Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa

I’ve been meaning to submit a review for some time now. Sorry the review is so long but I had to rave about this place. Amazing!
In April 2016, I took my wife to Dolphin Bay to celebrate her birthday and to enjoy a local stay-​cation (left the kids at home with the In-​laws). I had no previous knowledge of Dolphin Bay other than I drive by the resort daily during my commute, and know the property and location to be amazing.
Upon our arrival in the driveway, we were promptly met by an amazingly professional and friendly staff which immediately welcomed us to the property and made us feel welcome and invited, even though we were only staying just the one night. We were met equally with the same outstanding customer service from staff at registration as well. In addition, staff (presumably) recalled their computer notes and wished my wife a happy birthday in a way which seemed very real and not at all forced or fake. It was an outstanding first impression.
We got to our suite (Room 306 I believe. The suite is advertised as a One Bedroom Ocean Front Suite) and we felt like we just arrived in heaven. Sure, we compare anything to our house which two little kids destroy on a daily basis, but the room and accommodations were truly amazing. It was a gorgeous one bedroom apartment that I would gladly call my home if I could. A full size kitchen with beautiful cabinetry, full size stainless appliances and all the necessities one would need to enjoy such an amazing place. There was a great dining area; a separate living area with a comfortable couch and other seating, television and fireplace; and a great patio/​balcony which overlooked the property with an amazing ocean view. The bedroom and bathroom were equally comfortable, impressive and beautiful and there were even 2 huge walk-​in closets in the suite that I wish we could have put to use by extending out stay a lot longer.
We had dinner that night at Lido, the restaurant on site and enjoyed a great dinner on the patio. The scallops were sweet and delicious, the Baby Greens salad was a fresh and yummy starter and we shared the Pasta Carbonara and a special fish dish (forgot what exactly…) that was amazing! We returned to Lido for brunch and shared amazing Eggs Benedict and Scramble Florentine. Unfortunately (sarcasm), we had to enjoy brunch window-​side from inside the beautiful restaurant because a wedding party had booked the outdoor patio and was in the middle of setting up.
The grounds and pool were beautiful, and even though we were escaping our kids for the night, we saw plenty of families enjoying the pool, restaurants and facilities that made us consider returning with our little ones. For a minute. We’ll keep this place to ourselves. As an additional birthday celebration and gift, my wife got pampered with a wonderful massage at The Spa at Dolphin Bay.
I am glad that we decided to stay at Dolphin Bay Resort. The entire experience was first-​class and I can’t say enough about how friendly and professional the entire resort staff was and how amazing our suite and all of the facilities were. We will not be looking for any other local stay-​cation options here in our local area. We found our resort. We will be returning regularly to Dolphin Bay.

Got very good massage from Elaine during my stay at Spring Break this year. I am a big fan of massage and spa, Elaine was so good in finding all great pressure points that I need help with. Very friendly and professional which we had good talk in the beginning, after a while, I was so relaxed and felt half asleep. I felt great after a great massage from Elaine, so relax and comfy. Staff are all very nice and makes you feel home, even though they are very busy during the weekends, you do not see people walking around that makes you feel uncomfortable. They arrange very good schedule that we don’t see people around the great lobby area. Highly recommend to make reservation before you go, especially holidays and weekends. Other than my 3 hours package, I end up gave out a package to my husband and my parents during our stay. Can’t wait to go back again.

Lovely resort on cliff’s edge of Pismo Beach. We stayed there on a 3-​for-​2 nights deal. The poolside, 2-​bedroom apartment was even larger than expected. Well-​appointed and well-​kept. Clean, well-​equipped gourmet kitchen. Fluffy pillows and luxurious bedding. Pool was warm and hot tub a real treat on chilly evenings and mornings.
A nice, short walk takes you down to the beach and tide pools.
Free coffee, tea, and snacks in the lobby area.
Hotel staff are friendly and efficient.

