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Balboa Bay Club & Resort
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
1221 W Coast HwySte 145
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 645-5000
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
60 reviews for Balboa Bay Club & Resort
Review Highlights
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"...on a cruise-liner, the First Cabin restaurant is classy yet..." In 6 reviews -
"We would swim and laugh and enjoy being there with her." In 3 reviews -
"The food was delicious, and the service was excellent." In 4 reviews
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60 reviews in English
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Review from Yvonne E.
San Diego, CA
3/27/2012
Wow! classy place! mmmmhhmmmm.....good lookin valet boys too...lolol..Ladies, dont ya love, when the valet guys extend their hand to you to step out of your ride?...ugh...sucker for a gentleman!
Ok, lets get down to it, place was really beautiful on the water. Famous folks have long adored this place for good reason. Recent renovations are very impressive. Posh walls, art, lighting, bathrooms, could have a good time group party in there.
Attended for a CF fund raiser evening. Silent Auction. Bar tending was excellent, lines always short, despite the crowd..Nice! Food services and wait staff, excellent!
If it's a sunny evening, be sure to bring the camera, beautiful sunset views, of the water, sail boats docked at the bay/marina and plenty of outdoor seating.
The rooms go for around 500 a night, beautiful!
Would love to come back and stay a night or two. Romantic and tropical get away south of LA.
Check it out when in the area, even for cocktails at the bar/resturant is worth the stop.
Memorable place! -
Review from Donald S.
1/1/2012 ROTD 3/15/2012
I understand that Tom Cruise is thinking about making another Top Gun movie...25 years after the first one.
He's already gotten Kenny Loggins out of the retirement home to update the theme song:
http://www.youtube.com...
Settin' up your walker
Tennis balls go on the stops.
Metal under tension
Aluminum is screechin', pops
Sidewalk to the Danger Zone
Gonna shuffle right into the Danger Zone
Headin' to the center
Senior Yoga's callin you
Yellin' at the "youngsters"
"Hey, do what I tell you to!"
Sidewalk to the Danger Zone
Roll your wheelchair right into the Danger Zone!
I wasn't the youngest guy eatin' and drinkin' and shakin' my booty (sadly, you can't "unread" that) on New Year's "Rockin" Eve at the Balboa Bay Club and Resort last night, but I was good 40 years younger than some of the celebrants (and I lowered the apparent average age by a few years, with my august presence).
The Beautiful Carin lowered the average by another 20 years or so!
A gorgeous young wife gives an old dog like me...perspective...among other things.
I also lowered the apparent net worth in the room by several million dollars, with my august presence, but no matter...I had enough to pay my way and that, in the final analysis, is all that really matters.
BBC&R in NPB is where big, old NPB money goes to celebrate New Year's Eve and the apparent victory of money over time (and really, each new year is victory over the Grim Reaper when you get past 40).
So celebrate we did!
At my age, my current motto is "Everything in moderation...especially excess".
My motto used to be "Live fast, die young and leave clean underwear".
But now I'm much more interested in living forever.
So we drank champagne (but not too much...too much can give me a touch o' the winds).
And we ate beef and lobster and shrimp and all kinds of goodies (but not too much...you know how rich foods play havoc with your digestion).
And we danced and sang and talked and laughed (but not too hard...you know you don't want to sweat yourself up and then go out in the cool night air...you'll catch your death...really...your death).
We thoroughly enjoyed the company of our friends (we all felt so young and fresh), the bands and singers played and sang, the food was good, the drinks were better and the service (esp. considering that this was one of the busiest nights of the year at BBC&R) was excellent!
And it all happened under the watchful gaze of Marion Morrison, watching down on us from one of the 2-300 portraits and photos of good old Marion, scattered around the property!
We could feel his spirit moving through the crowd, urging us to "drink up, pilgrim"!
Marion always enjoyed a party and a cocktail or six and we did too!
It was a great way to enjoy our New Year's Eve, usher in 2012 and enjoy a lovely evening with friends at one of the more pleasant watering holes in the NPB harbor!
Happy New Year!Listed in: The Story of "O" C!, Some Enchanted Evening?
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Review from Robert M.
12/1/2011
Duke's Lounge here is fun, with a live piano player, an ocean view, and good service, and is rarely, if ever, crowded.
Their wine and food week is amazing, with food pairing classes, tastings, and dinners. Valet parking is usually very fast and efficient. -
Review from Alan G.
