Southern California - Recipes from Historic California - page 238

236
The lavish grand opening attracted the rich and famous. Many of their autographed pictures
still hang in the lobby today. By the 1930s, the hotel, with its surrounding beaches and sea vistas,
attracted many of Hollywood's biggest stars. Charlie Chaplin, Groucho Marx, Greta Garbo, Lillian
Gish, and Mary Pickford all discovered the beauty of the hotel and its surroundings. Their attraction
to the area would eventually spawn the La Jolla Playhouse, allowing Gregory Peck, Charlton Hes-
ton, Ginger Rogers, David Niven, and many others the opportunity to work where they played.
Over the next few years, the patios and gardens were added. But the most popular additions
have been the Whaling Bar & Grill, The Sky Room, and Café La Rue. They have become the center-
piece of the hotel, both for guests and for locals who visit. Colonel Billy Mitchell donated the unique
barrel clock located behind the bar. The last major addition to the hotel was when it acquired the
Cabrillo Hotel next door in 1956. This addition increased the room count to 100.
The staff of La Valencia goes out of their way to ensure that every guest is treated as though
he or she is someone special. If they can satisfy celebrities, you too are likely to enjoy a visit to
La Valencia.
La Valencia Hotel
1132 Prospect Street
La Jolla, California 92037
[phone]
[phone]