335 Pacific Ave, Long Beach, California, United States | (888) 708-2081
Terrific location in front of a metro stop and one block from Pine Avenue
Sleek and stylish European-inspired guests rooms with creature comforts
Free continental breakfast includes pastries and yogurt
Free Wi-Fi access throughout
Fun, free social hour in the evening with wine and snacks
Discounted passes to use Gold's Gym
Great sense of community among staff and guests
Bright and cheerful ambiance with attention to stylish design
The entire hotel is non-smoking (a con for some)
Hershey's Kisses left at bedside
Rooms are small
Bathrooms are tiny
No pool or restaurant
Charge for parking next to the hotel
Past complaints of interior noise
The Varden Hotel is a three-pearl boutique property with low rates and a European attention to minimalist style. It's located within easy
walking distance to trendy Pine Avenue and directly in front of a metro stop. Continental breakfast, Wi-Fi, and daily wine tastings are included in the room rate, but expect to pay for parking. 35 spotlessly clean rooms are small and tricked out with iPod docks and flat-screen TVs. Overall, The Vardent is a good pick with lots of personality and charm.
Scene
Historic appeal, immaculately renovated
Built in 1929 and renovated to maintain much of its original charm, The Varden is
committed to keeping the authenticity of the building alive. This is apparent
in the classic, beautiful banisters and railings of the staircase, the original reception desk, and the hotel’s enormous neon roof sign. The
fans on the lobby ceiling are made of a special liquid nickel that had to be
installed with white gloves. The carpet is from Europe and blue wall sconces
light the way to the rooms.
Location
Easy walking access to Long Beach attractions
Located in central Long Beach on Pacific Avenue, The Varden Hotel has a convenient and walkable address. There are bakeries across the street and several shops and restaurants within a five-minute walk. Pine Avenue and the Promenade leading to the harbor are a few blocks
away and Long Beach Convention Center can be reached on foot in less than 20-minutes. A cruise ship departs for Catalina Island 10-minutes from the hotel and there's a metro stop just outside the hotel's front doors. Long Beach Airport is less than a 20-minute
drive while Los Angeles International Airport is about a 30-minute drive. Expect to pay a daily rate for parking next to the hotel.
Rooms
A lot of style in a small space; tiny bathrooms
Each of the 35 rooms at The Varden Hotel have been carefully designed to fit with its own dimensions and personality. Everything, aside from the bluish
carpet, Dakota Jackson blue desk chairs, and lavender shower curtain
is white, giving the rooms an extraordinarily clean look and feel. Each room comes with free Wi-Fi, a large
flat-screen TV, personal climate control, hairdryer, and alarm clock. The closet is just a series of hangers hung from a rod on the wall. Bathrooms and sinks are truly tiny; some rooms have only a thin pocket door to separate them from the bedroom. There are nice toiletries and plush towels. The tiles on the bathroom floors are reconstructed to look like original penny tiles. Unfortunately, there are no views to speak of. Past guests have complained about noise complaints.
Features
Free Wi-Fi, breakfast, and wine -- but no pool
Freebies at The Varden include a continental breakfast of yogurt, pastries, and
coffee. There's also an evening social hour with free wine tasting and
snacks for guests. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and though there isn't a pool or fitness center, the hotel offers reduced rates at Gold’s Gym in Long Beach.