We drove to The Resort at Pelican Hill for a weekend in late fall, and I am still thinking about the breakfast we had on the terrace overlooking the ocean. This is the thing about Newport Coast at that time of year — the tourists have mostly gone, the light is extraordinary, and a resort that can feel overwhelmed in summer becomes manageable in a way that lets you actually enjoy it. If you’re weighing the best five-star resort in Orange County, this is my honest, been-there-twice case for why Pelican Hill earns the title.
The Property
Pelican Hill sits on a rise above the Pacific Coast Highway with a view of the ocean that is unobstructed and genuinely impressive. Set across roughly 500 acres in Newport Coast, the resort is built in an Italian-inspired style, all warm stone and columns, and it wears its Five-Star rating credibly. The Coliseum Pool — the enormous circular pool the property photographs extensively — is as beautiful in person as in the pictures, a genuine architectural centerpiece rather than a marketing trick.
The rooms are large by any standard. The bungalows have a separate living space and a terrace that, depending on placement, faces the water; the resort also offers multi-bedroom villas for larger groups or longer stays. We stayed in a bungalow, and the terrace was where we spent most of our time that wasn’t in the pool or at a meal. If you can request an ocean-facing unit, do — the view is a meaningful part of what you’re paying for.
The Food
Andrea is the resort’s marquee restaurant — an Italian dining room — and the quality is genuine. The breakfast is the best on-site meal: local produce, excellent pastries, and an egg program that suggests someone is paying attention to sourcing. We ate dinner at Andrea one night and had lunch at the pool the second day. Both were better than typical resort food, which usually trades on captive-audience convenience. The wine list runs expensive, as it will at any resort at this price point, but the selection is thoughtful. Between Andrea, the Pelican Grill, and the Coliseum Pool & Grill, you can eat well for an entire stay without leaving the property.
With Kids
Charlotte and Madeline have been to Pelican Hill twice. The pool is genuinely spectacular for kids — it’s large, the temperature is reliably warm, and the staff manages the pool deck in a way that keeps it functional even when it’s busy. Beach access requires a shuttle down the hill, which is an easy trip. The resort has a kids’ activity program we haven’t used, because the pool is sufficient occupation for the duration of any stay. If your children are happy in the water, you may find, as we did, that the pool alone justifies the trip.
Beyond the Pool
Even if you never leave the grounds, there’s more here than the pool. Pelican Hill is well known for its golf — two ocean-view courses and a clubhouse — and there’s a spa for the adults who want a quieter afternoon. The location also puts you close to the rest of the coast: Newport’s harbor, the Balboa peninsula, and the drive down to Laguna Beach are all within easy reach if you want to venture out for a meal or an afternoon. But the honest truth of our visits is that we mostly stayed put, because the resort is designed to make leaving feel unnecessary.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 22701 Pelican Hill Road South, Newport Coast, CA 92657.
- Phone: (888) 352-1873.
- Accommodations: Bungalows (guest rooms/suites) and larger multi-bedroom villas.
- Signature pool: The circular Coliseum Pool.
- Dining: Andrea (Italian), Pelican Grill, and the Coliseum Pool & Grill.
- Best time to visit: Late fall, when crowds thin and the light is at its best.
- Points: Part of Marriott Bonvoy, so award nights and points can offset the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pelican Hill good for families?
Very. The Coliseum Pool is a highlight for kids, the bungalows and villas give families room to spread out, and there’s a children’s activity program if the pool isn’t enough. Beach access is a short shuttle away.
Do you have to leave the resort to eat well?
No. Andrea is a legitimate Italian restaurant, breakfast is excellent, and the poolside dining is a cut above typical resort fare. You can happily stay on property for every meal.
When is the best time to go?
Late fall is our pick — the summer crowds are gone, the weather is still warm enough for the pool, and the resort feels far more relaxed. Rates can also be gentler outside peak summer weekends.
Getting There and Planning Your Stay
Pelican Hill is an easy drive down the coast — roughly an hour from central Los Angeles without traffic, and much closer from most of Orange County — with the resort sitting just off Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Coast. John Wayne Airport is the nearest airport if you’re flying in, only about fifteen minutes away, which makes the resort unusually convenient for a property this secluded. A few planning notes from our visits: request an ocean-facing bungalow when you book, since placement makes a real difference to the terrace view; reserve breakfast or a dinner at Andrea in advance on busy weekends; and if you collect Marriott Bonvoy points, price the stay both ways, because an award night here can meaningfully soften what is otherwise a premium bill. Finally, build in unstructured pool time — the single best thing we did on both trips was simply not overscheduling, letting the girls live in the Coliseum Pool while we rotated between the water and the terrace. For a resort this polished, the luxury is as much about slowing down as it is about any single amenity.
The Honest Assessment
Pelican Hill is expensive. I want to be direct about that, because resort pricing has a way of being obscured by the experience of being there. A bungalow with breakfast, a couple of pool lunches, and one dinner is a significant family expenditure. What you’re buying is a property that justifies the cost through genuine quality of execution — the rooms, the food, the service, and the grounds are all operating at a level that matches the price. Whether that value calculation works depends on what else you’d spend that money on.
For us it has worked twice. We will likely go back. That is the honest answer.
