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La Jolla RetreatEstancia Hotel & SpaBy Valerie SummersHeading south from Los Angeles on the 405, my beau and I exited at the Carlsbad turnoff in North San Diego County and drove through beach towns along the Pacific coast where the pace was slow and the inhabitants, relaxed. This was just what we needed to decompress from LA’s frantic pace. Stopping at Del Mar, we ambled through the downtown area, perusing various boutiques and checking out some of the restaurants for a possible return visit. The sun shone brightly and we inhaled the fresh sea air. Continuing on, we passed close to the famous Del Mar Racetrack, and made a mental note to return during the season. The stretch along Torrey Pines Golf Course and Nature Reserve was especially lovely and a short time later, we arrived at our destination in UC San Diego territory and neighbor to the world renowned Salk Institute and Torrey Pines International Gliderport.
Featuring delicious Spanish/Mexican influenced California cuisine; Executive Chef Jesse Frost prepares innovative dishes with flair and serves them in oversized, interestingly-shaped dishware. We both started with a yummy Atlantic Froth, a creamy blend of Maine lobster, sweet corn and steamed sherry. As a crab aficionado, I could not resist the succulent crab stuffed roma tomato with fiddlehead ferns, beluga lentils and shellfish nage which more than met my expectations. My beau went for the hearty grilled grasslands rib eye steak with russet potatoes, braised oxtail, sherry onion, rampini, and purple asparagus with a zinfandel emulsion which he raved about. A favorite which we could not resist was savoring the warm, melty chocolate tunnel dessert as our finale. Always an asset to any meal, we appreciated the impeccable, unobtrusive service delivered by our waiter and his assistant. To top off our evening we stopped by the rustic Mustangs & Burros bar enjoying an after dinner drink by the roaring outdoor fireplace before retiring. The following morning, totally immersed in hedonism, we ordered a scrumptious breakfast in bed before heading out to explore the chic nearby village of La Jolla. Just 100 miles south of Los Angeles, our weekend retreat at Estancia left us relaxed, pampered and rejuvenated and prepared for big-city re-entry. For information: |
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The newly opened Estancia La
Jolla Hotel & Spa sits on 9.5 acres of a former 1880’s equestrian estate.
Its name means “estate” in Spanish and indeed our impression was that of a
Coastal California Rancho- Styled Estate with its laid back, coastal feel, a
welcome change from the multi-story glitzy hotels, and cold marble decor.
The three brick buildings which comprise the hotel are modeled after
structures from the original horse farm. When the original edifices were
razed, the bricks were preserved with the help of the Historical Society,
and were incorporated into each building. Although Estancia appears to be a
rambling one story structure, we were surprised to discover another level as
we ambled through the open arcades and lush gardens filled with citrus and
Eucalyptus, olive and pine trees and sprinkled with fountains.
Our amenity-filled suite
featured a wrought iron balcony overlooking an inviting pool and Jacuzzi
behind which the full service 9,000 square foot spa beckoned us. Yoga
classes, steam room, a variety of massages and facials, and relaxation rooms
were offered all in distinctive garden environment. This was our
rejuvenation and relaxation getaway, so we took full advantage of the spa
program, and after careful consideration of the plethora of services and
treatments, decided to treat ourselves to a Secret Garden Couples Massage
(50 minutes for $100 per person or 80 minutes for $155 per person), then
relaxed by the pool before returning to our room to change for dinner at the
hotel’s romantic, candle-lit Adobe El Restaurante. 