2 Night Stay at the Lido House, Autograph Collection in Newport Beach, CA

The Lido House is located on a piece of land where the Newport Beach City Hall used to be located. The architecture is based on the owner's home located in Balboa and Nantucket, while the interior decor pays homage to old Newport. As you walk through the main lobby, you will immediately notice a model of the “Wild Goose” which is John Wayne’s yacht which can be found in Newport Beach Harbor. The original bell itself is hanging on the sidewall of the lobby surrounded by a blueprint of his yacht and photos.

To the left of the lobby, you will find a small boutique selling products promoting Lido and Newport Beach. They sell a few snacks as well. Pass the boutique, you will find the spa on the right side and the two main elevators on the left which leads to the rooms and Topside Bar.

As you proceed to the west side of the hotel, you will see the hotel entrance for Mayor’s Table Pacific Pub and Kitchen. This restaurant is open for guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner with bar bites being served between 5 pm and 11 pm. Mayor’s table also has a private dining room called the Captain’s Table which can seat 14 people. This is great for business gatherings since the hotel is able to put up a full AV set up for presentations. If you reserve this table, food orders are done through catering. If you like champagne, the Lido House is the only hotel in California with their own house blend. They are now on their fourth edition. Executive Chef Riley Huddleson flies to France twice a year to make this champagne. All purchases made at the restaurant earn Marriott Bonvoy points.

The Topside bar is the only rooftop bar in Newport Beach. It has an amazing view of the village and ocean. It is open to both the public and guests. Reservations are highly recommended through seven rooms. Hours: Monday-Tuesday: 5 to 9 pm, Wednesday-Thursday: 4 to 10 pm, Friday: 3 to 11 pm, Saturday: 12 to 11 pm and Sunday: 12 to 9 pm.

Crew Coffee and Cremerie is located on the southwest corner of the hotel. It serves coffee and homemade ice cream. It is open 6 am to 1 pm daily and purchases count towards Marriott Bonvoy points.

There are two meeting/conference rooms at the Lido House which are located on the south side of the hotel past the pool. The two rooms are divided by a central divider that can be moved to transform it to a larger venue which is great for weddings. During our stay, we were fortunate enough to view a wedding taking place on the beautiful outdoor ceremony area located adjacent to the meeting/conference rooms.

The rectangular salt water pool is centrally located within the hotel grounds and has three private cabanas that can be reserved.

The Boost Spa is located on the east side of the hotel on the first floor. They have a bright sitting area you can relax in prior to or after your service. The spa has three massage rooms and one room for facials. When you book a service, you are able to leave your belongings in the locker room, take a seven-minute walk to the beach and return later in the day to retrieve your items. For local guests, there is a membership you can purchase for $300 a month. The membership includes pool and spa access, one 50-minute treatment per month, spa treatment discounts, cabana/food and drink discounts, complimentary valet and a guest pass. All purchases made in the spa earn Marriott points.

The fitness room is open 24 hours a day. It is very clean with AC and can be accessed through the outside door or through the spa. It faces the pool and the floor-to-ceiling windows make the room bright. There are two ellipticals, three treadmills, two pelotons, two bikes and a variety of free weights. Complimentary fruit is available for guests working out.

There are 118 rooms at the Lido House ranging from two queens or one king. Lido also has five two-bedroom cottages. Each cottage is named after the five islands of Newport beach. All have different themes and decor. Each cottage has the living area on the first floor with two bedrooms on the second floor. The cottage has two and a half baths, a full kitchen with washer and dryer. Situated on the third floor, each cottage has a private rooftop where guests can BBQ. The cottage furthest east is ADA compliant and is the only one with an elevator.

There is no self parking available on site. Guests who opt to use the hotel valet will be charged $60 per night.

Restaurant recommendations

• Bluewater Grill in Cannery Village

• Zinque in Lido Marina Village

• Malibu Farms in Lido Marina Village

• The Cannery Newport Beach

• Banzai Bowls

Shopping

• Lido Marina Village: Five-minute walk across the north side of hotel

• Fashion Island: 15-minute drive

• South Coast Plaza: 20-minute drive

I recommend the Lido House to any guest wanting an intimate or family getaway. The decor is refreshing and the location is perfect! It is a five-minute walk to Lido Marina Village, an eight-minute walk to Cannery Village, a seven-minute walk to the beach, a 15-minute walk to Newport Pier and a 30 minute bike ride to Balboa Ferry.

The Lido House offers complimentary beach cruisers. I recommend you ride the bike if you want to visit Balboa Island or the Balboa Fun Zone. I would also recommend bringing your own locks so as not to get the bikes stolen when parking. If you have younger kids, I would advise taking an Uber or Lyft. I strongly suggest you avoid driving unless you plan to visit Balboa very early in the morning. There are only 2 lanes on the road and parallel parking is available on both sides of the lane which causes a significant amount of traffic.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Newport Beach. In need of further inspiration? Check out Angela Hope’s guide, A Local's Guide to Newport Beach.