San Luis Obispo

from Southern California Life Magazine

by Antoni Pham

Viceroy Santa Monica Beachy Luxury

By Monique Reidy The Central Coast’s 5-Star Gem Hotel Cerro

IT’S BEST KNOWN AS A COLLEGE TOWN, BUT WHEN TRAVELERS EXPERIENCE THE CHARM OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, THEY LEARN THAT THIS SMALL CENTRAL CALIFORNIA TOWN IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

With unique shops and stellar restaurants, this casual destination is a perfect weekend getaway. A three-hour drive north of Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo is an easy, scenic escape along either a coastal or inland route.

Before exploring the city, check out one of the most stylish hotels in downtown San Luis Obispo, Hotel Cerro. Guests enter through the restored 1920’s Smith building into a lobby graced with pop art and mid-century furnishings. An 8 x 40 foot “Living Wall” by the entrance features edible and aromatic plants and herbs such as basil and mint. The hotel spans across two brick-laced storefronts and features late 19th and early 20th Century architectural details throughout. Hotel Cerro is not only historic, it’s eco-friendly, chic, and features some of the most spectacular details a hotel has to offer.

With 65 guest rooms and suites that are luxuriously appointed, Hotel Cerro’s rooms range from 350 square feet to suites as large as 920 square feet. There are seven luxurious 750 sq. ft. Garden Suites that feature a fireplace, wet bar, wide-plank wood floors, a king platform bed, and a private patio that opens to the hotel’s Edible Garden.

Each of the hotel’s guestrooms are decorated with the finest furnishings and upscale details. Beds are covered with goose-down filled pure linen duvets and unbleached 100% cotton Anichini fine bed linens. Room amenities include plush bathrobes, bluetooth audio systems, HD flat panel smart TVs and complimentary Hotel Cerro water bottles. Filtered water refill stations are situated throughout the property. Complimentary WIFI is offered throughout the property.

Entrance into the suites is through the stunning bathrooms, which feature double vanities with illuminated wall mirrors, swanky Gessi plumbing fixtures, and free-standing, egg-shaped soaking tubs. A relaxing therapeutic bath gel soak in this extra-large tub as the water pour in from the ceiling is a magical experience. Each guestroom features the hotel’s own brand of natural botanical skin and haircare products that contain organic, wholesome ingredients.

The hotel provides all products in refillable containers, maintaining a standard of responsible sustainability.

Most of the hotel rooms and suites overlook the Edible Garden, located in the courtyard of the second floor. Raised planters that contain organic herbs and vegetables for the hotel’s Brasserie SLO and Spa Cerro line the courtyard. Upon check-in, guests are advised that “if you can pick it, you can eat it.” Cerro-fina, the oversized and colorful sculptured cow painted by Sharon Harris for the San Louis Obispo Cow Parade, provides a whimsical welcome to the garden.

The hotel’s lavish 4000-square-foot Spa Cerro houses treatment rooms, a rooftop relaxation terrace and a room designed to provide tranquility. Adjacent to the spa is a fully equipped fitness center and a rooftop pool deck with private cabanas and 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape.

Located at the lobby level, Brasserie SLO features a tasty menu with dishes cooked to perfection in a wood burning oven and woodfired grill. The rustic ambiance is reflective of the surrounding historic neighborhood and the décor features marble tabletops, vintage furnishings, and the building’s original brick walls.

Hotel Cerro is conveniently located in the center of the downtown district. It is steps away from Bubblegum Alley, one of the city’s popular unofficial landmarks. There is an estimated two million pieces of chewed gum that line the 70foot-long alleyway off Higuera Street.

Nearby, the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA) features hand-painted murals on all four sides of the museum’s building. The murals are updated annually by artists with diverse backgrounds from across the country.

Foodies can enjoy the local epicurean delights and wine lovers can take a short drive to neighboring Edna Valley to enjoy wine tasting at one of the many wineries.

With activities to satisfy every wanderer, SLO is an ideal destination for those who want to experience the enchantment of a historic small town that has so much to offer its visitors. v