Hofsas House: Comfort and Care in a Home away From Home

By Kelly Grace Thomas

There aren’t many hotels that greet their guests by first name. Or many that can host a family reunion equipped with meeting halls, family suites and kitchens. And even less that offer saunas, fireplaces, ocean views and wine and a cheese plates upon check in. The Hofsas House in Carmel-by-the-Sea does all of this and more. The Hofsas House, one of Carmel-by-the-Sea’s most beloved hotels, offers a personalized stay while making sure each and every one of their guests feels like family. 

The Hofsas House located in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea has all the amenities of corporate establishments while still maintaining a family feel. The pretty-in-pink hotel which is owned by the Theis family has been in business for over six decades and offers a variety of options to accommodate all groups large to small. 

The Hofsas House has 38 different guest rooms that range from standard singles, to queens with in-room fireplaces and ocean views, to a two bedroom suites with private balconies. The Hofsas House has something to fit any need and provides the benefits of an AirBnB without the fuss. They take the worry out of booking and cleaning fees, providing guest with comfortable stay and a prime location, walkable to all Carmel-by-the-Sea’s amenities. They are a one-stop-shop, selling tickets for many of the local sights and attractions. 

The Hofsas House even starts your day off right with a complimentary morning breakfast, hearthside fire and newspaper, another finishing touch on their outstanding and sincere customer service, where guests are always greeted with a warm smile.

“It’s a family place, that’s why people keep coming back,” said Scott Theis. This family-run business cares about their neighborhood. Each co-owner is highly involved in the Carmel-by-the-Sea’s community, they love their town and want their guests to feel the same. These values are apparent and reflected in the way they tailor and personalize each guests experience to ensure a restful stay.

During Edible Skinny’s stay we were impressed by how much Hofsas helped to make our experience enjoyable both in and outside the hotel. Hofsas always has a friendly face at the front desk to greet customers with recommendation of outstanding local eateries like Cafe Dametra and wonderful organic tasting rooms De Tierra and Windy Oaks. The Hofsas House can also help guest buy tickets for the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Wine Walk, both highly recommended by Edible Skinny. The Hofsas House made seeing Carmel-by-the-Sea a positive and hassle-free experience.

Hofsas goes the extra mile for their guests. Edible Skinny was greeted with a bottle of Will’s Fargo Pinot Noir, a delicious and velvety wine made by the always amazing and organic Holman Ranch, as well as a cheese plate from the local cheese shop. While wine and cheese aren’t included with every room, guests can order it for their arrival for a very reasonable fee. With a fine glass of wine and cheese and crackers,  Edible Skinny editors cuddled up by the in-room fireplace (Duraflame included)  to enjoy the quiet luxury of relaxation of (what felt like) a home away from home.

While all of these things help Hofsas standout against other hotels, we would remiss if we didn’t mention the funky style of this seaside institution. One thing Hofsas is known for is their unique decor This painted-pink hotel stands out as a kitschy neighborhood gem among the subue designs of the town's other lodgings. The Hofsas House has a vintage feel, like you are going back in time, ready for a cozy stay at your grandmother's house. It is an atmosphere of comfort and care, with a splash of hip funk. The standout style of Hofsas acknowledges how what was once old has become new again. One thing that accounts for the Hofsas unique style is the decorative eyes of Doris Theis. “A lot of newer hotels everything is white, that is not the Hofsas House,” said Doris, with a smile.

While staying at Hofsas, even though you are a visitor you feel like you’re part of the community, you’re part of the family. Whether it is the smiles and first name-greeting at the front desk, or settling in front of the fire after a full-day of wining and dining, Hofsas House is the perfect place to getaway while still enjoying the comforts of home.

Within walking distance to every amenity in Carmel-by-the-Sea the Hofsas House perfect for those doing the Wine Walk, Art Galleries or dining at any of the amazing eateries. Hofsas House is a must stay destination for any traveler who wants to an exceptional stay that goes above and beyond. For more informaion about the Hofas House please visit www.hofsashouse.com

The Details of Romance at Hofsas House

As Edible Skinny meandered down the Central Coast we found ourselves in the sleepy storybook town of Carmel-by-the-Sea for a night’s sojourn at the European style Hofsas House.   Renowned architect Mies van der Rohe famously noted that, “God is in the details,” but for the Theis Family, who have owned and operated their hotel for over 60 years, the architecture of hospitality is structured in the details of romance.  

 

Carmel was rated #3 on Travel + Leisure’s list of the world’s best cities for romance; thus making it the perfect hamlet for that weekend couple’s getaway.   The enchanting Hofsas House is located within walking distance of everything adoringly Carmel: gorgeous driftwood filled beaches, sumptuous restaurants, and bohemian shops cloistered away in secluded courtyards.

