Alila Marea Beach Resort in Encinitas, San Diego County
Stay, Spa, Wine and Dine by the Ocean.
Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the San Diego County town of Encinitas, Alila Marea Beach Resort immerses guests in the local surfing scene in luxurious style. Combining the casual beach culture of its surroundings with elegant guest rooms, a sophisticated restaurant, and upscale style, Alila Marea is an ideal home base whether guests choose to spend time on the shore or exploring San Diego’s surrounding cities, museums, restaurants, landmarks, and wineries.
Perhaps not widely known, San Diego County is home to more than 150 wineries, and the resort is an easy drive from many tasting rooms. Making it even more enjoyable, most of San Diego County’s wineries are small, family-owned operations, so you might even be tasting the wines along with the winemaker who created them. With Alila Marea as your home base, you can spend sunny days tasting wine – and end the day with the sound of crashing waves and a view of the sun setting into the Pacific.
“Encinitas has about 10+ tasting rooms/wineries within 20 minutes. There are about 40 within 30 minutes.”
Al Fischer, Vice President of San Diego County Vintners Association
Wine and Dining at Alila Marea
Dinner at the resort’s VAGA restaurant might be next on your itinerary. Whether you choose a table in the dining room or on the outdoor patio, your meal will be accompanied by ocean views. Or, if the foodie in you wants to follow the goings-on in the kitchen, you can find a seat at the chef’s counter for a view of the exhibition kitchen.
On the wine list, you’ll find a selection of bubblies representing Spain, France, and Italy. White wines include Grüner Veltliner, Sancerre, California Chardonnays, Pinot Grigio from Italy, and a Chenin Blanc from Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe. Red wines are also sourced from a variety of countries including Spain, Italy, and France, along with California Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. The sommelier will be pleased to recommend options that pair perfectly with your dinner selections.
“Our menu, refreshed four times a year to match with the seasonal harvests, is complemented by wines carefully chosen to match the complexity and body of each dish. Thanks to our California location, we have access to an array of varietals for perfect wine pairings. “With one hand in the farm and one hand in the sea, we offer both seafood and steak dishes year-round,” said Roque Medina, Director of Food & Beverage at Alila Marea.
“Our seafood options include tataki, Kanaloa catch of the day, and sea scallops, best paired with ’22 Lucien Corchet, Sancerre; Loire Valley, France. As for our steak dishes such as hanger steak, ribcap, and short rib, we recommend pairing them with ’19 Crocker & Starr RLC from Napa Valley or ’18 Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon; Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, CA.”
Accommodations
The resort’s accommodations include guest rooms, one-bedroom suites, studio rooms, and Grandview Suites with views of the lagoon and ocean, dual-sided fireplaces, and expansive patios.
Warm woods, stone, and calming neutral shades, inspired by the natural elements of the Southern California coastline, create a serene ambiance. One-bedroom fire pit guest rooms feature spacious outdoor areas with cozy seating designed to take advantage of the stunning coastal views.
Spa Alila’s five treatment rooms, separate men’s and women’s saunas, and relaxation areas offer a tranquil environment for facials, massages, and a variety of body renewal rituals. Private yoga, Reiki energy healing, breathwork, and more are offered as well as manicures and pedicures.
Alila Marea’s location benefits from San Diego’s year-round mild climate that easily attracts visitors from around the world. In addition to being a beloved vacation destination, the San Diego area is blessed with rich soil, ocean breezes, rolling hills, and micro-climates that have made it a budding wine region.
