Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort

Character and identity

Set directly across from Huntington Beach pier, this 157-room Kimpton trades the polished resort playbook for a summer-camp register: a bright, plant-filled lobby strewn with bikes and rustic wood furniture, surfer-themed touches throughout, and a courtyard that turns into the social heart of the property after dark. Rooms lean California-cool, blues against crisp white linens, with balconies on many of the ocean-facing units and notably large bathrooms, several with soaking tubs. Pacific Hideaway handles the food with coastal-American cooking (coconut-milk ceviche in a half-shell is typical), and the Kimpton wine hour, firepit s'mores, and cornhole keep evenings communal rather than hushed.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The location, directly opposite the pier, is the reason to book, amplified by a genuinely communal vibe that either charms you or wears thin. Spend up for an ocean-view room with a balcony, and accept that beach chairs replace a pool. Best for travellers who want Huntington Beach itself to be the experience, with the hotel as a relaxed, design-aware launchpad.