By Ryan McCarrigan –
Along California’s Monterey Peninsula, the town of Pacific Grove sits quietly between the pines and the ocean just over two hours south of San Francisco. It feels local and safe, welcoming travelers drawn by the coastline, art galleries, restaurants, and the calm that define this part of the world. It’s also home to a new kind of boutique hotel experience that blends stylish elegance with inclusion: The Charles Hotel Pacific Grove.
The Charles is the creation of veteran, gay hotel designer Charles Gruwell, whose career spans four decades and more than forty boutique hotels, including work on properties such as the Four Seasons and Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, and the recently opened Stilwell Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea. After years designing for clients up and down the Monterey Peninsula, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, Gruwell wanted to build something personal.
Returning to his hometown, he reimagined a historic Victorian inn into an eleven-room property that feels intimate, stylish, and distinctly local. The result is a hotel that feels like a conversation between past and present with historic, handcrafted woodwork, rich fabrics and textures, warm lighting, and the quiet rhythm of coastal life. Guests describe the feeling as a private-club atmosphere without the pretension.
For Gruwell and Carmel-based partners Don and Jay Desai, LGBTQ+ inclusion is not an afterthought; it’s a central part of the brand’s design. Their guiding principle, “inclusive, stylish, and artfully designed,” is visible in everything from the hotel’s curated music playlists to the way staff are trained to anticipate guests’ needs.
Guests come from around the world because they know the experience is both beautiful and safe. Whether you’re a couple on a weekend retreat or a solo gay traveler exploring the coast, you feel seen and respected here. That sense of welcome extends beyond the hotel walls. Pacific Grove has quietly become one of the most inclusive small towns on the Central Coast, with local restaurants, galleries, and wineries embracing a diverse mix of international and local visitors. A day here might include a coastal walk along Lovers Point, an afternoon tasting in Carmel Valley, and dinner at one of the Peninsula’s farm-to-table restaurants.
What makes The Charles Hotel different is its connection to community. The team partners with local, mission-aligned businesses to create meaningful guest experiences, including the award-winning Folktale Winery in nearby Carmel Valley; Fandango Restaurant, a local institution for more than four decades; contemporary Italian eatery Rudolfo’s; and the recently opened hybrid vinyl record store and bar Hiss & Pop; the latter three are located in downtown Pacific Grove, a short walking distance from the hotel.
In early 2026, the team plans to bring the model north with The Charles Napa Valley, a rebrand of the Old World Inn bed and breakfast, a few minutes’ walk from downtown Napa. This property will continue the same formula: stylish and artful design, a relentless focus on inclusive guest experience, and a strong connection to local food and wine, especially in partnership with LGBTQ-owned businesses.
Why LGBTQ+ Travelers Choose The Charles
The Charles represents a broader shift in travel behavior. Over 70 percent of LGBTQ+ travelers are willing to pay more for accommodations known to be safe and welcoming. They take more leisure trips per year than the average traveler and show high loyalty to inclusive brands.
That loyalty is earned through authenticity. The Charles doesn’t explicitly label itself an LGBTQ+ hotel like some properties in Palm Springs or Provincetown. It simply creates an environment where everyone of any background feels they are safe and belong.
Pacific Grove’s Victorian homes, expansive cypress pine groves, and picturesque ocean vistas form a backdrop that encourages reflection and calm. Staying at The Charles means becoming part of that calm. You wake to the sound of gulls, walk to the beach with a coffee, explore 17-Mile Drive, and return in the evening for a glass of local wine and intimate conversations with fellow guests.
From the hotel’s central location, it’s easy to explore the Monterey Peninsula’s highlights: the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, Carmel Beach, Pebble Beach, Point Lobos, and the wineries of Carmel Valley. Art lovers will find galleries along Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove, while food enthusiasts can enjoy everything from Michelin-recognized fine dining restaurants like Aubergine, and bustling cafés like Nora’s in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
As The Charles brand expands to Napa Valley and beyond, its core philosophy will remain the same: inclusive and stylish. Every property will be unique, but the feeling of welcome will always be consistent. For Gruwell, that’s the real reward after a lifetime in design. “It’s about creating spaces that feel genuine,” he says. “Where people can relax, connect, and see themselves reflected in the experience.”
Plan Your Visit
The Charles Hotel Pacific Grove is located at 581 Pine Avenue in the heart of town, just a few minutes’ walk from the ocean. Book directly online (https://www.thecharlespacificgrove.com/) for rates and special packages.
Whether you’re exploring the Monterey Peninsula for the first time or returning to a favorite coastal escape, The Charles invites you to slow down, connect, and feel safe at home.
Ryan MacCarrigan (he/him) is the Executive Director at Queer LifeSpace ( www.queerlifespace.org ), a Castro-based nonprofit counseling agency providing affordable access to mental healthcare for the LGBTQIA+ community across the Bay Area. He is also the Founder and CEO of LEANSTUDIO ( leanstud.io ), a design and innovation consultancy, and teaches part-time in the Innovation Management program at UC Berkeley.
Travel
Published on October 23, 2025
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