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If your travel style is like The Great Gatsby-meets-French Riviera chic, you will fall in love with this list. Hayes & Jarvis' favourite historic oceanfront hotels have stood the test of time, braving wars, natural disasters, economic crises and, in one case, even a terrorist attack.
Some are sprawling colonial-style buildings while others boast distinctive Renaissance architecture and details. Some, like the Peninsula Hong Kong, were instrumental in developing the region while others like The Copacabana, are immortalised in the pages of history for their sheer glitz and glamour. Carefully restored and refurbished, these grand old dames of hospitality have two things in common – a long and fascinating history and fabulous clientele.
Whether at a sprawling Victorian beach resort or a magnificent French-style chateau, let Hayes & Jarvis take you back in time to walk in the footsteps of some of the world’s greatest personalities in the most iconic waterfront hotels.
Iconic oceanfront hotels
Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Hawaii, USA
Moana Surfrider shot from above
The Moana Surfrider was inaugurated at the turn of the century in 1901, at a deserted part of Waikiki in Hawaii. Over the next 100 years, as Waikiki grew in prominence, so did the Moana, which became the accommodation of choice for discerning travellers. For a while, it served as an R&R spot for soldiers on their way to war during the early 1940s but returned to its original purpose after the war. Currently owned by the Marriott Group, it has seen its fair share of celebrities, filming and even mysteries.
Hotel Del Coronado, California, USA
Hotel Del Coronado
This San Diego icon was built as long back as 1888 and designated a National Historic Monument in 1977. Under its signature red roof, the Victorian building once housed a gigantic crown room and a ballroom along with the world’s first-ever electrically-lit Christmas tree in 1904. The Del Coronado boasts an impressive guest list that includes a number of American presidents such as Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter and Nixon, and prominent figures like Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe.
Don Cesar Resort, Florida, USA
Don Cesar Resort
Tampa Bay’s most fashionable resort opened its doors in the early 1900s and quickly became a playground for the rich and famous. Known as the “Pink Palace”, it has welcomed guests such as the celebrated author F. Scott Fitzgerald, Babe Ruth and numerous Hollywood stars. The Don Cesar served as an army-run hospital during WWII and was later abandoned for some years. After some concerned citizens created a ‘Save the Don” committee, the hotel changed hands and was extensively renovated to become a full-service resort once again. The Don Cesar celebrated its 95th anniversary in 2023.
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City, Canada
Frontenac Castle in Old Quebec City in the beautiful sunrise light
This real-life castle has stood sentinel over Quebec City for over a century, hosting numerous movie stars, political heavyweights and royalty over the years. Built at the site of the Chauteux Haldimand, constructed by the namesake Governor of Quebec, Le Château Frontenac officially opened its doors in 1893. It was originally built in the style of medieval chateaux from the Loire Valley in France, as part of a series of chateaux-style hotels for the Canadian Pacific Railway company. It offers more than 610 rooms and suites today, and is believed to be one of the most photographed hotels in the world.
Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, India
Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai Exterior
The 120-year-old Taj Mahal Palace was built two decades before the Gateway of India next to it. It’s red-domed roof–reminsicent of Italy’s Renaissance architecture–famously served as the first sight for ships calling to Bombay (now Mumbai). It was commissioned by industrialist Jamsetji Tata of the Tata Group as a ‘gift to the city he loved’ and named after another Indian icon - the Taj Mahal. The hotel survived numerous challenges, including a terrorist attack, and continues to be one of the premier names in Asian hospitality in Asia hosting celebrities and legends such as George V, Barrack Obama, Jackie Onasis, Madonna, and more recently, the Kardashians.
Peninsula Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Peninsula Hong Kong Grand Deluxe Harbour View Room
Set on the waterfront overlooking the bustling Victoria Harbour, the flagship Peninsula hotel first opened its doors in the heyday of British-era Hong Kong. Affectionately termed Hong Kong’s ‘Grand old Lady’, it hosted passengers on the trans-Siberian railway line from Europe as well as those arriving by luxury ocean liners to this growing centre of trade and commerce. The Peninsula was instrumental in turning Kowloon into a hub of social activity from its origins as a sleepy fishing village, hosting the who’s who from around the world. It also featured in major motion pictures, such as the 1974 James Bond movie ‘The Man With The Golden Gun’ and Christopher Nolan’s 2008 film, ‘The Dark Knight’.
The Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, Hua Hin, Thailand
The Centara Grand Exterior
Originally designed as the Railway Hotel in 1923, this hotel was one of the first beach resorts in Thailand. At that time, Hua Hin was a popular seaside destination with visitors from around the country arriving in the newly built Thai Royal State Railway. The hotel is nestled amidst 32 vast acres of landscaped gardens bordered by the powdery white sand shores and the jade green waters of the Gulf of Thailand—then the Gulf of Siam. Constructed in the sprawling colonial style of the early 1900s, its rooms and gardens offer a wonderful old world charm that has remained popular with its patrons for over a hundred years.
Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Galle Face Hotel Firebeach
The Galle Face hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Asia, having opened its doors as long back as 1864. Originally a Dutch villa where the local gentlemen met, the property was expanded into a two-storey luxury hotel by famous architect Edward Skinner. Over 160 years and several restorations later, this colonial-era gem continues to be an enduring symbol of Sri Lanka, even featuring on postage stamps in 2012. The Galle Face Hotel has hosted numerous illustrious guests including Richard Nixon, HRH Prince Philip of Edinburgh and Sir Donald Bradman among others.
Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana Palace
The legendary Copacabana Palace has long been a destination of choice for the glitterati, set on Rio’s iconic Copacabana Beach. The hotel was built as an ode to Brazil—commissioned on the eve of Brazilian independence in 1922 by then president Epitácio Pessoa. After a grand opening in 1923, ‘The Copa’ went on to host one of the world’s biggest parties every year - the Copa Ball during the annual Carnival celebrations. Now synonymous with the image of a glamorous and romantic Rio de Janeiro, it has hosted numerous celebrities and artists such as Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald.
Intercontinental Bora Bora Le Moana, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Intercontinental Bora Bora Le Moana
This sprawling bungalow resort is the oldest of the only three hotels built on the Bora Bora mainland, located on the southernmost tip of picture-perfect Matira Point. Despite the lack of a centuries-old legacy, it made this list for being one of the first hotels in the world to introduce overwater bungalows and for putting Bora Bora on the map. Its thatched-roof bungalows with their native Polynesian design were wildly successful, leading to a tourism revolution whilst preserving the local culture. Over time, the Le Moana has been rebranded as a celebrity hotspot, hosting everyone from Hollywood A-listers to royalty.
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