Ninety-nine Southern California hotels and 35 restaurants have earned the AAA Four Diamond Award®, the Automobile Club of Southern California announced today. Seven locations appear on the list for the first time, including six hotels:
- Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Resort, Oxnard
- Island Hotel, Newport Beach
- La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
- Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel, Beverly Hills
- Montage Beverly Hills
- The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage
Also appearing is a new AAA Four Diamond restaurant:
- Bouchon, Santa Barbara
The coveted AAA Four Diamond Award is presented to hotel and restaurant general managers and executive chefs to recognize award-winning properties, which rank among the top 3.9 percent of 58,000 hotels and restaurants inspected by AAA and the Auto Club, the nation’s largest AAA affiliate.
“These establishments consistently exceed the expectations of the most discriminating traveler – the AAA inspector. We’re proud to have these dedicated businesses in our region,” said the Auto Club’s Approved Accommodations Supervisor Patricia Marenco. “AAA Four Diamond hotels and restaurants are committed to providing guests with a high-quality experience,” she added.
“Creative chefs, imaginative menus, fresh ingredients, along with comfortable and high-quality surroundings, and expert staff characterize Southern California’s hotels and restaurants that earn the AAA Four Diamond rating. We applaud everyone at these establishments who work hard to exceed expectations of domestic and global travelers,” said Marenco.
AAA’s Diamond rating program is the only hotel and restaurant review system in the nation that uses specially trained full-time field representatives who collectively visit some 1,200 hotels and restaurants every week. As part of AAA’s national network, the Auto Club’s own staff reviews establishments in Southern California without prior notification using objective rating procedures.
In order to achieve four diamonds, the lodging establishments must be “refined, stylish with upscale physical attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail,” according the Diamond rating guidelines.
The list of AAA Four Diamond hotels and restaurants throughout Southern California follows, along with the first year the establishment was rated:
Inyo/Mono Counties Hotels | Year Rated | |
Death Valley National Park | The Inn at Furnace Creek | 1987 |
Mammoth Lakes | The Westin Monache Resort | 2011 |
Los Angeles County Hotels | ||
Beverly Hills | Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel | 1993 |
Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel | 2014 | |
Montage Beverly Hills | 2014 | |
SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills | 2009 | |
Burbank | Hotel Amarano Burbank | 2011 |
Hollywood | Loews Hollywood | 2008 |
W Hollywood | 2010 | |
Long Beach | Hyatt Regency Long Beach | 2013 |
Los Angeles | Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles At Beverly Hills | 2011 |
Hotel Bel-Air | 2012 | |
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza | 1983 | |
Intercontinental Los Angeles Century City | 1988 | |
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE | 2011 | |
Luxe City Center Hotel | 2013 | |
Mr. C Beverly Hills | 2012 | |
Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza | 2003 | |
Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills | 1993 | |
The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles | 2011 | |
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites | 2013 | |
W Los Angeles-Westwood | 2013 | |
Pasadena | The Westin-Pasadena | 2005 |
Rancho Palos Verdes | Terranea Resort | 2010 |
San Gabriel | Hilton Los Angeles/San Gabriel | 2011 |
Santa Monica | JW Marriott Santa Monica Le Merigot | 2002 |
Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica | 2013 | |
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel | 1989 | |
Shore Hotel | 2012 | |
The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows | 2002 | |
Universal City | Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City | 2007 |
West Hollywood | Sunset Marquis Hotel & Villas | 2007 |
The London West Hollywood | 2008 | |
Los Angeles County Restaurants | ||
Beverly Hills | Bouchon | 2011 |
Cut by Wolfgang Puck (Beverly Wilshire Four | 2010 | |
Seasons Hotel) | ||
Spago Beverly Hills | 2004 | |
The Blvd (Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel) | 2011 | |
Calabasas | Saddle Peak Lodge | 1997 |
Los Angeles | Culina Modern Italian (Four Seasons | 1995 |
Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills) | ||
Patina | 1991 | |
Pasadena | The Raymond Restaurant | 2005 |
Santa Monica | Melisse | 2012 |
Valentino Santa Monica | 1995 | |
Orange County Hotels | ||
Anaheim | Disneyland Hotel | 2011 |
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa | 2001 | |
Costa Mesa | Avenue Of The Arts Wyndham Hotel | 2013 |
Dana Point | Blue Lantern Inn | 1991 |
Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa | 2004 | |
Huntington Beach | Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa | 2003 |
The Waterfront Beach Resort A Hilton Hotel | 1991 | |
Laguna Beach | Surf & Sand Resort | 1991 |
Newport Beach | The Balboa Bay Resort | 2004 |
Fairmont Newport Beach | 2007 | |
Island Hotel Newport Beach | 2014 | |
Orange County Restaurants | ||
Anaheim | Napa Rose (Disney's Grand Californian | 2010 |
Hotel & Spa) | ||