Santa Barbara, CA
5/20/2012
We just returned from two days at the Balboa Bay Club and found it to be first class. Our room was very nice, the restaurant was excellent and service was great. We could choose between a quite bar where we could talk and Duke's with music, sports on the big screens and not a chance of hearing each other, perfect!!
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Review from Christopher B.
Huntington Beach, CA
4/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Overrated place where the bourgeois (or bourgeois wanna-be) snobs hang! The view is nothing spectacular (with yachts blocking the view) and the food is overpriced. I price the price, quality, and atmosphere just north of here (before the Newport Blvd. overpass) much more.
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Review from Mike N.
Bloomington, IL
BBC Mariner salad was awesome. Loaded with lump crab, smoked salmon, shrimp, and ahi tuna and served over a bed of young lettuce. I also had two Mai Tai cocktails. This is the first time I had to ask for more juice to cut down on the alcohol. Exceptional!
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Review from Ritika T.
This place is seriously as good as it gets. My company hosted a luncheon here and it was a perfect experience! The food was absolutely delicious. I ordered their vegetarian option, and it was this mild curry with rice, veggies, and cranberries. The mix of tastes blended so perfectly, I couldn't stop complementing the food.
The vegetables were cooked to perfection and so was the rice. The heavy detail in the presentation of the food added to the luxurious experience.
Their desserts are to die for. We had creme brule and a piece of the most rich, decadent chocolate cake.
Love the location, and the event room also had an outdoor large-size patio that overlooked the ocean.
Everything was perfect to the T. Highly highly recommended for special occasions. -
Review from Eric M.
Irvine, CA
3/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
An okay place with banquet food to be okay as well. Handicap parking is near impossible to find.
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Review from Lily F.
Folsom, CA
4/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Beautiful facility. It really is super nice. I came here for a work related convention. I decided to stay here so I didn't have to worry about transportation. As expensive as their daily rate is, they make you pay for everything. Self parking was about $18/night, I believe. I had to pay a daily rate of $12 to use their WIFI. I thought in this day and age everyone offered it. I was rather disappointed and really felt nickel and dimed.
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Review from Carrie M.
Mesa, AZ
7/25/2011
This is a beautiful hotel! My husband and I chose to stay there for our wedding night and the night after (we're from AZ). It was the perfect place to begin our married life together - so relaxing and romantic! We had a bayfront room with a private balcony, giving us an amazing view of the bay and harbor. The bed was beyond soft, and the bathroom was a dream come true.
The front desk attendants were able to accommodate our request for an early check-in, which allowed me to get ready for the wedding in the room. We also had our photographer meet us at the hotel for a "first-look" photo shoot, so that we could use the gorgeous grounds to our advantage.
When we returned to our room after the wedding, we were delighted to find a congratulatory box of chocolates and balloons on our bed! It's those little touches that make this hotel such a delight to visit. My husband and I are already talking about returning for our one-year anniversary!
The morning after our wedding, we invited our guests to join us for breakfast at First Watch Restaurant. We were seated outside on the patio, where we could enjoy the bay breezes and watch the boats pass by. The food was delicious, and the service was excellent.
Overall, this is one of the best hotels I've every stayed at. The customer service is first-rate and the staff make every guest feel like a celebrity. -
Review from think h.
West Los Angeles, CA
4/2/2012
We love this place! Of course we also got married here so it will always be very near and dear to our hearts! But the beds are SO comfortable! I even ordered the same mattress and bought their feather bed and pillows so that I could recreate the same level of comfort at home! The food was excellent at our wedding - everyone thought the presentation was amazing and it just tasted so much better than regular wedding food! They also let us negotiate the cost of our wedding - it helped that it was off season. But everyone was very professional. With the catering managers and staff, sometimes you need to double check things to make sure they have it right, a couple of things were off during our rehearsal, but the wedding was perfect!
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Review from Cole S.