Stunning property and unmatched service from the time you arrive until the time you have to sadly get in your car and leave. We’ve been visiting Dolphin Bay since we first discovered it in 2012 and it’s no surprise that we keep coming back (also no surprise that we’re getting married here in September)!
Pismo Beach in general, and Dolphin Bay specifically, are two of our favorite places to visit. This resort provides all of the comforts of home and top-​notch service. Valet, turn-​down service, suite servicing, in-​room dining, spa, activities and recreation. This resort has it all. The staff is welcoming, attentive, and accommodating. I’ve heard many people compare Dolphin Bay to Hawaii. The weather, ocean views, and property are all so beautiful.
The salt-​water infinity pool is awesome and you really cannot beat the view. Lido restaurant never disappoints. We’ve enjoyed many brunches and dinners there and always leave feeling extra extra full, but extra extra happy of course. The spa is not huge, but it was recently renovated and the services are always great and the facility itself is light, serene, and just as great as the resort.
Dolphin Bay is amazing! We visit any chance we get and never ever want to leave!

Our getaway to Dolphin Bay was supposed to be an adult only anniversary vacation, but life happens and it turned into a family weekend getaway with our 4 and 6 year old daughters. I cannot say enough for their resort. It is absolutely perfect for both families and couples. Our daughters swam in the heated pool from open to close while we were able to relax on the chaises. Pool staff was attentive with drink orders and my husbands special food requests. The walk down to the beach was fantastic with small rabbits and squirrels throughout the bushes, and dolphins and whales swimming right offshore. But the many tide pools down at the beach were just perfection for children. While I don’t recommend the beach for swimming, it is fantastic to look for crabs and «treasures» (colored rocks) that my girls loved collecting. Okay, now back to the resort. The room was perfect. It was large, clean and had every comfort of home that you would appreciate on vacation. Giant walk in closets (x2), a safe, double sink, full kitchens and washer/​dryer combo. The only thing we wish our room had was a soaking tub instead of the shower/​bath combo. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive to all of our needs and wants. I was concerned that it might get stuffy in the rooms without AC, but open the windows and you not only get a fabulous breeze, but amazing ocean views. There is nothing more relaxing than waking up to the ocean waves crashing. Many guests had their pets with them, which made me wish we would have brought our dog as well. They left chocolates daily on our pillows, as well as a daily list of things to do around town and weather. We ventured down to the Butterfly Grove, which unfortunately was past their migration season, but it made us want to come back between Oct-​Feb. We never would have known about it if it wasn’t for their daily info sheets. So thanks! It took over 5 hrs from San Diego to get here, so the train might be a different and relaxing option to get here. The only thing we questioned when we left was the pool sign that said «open to guests and owners». How and when can we buy our very own unit at this resort?! Since being home, we have told many people about Dolphin Bay and how excellent it was. We cannot wait to return to relax, swim, explore, look at butterflies, bring our dog, and sign our mortgage papers for our new vacation unit! Definitely recommend Dolphin Bay to everyone and anyone looking for pure relaxation.

Definitely 5 stars! I would love to come back and visit dolphin bay anytime ! The staff is awesome the complimentary valet drivers are excellent ! The cleaning service is so convenient. They did our dishes as well. So nice not to have to worry about a thing on vacation which is exactly what dolphin bay is. Dont look anywhere else, this is the perfect place for your vacation! The pool area is very nice the pool is heated which makes it great for a swim anytime of the day or night. The bar is steps from the pool and spa we just ordered drinks and hung in the spa. So relaxing here and everything is so convenient. 5 min walk to the beach. Restaurant in the resort with great drinks and food ! Will be returning here ! Thanks dolphin bay for an awesome visit !!!

This place was sooo unbelievably amazing! I loved it so much I know I will be returned many more times. We went for the long weekend and it was an amazing little getaway, much needed and received.
The hotel is beautiful, like a mini Maui w/​o the humidity.
The rooms were awesome, fully stocked kitchen, dining room, plates and silvers ear, living room with pull out couch, TVs, large closets and bathrooms, and bed were sooo comfy! Balcony with amazing views of the the beach front and ocean!
Cleaning services cleaned our room every night while we were out! Room service was very friendly, food was amazing! Bellmen very nice, respectful! Valet very prompt and helpful.
Close to many shops and restaurants and has an in house restaurant that is very good. Amazing setting, beautiful right along the California coast!
Very nice pool, very kid friendly! The pool is heated and the sooo relaxing! The seating and setting is very nice. SO RELAXING!
When we left, they gave us water bottles for our drive back home without even asking! What AMAZING service and stay! Thank you so much Dolphin Bay staff and managers! Keep up the good work!
6 out of 5 stars!

