There’s a deliberate duality to Marriot’s VEA Newport Beach resort. During the day it is a serene coastal retreat with neutral interiors, palm-lined terraces, and a peaceful pool deck. At night, it shifts to an intimate atmosphere with flickering fire pits, special wine and cocktail focused dinners and a cosmopolitan rhythm that feels closer to a private club than a hotel.
My arrival experience set the tone with open-air spaces, layered textures, and a sightline that pulled my view straight toward the ocean. The lobby has multiple pathways, to the restaurant, the overlook patio to the ocean and pool, the staircase down to access the pool and to guest rooms and conference rooms as well as many spots to sit, relax and enjoy the views. There is also unique art showcased throughout the resort.
Guestrooms at VEA house floor-to-ceiling windows, soft coastal palettes, and layouts that prioritize space and light. Many rooms open to sweeping ocean or golf course views. Rooms are spacious and offer Nespresso machines, plush robes, and comfy beds and lounge sofas.
The culinary anchor of the resort is VIEW Restaurant & Lounge, where coastal elevated California cuisine is served in a big open airy space with a huge tree under overhead skylights indoor and a beautiful outdoor al fresco patio with a view. The menu leans seasonal and ingredient-driven, but the real indulgence is the panoramic view of the ocean. The restaurant includes a wide selection of sushi in addition to main dishes including a tuna poke bowl, lobster roll, sea bass, New York steak and shrimp gnocchi.
A great reason to visit VEA resort is their exclusive wine dinners. I attended their recent Veuve Clicquot dinner which included a multi-course menu paired with iconic Veuve Clicquot cuvees. The dinner included a stone fruit and cheese salad with white asparagus and a rosemary vinaigrette paired with Veuve Clicquot Rosé; scallop carpaccio with a ginger chive pesto and puffed rice served with Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2015; stuffed quail and stinging nettles with strawberry gastrique and potatoes and artichokes paired with Veuve Clicquot Vintage Rosé 2015 and a chocolate sphere and raspberry coulis dome with vanilla gelato paired with Veuve Clicquot Rich. Their next dinner is the Far Niente Wine Dinner on May 7 at 5:30pm, $193.95 per person, reservations at https://www.viewatvea.com/lto-page.
There is also the lobby adjacent Elan Café, a European coffee house offering espresso, pastry and grab and go options.
The 14,000-square-foot SPA VEA is also a destination within the resort. With its own saltwater pool, treatment rooms, and indoor-outdoor flow, it is a sanctuary above the coastline. The spa offers relaxing facials, massages and body scrubs as well as a relaxing eucalyptus infused steam room, sauna, cold water sole revival for tired feet and a beautiful saltwater pool.
Whether visiting for a conference, special dinner, or to relax at the spa and pool, VEA is the perfect location to enjoy both Newport Beach and the resort. Located at 900 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach, reservations at 949.640.4000.
