Prior to arriving I wanted to look up info on where my hotel was booked for a conference at the Convention Center. I am open minded and just curious to try The Varden out. CHRISTINA the front desk agent is very helpful, knowledgeable, friendly, professional, etc.... The welcoming experience was beyond my expectations since i travel often and stay at Hyatt's, Hilton's, Marriott's, etc..... Clean, safe, and refreshing vibes as soon as you walk in. First impressions count and Christina knocked it out of the park. Complimentary wine of Zin & Char available as much as you want with finger snacks to munch on. Water, fruit available all available like happy hour after 5pm? Complimentary breakfast snacks in the morning with fresh yummy assorted danishes, Kurig option, regular coffee, milk, oj, yogurt available daily 6:30a-9a Warning... no elevator but they do have an ADA wheelchair lift for the 1st floor rooms. Great cable tv options with some HBO movie channels. Comfy bed and chic decor in the rooms. Window views are limited depending on where you are situated. Definitely returning if I have a Long Beach conference in the near future. Cheers read more

beware! not all units are created equal. I believe that these are owned by separate individuals so I would try to find your room number in any reviews that you check. Our room was absolutely filthy. There was dust and grime buildup on all of the ledges, stains, crumbs, hair, dust, along the bed frame and in the crevices of the chair. just no attention to detail at all. we did contact the owner and opted to leave and were provided a full refund, but the kind of build up that was in that room was either from a long term stay that wasn't cleaned up properly or just terrible cleaning over and over. side note: wifi signal was not good, bedding was bare minimum and no hand towels or face cloths provided. I'm not looking to trash the owners, I just don't want anyone to be in the same situation we were, having to look for another place last minute after a long day of traveling, I was almost in tears, plus I had to pay way more to stay somewhere else because there weren't a lot of options. read more

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I've been to Long Beach a few times this past year for conferences and events and usually am staying at the big box hotels that are immediately adjacent to the Convention Center (like the Hyatt Regency, The Renaissance, The Westin) but I was late to the game to reserve a room this time and missed getting the discounted conference block rate. So rather than pay an astronomical fee for the privilege of proximity, I did a quick search of the area. There are plenty of options, but many of them just seemed suspect. The I came across the Varden. Definitely a boutique hotel, but definitely worth checking out. The rooms are typically small with barely room for a bed, a partial desk and a small bathroom area. But the room was extremely clean, the fixtures and bed were new and cool and for one person, really perfect. Particularly since other than sleeping and checking emails, what else do you really need? Well, for starters you need to feel safe. And this place does a great job of securing the facility at night, but you don't feel you're in a bad neighborhood anyway. You also might like to enjoy a welcoming attitude, and the staff and place has plenty of that. The young staff were extremely friendly and accommodating. Being forewarned that the property has 3 levels and no elevator is important, but honestly, it's not a tough climb to floor 3. And as a testament at how great the staff are, they wouldn't take no, and they carried my bags to my 3rd floor room. Since I was there for meetings, I needed to press my clothes, so a call to the front desk resulted in a brand new Iron and Board appearing at my room within minutes. And being welcomed by a reception with snacks, wine and drinks between 5:00 - 7:00 everyday, is just super nice. They also do a continental breakfast from 6:00-9:00 daily. They have a hip space right behind the registration area for these treats so it's easy to walk through on your way in/out of the property. And best of all the price per night was less than 1/2 of what those big chain hotels were charging. And I was less than 4 blocks (and a very nice walk past lots of local stores/restaurants to give me a feel for the area) from the Convention Center. For all these reasons, if you're in Long Beach solo, I would highly recommend you check out the Varden. read more

The Varden Hotel - My room at the Varden - Hotels Near Me - Long Beach, California

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I am so pleased with the aesthetic of my room. It's modern, clean, comfortable and has everything I could want or need perfectly designed into a small space ( but not too small!) from the shower and lit up mirror to the kitchenette and comfy bed it is absolute perfection. The free Wi-Fi and screen tv are icing . There is even an ironing board/iron and a desk if you need it. A place for everything and everything in its place. I am so happy I chose the Varden. The host, Greta, was responsive and very friendly even though I only chatted online with her. This is like an apartment complex. No front desk, just special access codes to get into the building and into my room. I feel safe, cozy and honestly?... quite spoiled . I wish I had booked another night because I am so thrilled to be here. They provide bedding, towels, coffee maker, microwave and mini fridge and some modern minimalist features that catch you by surprise. Definitely 5 stars in read more

