A look at Edge Pool & Bar PHOTO COURTESY OF VEA NEWPORT BEACH
Klingmann Family Farm bone-in pork chop from VIEW Restaurant & Bar PHOTO COURTESY OF VEA NEWPORT BEACH
Orange County has welcomed its newest haute hotel, where ocean views, fine dining and dazzling accommodations await. Say hello to VEA Newport Beach.
The former Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa has found new life as VEA Newport Beach (veanewportbeach.com), a sprawling luxury resort located just a stone’s throw from Orange County’s buzzing Fashion Island shopping center. The brainchild of Eagle Four Partners and Lyon Living, VEA invites visitors and locals alike to enjoy a getaway that embraces the best of the region—from premium views of the Pacific and Newport Beach Country Club’s verdant golf course to elevated dining options and a dedicated on-site spa. “This is a destination unlike any other in our Newport Beach community,” says VEA general manager Debbie Snavely. “VEA was built as a gathering place for our community; as a sophisticated destination that our neighbors could return to time and again for cocktails on our lanai or dinner at VIEW, as well as something that would be equally attractive to visitors seeking to experience the best of Southern California’s ocean views and luxury living.”
Edge’s signature VEA Verde Margarita. PHOTO COURTESY OF VEA NEWPORT BEACH
First, drop your bags in your well-appointed accommodations. Options range from coastalchic guest rooms and suites to sprawling two- to four-bedroom retreats, ideal for housing the whole family. No matter the choice, dwellers will discover Frette robes and bath towels, Molton Brown bath amenities, Nespresso machines and even private fire pits outside select rooms. Then, break a sweat in the 5,000-square-foot fitness center, a space that rivals the best gyms in O.C. with plenty of treadmills, Pelotons and weightlifting equipment, all housed within an open-air space that faces the pool and Pacific. From there, enjoy well-earned relaxation at the 14,000-square-foot Spa VEA. The two-story facility offers facials, massages and body therapies, utilizing OSEA and Dr. Dennis Gross products, across its 14 treatment rooms. Try Elan’s Spa VEA Voyage to experience the best of what the spa has to offer—including a 50-minute rhythmic relaxation massage and a 100-minute Spa V EA Luminous Luxury facial. An indoor steam room, whirlpool, cold-water foot revival, dry sauna and saltwater lap pool round out the opulent offerings. Visit the Spa Lawn to enjoy daily yoga classes, and bring your friends along with Spa VEA’s day passes that range from $50 to $75.
VEA’s Queen Deluxe guest room PHOTO COURTESY OF VEA NEWPORT BEACH
the outdoor lanai at VIEW Restaurant & Bar offers fire pits and beautiful ocean views paired with top-notch cocktails and cuisine. PHOTO COURTESY OF VEA NEWPORT BEACH
Edge Pool entices with lounge chairs and private cabanas PHOTO COURTESY OF VEA NEWPORT BEACH
When hunger strikes, fabulous options await on-site. Grab a drink outdoors at Edge Pool & Bar (edgeatvea.com), where a digital ceiling hovering above the bar itself provides a sense of place with videos of swimming aquatic life. Sip locally inspired cocktails, like the Corona Del Cosmo and signature VEA Verde Margarita, as you take in the property’s best vantage point of the ocean. From there, enjoy dinner at the nearby VIEW Restaurant & Lounge. Its second-story floating lanai, complete with fire pits, is an ideal outdoor space to enjoy an alfresco dinner under the stars while the indoor dining room equally entices with its own beautiful surroundings. Executive chef Andrew Arndt delights with signature fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner, marked by signatures including a buttery lobster roll, spaghetti alla chitarra and meatballs, grilled Primal Pastures New York steak and decadent butterscotch budino. “My goal is to create experiences from arrival to departure, with every aspect designed to create memorable moments,” says Arndt. “Being in Southern California has been a source of inspiration, and I value being able to utilize local purveyors to show guests and travelers what our region has to offer.” Randy Bloomquist, director of food and beverage, has curated an equally thoughtful cocktail menu—don’t miss the mezcal-forward Smoke & Mirrors for an ideal afterdinner drink. Finally, toast to the good life, whether you call Orange County home or are just passing through. VEA elevates the region’s resort offerings and has positioned itself as a sparkling jewel in O.C.’s crown. Let the staycation—or vacation—begin.
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