We were looking for a romantic spot in Newport Beach so we tried the Dorymans Inn. We booked room # 8 at a price point over $400 a night for our special occasion.

When we arrived, we found no one manning the front desk (that happens a lot here), our room was open, the door ajar, and our luggage inside, the room itself extremely hot and uncomfortably warm with the air conditioning turned off.

We asked the front desk about the heat and we were told to turn the thermostat on if we wanted air conditioning. After a quick search, we found the room's thermostat (which came with very kludgy directions stapled next to it on the wall and a warning not to overset the temp or it would burn up). We had to close all our windows (which was actually a plus, as we faced the pier, parking, and shops which were extremely noisy) and our room slooooowly cooled down at this point. If you don't have “cool” as a final goal this would be considered ok.

The area around the pier is extremely busy and the Dorymans parking is right next to Sharkeez the most popular night spot in Newport. We had someone else parked in our parking space the entire time we were there.

Our room description was advertised with comments like "dine at the private ocean view table" in it's write-up, we found no such table in our room... so I can only assume they mean the common area patio where the very average and quite small breakfast buffet was served. I found nothing special or memorable about this buffet.

Back to our room, we didn't really watch TV as our remote control (a cheap universal remote) just flat out didn't work.

Next, we attempted to enjoy our advertised “marble sunken bathtub.” This was very hard to do as there was no marble sunken bathtub! What they really have is actually a marble tiled shower room with a high entry step which would allow you to fill the shower room with water. Assuming of course you have an hour or so to wait for the room to start filling up with a few inches of water. At this point you have something of bath but it doesn't feel at all clean and there is nothing to lean on or relax in. Simply put NOT a bathtub.

The Dorymans Inn is in a noisy, busy, part of town and the is nothing charming or special about it and the service is quite suspect.

I stayed at the Doryman's Inn for one night on the recommendation of a waitress at the Tommy Bahama's in Newport Beach. (Gorgeous food, friendly staff. Go eat at the Tommy Bahama's.)

It's got great location, right on the Newport Beach peninsula and across from the pier. You couldn't ask for a better place. The hotel also wins for:
* making a last second reservation for me over the phone (9 pm on the night of)
* decent shower, both pressure and space (for an old building, I was surprised)
* comfort and fun stuff in the inn (wish I'd had a chance to stay longer in order to use the furniture; also wish I'd gotten to stay in a larger room)

The hotel fails, however, on:
* food. This is not a bed and breakfast. It's a "bed and maybe a rubbery, store-bought muffin or scone that you fix for yourself". If you want a good breakfast or the company of fellow-travelers (as many who enjoy B&B's do), this breakfast will disappoint.
* service. Want to know where to go? Wondering where to get breakfast? Expect much more than "here's your key, please don't talk because people are already sleeping (9:30pm)"? Well, you won't get it. The staff are friendly enough, but nothing to write home about.

If breakfast were included or I'd gotten to see a larger room, I'd say this was a great B&B. As it was, I'm going to call it overpriced, but nice with great location. Also, the hidden staircase is awesome.

Newport Beach; Doryman's Inn - Bogus B.& B.
Date; January 11th 2009
Reviewer; Deanna from San Diego, CA.

I love to travel and do so quite regularly. My passion is to explore new "B.& B.'s" all over California. Having heard the Fisherman's lore and history of the Doryman Inn, and already experiencing so many numerous other B.&B.'s, I decided for a visit timed right on my birthday. I checked into a room oceanfront, which I had pre-screened. Nice view, cozy room, however there were a couple minor issues; a non-working phone, and broken lights. The room was poorly lit as a result of the missing fixtures. The phone was a problem as I had to use a land-line that evening for something, and had no access. I had to postpone a B.D. phone visit w/ someone till the following morning, when I was offered the use of another (empty) room's phone! But the WORST of the Inn's offerings is their "breakfast"(?) This was the positively worst and substandard array of 'nothings', I have ever seen at B. & B.s anywhere! To bill themselves as a classical B. & B. is beyond truthfulness - there was a bed but NO decent breakfast to be found..... that is, unless you call "packaged cereals, stone-hard muffins and scones, greasy, pre-packaged mini-quiches the size of paper-clips and cold boiled eggs, traditional B.& B. fare" ..........I have known and experienced better at several authentic, B. & B.'s. all over the state!! Baked goods are freshly done generally, right ON the premises. Juices and teas are usually presented and the eggs are cooked - not boiled!! The Inn's managment here no doubt is trying to cut corners on their brkfst. costs - and it shows!! Their 'assembly line' presentation is inferior and I wouldn't even donate such food to the local Mission! The 'down and out' would think twice before eating this garbage. It was bad. And for 175.00 a night, definitely not worth the wasted $$$. The room styles can be down-graded or up-graded in price and ammenities, but remember: you may be getting a bed, but you will NOT be getting a breakfast!! (Anything worth eating anyways) In the true spirit of a "traditional" Bed and Breakfast" this place misses the mark and is over-stating themselves on their brochures and other media. I have literally experienced far more filling and generous complimentary breakfasts, at a "Days Inn" motel!! I have since heard "on the grapevine" that a former disgruntled guest, had reported an incident to the local Better Business Bureau for resolution. For those who would like a referral to some very lovely, traditional B.& B.'s up the CA. coast, please feel free to write and inquire! End result: Birthday bummer!!

We really liked the atmosphere here.... an authentic Newport Beach experience with the harbor, the ocean. The restaurant was great, the service friendly.