Dana Point, CA
4/9/2012
Me and my family went here last weekend and it was very stressful to me. First of all it's a great place and seemed to pay a lot for the littlest things . The paid wifi is a bust, what if you were traveling for a job for work and u needed to check your email on your iPad phone or computer then you would have to pay 13 freaking bucks a day for the wifi. Secondly, the valet seems to be pretty slow and sucky. The valet park all of the nice and expensive cars out front and get the. First before my car! My family was going to a wedding so we were dressed nice and the valet actually served and helped us first before a person in a sweatshirt. Thirdly, I needed a luggage cart to carry all of my luggage so I went down stairs to get a cart but the lady wouldn't let me get one, she said she would send a bellman up but he came 30 minutes later we were
Ate to our brunch later that day. I would recommend this hotel to no one unless they are millionaires and can afford every freaking thing that should be given to you in cheaper hotels. Lastly, I was charged an extra $35 for room service but I didn't even order any room service, lucky, they didn't charge me but someone else got away with free food. I would rather go to a best wester or a holiday in because they at least have free wifi and you're able to get you own luggage cart and actually be free from stress! -
Review from Stephanie S.
Newport Beach, CA
11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was lucky enough to visit here for my company's quarterly luncheon. The luxurious accommodations and impeccable waitstaff made the experience delightful. The outdoor patio overlooks the Pacific, with a few regal yachts gliding by on the water. First, mingling outdoors under a filtered sunlight canopy by the bar. Next, a well-executed 3 course lunch that consisted of lobster bisque, a filet mignon seafood combo, plus a delicately layered chocolate cake and mini creme brulee dessert. Each dish included tasteful garnishes, like a fried legume in the mashed potatoes and fresh berries.
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Review from Jason C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nice pool, spa, and lounge chairs.
Our suite was very welcoming and the bed was surprisingly comfortable.
We had a private balcony directly overlooking the interior pool and spa areas. The air conditioning did not work, but they fixed it within twenty minutes.
PARKING $28/night for resort guests. Credit cards are not accepted at the valet kiosk, you must either charge it to your room or go to the ATM. -
Review from KC O.
Sunset Beach, CA
1/13/2011
Weezy got married here
After the wedding, Golia punched Padilla
It was funny
We went back in and drank whiskey
In college KC met a celebrity at BBC
He is dead now
A famous Yankee was he
Broke bread he did with KC
Today KC goes to BBC
Lots of shillings in his pocket
Shit this place is pricey
We went back in and drank whiskey -
Review from Sofia H.
4/12/2011 5 Check-ins Here
For the past week I have been living at the Balboa Bay Club....I know lucky me. :-)
Before you get angry, I also have been working 15+ hour days at my company's annual client conference.
The hotel is beautiful with lovely views of the marina and the service has been out of this world. Their staff is awesome and so accommodating.
The beds are incredible...and the bath tub...so great! I've been very pleased during my stay. The only unfortunate part is I've had enough time to enjoy the pool or spa. -
Review from Dan H.
12/9/2010 11 Check-ins Here
This review is for Dukes Place Lounge:
Even though The BBC has been open to the public since their remod several years ago I usually only go with a bud whose family are long time members. The lounge area has a wrap around patio and the room itself is very bright and airy during daylight hours, and of course looks out on Newport Bay.
Service is great, although most of my experiences have been from sitting at the bar. If it's warm you can take your drinks out to the patio or wait out there for table service. Great for the smokers in your crew.
It's been a while since I have ordered anything off the menu, but for the price you'll pay for average fare you're better off dining elsewhere and just going for cocktails, and the view. You def will get that "I'm on staycation at a fine resort" feel. It's very seldom crowded late afternoon/early evening weekdays so can be very relaxing.
Your arrival will be met by valets, don't bother stopping at the guard hut, no one does. Not sure why he is even there. I believe the valet is free if you buy drinks/food. If my bud hasn't already taken care of the guys I normally tip em $5, $3 is prob acceptable.
The reason I thought to finally write a review is when I saw Hazel post the annual Newport Boat Parade under events. This is a great place to watch as the boats float by closer than you will get anywhere else. Plus the aforementioned valets allow you to avoid any parking hassles. Simply grab a cocktail at Dukes or at the bar in the gazebo just past the small sandy beach. Again, open to the public for this event as well. Usually not too crowded if you go on a weeknight, and there is a sizable swath of grass just up from the beach for a great vantage point. This year it runs from Wed 12/15 - Sun 12/19.
Just an FYI: On non-event nights it is a mostly mature crowd, especially when they have the most nightly live music. Depending if there are conventioneers or weddings the crowd can run from 21 - 80. The 60-80 year olds often dress to the nines and are there to dance the night away. The drink prices are on the high side: cocktails $9+, domestic beers $5.50, imports $6.50, and wine $7.50+. On their website it states they have a $1-$2 "up charge" during the live bands sets. All of the best of the top shelf choices are available: Johnnie Walker Blue $60, Louis XIII $250, yep for 1 snifter. Great expense account place for your best customers.
