Originally owned by movie star Doris Day, the Cabaña Hotel opened its doors in 1962 and immediately became a magnet for Hollywood luminaries and the area's social elite. It was duly awarded the Mobil Five Star rating, and described by Life Magazine as "one of the best hotels on the West Coast."  In 1996, it was given a complete make-over, updating the decor while retaining the breezy, relaxed elegance and innovative design elements that made this hotel a California classic.

The Cabaña’s dramatic, curved façade hints at the eclectic style that infuses every inch of the hotel’s interior. In the expansive Grand Mediterranean Ballroom, the two-toned gold walls, painted in a subtle, swirling pattern, complement the carpeting, whose geometric pattern fairly shimmers in jewel-like tones of sapphire, ruby and topaz. Above, the classic half-round light fixtures, formed from tortoiseshell and opaque glass panels, are accented by sinuous hand-blown glass droplets and spirals. Just outside the Grand Mediterranean Ballroom is a spacious sunny courtyard that is perfect for outdoor events, or it can be used as a prefunction area for the Ballroom. Other first-floor facilities include the intimate Bacchus Room, with a fireplace, maroon-and-gold carpeting and wood-louvered windows, and the semi-private Red Room and Chef’s Table Room. The sensuous Red Room has red lacquered walls, hand-blown Venetian glass light fixtures in rich red and gold tones, and glass-paned wooden doors that partially close it off from the hotel’s restaurant. Washed shades of yellow and blue give the Chef’s Room a refreshing seaside atmosphere, and blend with the room’s upholstered chairs, blue-and-white Venetian glass and wrought-iron chandeliers. Both the Red Room and the Chef’s Table Room are custom-made for rehearsal dinners, birthday celebrations, showers and similar functions.

Follow the winding exterior staircase to the second floor and one of the Crowne Plaza Cabaña’s most popular facilities, the Cyprus Room. This unusual oval room has soft gold walls, muted blue carpeting, and green-trimmed windows topped by striped valances. During the day, natural light pours through the windows that encircle the room and provide ample views of the trees, sunny courtyard and sparkling swimming pool below. At night, the Cyprus Room is given a magical glow, thanks to numerous translucent glass sconces that resemble miniature bursts of flame when lit (more practical lighting is provided by discreet track lighting and recessed ceiling lights). Just outside, the tiled Sun Deck can be used for a wedding ceremony or cocktails before moving into the Cyprus Room for the main event. Another option is to reserve one or more of the Cabaña Suites adjacent to the Sun Deck. The wrought-iron railing separating the Cabaña Suites’ private balconies from the Sun Deck can be rolled aside, allowing your guests access to both areas. Whatever option you choose, you’re sure to be delighted by the Cyprus Room’s casually sophisticated ambiance. The Crowne Plaza Cabaña also offers a host of smaller rooms, all with the same unique decor and atmosphere as those mentioned above.

Once the playground of the rich and famous, this fabulously renovated hotel’s future is sure to be as renowned as its star-studded past. So book your event early, and avoid the rush of Hollywood nobility that will soon be rediscovering this Peninsula landmark. Even if you’re not a celebrity, you’ll be treated like one at the Crowne Plaza Cabaña.