I was in town for a work event and was lucky enough to stay here. My room was amazing and the people working were as lovely as could be. I got a few bottles of wine while I was in town and the woman behind the front desk was really helpful in finding me a wine box that would fit in my suitcase so I wouldn’t have wine all over my clothes when I got home!
Just a small tip if you are sensitive to loud noises — there was loud music coming from the lounge area until 10 PM on Friday night (I’m not sure if this is an every night thing or a random event), but if you are traveling with kids, request a room that does not face the lounge. It didn’t bother me because I was up but I had all of the windows shut and could still hear every single word to music.

I came here with my husband to celebrate his birthday. This place is so beautiful, from the employees to the room details. We arrived around 10:30PM after a long drive from LA. We were both exhausted but our spirits were lifted once we were greeted by big heartwarming smiles from the front desk. The check in was quick and they even gave us warm towels to wake up from the long drive. I decided I love this place just moments from walking in. Customer service is everything. Now onto the room. Full kitchen, dining table that fits four, fireplace with a tv above it, and a spacious master bedroom with a walk in closet and double sinks. Room was immaculate. One thing that stood out were the amenities they gave. I’ve never seen a place that provided make up wipes. There’s also an in room washer/​dryer. I could live here forever! Highly recommended.

Love this place!!! Will absolutely be back. So, I am always a little nervous about hotels and noise levels. I am one of those people who doesn’t like hearing my neighbors walking on my ceiling and banging around next door to me. I can say that during my 4 day stay over the weekend, I didn’t hear one peep! The only sound I heard was the beautiful ocean. One of the cleanest hotels too! Beautifully decorated and the staff was outstanding!!! Felt like royalty if only for 4 days! Love this place

Wow… I could just write «wow» over and over and you may get the message, but I will expand. We came here to celebrate our anniversary based on a groupon rate. It was still pricy, but with out a doubt one of the finest resorts we have stayed at anywhere in the world.
When my husband made the reservations, the desk staff warned him there would be a wedding the day we were there but they would do there best to minimize the disruption to the other guests. Yes, there was a wedding but no, it was not a disruption at all. Since we were there celebrating our anniversary, it was nice to stand on our balcony and watch a wedding. As opposed to a bother, it added to the romance. And interestingly enough the wedding party did not have their reception on the grounds so there was no additional noise at all. Just a nice ceremony.
Now on to our experience. From our arrival, the service was top notch. As we turned the car over to the valet (complimentary, of course), we started to unload our bag. We were told we were on vacation and we were not to lift anything. They said the bags would be waiting for us in the room when we got up there.
When we got to the room, we were met with a full suite, full kitchen, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, dining area, full «living room» with couch chairs and television, large master bedroom with walk in closet and full bathroom. We had a second floor ocean view room and the view from the balcony did not disappoint. Simply Amazing!
We stopped by the bar on the way out to check out the grounds where I got a raspberry mojito. It was the best mojito I have ever had. Perfect!
We didn’t eat at the restaurant so I don’t know how that was, but even the coffee in the lobby was good.
After our morning run, we returned to the room and to our surprise, found the room also had a combination washer/​dryer. We had expected to have to pack stinky clothes for our second day (to another resort further up the coast), but we were able to run a quick load and take care of that.
And, as if that weren’t enough, the resort is «Pet Friendly». Had we known, the dogs would have come with us.
All in all, what a great place to stay! Cant wait to return.

We planned a last-​minute trip to Pismo over Presidents Day weekend, which also happened to be Valentine’s Day weekend… busy busy! The view and the stunning property cannot be beat — the suites are beautifully kept, we felt at home in our room and loved our time in it. That being said, a garbage truck came every day of our stay at about 8am — there is no sleeping through the incredibly loud noise coming from the truck/​dumpsters. So if you are put in the South Tower near the parking lot side, be prepared. It probably only lasted about 5 minutes each day, but it’s enough to wake you from a peaceful sleep. We also had trouble with the toilet in our room, but after we called, there was a maintenance person there within minutes — great service.
We visited Lido for happy hour, which was nice — the live music was pleasant and the cocktails delicious. We also took advantage of the free bike rentals, which was a fun way to spend the afternoon. We had hoped to come back and get in the pool upon our return from bike riding. However when we went to the pool, there was no place to lounge or put our things because there were too many people and not enough loungers/​chairs — after a bit of waiting, we ended up giving up and going back to the room… definitely a disappointment to not be able to use the pool. The ocean/​beach was nice, but way too windy and cold in comparison to the heated pool.
Overall we had a pleasant experience — I’d love to go back and experience more of the resort, like the spa and Lido for brunch or dinner.

