020 South Coast Highway is a building that's been welcoming guests since 1929: first as the Laguna Beach Inn, then more recently a stint under Sonder. Now, following a full relaunch as an independent boutique hotel, it's back in local hands and run by a Southern California hospitality group – and it shows.
The neighborhood helps make that case. Woods Cove is one of Laguna's quieter coastal pockets, known for its rocky, cove-carved shoreline, tide pools, and calm, clear water that draws snorkelers and divers as much as sunbathers. It’s also where a cluster of older beach cottages keeps the area feeling residential and quaint.
Design & Character
Pull up along Coast Highway, and the first thing you notice is the building itself – a low, black-façade motel-style property with a gated pool off to one side. On the other, the lobby is small and cozy, with wood-beamed ceilings, a checkerboard tile floor, a fireplace built into the middle wall, and windows that frame both the ocean and PCH. Behind that, guests can find a little area with tea and pastries.
Credit: Mariah Brink Photography
Designed by CPD Studio, the property draws its material palette straight from the beach it's named for: sandy neutrals, sea-glass blues, and driftwood-toned wood. The art leans local, too, with each of the 22 rooms carrying a commissioned piece by High Desert Studios. Plus, the hotel has hosted meet-the-artist events in the lobby, making the space feel like an extension of the town's gallery scene right outside guests’ doors.
The Rooms
Sleek, spacious bathrooms, custom orange robes, Bellino linens, and Salt & Stone bath amenities make for a stay that’s noticeably more upscale than surf shack. The best part? Each room is stocked for a day at the beach, with a big tote, a few recyclable water bottles, and electrolyte packets. Beach cruisers are parked out front for those who would rather pedal to the sand than walk.
Credit: Mariah Brink Photography
The Food & Drink
There's no full restaurant on-site. Instead, mornings start in the lobby's breakfast nook, with a complimentary spread of light pastries served alongside tea and coffee. It's a low-key way to fuel up before heading out to whichever beach, gallery, or trail is on the agenda, and it keeps the focus squarely on the neighborhood's own restaurants and cafés.
The Amenities
A saltwater pool surrounded by loungers can be found at the front of the property, ideal for a quick dip after the beach or a morning wake-up. Beyond that, the hotel has beach gear and bikes, as well as spa-level comforts in the rooms. Front desk support and luggage storage top it off. (It’s worth noting for planning purposes that there's a $30 fee for on-site parking.)
Location & Neighborhood
Woods Cove Inn sits in South Laguna, which means it’s close enough to Dana Point for a 15-minute drive if you want a change of scenery, but close enough to downtown Laguna that you don't really need to. There's a stop for the free Laguna Beach trolley right outside the hotel, which runs up and down the streets all day, or you can walk about 15 to 20 minutes to reach the main street.
The beaches by the property cover the full range: surf breaks for the early crowd, tide pools for snorkeling, and plenty of open sand for anyone who just wants to lie there. For food, Woods Cove Inn is a short walk to The Taco Stand and South of Nick's for tacos and margaritas, and a quick drive up the highway to Urth Caffe for coffee and people-watching. Zinc Cafe & Market has been the town's go-to for breakfast and local gossip since 1988, and after dark, there's the Sandpiper Lounge, a dive bar regulars call 'The Dirty Bird,' with cheap drinks and live music since 1969.
Fast Facts
Address: 2020 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Vibe: A quaint, local beach stay in one of Laguna's quieter residential pockets
Rating: 4 Star
Starting Rate: $244 per night
Room Count: 22 rooms
Our Favorite Thing About the Property: The property is right on PCH, so it’s an easy drive or walk just about anywhere. It takes less than 5 minutes to hit Woods Cove beach, and around 20 to reach downtown Laguna.
Amenities: Saltwater pool, complimentary breakfast bites, tea and coffee, beach cruisers, curated in-room beach amenities
Nearby Attractions: Woods Cove tide pools, Heisler Park, Laguna Art Museum, Alta Laguna Park, Main Beach, Laguna's Arts District
Airport: John Wayne Airport (SNA)
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Gallery
A closer look
Credit: Mariah Brink Photography
Credit: Mariah Brink Photography
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