A Bit of History and Loads of Hospitality at Carmel's Hofsas House
May 02, 2017 08:44AM ● By Fran MillerBY FRAN ENDICOTT MILLER
From quaint bed and breakfast inns to luxe resorts, the village of Carmel offers a multitude of hotel types to satisfy all visitors. One spot that aims - and succeeds - in pleasing all manner of guests is historic Hofsas House. Couples, families, and girlfriend groups for instance will all find the hospitality they seek at this historic, Bavarian inspired inn whose charm matches that of its locale. Located on the western edge of the village, Hofsas House is a cozy, convenient, and affordable home base for on-foot exploration of the area’s shops, galleries, wine tasting rooms, and restaurants. Should your wanderlust extend beyond the town’s one square mile, your Hofsas House hosts will provide activity suggestions, and warmly welcome you back after a long day of hiking, biking, or beach combing.
One of the first hotels in Carmel Village, Hofsas House has been family owned and operated for the past 70 years. Founded by Donna Hofsas, the hotel is now run by her granddaughter Carrie Theis, who as a youth spent her summers helping behind the front desk. Theis’ love for the property and for her guests is palpable, as is her love for the village, where she serves on the city council. (Ask her about former and current quirky town edicts, such as the now overturned ice cream ordinance and the no high-heels law, for which going rogue is not advised; the village’s cobblestone walkways and uneven pavement can create trip-ups with even the most sensible footwear.)
From quaint bed and breakfast inns to luxe resorts, the village of Carmel offers a multitude of hotel types to satisfy all visitors. One spot that aims - and succeeds - in pleasing all manner of guests is historic Hofsas House. Couples, families, and girlfriend groups for instance will all find the hospitality they seek at this historic, Bavarian inspired inn whose charm matches that of its locale. Located on the western edge of the village, Hofsas House is a cozy, convenient, and affordable home base for on-foot exploration of the area’s shops, galleries, wine tasting rooms, and restaurants. Should your wanderlust extend beyond the town’s one square mile, your Hofsas House hosts will provide activity suggestions, and warmly welcome you back after a long day of hiking, biking, or beach combing.
One of the first hotels in Carmel Village, Hofsas House has been family owned and operated for the past 70 years. Founded by Donna Hofsas, the hotel is now run by her granddaughter Carrie Theis, who as a youth spent her summers helping behind the front desk. Theis’ love for the property and for her guests is palpable, as is her love for the village, where she serves on the city council. (Ask her about former and current quirky town edicts, such as the now overturned ice cream ordinance and the no high-heels law, for which going rogue is not advised; the village’s cobblestone walkways and uneven pavement can create trip-ups with even the most sensible footwear.)
Featuring
38 rooms, each with unique décor and varying layouts, Hofsas House amenities are
on par with those at trendier spots: fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars,
kitchens, flat screen televisions, and free Wi-Fi. Above par are Hofsas House’s
delightful Dutch doors that allow for ocean breezes, heated bathroom floors (in
some rooms), free and ample off-street parking, and a heated pool. 4th
floor rooms feature views of the ocean. A lovely continental breakfast is
included in your stay. Served each morning in the lobby, choices include
coffee, juice, yogurt, and delicious pastries from The Paris Bakery in nearby
Monterey. Dine by the lobby fireplace, or take a tray back to your room.
Call
ahead before your arrival and purchase additional offerings to further elevate
your stay. Have waiting for you a bottle of Monterey wine and Lula’s Chocolates ($25), a bottle of
wine and a cheese selection from the village’s iconic Cheese Shop ($30), or champagne and a cheese pairing with Hofsas House engraved flutes ($50). Arrange
for your room to be decorated for a special occasion ($75), or schedule in-room
massages. In celebration of its 70 years, Hofsas House is currently offering
additional special packages such as “Third Night’s a Charm,” book 3 nights and
the 3rd is 1/3 off. Take a guided history tour ($25/person) and
receive Stories of Old Carmel, A
Centennial Tribute. And if Fido needs a vacation too, bring him along and
receive a doggie welcome package ($30 fee per night for one pup; $50 per
night for two.)
In
planning your stay, ask if Theis is in the house, and pick her brain. Any of
the front desk staff can help you with an itinerary, but Theis knows the area
like none other. Interested in hiking? She might recommend a visit to Point
Lobos State Natural Reserve, the crown jewel of the California State Park
system. How about a picnic? Theis will direct you to
nearby 5th Avenue Deli for gourmet sandwiches before sending you to
one of several public beaches toward Big Sur. She can book you a game of golf
at one of six different Hofsas House partner golf courses, sell you a two-day
Monterey Bay Aquarium pass (for the price of one day), or provide you a map of
the local wineries. Interested in local wines, but wish to remain local?
Purchase at the hotel the Carmel Wine Walk-by-the-Sea Passport, a steal at $65.
The passport includes tastings of up to four 1 oz. pours at your choice of nine
of the village’s 14 tasting rooms.Plan your meals by perusing the lobby’s basket of menus – every restaurant in town is represented. Consider skipping over to neighboring Monterey for an evening to check-out famed Cannery Row. Dine at The Whaling Station, (above and right) named Monterey County’s number one steak house for 45 years running. Featuring tuxedoed wait staff, classic cocktails, pastas, seafood, and every cut of beef imaginable, the old school vibe is irresistible.
If the thought of all of this activity exhausts you, Hofsas House invites you to slow down, do nothing, and let Carmel’s ocean breezes and scent of cypress work their relaxing charms.
Tip:
Whether you stay at Hofsas House or not, venture to the hotel’s front entrance
for a glance at the original 1957 mural by Maxine Albro, a disciple of Diego
Rivera. Albro is also known for her work at San Francisco’s Coit Tower where in
1934 she completed a 10 ft. x 42 ft. mural depicting California agricultural
life.