BAJA - Issue 16 - Rosarito Restaurant · Rosarito Beach Hotel has much to celebrate. It’s no secret that festivity and good cheer are second nature for Mexico and at the Rosarito

ROSA

RITO

BEA

CH

HO

TEL

CELE

BRAT

ES 8

0YE

ARS!

www.rosaritobeachhotel.com

BAJA LIFE ISSUE SIXTEEN 2005 19

UST A HOP, SKIP AND A SHORT3-hour jump south of Los Angeles,lies the Rosarito Beach Hotel, aSpanish-Colonial hostelry that

continues to attract the same air of fame itexudes. Revered as a favorite escape duringthe Prohibition era, Hollywood legendsOrson Welles, Lana Turner and RitaHayworth patronized the hotel regularly.Enjoying as much fame as its guests,Rosarito Beach Hotel has much to celebrate.It’s no secret that festivity and good cheerare second nature for Mexico and at theRosarito Beach Hotel – it’s simply what theydo best. In 1935, ninety airplanes parked onthe hotel grounds in honor of the NewYear’s celebration. Seventy years later, thisgrandeur approach to commemorationlives on and the excitement is contagious.

The hotel is a dramatic city within itself,an achievement further illustrated by a mapof the hotel grounds presented along withyour room key upon check-in. Built by

Manuel P. Barbachano in the late 1920’s, thehotel is nestled on the white-sand beach ofthe Pacific side of Baja Norte, just south ofthe Tijuana border. By 1933, Barbachanobuilt the first paved highway in the area tomake it easier for his SoCal guests to get tothe hotel. Soon thereafter, he built the firstpower and telephone companies in Baja,making the hotel an accessible, comfortablegetaway for sun-seeking vacationers andcelebrities alike.

Today, nephew and hotel manager HugoTorres Chabert continues Barbachano’sefforts, expanding the hotel’s services andarchitecture. Plans for a marina are alreadyunderway as a follow-up phase to the fishingpier that stretches out to the sea. In eightdecades, the hotel has evolved from aneight-room hunting lodge to a 280-roomresort hotel. My room boasted 2 stories, 2bedrooms, a wrought iron spiral staircase, afull kitchen and a cozy living area with asweeping view of the ocean.

When you enter the open, wood-beamed lobby displaying original 1920’smurals, a deep appreciation of Mexico’sculture and history envelopes you. In thenear distance, a superbly tiled Olympic-sizeswimming pool beckons you to itscourtyard. From here, you might bask inthe sunshine while listening to the livemariachi music pouring from the AztecaRestaurant. Whether you choose to strollthe maze of ballrooms or find yourselfseduced to the beach by the thunder ofcrashing waves – there is no shortage ofstimulation at the Rosarito Beach Hotel.The property is all-inclusive with a fishingpier, two restaurants, three bars, a coffeeshop, two ballrooms, a museum, boutiqueshops, racquetball courts, a full-service spaand a myriad of activities such as cookinglessons, dancing instruction and Mexicanhandcrafts just to name a few.

Beyond the hotel, Rosarito activitiesinclude horseback riding and ATVing onthe beach, shopping and fine dining. Fox-ploration - a studio tour type attraction atthe place where parts of "Titanic" and "PearlHarbor" were filmed - is a couple of milessouth of town.

One of the hotel’s most strikingfeatures is the palace-like spa – a soaringchamber with an artfully symmetricstaircase leading to a wrap-around gallery

THE COLORFUL CITY OFROSARITO CELEBRATES THE

80TH ANNIVERSARY OFROSARITO BEACH HOTEL.

STORY BY JENNA CAVELLE • PHOTOS BY ERIK CUTTER

(Opposite) “Through this door pass the most beautiful women in the world,” reads the inscription above the hotel entrance —the ambianceechoes charm and elegance dating back to the 1930’s. (Above left) Friendly staff and warm smiles greet you as soon as you arrive at the frontdesk. (Above right) Shops with Mexican handcrafts and traditional art make for interesting shopping sprees within the hotel’s boutique plaza.

20 ISSUE SIXTEEN 2005 BAJA LIFE

(This page, clockwise from left)Built in 1926 as the owners’home, this magnificent mansionhas been restored and nowhouses a luxuriously appointedspa Massage therapistCamelia Mendoza offers a relax-ing massage treatment Theworld class Casa Playa Spaoffers an array of services andtreatments to ensure a relaxingand rejuvenating experience.(Opposite page, clockwise fromtop left) Separated from the seaby an enclosed sitting room, theOlympic-size swimming poolmakes for a great sunbathing orexercise spot A mother anddaughter enjoy a light-heartedmoment in the children’s pool The hotel lobby is adorned withoriginal, life-like murals rich incolor and history Located inthe palatial founder’s mansion,Chabert’s Restaurant offersgourmet dining in an elegantambiance The Azteca restau-rant, the more casual of thehotel’s dining areas, serves updelicious traditional Mexicancuisine every morning, noon andwell into the evening.

BAJA LIFE ISSUE SIXTEEN 2005 21

and railed in vintage wrought iron. A first-class staff offers an elaborate variety ofmassages and beauty treatments that areunparalleled in quality. The spa houses acomplete gym outfitted with universalequipment and a large room for aerobics.Additionally, the beauty salon offers hair,nail and make-up services.

Although expansion seems impossibleat a hotel that already offers anything andeverything, Torres foresees more growth inthe years to come. His only condition is touphold Rosarito Beach Hotel’s proudheritage and increase the prosperity of thesurrounding town and its people.

“We want to make Rosaritio Beach amodel city for Baja California Norte andfor all of Mexico. We are blessed with acoastline of white sandy beaches andinlands of natural open beauty. Our goal is to enhance the resources of RosaritoBeach, both for our residents and thevisitors who enjoy our wonderful city,”states Torres.

Whether it be for just a night or anextended weekend with friends and family,with 80 years of presenting the best ofMexican hospitality, this nearby getaway is asure bet to please you.

“WE WANT TO MAKE ROSARITO BEACH A MODEL CITY FOR BAJA CALIFORNIA

NORTE…AND FOR ALL OF MEXICO.”-JUGO TORRES CHABERT