So young Yelpers, please feel free to frequent as I would love to see the median age drop by 2 or 3 decades.Listed in: Places to relax, chill, kick…
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Review from Patrick M.
Los Angeles, CA
3/30/2011
The Balboa Bay Club is always the classiest place to hold an event. I'm here a few times a year for political events. Duke's, the bar that has the patio among the yachts, is always such a pleasant place to have a drink and a conversation. Fit in with a classy drink; scotch, brandy, cognac...
Now if they'd only park my Porsche up front... -
Review from Candice C.
Huntington Beach, CA
Hmm...a little confused about the dining experience I had at the lounge at this hotel, Duke's Place.
Had the Bavarian pretzel and a cocktail, and I was surprised by the service and the quality of food. The pretzel dough was bland, then it was oversalted. I couldn't take more than a few bites - it was bad.
I'm not even sure if there was liquor in my cocktail.
I saw the waitress 3 times, once when we had to go find her to get service for our table, the second time to order food, and the third time for the check. The patio was service-less.
I'm surprised by this experience at Balboa Bay Club & Resort - people PAY to be members of this place??
The view was nice, and I'm glad I had good company, but coming here again would be questionable. -
Review from Lauren J.
San Diego, CA
2/16/2011
I went here for a holiday party during the boat parade. My mom loves this spot (enough said), so I was looking forward to it. It was right in the middle of the gnarly rain storm. When we pulled up to park, valet was full.
They WOULD NOT let my date drop me off under the overhang to avoid the rain. They made us pay to park across the street and walk in the rain. I was so mad that they would do this. Don't they consider themselves high end?
We were in a private party room on the second floor. They had sliders, macaroni bar and some other food. Nothing was out of this world. The lighting was pretty dim, and we all seemed squished in an awkward space with nothing to occupy our attention but stuffing out faces.
The two stars come from the amazing service at the event. Everyone was kind and attentive, they were happy to refill drinks and get anything we needed.
BOTTOM LINE: Not that impressed - don't get a second chance at a first impression. -
Review from Karinna Z.
Los Angeles, CA
3/5/2009
"Monte Carlo? The French Riviera..no...I was in Newport Beach at the Balboa Bay Club for lunch! This local get-away resort is sublime, distinguished, and elegant. We had a window seat over-looking the docked yachts on the Marina--I couldn't help but imagine myself atop a boat, sunbathing in a bikini out to sea!
Service was above and beyond what you'd expect at a fine resort. Reminiscent of a dining room on a cruise-liner, the First Cabin restaurant is classy yet relaxed all-in-one. Clouds parted for radiant sun and we were able to enjoy the serene patio seating for a last glass of wine. Soft flamenco music filled the patio with a peacefully procative energy. This is just my first adventure here, i will be back for the wine festival in May!
Executive Chef Josef Lageder came out to greet us, sharing stories of his Austrian heritage and how it shaped his culinary talent. (All in German, of course--nice to be able to practice!)
There is also a great bar called Duke's which has plenty of seating, a dance floor, and large bar. This is THE place to stay to make memories last a lifetime.
And why not splurge a bit, the gorgeous rooms run about the same as a nice room in Vegas, or even a jacuzzi suite in one of the Indian Gaming resorts around here! "
Dining: delicious--even for vegans like me; I had the Belgian Endive Salad with Cranberries and Pecans.
Parking: Yes, Valet only, would you expect any less?
Service: top-knotch -
Review from Vareen O.
San Diego, CA
9/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for a friend's wedding. The place is unbelievable. Absolutely gorgeous. As far as I can tell, everything went as smoothly as possible. There were quite a few other weddings going on. So kudos to the kitchen staff who made an AMAZING meal. Usually the food is lackluster when mass produced for banquets and weddings, but this was damn impressive. The venue itself was beautiful. Good times.
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Review from Jack F.
2/18/2008 1 photo
The reason for our visit - Bloody Mary's.
You see, the black Caddy was getting a spa treatment across the street and we felt compelled to begin drinking relatively early. I mean, it was a gorgeous day after all, we were in fact stranded for an hour, and (fill in any other alcoholic's excuse here), so we ventured to the outside patio of the public-access bar, Duke's. The voluptuous...uhhh... friendly server took our drink orders and sashayed (for lack of a better term) inside to get our morning coffee-equivalents.