Dana Point | Raya (The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel) | 2012 |
Fullerton | The Cellar | 1990 |
Laguna Beach | Studio (Montage Laguna Beach) | 2008 |
Riverside County Hotels | ||
Cabazon | Morongo Casino Resort & Spa | 2005 |
Indian Wells | Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa | 1987 |
Miramonte Resort & Spa | 2008 | |
Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa | 2003 | |
La Quinta | La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria | 2014 |
Resort | ||
Palm Desert | JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa | 1987 |
Palm Springs | The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn | 1997 |
Rancho Mirage | Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa | 2009 |
The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage | 2014 | |
The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa | 2009 | |
Riverside | The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa | 2010 |
Temecula | Pechanga Resort And Casino | 2002 |
Ponte Vineyard Inn | 2012 | |
Riverside County Restaurants | ||
Cabazon | Cielo (Morongo Casino Resort & Spa) | 2011 |
Indian Wells | Sirocco (Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa) | 2012 |
Palm Springs | Europa Restaurant At The Villa Royale Inn | 2005 |
Le Vallauris | 1993 | |
Rancho Mirage | Wally's Desert Turtle | 1993 |
Riverside | Duane's Prime Steaks & Seafood (Mission | 1995 |
Inn Hotel & Spa) | ||
Temecula | Great Oak Steakhouse (Pechanga Resort | 2012 |
and Casino) | ||
San Bernardino County Hotels | ||
Lake Arrowhead | Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa | 2010 |
San Diego County Hotels | ||
Carlsbad | Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa | 2013 |
Coronado | Hotel del Coronado | 2005 |
Loews Coronado Bay | 1992 | |
Del Mar | L'Auberge Del Mar | 2002 |
Jamul | Jamul Haven | 2011 |
Julian | Orchard Hill Country Inn | 1996 |
La Jolla | Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa | 2005 |
Hyatt Regency La Jolla | 1990 | |
La Valencia Hotel | 2010 | |
The Grande Colonial | 2008 | |
Lakeside | Barona Resort & Casino | 2010 |
Pala | Pala Casino Spa and Resort | 2004 |
San Diego | Andaz San Diego | 2013 |
Hard Rock Hotel San Diego | 2008 | |
Hilton San Diego Bayfront | 2011 | |
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina | 2011 | |
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego | 2013 | |
Omni San Diego Hotel | 2005 | |
Pacific Terrace Hotel | 2007 | |
Rancho Bernardo Inn | 1977 | |
San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter | 2013 | |
San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina | 1984 | |
The US Grant, A Luxury Collection Hotel | 2007 | |
The Westgate Hotel | 2007 | |
The Westin San Diego | 1994 | |
The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter | 2012 | |
Viejas Casino & Resort | 2013 | |
Valley Center | Harrah's Resort | 2009 |
San Diego County Restaurants | ||
Carlsbad | Argyle Steakhouse | 2012 |
Vivace (Park Hyatt Aviara Resort) | 1999 | |
La Jolla | A.R. Valentien (The Lodge at Torrey Pines) | 2004 |
Donovan's Steak & Chop House | 2010 | |
George's California Modern | 2000 | |
The Marine Room | 2013 | |
Rancho Santa Fe | Mille Fleurs | 1991 |
San Diego | Bertrand at Mister A's | 1994 |
Grant Grill (The US Grant) | 2007 | |
San Luis Obispo County Hotels | ||
Paso Robles | La Bellasera Hotel & Suites | 2011 |
Pismo Beach | Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa | 2009 |
Santa Barbara County Hotels | ||
Los Olivos | Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa | 2012 |
Santa Barbara | Harbor View Inn | 1997 |
Inn On Summer Hill | 1990 | |
Simpson House Inn | 2013 | |
The Fess Parker, A Doubletree by Hilton Resort | 2006 | |
Santa Ynez | Chumash Casino Resort & Spa | 2004 |
Santa Ynez Inn | 2002 | |
Solvang | Hotel Corque | 2011 |
The Ballard Inn | 1993 | |
Santa Barbara County Restaurants | ||
Santa Barbara | Bouchon | 2014 |
Santa Ynez | The Willows (Chumash Casino Resort & Spa) | 2005 |
Solvang | The Ballard Inn Restaurant (The Ballard Inn) | 2005 |
Ventura County Hotels | ||
Oxnard | Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Resort | 2014 |
Westlake Village | Westlake Village Inn | 2011 |
Ventura County Restaurants | ||
Ojai | Maravilla (Ojai Valley Inn & Spa) | 2012 |
Westlake Village | Hampton's (Four Seasons Hotel | 2007 |
Westlake Village) |
Lodging inspections include at least one unannounced inspection each year. Inspectors review and rate exterior, grounds and public areas, room décor, ambiance and amenities, guest room, bathrooms, housekeeping and maintenance, management and staff and guest services. Once the inspection process is complete, properties that meet all requirements receive a rating of one to five Diamonds.
Travelers can find Diamond Rated establishments and inspector insight in AAA trip planning products: the AAA Mobile® app for tablets and smartphones, the desktop and mobile versions of the TripTik® Travel Planner online mapping and routing tool, searchable Travel Guides on AAA.com and AAA TourBook® guides available to members at AAA/CAA offices.
AAA rates more properties than any other rating entity. It’s the only rating system that covers the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean and the only rating system that conducts professional, on-site evaluations using published guidelines weighted by AAA member priorities.
For complete lists of AAA/CAA Four Diamond hotels and restaurants and rating definitions, visit AAA.com/Diamonds.