Beautiful hotel beautiful location and view! Great place to stay if you have kids. Our room was very clean and comfortable. Falling asleep to the sound of the waves crashing was magnificent!

We were invited by a group of friends who had booked two 2 bedroom suites. We shared one with one couple and the other two couples stayed in the other. It was nice to be right next door to each other. The rooms are amazing! Full amenities included. Upon arriving our rooms were not quite ready so we had brunch at the Lido, on-​site restaurant and lounge. The view is spectacular and the food is 5 stars! Cocktails… YUM! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and plan on returning with our kids.

Had a beautiful room, with full kitchen, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances. The phones came with chargers for an Ipad, Iphone, andriod and auxiliary cables .Our room had beautiful view of the ocean. the lighting in the room was perfrct and adjustible to your liking. Everything was clean. The property had walkways outside so you can walk to other next-​door hotels. The front desk and wait staff is very friendly and polite. The kitchen Staff is very accommodating as I wanted items that were off the menu and they were able to cook what I wanted. Carole at the front desk was very welcoming. Room service delivered before the time they promised.
I absolutely loved my stay here and I didn’t even want to leave my room.
I will return here the next time I stay at Pismo. I came here because I had a stessfull month, and I needed to get away and I must say it was mission accomplished!

Extremely pissed off at this place. Been coming here for years, some times two or three times per year. Booked a specific room with a beach front bedroom. Paid an additional 100.00 per night. When I get here I’m told my room is being prepared in the south tower. After three hours I’m told my room is ready. They sent me to a room in the north tower with a master bedroom view the valet parking lot. I complain and the solution is to move me to an identical room two floors up.
No attempt to correct my situation. For 800.00 per night I expect more. Last night was miserable. Car noises, alarms going off and this wonderful view of the parking lot and freeway.
Good bye Dolphin bay never coming back!
Update!
After this unfortunate situation I must say the management of Dolphin Bay has done everything they can to apologize and showed me they truly care.
This kind of caring for customers in this day is rare and should not go unnoticed. Thank you Erica and Lisa for trying so hard. Maybe we can give it another try someday!

Our favorite place in the world. We’ve been coming here for the past 5 years. The view is to die for and the service is awesome. All of the employees are such sweet people and work hard. The drinks and appetizers are great. We also, celebrated our 25^th Anniversary here, it was beautiful.
Thank u, dolphin bay for always making our stay special.

Hmmmm yes its ocean front and probably the most luxurious place in pismo but it just didn’t FEEL like a resort or all that unique.
It felt way more like a condo community like timeshare or vacation home. Yes the 2 bed condo was huge, marble, pretty furniture, gorgeous kitchen, views, patio, etc. but it wasn’t worth the money.
I would A. rather stay in someones legitimate vacation home for that experience or B. stay at a more beachy boutique hotel. This was in between those and it fell short for over $ 600 a night.
The restaurant was good though…

Used the penthouse to gather around 30 friends for a great bday party. Stayed in room #423, a two bedroom suite. Service and hospitality is incredible. Chef Jacob Moss has a great menu that’s luxurious while being approachable. Todd and he restaurant team was fantastic. They feature local great wines. Denai, who manages their events, was super friendly, very professional, and really just gets it done. She was such a pleasure to work with. Love these guys and can’t be back soon enough.

I have been to many deluxe resorts and hotels around the world, but I have, categorically, NEVER had a nicer room than the one at Dolphin Bay Resort. The vast, two bedroom space features spaces dining and breakfast areas, a large, well-​equipped kitchen, luxurious baths, a full laundry room, and spectacular ocean views from two balconies. Seriously, we’re ready to move in.