The only modest complaints that I had are (1) spending $60 for tasteless** Bloody Mary's and (2) the parking lot environment. I don't know about you all, but I don't particularly care to be seated facing a parking lot. It's true that this particular lot holds some of the biggest & most beautiful luxury yachts that I've ever seen, but it reminds me too much of all those luxury cars across the street.
Actually a really nice location - pretty damn expensive - but a really nice location.
** tasteless in terms of vodka -
Review from Sabrina I.
Costa Mesa, CA
10/11/2008
I am always impressed by the quality of the food here.
The decor here may not have that "wow factor" like some of the other resorts on the coast have. Overall, it's all pretty much pale taupe stucco and cream colored carpets. But this place can easily be transformed into a beautiful setting for a fundraiser or a corporate event.
Really, it's the food that keeps me coming back. Every time I hear someone is having an event here, I RSVP "yes". Certainly not what you would expect from other hotels - this place knows how to wine and dine.Listed in: Orange County Overview
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Review from Jenna D.
3/10/2010
I love this place. I've been coming here with my family as long as I can remember-- some of my family even lived there-- and I have so many memories....
But now that I'm older, I appreciate it so much more... because they remodeled it to a 5-star resort :) The rooms are beautiful--ask for a view-- the beds are comfy, everything is very clean, and room service is DANK.
The bartenders take care (too well sometimes), the food is DELICIOUS (power burger, sea food and salads-- yuu-uum), the service is excellent...
If you are complaining about the price or had not-so-great service, I assume it is because either you are cheap, and/or a shitty tipper. It's the BBC.. pull your head out. -
Review from Ravi M.
Los Angeles, CA
12/10/2010
We have had our office holiday party here for a couple of years. The food is delicious and it's easy to tell it's high quality. The drinks are stiff.
My favorite is the crab cakes. -
Review from Rayna B.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
8/31/2007
I really liked the hotel's style and design. The room was spacious and the bathroom even larger. The view of the bay is gorgeous and the yahts lined up in front of the property are spectacular. They have a little bay with a beach where you can slide and swim.
The major problem this hotel has is the service. It seems as if the staff is new and hasn't had their customer service training yet. I called to the front desk to let them know that my internet connection wasn't working and she said it often doesn't work and the charge would be removed from the bill. The charge wasn't removed and then when I later called to have the bill corrected they wouldn't send me a revised bill. When I was ready to check out I called the valet and asked them to pull my car up, but when I arrived they hadn't pulled the car up and I mentioned that I called and they didn't apologize for the mistake. I think if you pay $26 for the service you should at least have the courtesy to acknowlege a mistake. -
Review from Marc L.
12/21/2008
Although it's probably not a place I would frequent, being the poor college student that I am, the Balboa Bay Club & Resort is a fine example of Orange County high society... There are framed pictures of visits by Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Bush the First on the wall- undoubtedly a Republican old boy's club. But hey, there's also a cool picture of John Wayne with mutton chop sideburns- awesome!
Walk around and you'll find well-heeled couples enjoying afternoon tea in loafers and Tommy Bahamas; an odd balance of being stuffy and laid back at the same time.
As stereotypical "OC" as all of this may be, I can't complain about how they run things. I was here for a wedding reception and really appreciated the professional and courteous staff- I've been to numerous banquets and formal dinners at other clubs and hotels, and the service seems to be kicked up an extra notch here. The food was also considerably better than most clubs and hotels- with flashes of creativity in plate presentation, as opposed to the generic meat and vegetable arrangements.
I guess this would be a nice date place if your love interest was into the "finer things in life", but it may be a little too "hoity-toity" for some. Make a reservation, set aside a few hundred dollars for a lunch or tea for two, and try and act like you belong... The OC GOP is watching you! -
Review from Chelsea C.
San Francisco, CA
2/12/2010
Some of my favorite childhood memories take place at the Balboa Bay Club. My sisters and I would always come here with our wonderful Grandma. We would lounge on the sand and eat cheeseburgers, and if we were lucky we would get to pick out a peice of candy from The Grog Shop.
We would swim and laugh and enjoy being there with her. Being from Newport myself I'm sure a lot of the charm is lost on me, since I see the Balboa Bay Club just about every damn day when I'm home. And even though I havn't been in ages (hahaha since HS when we would get all drunk and drive our friends duffy around the bay, good times) it will always hold a special place in my heart.