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I give this boutique hotel a 4 star rating due to their location, cleanliness, great air conditioning, and crazy nice and helpful staff. These things all make up for the small showers and noise pollution that happens due to thin walls and windows. It's cute and clean, and walkable to lots of great restaurants and shops. It's small and luxury hostel-like.. and not like any of the big chains you might normally stay at. There is no elevator, so be prepared to stair climb. (Yay for Americans because we need more exercise) There is no pool, and no fitness center.. but there are passes to a nearby gym. Private parking lot.. for 12 bucks a night directly connected to the hotel. Great stay for the price in relation to nearby hotels. read more

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Cutest boutique hotel! Felt like my trips to Switzerland! Could not get over how nice the staff were, and amazingly clean! Loved how I was able to walk to the Convention Center everyday and grab dinner late and walk back. Really like the evening wine and having the space to talk with my colleagues read more

The Varden Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Long Beach, California

Wow...I feel very misled by these Yelp reviews! I booked a reservation for my husband's birthday weekend and a music festival and had wanted to stay somewhere close to nightlife. I saw the good reviews and thought we were going to stay in a cute,historic boutique hotel. Really, it is a crappy, cheap hotel where they painted everything white to make it look modern. I actually HATED staying there. It was so ugly and uncomfortable. The sign on the top of the hotel says "Bath in every room". The irony is that the bathroom is so small that a bath would not fit in the bathroom... and this is no exaggeration. In fact,the bathroom was so small, I hit my head on the small shelf above the sink every time I brushed my teeth. Basically, the hotel consists of a long hall with teeny tiny little rooms (rooms with no amenities) along the side. I feel like the goal is to see how many rooms they can fit along a long hallway. The room was so small, and the bed was way too small for two people. The closet is a few hangers on a rack hanging off the wall. I felt completely cramped and closed in. The lack of a view made it even more cramped. I was really sooo embarrassed to have booked this place for my husband's birthday. The carpet was old and dirty looking. The location is close to restaurants, but not great, as the area itself is a bit run down. I would recommend staying closer to the marina. The hotel staff was friendly enough, but it didn't help my experience at all. My total for the weekend was over $360 for two nights. If I hadn't already paid, I would have walked out. It angers me that they charge so much for such a horrible hotel. Honestly, I would prefer the Red Roof Inn. read more

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I was down in Long Beach for a festival and we booked a room here last minute because we didn't like the inn we previously booked. Anyways the staff here are incredibly friendly and helpful. The cleanliness exceeded expectations and they even had a complimentary wine and snacks from 5-7pm. There is a Mexican restaurant and bakery right next door and many places to eat, shop, etc around this area. When I came back from the festival at 11pm, there were staff outside to greet me and open the doors for me. The only thing that I disliked was the sliding mirror that was used to separate the bathroom and the actual room. Other than that my stay was amazing. I plan to stay here every time I go down to LBC. read more

The Varden Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Long Beach, California

My wife and I just stayed at The Varden last weekend for a wedding. We live local but thought it would be a good excuse to get out for a date night. Thank goodness I have a Smart car because the parking was pretty tight. The area was very scary! There is an alarming amount of homeless that accumulate in this area. I understand that is not the fault of the hotel but I thought it would be a good thing for someone to know. I was nervous walking to the market that is a half a block away. When we walked two blocks in the opposite direction we came across a park that was full of homeless over 100. A few months back we stayed at the Hyatt by the beach and did not encounter any of that and it is three blocks away. Once we walked in The Varden it was bright, airy, clean. The lobby was inviting and had comfortable couches to sit in while we waited. The woman that helped us out was very nice and friendly. She got us to our room very quickly. Just passed the lobby is a small kitchen / seating area. We walked down a tight corridor to get to our room it reminded me a bit like a college dorm with the line of doors all in a line. We opened the door to the room and were a bit set back by how small it was. All of the unique fixtures that in the room are nice. The bathroom is a 5'x5' that has a drain in the center if you don't shut the shower curtain the shower would flow right onto the toilet. The bathroom sink is very small maybe 8" deep by 12" wide. The bed was comfortable but very very small I am thinking it's a double. They don't have closet space. The air conditioner worked well. They offer free wi-fi although we did not stay in the room for long. They serve a small breakfast in the morning with juice, muffins etc. that is ok. My wife and I travel quite a bit and enjoy some of the finer hotels we were excited to find this Boutique Hotel so close. Unfortunately we were not impressed at all. I would not recommend this hotel for $100 a night if you have high expectations for Boutique hotels. I do recommend the Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach we spend our anniversary there every year although the price is in the $350 range but well worth it. All in all this was a very clean hotel with very nice people working there in a bad location and a bit small. We had a good time but were a bit claustrophobic. I understand I have high expectations and if you don't set the bar so high you could enjoy this hotel. read more

