Avila La Fonda Hotel

Avila Beach is an undersize gem, a lovely crescent of Central Coast shoreline, covered end to end by a leisurely 15-minute stroll. The Avila La Fonda Hotel exudes this same cozy charm: Fireplaces outnumber rooms (34 to 33), the staff seems to outnumber guests, and the sweet scent of chocolate chip cookies permeates the air. The hotel, modeled after colonial Mexican towns, is a paean to pleasurable detail, from the tile mosaics to the movie nights, fresh flowers, and—to curb those midnight cravings—the open-24-hours "chocolate pantry."