As far back as I can recall, I had only ever thought of The City of Calabasas as home to a long list of celebrities including the infamous Kardashian family. In addition, the city had really only been an area I would drive through occasionally on my way from Southern California back home to Napa Valley. However, I realized from my most recent trip to the area that this was definitely a mistake and the trip made me realize this is a destination I would love to travel to again. When I received the chance to participate in the creative blogger shuffle program by Cambria Hotels to stay at their property in Calabasas, I knew I could not miss out on the opportunity. Napa Valley is also home to another beautiful Cambria property so I instantly knew the hotel was going to be top-notch. And let me tell you, even that is an understatement!
The arrival to the Cambria Hotel Calabasas was seamless and the grandeur of the outside of the hotel was stunning. Hotel staff were very friendly and accommodating upon our arrival and made us feel right at home while we finished up work for the day. During this time we worked in the hotel’s Malibu Canyon Bar & Grill restaurant before our guest room was ready for check in. Here we learned the bar staff’s extensive knowledge on craft cocktails and experienced the bar-forward elements of the property.
Another food and beverage highlight is Cambria’s partnership with Tipsy Scoop at six of their popular summer destinations to offer refreshing booze infused ice cream flights. We also learned of the property’s partnership with Cambria Estate Winery, featuring the refreshing Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay as well as the well-balanced Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir. After we enjoyed our glass of wine we checked into our truly impressive guest room and this is when we were blown away.
For reference, I was traveling with my best friend and we opted for a guest room with two queen beds for a little extra space and comfortable sleeping arrangements. Little did we know that we would be surprised with an upgraded room type to the property’s two queen bed suite. This guest room layout is not only perfect for families or small groups traveling together, but it was also ADA accessible, had enough square footage for everyone to be comfortable, and boasted a lot of natural light throughout the day. However, even with the beautiful natural light, the room had incredible blackout curtains for the early morning and for those looking to take advantage of some extra sleep in the plush and comfortable beds. The room also featured a living room and working desk station, on top of a spacious restroom. Separated by a door, the main room included two queen size beds with plenty of closet storage and extra area for luggage. This side of the room also featured another large living room complete with all the lounge seating needed for a relaxing stay.
One of my favorite areas at the property was of course the outdoor heated pool. Whether you wanted to take advantage of an early morning swim or relax later in the evening, the pool area was open to all guests from 8am – 10pm. The pool area was complete with an appropriate amount of lounge chairs and comfortable seating arrangements. The pool section also offered food and beverage service which can be conveniently ordered through QR code from your lounge chair. Adjacent to the pool area are more seating vignettes where my friends and I enjoyed a delightful nightcap after dinner one evening by the fire pits.
For our first dinner in Calabasas, we decided to meet up with some local friends at the Italian Restaurant Toscanova, only a short five minute drive from the hotel. Here we indulged in an array of Italian pasta dishes as well as appetizers and desserts. The entire shopping complex area, better known as “The Commons” in Calabasas, has multiple restaurants, shops, bars, and even a movie theater, all conveniently close to the hotel!
The next day we decided to venture out and visit the iconic nearby coastal city, the one and only Malibu. The total drive time from Cambria Hotel Calabasas down to Malibu was only about fifteen minutes in the car. In that time you will experience one of the most stunning drives I have ever taken through the Santa Monica Mountains where the evening marine layer rolls over the hill tops with truly jaw dropping views. Once you are through the mountains, que the famous “Malibu” Miley Cyrus song and get ready for blue ocean scenery and the coastal hills boasting impressive mansions. It is crazy to think in just a short fifteen minute drive from the Cambria you can be in such a beautiful part of California.
Now let’s talk about the food in Malibu. We drove down to the coast and decided to enjoy brunch at the end of the pier at the delicious Malibu Farm. I was so impressed with everything on their brunch menu, from full entrees with fresh and mostly locally sourced ingredients, to fresh squeezed juices, gourmet coffee selections and views overlooking the water. We loved it so much we decided to try back again in the evening for their other location, the Malibu Farm Restaurant located just at the beginning of the pier. During our day out in the area, we also stopped for happy hour at Duke’s Malibu, a Hawaiian island cuisine inspired spot also overlooking the water. Needless to say, we had a full day of being foodie tourists!
All in all, our weekend getaway to the Cambria Hotel Calabasas sparked new adventures in an area we haven’t had the opportunity to visit frequently. The hotel accommodations and amenities at Cambria provided everything we needed for our trip. We felt the weekend went by too quickly and we wished we had more time at the property to soak up the Southern California sun poolside! We also loved learning the history of Malibu and exploring the beaches. If you are looking for accommodation in Calabasas, the Cambria Hotel Calabasas is ready to welcome you!
