Pacific Grove, California
This charming historic studio was once owned by American author John Steinbeck. It's been featured in several articles: including “20 Romantic Getaways” and in NYT's "Frank Sinatra Slept Here, and So Can You" (August 2020).
There is a 30-night minimum stay for this cottage. Daily rate listed reflects discount and enjoy no city occupancy tax.
'I bought a small house and garden in Pacific Grove...' (John Steinbeck: A Life in Letters). American author John Steinbeck wrote these words to a friend about this charming house he called home in the 1940s.
This cozy studio retreat has one bedroom with a queen bed and and a sitting area, a spacious full bathroom, and a fully stocked kitchen. There is cable TV and wireless internet.
The studio is approximately 350 square feet. It is original 1920's architecture and has short doorways throughout the studio. Taller guests (anyone 5'10" or taller) will need to mind their heads passing through entry-ways and in the kitchen (it has low ceilings). The studio has been renovated throughout in December 2023 - new flooring, kitchen and bathroom.
It is one of three cottages on the property and has a unique and rich literary history, having belonged to John Steinbeck in the early 1940's. He used it as his writing studio and worked on novels including The Sea of Cortez while living here.
The Neighborhood
Pacific Grove has been called “Butterfly Town U.S.A.,” “The Most Romantic City in the U.S.,” “A Dreamy California Destination, ” as well as an idyllic place to get married, to honeymoon or to just hang out. Some of it is self-proclaimed, some the acclaim of people who have actually visited Pacific Grove.
You will find Pacific Grove on the very tip of the scenic, tree-shrouded Monterey Peninsula with a rocky coastline and an ambiance of charm, grace and beauty.
Founded in the 1870s as a Methodist summer retreat, Pacific Grove still bears the look and feel of yesteryear. As you stroll the residential streets admiring the charm of home after home, you will notice little plaques on many of the homes that bear the name of the original owner and the year in which it was built. To qualify for a plaque from the Heritage Society of Pacific Grove, a structure must look like it did when it was originally built.
Among its visitors are brightly colored orange-and-black Monarch butterflies, who overwinter in Pacific Grove after traveling up to 2,000 miles, arriving by the thousands starting in October, peaking around Christmas and departing by March.
Besides its scenic beauty and idyllic neighborhoods, Pacific Grove offers an eclectic downtown experience, with small boutiques, gift shops, art galleries, antique stores and more. Other vibrant shopping areas are along Central Avenue at the entrance to Pacific Grove from Cannery Row and at the top of Forest Avenue on Forest Hill.
Getting around
The Writer's Studio is centrally located and a short walk from many scenic destinations. It is located a half mile from The Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row, as well as downtown Pacific Grove. Lover's Point beach is just one mile away and downtown Monterey is two miles away.
There are many fantastic restaurants, activities and shops in the area.
Other Things to Note
- Check-in time is 4:00 pm and check-out time is 11:00 am.
- There is a firm no smoking, drugs and vaping policy.
- There is a no pet policy.
- We do not have a washer/dryer on the property for guest use.
Cute little property with a great history. Location was great, an easy walk to the grocery, drugstore and to town. Coming from AZ where they were having triple digit temps it was a pleasure to spend a month with temps never hitting 70 degrees. Owners were great and very responsive. Lots of Steinbeck books to enjoy while you are there.
After a year of working from home, I came here for a month for a change of atmosphere. It was just what I needed. The cottage is quaint and charming and has so much history. It looks just like it does in the pics. There are plenty of places not too far away to grab a bite to eat (the empanadas at Cafe Guarini were a go-to fave of mine). Before my daily Zoom calls, I would walk near the ocean in the AM and then pickup some coffee and breakfast on my way back through Pacific Grove. Kevin and Vicky were quick to respond to any questions and were wonderful hosts! Highly recommend staying here
The place is well located, it is basically on the border between Monterey and Pacific Grove. Short walk down the hill leads to restaurants, shops, Cannery row, the bay. We could hear the seals at night. We loved that the cottage is in the middle of the property: it provided some protection from the streets. Having the garden and the sitting area outside made for lovely lunches. We didn't cook (only some breakfast and salads for lunch). While the square footage is small it was easy to accommodate our belonging and find a place to work. Bathroom sinks/toilet, kitchen and fridge were very clean.
Would have given 5 stars except my husband is over 6ft and hit his head several times on the door jam. Great place otherwise!
The electric heater was not working per the instructions. Other than that we again enjoyed our stay at the Writer's Cottage in all its quirkiness and history.
We had a lovely time. The cottage was adorable and walking distance to great restaurants, the aquarium, and all the fun of Monterey. We will definitely be back!
The Writer's Studio is a three-room cottage (bedroom with a small sitting area, kitchen with table and two chairs, and nice-size bathroom) that is unique and charming. My husband and I stayed for a week in November and used it as a wonderful base for relaxing (there is also an outside area that is designated just for the cottage) and for exploring all that Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, and Big Sur have to offer. It is in a residential area and very quiet, though is also convenient to the Aquarium and many sights in the area. The cottage is impeccably maintained and the owners responded immediately when we had our only problem during our stay -- a minor one involving the television. Highly recommended if you are looking for a cozy and romantic escape.
We had a wonderful time in Pacific Grove. Loved that this cozy cottage was within walking distance of the waterfront coastal trail and many other amenities. Spent most of our time out and about and loved coming home to this quite and cozy refuge. The kitchen was well equiped, the bed was very comfortable and the place was very clean and tidy. If you are visitng Pacific Grove this is a great launching pad for all your adventures. we will be back! Thanks Vickey & Kevin for letting us stay in this historic cottage!
The cottage is in a very good location, only about a half mile from Cannery Row, at the top of a long hill in a pleasant and seemingly safe neighborhood. The hosts did not meet my wife and me in person but e-mailed directions and answered our questions promptly and clearly. The cottage is cute and well-kept, like a doll house, except meant for short humans. The ceilings are not much more than 6 feet high, and the doorways even lower, so I felt somewhat cramped at 6'1''. My 5'4'' wife's only complaint was no screen on the window in the very small kitchen. The constantly running dehumidifier and the opened front door helped to eliminate the hot air from the burners on the stove and the oven, but an air conditioner probably would have been more effective. It also would be nice if an essay about the history of the cottage, including details of John Steinbeck's stay in it, is framed on a wall or presented in a conspicuous manner. After all, the main reason I chose to stay at the cottage was its connection to the great author. I later went to the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas and also was given a personal tour of his childhood home there and still do not know much about the impact of the cottage on his life. I may just be an old-fashioned former English teacher; but, like an air conditioner, the essay would have dispelled some of the hot air generated from businesses in the area that are capitalizing on Steinbeck's name and literary works.
Beautiful property. We felt so at home and spent 1 of our 2 nights in, drinking wine and watching movies! The town of Pacific Grove wasn't great but would go back just to stay at the property again.
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