Hofsas House Hotel: Relax and Unwind in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a delightful coastal town known for its wonderful shops, restaurants, and art galleries. As a child, I visited the Monterey area several times because I have family in the area. However, this is the first time I’ve stayed in the heart of Carmel and I have Hofsas House Hotel to thank!

What attracted me to Hofsas House Hotel is not only the location, but the fact that this charming boutique hotel is both family-friendly and pet-friendly! Pets are allowed in some of the rooms at Hofsas House, so be sure to inquire when you are making a reservation. Although we did not bring our rescue dog with us, if we visit again, my daughter insists that we bring our chihuahua. 😉

Hofsas House Hotel is Bavarian-themed and you’ll see European elements throughout the hotel – from its Dutch doors, to the beautiful mural painted by artist Maxine Albro, and the one-of-a-kind decor in each of the 38 hotel rooms.

Carmel is very dog-friendly and most of the restaurants allow dogs on their patio. In fact, when you stroll around Ocean Avenue, where the shops and restaurants are located, you’ll see water bowls set outside for dogs, pet treats and biodegradable bags found throughout the area. Another plus for dog owners is that dogs are allowed off-leash on Carmel Beach. Although when we visited, we saw that most of the dogs were leashed or carried by their owners, who wore face masks.

Speaking of face masks, I realize that this summer posed unique challenges for those who want to travel. I felt comfortable at Hofsas House because I knew their commitment to safety protocols were being enforced. Not only that, but each hotel room has Dutch doors that open to the fresh air – meaning that there are no interior hallways with crowded guests to contend with.

Additionally, the multi-story building does not have elevators, so you won’t have to worry about standing 6-feet apart from fellow elevator passengers. My family enjoys taking the stairs and we made it a game to see who could get up to our floor the fastest.

The staff is friendly and welcoming. On our first day, after we checked in that afternoon, we asked for extra pillows and blankets for our 2 bedroom/2 bath suite and the hotel employee promptly brought it up.

Hofsas House provides a continental breakfast for all of their guests in the hotel lobby. Guests are asked to observe social distancing when entering and of course, you had to wear a face mask. Hofsas House offers pastries (individually wrapped), juice, yogurt, fruit, and coffee/tea. They provide trays so that you can grab and go! We brought our food back to the room to eat in our sitting area.

On Saturday morning, we ventured out to do the 17 Mile Drive. I had gone on it a few times, but this would be our first time experiencing it with our daughter. Hofsas House Hotel is a quick drive from the Carmel Gate entrance, which is at the corner of N. San Antonio Ave. and 2nd Ave. The cost is $10.50 per vehicle and the views are worth every penny of the nominal fee!

Pro Tip: Visit 5th Avenue Deli before you embark on the 17 Mile Drive. You can grab some sips and nibbles for the car ride. We opted to pull over at one of the stops and eat on the beach.

We spent close to 3 hours driving around, stopping and hiking up to the different points of interests. The smell of the ocean air and the beautiful views made me forget all about LA!

After our drive, we went back to the hotel to relax. Well actually, I relaxed on the daybed while my hubby and daughter went exploring around Ocean Avenue! The morning activity made me a little tired, so I was glad to put my feet up and check out the restaurant menu on my laptop of the place we were going to that evening.

Speaking of computers, the WiFi at Hofsas House Hotel is strong, not spotty and intermittent, like some places I’ve stayed at. I briefly thought about extending our stay, since my husband and I both work remotely for our jobs. Also, now that our daughter is doing distance learning, the idea of coming up during the school year is very appealing. Want to learn first-hand about Carmel Mission Basilica? Visit it in person, but check the website first before you go. Learning about the ocean, tides, and sea life? There’s plenty of it in the Carmel/Monterey area!

Our dinner on Saturday evening was at a lovely restaurant called Lugano Swiss Bistro. It’s about a 10-minute drive from our hotel. We dined on fondue and schnitzel. The food was delicious and the outdoor patio with the tableside fire and heating lamps made it cozy. The mild temps in Carmel during the day, turn chilly at night (we are by the beach after all).

Lugano Swiss Bistro offers patio dining and take out. Stay tuned for my foodie review of the restaurant!

On Sunday morning, I was sad to go. Before we left, I couldn’t resist stopping at Carmel Bakery on Ocean Avenue. It’s quite popular among locals and tourists alike!

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Hofsas House Hotel is great for families, romantic getaways for two, and even a solo trip with your dog!

Amenities include:

• Heated swimming pool
• Free parking
• European-style dry saunas
• Continental breakfast
• Free WiFi
• Cable TV
• and more!

The owner and staff are committed to providing a safe and healthy stay for all of their guests, which includes best practices for hygiene and enhanced cleaning. However, you don’t have to take my word for it, check out this video from Carrie Theis, Co-Owner/General Manager.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is the perfect destination to unwind and relax. We enjoyed getting out of the city, unplugging from the news, and exploring the great outdoors!

For more information, visit the Hofsas House Hotel website here. Also make sure to check out their Facebook page to get the latest updates!

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for this post. The Hofsas House Hotel hosted our complimentary two-night stay, which helped facilitate this review. All images & opinions are 100% my own.