You don’t want to stay at the Hotel Orli, you want to live there. As opposed to the slew of sprawling, bustling, deafening resorts packed with tourists nearby, Orli offers a quainter, more homey option for those looking to explore the city’s rotating feast of natural wonders. Tucked into the hills of La Jolla, just a stone’s throw from La Jolla Cove and wonderful turquoise waters, this is a boutique hotel in every sense of the word—every detail has been poured over, from the verdant green backsplashes to the vivacious knick-knacks lining the corridor walls. It’s full of surprises, despite being one of the smallest hotels I’ve ever stayed at.

Hotel Orli proves that size doesn’t matter; it’s how you use it (at least I hope that’s the case, for my girlfriend’s sake). After making the drive through coastal winding roads, with vast ocean landscapes peering between vast seaside mansions, we arrived at the hotel, unsure if we were at the right place. With only a handful of rooms, this brother-sister-owned hotel looks more like a chic apartment building at first sight, unassuming at first glance, yet unforgettable upon entry. As we sauntered through the courtyard, on our way to our room, we couldn’t help but drop our bags for a second, sprawl out on the plushy sofas and soak up the lyrical surroundings, the sun trickling through olive branches like honey, the House Fiches dancing, fluttering and kicking from balcony to balcony like vervian Fred Astaires. The entire courtyard glows with eloquent quietude. A respite from San Diego’s cacophonous layout, this is a hushed escape where you can kick your feet up, soak up some sun and read a book with a steaming cup of coffee or a glowing Aperol Spritz, before making your way down to La Jolla Cove for an iconic bubblegum-hued sunset.

Like all great boutique hotels, Orli makes your vacation feel like a staycation, helping you feel at home even when your home is countless miles away. You’re bound to cosy up in the courtyard, as well as the modernist Art Deco bedrooms, each with its own unique flavour of chic. Whether it be The Wing’s in-room record player, The Nook’s collection of classic literature or The Irving Grill Penthouse, named after the property’s original architect known for his contributions to Modernism and boasting ocean views that would make even Mona Lisa smile, each room has been decorated with luxurious touches, such as golden bathroom faucets, generous marble showers and hand carved wooden overhead lights, that somehow still feel homey and comfortable despite being more tasteful than anything in your room at home.

At once glamorous yet congenial, I couldn’t help but be wowed by the restoration from owners Max and Hailey Waitts, who have managed to marry the qualities of a posh hotel with a convenient home stay, elevated by amenities like a moody library with silky colbalt blue loungers, inky romantic lighting and trinkets collected from across the globe, self-serve cold brews and a seamless online check in system that forgoes any hassle you might find at a corporate resort. A more basic owner would bespeckle this beachside property with seashell decorations and painted slogans like “life’s a beach,” but this hotel isn’t designed by your mom. An interior designer’s wet dream, Hotel Orli is about as tastefully decorated as a boutique hotel can get, boasting more Instagrammable details than you can cram into a single post.

In a matter of 10 minutes, you can stroll to the world-renowned La Jolla cove, explore art galleries, high-end designers and artsy caffès nearby and get impeccable recommendations from the extremely friendly staff, who sent us on a picnic to the historic Balboa Park. Nestled under a tree, we savoured our teriyaki bowls while watching frogs hop from water to water lily like tourists perpetually hopping from garden to garden. After taking in a glorious sunset at La Jolla shores, we made our way back to the property, cracked a bottle of Chardonnay, and made ourselves at home at San Diego’s most homey, hospitable, serenely inviting hotel.

T:  (1) 858-462-0429
E:  Bookings
A:  7753 Draper Ave, La Jolla Ca 92037
W: Hotel Orli

Written by Asher Luberto for Luxuria Lifestyle International