The Varden Hotel - Small Bathroom. - Hotels Near Me - Long Beach, California

Great for a weekend in Long Beach. The Varden is a meticulously renovated Historic Hotel. The design, staff and small touches is what makes it a MUST Stay while in Long Beach. The owners and staff are very knowledgeable of the area and are warm and welcoming. Services such as wine tasting in the evening, free continental b-fast and coffee available all day. This is not your typical hotel stay, more of a B&B feel. I loved the post-modern aesthetic design along side historic fixtures, each room has LCD TV, Rain shower head, Free internet and iPod docks. While the beds are a little small.. the mattress is WAY better than any pillow top in a chain hotel. The pristine white beds are triple sheeted and topped with down comforters. Wow! It was like we slept on a cloud bed. The rooms are small but the use of the space is so well done you see past that and realize less is more! We will stay here again if back in Long Beach. Can't beat the price for the service! Tips: -Pine street is a block away and a Free Passport shuttle will take you to all of the Long Beach sites. -George's Greek restaurant nearby is so good, we went for lunch & dinner while there. read more

This NY Chelsea type hip hotel is everything everyone says about it, ... the bad is the small size, but NOT for me!!! I am small, too. Stayed here two nights after learning the history of this hotel. Sounds to me like some rich guy bought this place a long time ago for his sweetie, Dolly and it has now been renovated. Well, something like that, lol. I am claustrophobic so the tininess did get to me but it is a jewel as far as uniqueness. Well? See the brick wall in the window? Uh, that's your view. You should feel safe sleeping, if you can't get out look at it this way, no one can get in! Immaculately clean. Love the staff, very welcoming and the owner gave us a private tour as we checked in, literally showed us the entire hotel (okay, okay... that took two minutes) and then escorted us to our room. The decor imparts an incredible modern dreamy atmosphere. My big bag is the BED. I am all about what the bed feels like and it was so super soft and luxuriously covered in a crisp down comforter. Slept like a baby. In a good central neighborhood, near great restaurants and downtown shops. Too bad you have to pay for parking, though... should be included in the room. read more

The Varden Hotel - Coziest bed EVER! - Hotels Near Me - Long Beach, California

I will start by saying that I don't like hotels. But I loved this one! The Varden is a restored boutique hotel. They did an amazing job! The staff was AMAZING. Larry and his staff made me feel very welcome and was very helpful with everything. The room was immaculate and very comfortable. Even though it was in downtown Long Beach, it was very quiet. The hotel is also just two blocks from some good places to eat. A couple of nice perks: wine tasting each evening and Keurig coffee in the morning. YUM! read more

Service - 5 stars. Almost cloyingly so and awkward at times. This ain't the Four Seasons. Location - 3 stars. Walk to Long Beach convention center (the reason I was there), shopping, pier within 10 minutes. Restaurants within 5. It IS downtown. I was not comfortable walking alone at night. There are several homeless people and those w apparent mental health problems near the hotel which approached me day and night - like any downtown. Ambience 4 stars - modern, all white, overall clean. All stairs. Not an issue if you have minimal luggage. They offer to carry it for you if you desire. Rooms 3 stars- as described elsewhere, the rooms are European chic i.e. tiny as heck. I would not want to stay with another person in this tiny room. The shower was awkward - every time I tried to close the shower curtain, it ripped off due to the 90 degree angle. Overall, the room kind of felt like a jail cell. Sheets, towels, bedding - all nice. Bathroom accoutrements- generic hair wash, lotion, soap, hairdryer. They did accommodate my request for a disposable razor. For the life of them, they could not figure out the tv remote. There was a 2 min delay if you wanted to change channel. God bless them for trying as I just wanted some background noise. Wifi excellent. The rooms are tightly packed and you can hear your neighbors - every little detail. I had a room on the second floor away from the street which I would recommend. Breakfast - 3 stars. Standard continental - yogurt (light and regular yoplait), mini pastries which I did not try, oatmeal packets, apples, oranges, oj, milk, keurig. Only one person can fit at a time making your plate/coffee. Happy hour - 3 stars. Tiny "lounge" same as breakfast. One at a time. Red and white wine decent, carbish rich snacks. Apples and oranges. Would I stay again for a conference? Prob. Price 5 stars considering all hotels by convent ctr were ridiculously overpriced. read more

