Catalina Hotel — Hotel Review Rating: 3.5 Pearls

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Oyster Hotel Review

Reporter: Dipayan G.
Updated: August 27, 2009

 Scene

Attracting college students and recent grads (most folks are in their early to mid-20s), the Catalina is perfect for partiers. During less popular times of the year, the Catalina might have the occasional middle-aged or elderly European tourist, sometimes with families in tow, but with free cocktail hour in the Red Bar, this place is designed for guests who like to get their drink on.

 Service

The doorman, the bellboy, and the front desk attendants are all bubbly and friendly. Unfortunately, it takes forever to get anything done. My check-in took about 15 minutes, but it was preceded by 20 minutes of waiting in line. When I forgot the code to my safe, the receptionist told me I'd have to wait an hour and a half. Fortunately, maintenance only took 15 minutes.

 Location

Located two blocks from Lincoln Road and across the street from the ritzy Delano, guests don't have to go far to find restaurants and bars to suit their budget -- whatever it might be! Plus, the Catalina is only one block from the beach!

 Rooms

My king bedroom at the Dorset -- the Catalina is actually a conglomeration of three squat art deco hotels, the Dorset, the Catalina, and the Maxine -- was unsettling. The hallways were so dark that I couldn't even see where to put my key into the door. I tried multiple times! The room itself was large and swathed in darkness. When I pulled back the floor-to-ceiling velvet curtain, I found a small window that looked out onto an alleyway and into the neighboring building. The only real source of light came from the window in the shower stall, which was meager at best.

In the bathroom, the toilet stall was on the opposite side of the sink and shower, right by the front door. I freaked out when I turned on the light and heard the loud whoosh of the exhaust.

The king-size bed was comfortable and the linens seemed clean, though on closer inspection, they didn't quite match. The room was extraordinarily humid -- a function of having a shower in a room with few windows -- but at least the bed was reassuringly dry.

There was an iPod dock and a 32-inch JVC TV strapped to a flimsy table with a seat belt. Guests who have a "can-do" attitude probably won't mind staying here, especially since it's relatively cheap and right by the beach. But claustrophobic travelers who like plenty of light should probably try the rooms in the actual Catalina. Plain white with red-hot furnishings, they let in plenty of light.

 Features

At the Dorset's rooftop infinity pool, visitors can catch sunlight for much longer than they'd be able to at the beach. Shade seekers can pop over to Maxine's backyard pool. It's even possible to get a massage in the cabana!

 Cleanliness

The hook in my bathroom was about to fall off the wall, and one of the sockets was cracked. Otherwise, everything seemed clean. Seemed is the operative word, because it was much too dark to see anything in the Dorset building. The Maxine building is similarly gloomy. Clean freaks should ask for a room at the Catalina itself. These plain white rooms look a bit antiseptic, but sometimes that's a good thing.

 Food

The on-site food isn't bad, but it isn't great either.

Maxine, open from breakfast through dinner, serves American and Latin staples at reasonable prices.

Red Bar, the lounge by the front desk, serves Starbucks coffee, a very limited selection of borderline-stale pastries, smoothies, and hard liquor.

I didn't get to eat at King Fu Sushi at the Dorset, but it looks pretty cool! For what it's worth, it's mélange of graffiti and vintage furniture is the exact aesthetic Urban Outfitters aspires to. Plus, it has a cozy library to the side where I watched the election unfold!

There are bars at each of the pools. The rooftop bar at the top of the Dorset building is the largest and most popular.

 Bottom Line

Designed for randy 20-somethings who can rage until 4 a.m., the Catalina can be a godsend. It's moderately priced, across from the beach, and in the heart of the fashionista bar scene. Although there are nice touches like Tempur-Pedic beds and a hip rooftop pool, it's a party hotel at heart, with small rooms and an indifferent staff.