Last updated on March 19th, 2024 at 11:34 am
Located in the heart of downtown Riverside, California, the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa is a National Historic Landmark. The sprawling hotel takes up an entire city block, but within its gates are idyllic gardens and breathtaking architecture for a building where history, elegance and modern luxury come together for an amazing stay. Here’s a complete Mission Inn Hotel review.
Riverside, California Historic Hotel
The Mission Inn is one of the most beautiful and legendary hotels in California. Numerous presidents have stayed there over the years. (Ronald and Nancy Reagan even honeymooned there!) This AAA Four Diamond hotel features 238 guestrooms and suites, numerous restaurants, and a spa so good it was literally ranked among the top ten on Condé Nast Traveler’s “Top 50 Hotel Spas in the United States.”
Located about one hour inland between Los Angeles and Palm Springs, and about 90 minutes up from San Diego, the Mission Inn & Spa is centrally located. Since I am lucky enough to call Southern California home, I’ve been to the Mission Inn many times for events or to eat at one of their restaurants.
At Christmastime, the hotel transforms for its lavish Festival of Lights, complete with an appearance by Santa Claus, horse-drawn carriage rides, decorations, singing and much more. It is always a magical experience to visit for the evening during the holidays! But finally taking the opportunity to stay overnight and enjoy the resort with my family was a real treat.
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
From its modest start in 1876 as a 12 room guesthouse, the Mission Inn has grown to become one of the finest hotels in the country. Among its many architectural features, the hotel boasts flying buttresses, archways, domes, a bell tower, interior courtyards, private patios, fountains, balconies, and a five-story, open-air rotunda with a circular wrought-iron staircase.
There are lush and lovely gardens, and in the springtime – which is when we visited – bougainvillea spill out from every corner. It is simply stunning!
The Mission Inn is so steeped in history that it has its own museum. Located at the corner of Main Street and Mission Inn Avenue, just steps from the hotel, the Mission Inn Museum features exhibitions examining the hotel’s history and lasting impacts on the Riverside community and beyond. The museum’s collection showcases time periods from the Mission Inn’s arrival as an adobe boarding house in 1876 to the present.
Historic walking tours of the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa are also offered daily.
Mission Inn Hotel Rooms
For all its grand architecture and history, the rooms are modern and luxurious. Each room at the hotel is a little bit different. All accommodations include coffee makers, 42-inch flat-screen televisions, plush bedding and robes, as well as Kelly’s Spa signature bath products. Some rooms have fireplaces, and many overlook the courtyard or pool.
The lobby is grand and has many private seating areas and lots of greenery. Most of the hotel’s restaurants are located along the corridor.
Amenities at the hotel include the luxurious, Tuscan-inspired Kelly’s Spa, a swimming pool, jacuzzi, and access to championship golf courses, shopping, and other recreational activities nearby. The Mission Inn’s downtown Riverside location puts you within easy reach of art museums, galleries, and events at the Fox Performing Arts Center, a restored 1929 theater.
Dining at the Mission Inn
The historic Mission Inn features four award-winning restaurants: Duane’s Prime Steaks and Seafood, a AAA Four-Diamond restaurant since 1996, Las Campanas Mexican Cuisine & Cantina, Bella Trattoria Italian Bistro, and the Mission Inn Restaurant and Spanish Patio.
Las Campanas is my absolute favorite, for its amazing outdoor seating and delicious Mexican food. I’ve enjoyed many a birthday dinner there!
Duane’s Prime Steaks and Seafood
The Mission Inn’s signature restaurant located indoors off the lobby, Duane’s exclusively offers aged, USDA Prime cuts of steaks and the freshest seafood.
54 Degrees at Duane’s
This wine bar is adjacent to Duane’s Prime Steaks and Seafood, offering a wide array of wines and tapas in a sophisticated setting. Boasting a selection of approximately 30 wines by the glass and a wine cellar of more than 7,000 bottles, 54 Degrees is a great place to meet friends for a drink.
Las Campanas Mexican Cuisine & Cantina
Serving authentic Mexican cuisine creatively prepared using the freshest herbs and ingredients, the restaurant offers casual outdoor dining for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.
The Presidential Lounge
Originally built as a Presidential Suite for President Roosevelt in 1902, and later, the site of Richard Nixon’s wedding in 1940, it is now a cozy bar called The Presidential Lounge.
Bella Trattoria Italian Bistro
Enjoy sidewalk dining in downtown Riverside at Bella Trattoria Italian Bistro. Bella Trattoria serves up Southern Italian cuisines including brick-oven baked pizzas, pasta and Panini sandwiches. It is located in the Mission Inn, on the street side.
Casey’s Cupcakes
Casey’s Cupcakes features a fun and colorful atmosphere and is the place to go for yummy cupcakes! Kids will love stopping in for an after-dinner treat. Cupcakes come in 20 flavors, with names like Sassy Strawberry, Caribbean Coconut. Casey’s Cupcakes is also located on the street side, so grab one as you’re going for a stroll through town!
The Mission Inn Restaurant and Spanish Patio
Famous for its award-winning Champagne Sunday Brunch event and lavish culinary offerings including various unique food stations and a mimosa bar, The Mission Inn Restaurant features a state-of-the-art display kitchen where chefs prepare signature California cuisine. The restaurant is decorated in colorful tiles, vaulted ceilings, ornate wall sconces and marble accents.
Experience Bliss at Kelly’s Spa
Boasting the title of one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Hotel Spas in the United States, I could not resist the opportunity to book a facial at the Mission Inn’s spa, Kelly’s Spa. The experience was pure bliss!
Inspired by the history of the Mission Inn, Kelly’s Spa links the hotel’s Spanish Mission architecture with the serene ambiance of an ancient Tuscan wellness oasis. The spa’s interior features archways and vaulted ceilings. Warm-toned woods are used throughout, hand-painted frescos adorn the walls and marble mosaic flooring. A fountain right outside the spa’s entrance sets the mood.
The 7,000-square-foot space features 12 treatment rooms, including two gorgeous private villas that can be used for couples, brides-to-be, and groups of friends, as well as two rooms specifically for therapeutic baths, a nail salon, gender separated retreats with Eucalyptus Steam Rooms and two relaxation rooms. Spa guests not staying at he hotel enjoy complimentary valet parking and use of the hotel’s pool and Jacuzzi.
Hotel Information & Reservations
- Address: 3649 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside
- Phone Number: (951) 784-0300
- Website: missioninn.com
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Elizabeth says
We spend a lot of time in a California and I’ve never heard of this resort- definitely going to check it out next time we are there. It’s stunning!!