In collaboration with LEFAIR Magazine
The vibrant and charming Jamaica Bay Inn is situated on Mother's Beach, which provides a waterfront view from the hotel. The hotel's surrounding area makes for a fun-filled create-your-own adventure. Just steps outside of the hotel’s spacious rooms is a delightful courtyard where you can easily access the water to swim or kayak. Paddle Surf LA, the Outrigger Canoe Club, and YogAqua (yoga on a paddle board, anyone?) are all walking distance.
Jamaica Bay Inn and the beach are quite close to a revitalized marshland area and protected wildlife refuge known as the Oxford Basin. The area was first part of the Ballona Wetlands (now located just a few miles south). In 1963 the Oxford Basin, also now known as the Marina Sanctuary, was named the Marina del Rey County Bird Conservation Area. Since the area’s major restoration in 2016, wildlife, particularly birds, have flocked to the area. These stunning displays of wildlife also often make their way to Mother's Beach and the hotel. For all of you bird watchers and ornithologists, according to ebird.org, over 50 species of birds were observed in the area in 2022 alone. Considering there are an estimated 10,824 bird species on earth, .46% of the all species is nothing to sneeze at. I'm getting “orny” just thinking about it (hopefully that ornithology joke didn’t fly over your head).
Hotel Restaurant Dining
As I made my way to enjoy breakfast at Jamaica Bay Inn’s Beachside Restaurant & Bar, I spotted what I, as an amateur bird watcher, believe was an Allen’s Hummingbird in the courtyard. The coppery orange and green bird danced around the bird of paradise tropical plant, sticking its long, thin beak deep into the flower to find the nectar within.
Some say that the way the hummingbird can reach beyond the tough, unappetizing parts of a flower to reach the sweetness inside reminds us to always dig deep to find what’s good in life. To others, hummingbirds signify overcoming challenging times, healing, hope and good luck. Some believe they have a spiritual significance and mean that a lost loved one is near. A sucker for on point branding, I particularly love that the hotel's logo incorporates a hummingbird as the "J" and "B" of Jamaica Bay Inn.
Jamaica Bay Inn's Beachside Restaurant & Bar is just steps away from the sand and overlooks Mother’s Beach. The restaurant serves fresh California cuisine from Executive Chef Irene Verceles. The quality of this elevated waterfront dining experience seems more inline with a four or five star hotel and goes above and beyond what one might expect from this Hilton 3 star Tapestry Collection property, which is just one of the reasons why I recommend this cost-efficient hotel.
The weekend brunch menu is alive with the rich flavors of cornbread and blueberry pancakes with vanilla bean maple syrup and cinnamon honey butter and the red wine poached pear with smoked blue cheese, toasted pecans, and bitter greens.
For cocktail hour, Beachside Restaurant offers many delicious small plates and starters. Try the ahi tuna tartare with ginger ponzu and avocado, the roasted carrots with pomegranate molasses and kale pesto, or the brown buttered corn with cotija cheese and chimichurri.
The restaurant is open daily: Brunch 7am-3pm, Dinner 4pm-10pm
Rooms & Suites
Whether or not you book a suite, you can rest assured that your room at Jamaica Bay Inn will be spacious. Of course, I recommend the waterfront marina-view rooms. Many of these rooms include balconies that look out into the hotel’s courtyard paradise and beach. If having space is a higher priority than having chic, modern-styled rooms, then the rooms at Jamaica Bay will not disappoint.
The Marina View Suite features a master bedroom with one king bed and a separate living room with a sofa sleeper. The two full bathrooms include a master bath with two sinks, a separate soaking tub, and a tile shower. Both the master bedroom and living room offer gorgeous marina views, and guests can also enjoy a balcony off the living room.
The Area: Marina del Rey
With waterfront views, year-round outdoor dining, and award-winning restaurants, Marina del Rey is set to become the next Los Angeles culinary hotspot. Rejuvenate and reconnect with the outdoors in this seaside community. Parasail, Cycle the coast, paddle board to breakfast, or hop on board a dinner cruise and voyage into the sunset! Learn more at VisitMarinadelRey.com.