Oh! And I took gymnastic lessons her as a kid! Almost forgot! Hahahah -
Review from remie m.
Newport Beach, CA
7/25/2011 2 photos
This place is located across the street from the Ferrari and Tesla dealership.
Came here for the "after party" of my friend's wedding.
When we arrived we sat outside of the bar area. Which is pretty much on the water. Beautiful!!! The waitress was super helpful. Of course we waited for the bride and groom 2 change into something more comfortable. So my friends and I ordered drinks/shots. The drinks are super stiff.
There was about 30 of us, just lounging outside.
We later got hungry, a few of us ordered food while some of us went back to a friend's hotel room and ordered room service.
The room was cozy and had an outside balcony. We were debating on the bed sze, most of us thought it was a queen but on the description said king. Guess we'll have that debate linger.
The bed was super comfy, with fluffy sheets! Just the way I like it.
The shower was questionable, it had no barrier.
After we relaxed in that room, we later went upstairs to the bride and groom's presidential suite!
It had a full kitchen, 3 bathrooms, a living room, fireplace, a piano, a balcony with an amazing view. . .i could go on and on.
It was pretty sweet! -
Review from Robert H.
6/11/2008
This is the 3rd year of membership. Have always enjoyed going down to the bay club to just relax, or have a fun sunday brunch.
Pros
-food is great at the brunch
-food is pretty dang good at the First Cabin and Members only upstairs
-Dukes is cool because you can have cigars and food out by the water
-the message, spa, and amenities are pretty cool
-the staff has always been really cool to me
-they have some fun BBQ events
Cons
-Dukes menu is way too limited
-the food portions are small (im a pig)
-the First Cabin never has anyone my age....which is not a problem, I enjoy the older crowd too
-Its pretty expensive -
Review from Jessika P.
San Diego, CA
7/18/2011
This place really is great. We splurged for our wedding and I am so glad we did! The bathroom is so beautiful and spacious, plenty of room for two people to get ready comfortably in. The bed is to die for. Superior customer service. I hope to stay at this hotel many, many more times in my life!
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Review from Maureen W.
Windsor, CA
5/23/2008
Beautiful hotel. Ugly service. The girls at the front desk were catty and unprofessional. The valets were so rude to me I was honestly shocked.
The room was wonderful and the view lovely. 24-hour room service is a huge plus. Still, I would recommend that you stay far, far away from this establishment. -
Review from L L.
San Diego, CA
1/8/2012
Have to give FIVE STARS because we stayed for two nights and just loved everything about this fine resort. The view over the waterway complete with a spectacular multi-million dollar yacht docked below our room, the Spa with Heather's maybe-best-ever massage, the sweet and extreme courtesy of the valet staff, restaurant waiters, banquet servers, room service servers and housekeepers... The beds, pillows, and bedding are superb... We just couldn't find one thing to complain about, (except maybe the tortilla soup which was a dismal bean preparation. I also found the front desk staff less than warm and friendly...but everyone else made up for them. We cannot wait to return!
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Review from TRICIA T.
Irvine, CA
2/17/2008
In my mind, THE BEST place in the Irvine area for an Off-Site work meeting. The rooms themselves are not that expensive. The views are amazing. Do not have lunch in your meeting room, go to the restaurant and sit outside. A great way to lower the tension for the afternoon session.
Don't even BOTHER renting A/V from them, and forget about having them set-up a speaker phone (way too much $$ -- but just like anywhere else). The Hyatt on Jamboree used to be my favorite, but now BBC is for off-sites. -
Review from Joy H.
Palm Desert, CA
7/8/2008
We just spent 2 nights at the BBC for a reunion and it was fabulous! The staff goes out of their way to be cordial, the concierge was really helpful. The band on Friday night was awesome.
The beds are to die for; cushy with down comforter and wonderful pillows; plus robes and even a phone in the john. Everything was expensive, but not over the top.
We rented a Duffy boat one evening and that was a kick, too.
Guess we had a very nice time. Can't wait to go back! -
Review from selda h.
Los Angeles, CA
12/26/2011
There were 6 of us for Christmas Day Dinner. It was $85.00 per person plus tax, Fixed. They charge $25.00 for corkage.
