This weekend I vacationed in picturesque Carmel, California, a forested European village by the sea. I visited when I was a little girl and have long wanted to return as an adult. The Monterey peninsula just so happens to be my dad’s favorite place on the planet! I’ll tell you more about Carmel later but here’s a bit about the charming Bavarian-style hotel where I stayed.
Thank you to Hofsas House for hosting me!
About
Hofsas House Hotel was built on a forested hill by Donna Hofsas in the 1940s. Her daughter ran the place after her and now seventy years later, the founder’s granddaughter, Carrie Theis, runs the pink-hued Hofsas House. Carrie is a warm and gracious hostess and is very knowledgeable about the area.
The family owned and operated hotel has thirty-eight uniquely decorated rooms, many with fireplaces, balconies, and kitchens. Just like much of Europe, the hotel doesn’t have AC but does have the cutest Dutch doors and plantation shutters to let the sea breeze cool you off. There’s tons of free parking at the hotel just steps away from the rooms, which is a huge plus in my book.
The Room
Our room (#43) had a fireplace, wet bar, refrigerator, microwave, plates and silverware, a bistro table inside, and a dining table outside so we were able to enjoy all of the treats we picked up in town.
The bathroom has loads of counter space and even a chair for a make-shift vanity. The bathroom is equipped with an ironing board, blow dryer, and luggage rack.
Amenities
Hofsas House has a heated pool, which isn’t commonplace in Carmel. The upper deck has views of the Pacific Ocean and dining tables so that you can relax with a bottle of wine and watch the sunset. Hofsas House is also dog friendly, fitting since Carmel is a very dog-friendly place. The hotel has free high speed internet and unlike many places I travel, I never had any issues with the WiFi.
Location
Hofsas House is just a five minute walk to the heart of Carmel, which is a two-hour drive from San Francisco if you aren’t familiar with the California coast. The street that the location is situated on goes straight into town. You can easily walk to wine tastings, coffee shops, restaurants, adorable boutique stores, art galleries, and more.
Hofsas House is eight blocks away from beautiful Carmel Beach, but I recommend taking your car rather than walking. The hill is quite steep. You’ve been warned! There is a parking lot at the beach so you can easily drive over.
Dining
Like most Carmel boutique hotels, Hofsas House doesn’t have a restaurant on site but your room does come with a continental breakfast served in the lobby each day from 8 am – 10 am. You can eat there or take a tray to your room. We saw many guests enjoying breakfast on the deck each day! Breakfast includes coffee, orange juice, apples, bananas, clementines, yogurt, and a variety of muffins, croissants, danishes and other pastries from a local bakery. The pumpkin muffin was my favorite!
The Atmosphere
Each room is different but the whole vibe of the hotel is very much that of a quaint European village. I felt like I was back in Germany! The staff is warm and personable and the grounds are well maintained. I went in mid-September and the hydrangeas were still going strong all over the property!
Learn more about Hofsas House Hotel here. If you visit, be sure to tell them The Rose Table sent you!
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Happy traveling,
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Disclaimer: This article is intended to be a general resource. Any recommendations are based on personal opinion. A portion of this trip may have been compensated but opinions are my own, always. I’m not a fan of negativity so if I don’t like something, I don’t write about it. I’m here to tell you about the best of the best!