 

For Hofsas House the word hospitality tailors itself to each guest.  From their 38 one-of-a-kind rooms that boast European charm and comfort with Dutch Doors allowing enjoyment of the vista views of the pines that crest the Pacific Ocean.  To a Monterey Wine & Cheese Pairing ($30) that perfectly compliments one of their many cozy fireplaced rooms.  To a Beach Fire and S’Mores Bundle ($60), which includes a wood bundle and starter, all the necessary chocolate/marshmallow/graham supplies, a flashlight, and snuggly blanket so your twosomes can gaze upon stars that just beg for adoration.  To the morning a continental breakfast abound with coffee carafes and trays that can be piled high with fresh pastries from the local neighborhood bakeries for the perfect breakfast in bed.

So go and find your details, for romance whispers to all who come to this charming retreat.  

Hoping life is delicious!  

A Fairytale Life of Carmel and the Hofsas House

The next stop in our Vines to Vinos Tour with a stay at Hofsas House in Carmel-by-the-Sea (aka just Carmel). 

A two-hour drive from San Francisco, Carmel is known as a village in the forest by the sea.  Carmel’s Bohemian founders fought to maintain the outdoor mystique and small-town appeal (1910 it reported that 60 percent of Carmel's houses were built by citizens who were "devoting their lives to work connected to the aesthetic arts") and their efforts are still evident today. 

Most everything is within walking distance in this one square mile village: fine dining, art galleries, shopping, beaches, and parks.  The residential district has no sidewalks or street lights, and the beach is unadulterated by commercial development.  There’s a housing code that no buildings can be constructed over two stories.  Dutch doors are everywhere (everywhere!).  Homes are known by their name and have no street addresses.  And then there’s the dogs…

No one is exactly sure when it began or how, but thanks to celebrities such as Doris Day and Betty White, pets get the spotlight in Carmel.  All you have to do hear that the population of Carmel is cited as 4,037 people, and 847 dogs!  Many restaurants, shops, art galleries, and inns are pet-friendly allowing man’s best friend to go everywhere you go. 

Carmel is all about the boutique experience; they’ve got 45 inns, but they’re all small.  One such pink hotel is the Hofsas House, our home for the next two days of the Vines to Vinos Tour.

Hofsas House celebrates European elegance with the warmth of family hospitality. Not the easiest word to pronounce (the first part is like “Hos “ in hospitality, the “Sas” part is pronounced “Sis” (as in your best friend)), but for over 60 years, the Theis Family has been providing hospitality designed to suit everyone’s travel tastes.  General Manager Carrie Thies noted, “Our inn has a very at home feel that emanates comfort, we consider it an extension of family hospitality.”  There dedication to going the extra mile was displayed when I forget my favorite headband at the hotel.  Upon calling over I discovered they categorized all lost items by date and later on that day it was already in the mail back to me!

Donna Hofsas and her husband Fred, moved from Los Angeles to Carmel in the late 1940s.  While he was busy as an accountant, she oversaw the cottages they had purchased in town, living in one and renting out three others, and so began Hofsas House.   In 1957, they took the major step of building the main hotel, adding 25 rooms and a swimming pool, moving their business to the next level.   After they divorced, she kept Hofsas House, and in the 1960s, she added the north wing and meeting room. 

 

The hotel bears many of Donna’s personal touches.  She commissioned her friend, artist Maxine Albro, to paint the Bavarian-themed welcome mural, and three of Maxine’s paintings hang in the lobby, as well.  Fred, who was also an artist and photographer, created the mosaic coat of arms, whose Latin words mean “Leisure with dignity.”  In 2000, Donna’s granddaughter, Carrie Theis, with whom she had been very close, became General Manager.  It was a full-circle journey for Carrie, who spent summers as a child helping her grandmother at Hofsas House, escorting guests to their rooms at the tender age of 8 and getting a seat behind the front desk when she was 12.  

Thus magic of Germany is still showcased nearly 60 years later in 38 one-of-a-kind, spacious European rooms, many with ocean views.  Rooms have Dutch doors (of course they do!), free WiFi and many of the rooms and suites have fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars or kitchens as well as patios for enjoying the beautiful ocean view.  A heated pool, dry saunas, decks with views and complimentary off-street parking are also offered as well.  Each room at the Hofsas House is decorated differently, our room was unofficially known as the, “the girl room,” since it was all frilly and pink. 

Like most inns in Carmel, Hofsas House serves a Continental Breakfast.  Items such as pastries from Paris Bakery in Monterey and a carafe of coffee are available to take back to your room or enjoy in their fire lit lobby.  Because, as Thies noted, “in Carmel sometimes you need to go searching for sun.” 

Which doesn’t mean there isn’t warmth in Carmel.  This village in the forest by the sea contains all the magic of a Grimm fairytale, and what better place to experience it than in the pink hued Bavarian castle of the Hofsas House.