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Had a great marathon weekend at the Varden. The staff was amazing. I do not remember everyone's name but Orlando checked me in and Trish was just a wonderful help. I stayed for the Long Beach Marathon. This was a great choice that I plan to make again next year. The hotel and area is quiet. Parking is 12$ and internet is included. The staff is wonderful. The room is clean and quant. Had everything I need. If you like to lounge in the room all day, this may not be the hotel for you. If you need a clean quiet place to stay, then it is. The AM before the race, they serve Bfast early to accommodate the runners and spectators. If you have something at the convention center I also recommend this hotel. See you guys next year for the LB Marathon! read more

My boyfriend and I were going to stay at some ghetto Holiday Inn or something in Long Beach, but then we realized that it only had one star. So my boyfriend looked for something in the area with a higher rating, and we found the Dolly Varden. We checked in around 3 AM and there was a really nice guy, Mike, waiting for us. He was really hospitable and polite, even though it was such an odd time for us to come in. He offered us coffee and water right away. Since we reserved our room online, it was quick and easy to get in to our room. The room was bright and clean with a fresh smell. Large enough bed, and a small shower and toilet. My boyfriend and I were there to apartment hunt and since parking is such a pain in Long Beach, the Varden allowed us to park our car in their lot free of charge until 5pm, even though we checked out at 12 in the afternoon. It would be five stars if the sink was not so tiny. Also, the bed was kind of short and my boyfriend's legs were dangling off. read more

You know, I really like this hotel. Like a lot. I slept well on the OMG comfy bed, the size was quaint, but it never felt small (the beds, were full size so it may inspire cuddling) the whole thing was all sorts of white, and the huge mirror was much appreciated... Everything was very well designed, ergonomically for moving around the place. The staff was amazing. remembered who my dad was when he dropped me off, and knew our relation, and any casually mentioned preferences...and it seemed earnest in a way that LA usually isn't. it warmed the cockles of my midwestern heart. The breakfast substantial enough (yogurt, fruit, coffee, muffins, etc) though i would have liked a few more mini tables in that area. (or it could have been that I just hit the morning rush) Its location is cute and touristy... not far from Pine Street and the free! bus that takes you the the Harbor/ Queen Mary... its all good. I enjoyed my stay there and would hope to stay again! And at a 100 bucks a night, its a deal! read more

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Very nice. Very clean and bright. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Somewhat 'sterile' in atmosphere, but it does follow the pattern of many modern European small hotels. And speaking of "small" . . . the rooms are tiny but comfortable. I would be concerned about staying here with more than one person in a room - _way_ too intimate when it comes to the bathroom - but for one person it's perfect. I was a little frustrated by the tiny bathroom sink (which is beside the bed in the main room) but it's workable. It's amazing to remember that this is a renovated 1929 building. They did an excellent job. The great stairwells, thick walls, and 'melting' windows (due to time) all tell the tale of its age in a good way. And the location is outstanding - a block from all the restaurants and shops on Pine St., within walking distance of everything downtown, plus right across the street from a streetcar stop. (Not to mention a few steps from the outstanding donuts at Colonial Bakery & Coffee.) Parking is $10 a day - the fee is added to your bill afterwards - in a lot beside the hotel with a pass from the front desk. I'd definitely stay here again. Well, "definitely" if I wasn't sharing a room with anyone; I'd have to think a bit otherwise. read more

I really enjoyed my time at the Varden! The hotel itself is very much like a European hotel... It's an older building with some inherent quirks, there is no elevator and there are stairs, and some may consider the rooms small if they were planning on entertaining guests in their rooms. Although my room was a single and I had plenty of room to do yoga with room to spare, so I thought my room was pretty big. I like the fact that there is someone at the desk 24 hours, and everyone is very friendly. There is also a nice guest lounge that has breakfast in the morning and wine and snacks in the evening. There is a lot to do close by and I thought it was a great base to explore Long Beach! I think if you are the kind of person who likes staying in a place with some quirky charm then you will love the Varden! read more

The Varden Hotel - The mural on the side is beautiful, and checkout the birdcage cafe around the corner! - Hotels Near Me - Long Beach, California