Our appetizer was ok. The soup was warm. We waited a long time for our entree. I ordered the prawns with scallop entree. It was so salty that after I took one bite I had to have water and bread to cool it. I had requested when I sat down a glass of water with no ice, which I never got. I had to borrow a glass from my companion. My friend was having the rack of lamb, med. rare, so I changed it to that. I also told the waitress I wanted Med rare like his. A few minutes later they bring me the rack of lamb, we even remarked to the waitress, how fast they served it. We looked at it and it looked very rare, we cut the chop and it was not cooked at all. We waited and waited till we finally saw a captain, our waitress was overloaded with tables, they did not have enough help. I showed him my entree and he agreed and I told him that I did not want these chops heated up, I wanted a fresh plate (after all at $85.00 for this dinner) and he said, "of course".
A different waiter, brought back my entree, this time it was overdone with lots of sauce. I dint want to embarras my host, my two companions on either side of me laughed, and we couldn't find anyone. By the way, they do come around if you wnt another round of drinks. I didn't eat my entre. We waited and waited and waited for someone to come and clear our dishes. Finally, my host, who never complains no matter what, ( she just doesnt return to the restaurant) got a hold of a captain and asked him to please send someone to clean up our table. He started to clean our table, when he got to my dish, I told him to pack it to go (I have two dogs). Never asked me why I had not eaten my dinner.
Now, we wait and wait and wait for our dessert. We finally got coffee. I finally got up, after sitting there from 4:00 to 6:20 without getting our desserts. By this time, we didnt care. Our desserts finally came. I told them to put my dessert to go. Meanwhile, my host, who had given her credit card to the waitress as soon as we walked in, kept asking for the check. We couldnt find the waitress. Finally she saw a captain and told him to get her check and the credit card from the waitress. By this time, I had a backache and left and as I walked out I saw the captain who had taken my plate away. I commented to him about the chops being reheated or recooked..... He said of course, we put the whole plate in the microwave. I was shocked and told him so. It didnt bother him one bit.
I can understand that it is Christmas Day and that they are short on staff. HOWEVER, if you are serving a Festive Holiday Dinner, with a price fix $85.00 per person, with no other menu, you should be prepared to handle the customers. Not only that, there were plenty of empty tables. And people do reserve ahead of time. Not to many walk ins.
The place looked beautiful. Very festive. -
Review from Scott W.
CORONA DL MAR, CA
7/6/2011 13 Check-ins Here
This place is a blast! The service here is great! the setting is incredible!
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Review from Megan G.
New York, NY
2/21/2006
Grew up at the pool, mini beach, grog shop. Is that John Wayne at the next table? Yep. Mom & Dad were married here in 1970. I think that the BBC has changed lots over the years, but I still love this place, although it's been several years since I've been. . . Grandma still goes.
Great massage! -
Review from Helen H.
Irvine, CA
Updated - 3/3/2011
I'm writing another review because somehow my other one is not showing up.
I had my wedding reception here. It was absolutely beautiful and the food was delicious. However, I was very, VERY adamant about NOT having a wine tab at the end of the night. Of course, the hotel staff said that they would only pour upon request... NOT TRUE!!! The alcohol tab is where this hotel makes most of their money. When I saw the final bill and how the wine bottle estimate QUADRUPLED, I almost keeled over.
My event manager (Abbie) was not helpful at all. She was horrible and returning phone messages and emails. I spoke with her boss, the director of catering (Danielle) and she said she would lower the cost per bottle of wine and did NOT follow through.
We spent over $50,000 at the hotel and they were unwilling to yield. They said that "contractually" they abided by everything that was written in it. (They were looking for loopholes so if I sued, their a$$ would be covered). I was not asking for all of the wine tab to be compensated. I would have been happy if they met me in the middle and we both paid half of the difference. My husband spoke with the President of the hotel and surprisingly, he did not do anything either.
I think BBC ended up discounting $2 off each bottle (only because I made a huge stink). The wine costs $14.99 at Costco (I'm sure the hotel got a better deal on the cost of the wine) and BBC charged us $38 per bottle. So with the discount, we ended up paying about $36 per bottle.
For a hotel that was supposed to be known for their service, I was thoroughly disappointed with their staff, the way they dealt with the entire situation and I will NEVER EVER be going to Balboa Bay Club again.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/4/2011
I had my wedding reception here because they were supposed to be known for their stellar service. I… Read more »
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