Cambria, California
Renovated
2020
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Social LocalOutside the door
The house
Common Thread HotelsScandinavian surf cove
Picture windows frame the Pacific surf, while the airy lobby invites lingering over board games, vintage magazines, and coastal ease.
“Situated on a stretch of Cyprus tree-studded Moonstone Beach Drive, this surfer chic lodge is an ideal outpost for a Central Coast escape.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Baltic birch slatted headboards, indigo textiles, and repurposed horse-trough soaking tubs establish a breezy Scandinavian-Californian coastal aesthetic.
Listed
A petite lobby lounge bar pours Paso Robles wines, local craft beers, and bottled sundowner cocktails.
Listed
Complimentary Linus cruiser bicycles invite leisurely rides along the oceanfront boardwalk and into nearby Cambria village.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
Creative director Nina Freudenberger took inspiration from Danish modernism as well as classic Californian design to create a seaside escape that's both invigoratingly stylish and soothingly sedate.
Somewhere quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
The Moonstone Beach boardwalk runs just across the road, with coastal bluffs, tide pools, and pine-studded walking trails steps away.
The rooms
Baltic birch woodwork meets indigo textiles and retro fireplaces, with repurposed horse troughs serving as soaking tubs in select oceanfront rooms.
Dogs stay too.
Lobby Lounge and Bar
Paper lanterns hang above the terrazzo bar, which pours Paso Robles wines alongside regional draft beers and cheese fondue.
The result is 25 beautifully appointed rooms created by interior designer Nina Freudenberger, known for her work in private homes and her books Bibliostyle and Surf Shack.
How it began
A 2020 transformation united two vintage roadside motels into a retreat inspired by 1970s Scandinavian minimalism and Central Coast surf culture.
Good to know
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Cambria
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.