I was looking for a place to live while I get my life together and I found a place at the Varden Hotel. I'm a day in day outer and this is exactly what I need to get better. Shout out to Char and Valerie on the easy transition. Thank you. read more

The Varden met or exceeded my "3 Cs" criteria for hotels - Clean, Comfortable, and Convenient. Earned an extra "C" for Charming. Walking distance to Long Beach Convention Center and a variety of restaurants. Yes, the rooms are tiny, but sufficient for a single guest. Despite the age of the hotel, everything seemed fresh and clean. Other positives: 1. the staff was friendly and helpful; 2. the free breakfast was appreciated - coffee, yogurt, pastries, and orange juice and 3. the Wi-fi was easy to access and fast. In summary, it was a pleasant boutique experience, but rooms are too small to accommodate multiple guests in comfort. read more

The Verden was a great find. I was attending a very large conference and the hotels adjacent to the Convention Center were over $300/night. The Vader provided everything that I needed: free and GOOD WiFi, A clean and comfortable room, and a wonderful staff---all at a half of what other venues were charging. The owners did an awesome job combining the history with a great modern update. The Convention Center was an 8 minute walk from the Varden. I travel a ton for work and stay in hotels (mostly Hiltons) over 100 nights/year so I am a hotel connoisseur. The Vadren has become my "go-to" when I return to Long Beach. read more

Clean, excellent beds and bedding. Thick walls so you don't hear the next door's TV. :-) Enjyed having a PC and printer in the lobby. Was able to print the airline boarding passes there. read more

The Varden Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Long Beach, California

Small hotel, small rooms, phenomenal service. Don't let the small throw you. It's an old hotel, wonderfully restored. I don't remember staying in such a classy place since the Waldorf Astoria. The entire staff knew my name and were so very polite and courteous. They were always at the ready to do anything to make your stay better. My new favorite place to stay in Long Beach. read more

The Varden Hotel - Mural in the side of the hotel. - Hotels Near Me - Long Beach, California

Missed the last trip to Catalina so this was the closest and most convenient place to stay for a few hrs. It's within 5 miles from Catalina Express. Andrew at the front desk was really helpful and accommodating. They also serve coffee/oj/muffins oatmeal and all that good stuff. Loved the graffiti art work in the side of the building. Parking is in the back of the building convenient and no charge for it. read more

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Great staff! So nice, and remembered my name and why I was visiting. Hopefully the hefty room rates are mostly going to staff wages; the staff are the best thing about this place. Perfect location. Near shops, restaurants and walk-able distance to the convention center. Very clean. Air fresheners everywhere. TINY. If you stay here, think about asking for one of their bigger rooms- my room seemed much smaller than the pics above. My husband and I stayed, and only one of us could be up and walking around at one time. The other had to be sitting on the bed; there just wasn't enough space for two people to move about freely. The bathroom sink is about 1/3rd size of normal sinks, so I kept hitting my forehead on the little shelf above it while washing my face. The shower is also about 1/3rd size a normal shower, so I kept hitting my elbows on the soap dish, and my limbs on the curtain and walls when trying to lather up. You may be thinking "well, maybe you are a giant!" I certainly felt like that at this hotel! but I'm pretty average at 5ft 6 inches and normal weight. If this were labeled as a "hostel" and the rates were cheaper, I would have given it 5 stars. It's great as a hostel, but everything is too tiny for it to work as a real hotel room. read more

I've known that there are 3 type of room type(Classic/Varden/Urban) in this hotel after I backed home from my travel. My room which was booked through the Orbitz is Varden room. They explained that the Varden room is 2nd floor room on their reservation website- http://goo.gl/UCLC6. I paid $129(exclude Tax) for that. But I stayed classic room on the 1st floor. OMG. Classic room is too small to stay with 2 people. I was being so sorry to my wife whole that night. I think Classic room is just only 1 person absolutely not 2 people. Bathroom is too small and there was no sink in there. Sink is in the room beside by the bed and really small. So really difficult to using it. After shower, whole room becomes humid. There is poor air circulation system.(Actually No) Free wi-fi Internet speed is slow but I'm thanking as I can just use internet. Carpet on the floor in the room didn't looks clean because there were some big stains on that. I want to use slipper I didn't have. I didn't complain those kinds of thing to the Varden Hotel because I don't know Varden room is 2nd floor room. But I am not sure it is their mistake or not but I have an very bad memory of this my travel and Orbitz and Yelp. There are good experience reviews on the Yelp. (http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-varden-hotel-long-beach) Those good experience review encourage me choose this hotel. But now, I can't those reviews on the yelp. read more

