In the Press
Oceanside’s Green Room Hotel actually dates back more than six decades, but reopened as a bungalow-style boutique hotel in the summer of 2021, with 12 individually curated rooms. Lean into the easygoing surfer vibe with on-site beach cruiser bikes and surfboards. The inn is located on Pacific Coast Highway in South Oceanside, a fantastic spot for exploring a diverse lineup of restaurants, breweries, and an impressive nightlife scene.
Its unprepossessing charcoal-hued assortment of adobe-style bungalows house six studios, five one-bedroom suites, and one two-bedroom suite: mid-century furniture, bohemian fixtures, Moroccan rugs, and 1960s-era art adorning walls dresses their interiors. A 10-minute walk from the beach, guests can return from a day on the shore and take advantage of the hotel’s cedar-style hot tub and fire pit.
“A 1950s bungalow motel on the Pacific Coast Highway returns to vibrant life in the hands of local designers Jessica Tingle and Salthouse Collective founder Leigh Jendrusina. Honoring the place’s great bones (including adobe-style bricks), the art-forward interiors of seven studios and five suites are as fresh and sunlit as a new swell offshore.”
“Our favorite part about owning The Green Room Hotel is getting to interact with guests… Catching people in no rush whatsoever and in a state of zen, discovery, relaxation or celebration is as sunny as our weather.”
A few blocks inland, a 1950s motel has also been reborn as a bungalow boutique: The Green Room Hotel. Each of the property’s 12 rooms has been individually designed and offers a unique experience—there are studios and one-bedroom suites, as well as a two-bedroom suite that well suited for families. A cedar-style hot tub and communal fire pits add to the laid-back luxe aesthetic of the property, and captures the unique feel of Oceanside's newly shiny exterior.
This California-cool Hotel Is Hiding in an Under-the-radar Surf Town
“They're curating the old-meets-new Oceanside vibe by preserving many of the building's original design elements, including adobe-style bricks, exposed wood beams, large windows, and shiplap accents… The interior space doubles down on the California-cool aesthetic with pieces from local artists, curated by designers Jessica Tingle and Leigh Jendrusina. Those eclectic elements include midcentury modern furniture, Moroccan rugs, and playful tiling spread out through the six studios, five one-bedrooms suites, and one two-bedroom suite.”
“…there's a new generation of lodging, restaurants and retailers, writes The Times' Christopher Reynolds. Among his recent stops: the Green Room, a 12-room boutique hotel with surf-minimalist white interiors, no lobby, forward-looking technology and flat black exteriors.
“Built in the 1940s, The Green Room Hotel just recently underwent a modernization this summer that breathed new life into its walls and transformed it into a bungalow-style boutique hotel. Each room features custom art from local artists, found pieces of mid-century modem furnishings, unique Moroccan rugs, and more. Some units also feature kitchenettes with playful accents like retro-style appliances and private patios with outdoor seating. Elevated amenities include a cedar-style hot tub next to a fire pit and outdoor social area with communal picnic tables for post-surfing socializing and relaxation.
“With the beach a mere 10-minute walk from the property, The Green Room Hotel offers grab-and-go surfboards and beach cruisers… The hotel also collaborates with local businesses to establish a sense of community spirit, partnering with local bakeries for complimentary morning coffee and pastries during the weekends, or with Catch Surf and SoCal Bike for leisure activities. A destination that's retained its retro charm while offering the conveniences of a modern getaway, the Green Room Hotel speaks to the most diverse, eclectic and creative traveller looking for a homey beach getaway.”
“The Green Room Hotel, originally a motel built in the 1940s, has been given a second life as a modernized bungalow-style boutique hotel. Opened in July 2021 by co-owners Stephen and Brett Poovey, The Green Room Hotel is a place for the most diverse, eclectic, creative community members and travelers to come together. Channeling both the inside of a wave when surfing and the space where musicians relax, The Green Room Hotel is a getaway intended to be a place where stories can be told, and passions can be shared.”
“Hip travelers looking for a unique and quintessential surf culture atmosphere will enjoy The Green Room. Located in South Oceanside, this area is very up and coming, near great surf breaks, restaurants, groceries, and more. It’s also a good option for business travelers, couples, solo travelers, and small groups.”
“Stay at The Green Room charmingly chic boutique hotel for a low-key (read: you need to save your money for surf-skating lessons) vibe within walking distance to the shore, and dine at The Plot for vegan fare or Dija Mara for Balinese-fusion.”
Sure, big hotel chains offer the convenience of luxury amenities, but there’s something about small, one-of-a-kind properties that adds to the overall travel experience. What I love about boutique hotels is that they further immerse you into the local scene and culture. Or at least that’s what I found when I stayed at The Green Room Hotel in Oceanside, California.
Sometimes serendipity is a “for sale” sign. Carlsbad couple Brett and Stephen Poovey knew it was meant to be when they spotted a forgotten mid-century motel on the market in South Oceanside, a location that had long been their next-door neighborhood and a favorite place to hang out. Following a design-minded makeover, the Green Room Hotel now puts California-cool style on the Coast Highway map.