The Perfect Staycation at the Hotel La Jolla!

La Jolla has always been one of my favorite communities in San Diego! After all, what's not to like about beautiful beaches, unique cliff top views of the Pacific, the cutest downtown with unique boutiques and delicious restaurants. All I needed for my recent visit was the perfect place to stay - enter the Hotel La Jolla!

The Hotel La Jolla, a Curio Collection hotel by Hilton couldn't have been more of a perfect home away from home for my little excursion. Situated in a quiet residential neighborhood, just a short less than 10 minute stroll from the lovely La Jolla Shores beach and park, and a quick drive to the lively shops and restaurants in downtown, you really can't ask for a better location. 

The very first thing you'll notice at this lovely  boutique Hotel is the modern yet comfy ambiance in the lobby with a cozy fireplace to warm up with on those chilly beach evenings. 

The staff was also beyond friendly and extremely helpful at explaining all the amenities and getting us situated.

Off the lobby, you also can't miss the inviting tropical pool area and lovely Hiatus outdoor lounge with comfy couches to grab a drink while chatting with friends or pretending to work from home. ;)

The rooms are outfitted with plush comfortable bedding, large big-screen plasma TV's, and if you're lucky to get one of the balcony rooms facing the ocean, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking ocean views between the palm trees from the furnished balconies. 

My favorite part about the Hotel La Jolla? The stunning Cusp Restaurant on the 11th floor. 

This beautifully appointed restaurant features floor to ceiling windows making it the perfect venue to watch the sun set over the Pacific or see the lovely lights in the evening. Tailor made tables jut up against the windows to give you the perfect view while enjoying your meal. 

Even with the stellar view, the food at Cusp is truly the star. Executive Chef Ingrid Funes Shelton has crafted a delicious menu that changes seasonally, and is filled with creative dishes from shareable appetizers to perfectly seasoned fresh local halibut to a mouthwatering ribeye steak topped with the yummiest chimichurri sauce. 

The craft cocktails and extensive wine list were also completely on point at Cusp and the adjacent bar area. You won't want for much at Cusp!

Trust me, the next time you find yourself in La Jolla, be sure to check out Cusp for brunch, lunch or dinner! 

The Hotel La Jolla is also situated in a great location to explore the rest of San Diego as it's only a few freeway stops from Mission Beach, Sea World and only a little further drive to Balboa Park and downtown San Diego. You can venture into all the tourist areas during the day and retreat to the relaxing vibes of La Jolla after a fun filled day. Sheer perfection. :)

The Hotel La Jolla is located at 7955 La Jolla Shores in La Jolla. You can book your stay at the Hotel La Jolla directly on their website: https://www.hotellajolla.com/

You can also book your dinner with a view at Cusp directly on Open Table. 

Be sure to tell them OCFoodieGirl sent you! 

Get your Seafood and Steak (and more!) on at San Manuel Casino!

Have you been to San Manuel Casino lately? Admittedly, I hadn't been there in quite awhile and was pretty impressed with how modern San Manuel is these days! Located in Highland, I didn't realize it's also one of the closest casinos to Orange County! It took me a smidge over an hour to get there this past weekend, MUCH closer than Vegas or any of the other Southern California casino. 

My main motivation for visiting San Manuel Casino was to try out the well known weekend Steak and Seafood Buffet at the Serrano Buffet. The buffet features on a daily basis, a wide array of American, Asian, Italian and Mexican cuisine, but on the weekend it's known for its extended selection of seafood and steaks. You definitely don't need to go to Vegas for a great buffet folks! 

Special seafood selections for the weekend buffet include a Seafood Medley Scampi Station, Lobster Pasta, Crab legs/Crab & Seaweed Salad (Crab - Saturday only), Lemon Parmesan Shrimp Pasta, Peel & Eat Shrimp, Garlic and Chile Shrimp, Fried Shrimp, Shrimp and Grits (Shrimp - Sunday only) 

If you're more in a steak mood, Serrano Buffet offers just about anything your beef-craving heart could want including grilled NY Steaks, Rojo Flank Steak and of course, a decadent carving station with slices of slow cooked roast beef cut to your preference. You really can't go wrong with a little surf and turf on the weekend folks! 

Of course, the daily selections are also available on the weekend. There's literally something for everyone from pizza, sushi, mounds of peel and eat shrimp to fried chicken and an expansive salad bar. 

When it comes time for dessert, the dessert station is no slacker at San Manuel! They not only have a wide array of pastries, cakes, and other desserts but there's actually a scoop to order gelato bar with ten varieties fo gelato! Nobody is going to leave unsatisfied at the Serrano Buffet!  

In addition to the Steak and Seafood Weekend specials, the Serrano Buffet at San Manuel Casino also offers several feature nights, including an ALL YOU CAN EAT lobster night on Wednesday and Thursdays. This special features whole Maine lobsters as well as tails and claws. One of my readers recently attended and said it was beyond worth the money and the short drive! 

One feature I also found unique to the Seranno Buffet is that you can actually skip the line by making a reservation! Reservations are limited but I get the feeling not many people know that you can do this so it's a great little tip to use on your next visit. The Serrano Buffet on the weekends runs from 4pm - midnight on Saturday and Sunday. $33 for Club Seranno Members (join for free) or $37 for non-members. For more info on the Seranno Buffet or to see all the daily specials see the website: https://www.sanmanuel.com/dining/serrano-buffet

When you're done indulging at the Serrano Buffet, be sure to check out San Manuel's NEW high stakes room, The Vault Gaming & Provisions  A little nondescript (see pic) and located on the second floor, near the elevator it's very worth the easy search as it's sure to knock your socks off! 

While it is a high stakes gambling room, let me fill you in on a little secret - you don't have to play high stakes to grab a drink or a bite to eat at this gorgeous speakeasy-inspired bar. However, if you're inclined it's really the perfect venue as they even offer an on-site concierge to help with any detail you might need to make your high-end night complete. 

The hip modern bar in The Vault features premium wines, liquors and handcrafted artisan cocktails including such highly sought rarities as Screaming Eagle Cabernet and Pappy Van Winkle Reserve Bourbon. 

The mixers in the cocktails are made fresh in-house and the cocktails follow along the same speakeasy theme with names like "Smoke & Mirrors."  It doesn't hurt that the bartenders are as friendly as can be, and super knowledgeable to boot! 

The Vault also has an exclusive shareable plates menu curated by San Manuel's Executive Chef Jerrold Brooks. If you don't feel like enjoying your libations at the bar, there's also a cozy secluded sitting area to sit down and enjoy your food and drink. 

They've really thought of everything here, as it's really a casino within a casino, and definitely worthy of checking out on your next visit!  

San Manuel Casino is located at 777 San Manuel Blvd in Highland, CA. 

For more information on everything San Manuel has to offer see their website: https://www.sanmanuel.com/ or call 800/350-2464.

Don't forget to tell them OCFOODIEGIRL sent you!