The Varden is a perfect A-OK! We booked a room here on Expedia so we wouldn't have to drive home after a night of watching live music. It's the perfect spot for this kind of thing.... Pros Very clean, modern rooms with friendly, helpful staff. They really want you to be happy with your stay. Private parking lot right next to the building. They have a little happy hour between 5-7 and free continental breakfast in the morning. Quiet...I noticed the joint was ultra quiet...didn't hear my neighbors and couldn't hear the street. That's a plus! Cons No elevator...but in the end, that didn't seem to be a problem, because they carry your gear upstairs for you. Bathroom is quite small and therefore the sink is actually in the room rather than in the bathroom, but that didn't really bother me for our purposes. All in all, solid place for brief stay in Long Beach. read more

Whoo hoo, my 100th review :-) My husband and I went to Long Beach for a wedding over Labor Day weekend. After reading the great reviews, and the price being right at $119 per night, we decided to stay at the Varden. The Pros: - Amazing staff, the front desk was manned for 24 hours, they were super helpful, offered help with bags, and complimentary water every time we returned to the hotel - Clean modern decor - Comfortable bed - Free continental breakfast - Free happy hour of wine and snacks - Free wi-fi - Great location, within walking distance of locally owned restaurants, gastropubs, bars, and the convention center The Cons: - Small shower, I had to turn the water off to use soap - The room was on the smaller side, but was very clean This hotel was very similar to a European hotel, so if you're looking for a lot of space this isn't for you. As for myself it wasn't a problem as I don't need too much space and would rather have a clean and comfortable room. I highly recommend the Varden Hotel and will definitely stay there again if I'm in Long Beach. read more

First time traveling to Long Beach (on business) and wanted a boutique hotel. Traveling on a government budget, the Varden Hotel fit within the federal rate and could not have been a better choice. A perfectly charming 35 room European-style boutique hotel - a clean, well-lit stylish place with a top drawer staff. A historic sign advertising the Dolly Varden Hotel (Bath in Every Room) is atop this slightly seedy building (from the outside) disguising the sleek modern interior. The front desk clerk (Tracey) showed me to my room, demonstrating the remote for the TV and the thermostat, pulling out the luggage rack from under the bed (no space is wasted), demonstrating the kind of attentive, personal service that seems to have gone out of style. There is a happy hour of wine and snacks every 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., a continental breakfast every morning. The hotel is a block away from the restaurants of Pine Street and a 10 minute walk to the waterfront. Less than a bock away is a Gold's Gym, which can be used for a $10 daily fee. read more

As I scoured the Internet the week before my trip to Long Beach (yes, I am a last-minute planner), the Varden Hotel kept coming up on every website. I did not want to spend an arm and a leg on lodging for this trip because the airfare and conference had already eaten up a good portion of my budget. At the same time, I did not want to stay in a dirty "affordable" motel/hotel. The pictures of The Varden looked too good to be true for the price. After weighing my comfort v. economy issues, I decided to check out The Varden. After all, they were only about $20 more than the other hotels I am so glad I made that decision! The staff was friendly and helped me with everything from restaurant suggestions to directions. The room was small, but not too small. And although my one complaint would be that the shower doesn't leave any room to move (and I'm a rather small person), at least I had a private bathroom unlike some European hotels (in Europe - hahaha!). The room was clean and you could tell because everything was white. Loved the decor! Some of the perks: comfortable bed, large flat screen screen tv, wireless Internet, very good complimentary continental breakfast, nightly wine tasting w/comp snacks, and close proximity to convention center and downtown restaurants! I will most definitely stay here again the next time I'm in town! read more

Anyone who appreciates good design will love the Varden Hotel. The remodel is impeccable. In addition, the owners and staff are all about service. Change of rooms needed? No problem! Water is consistently offered as you pass through the lobby... local highlights are freely given. Not a world class traveller, this hotel helped me to consider boutique hotels in the future! read more

Never again. At least not for me. Small cramped rooms. Maybe OK for a single person but not cool for a romantic getaway. Felt claustrophobic. Tiny shower that flooded the bathroom. Had to cut it as short as possible. Strong air freshener odor used to mask the distinct mold in the air. Small beds. Best for one person. On the upside... Walking distance to Pine Avenue. No need to cab if that's your destination. Modern clean decor. Friendly front desk staff. Could be right for travelers who are aware of the above issues. read more

A very boutique hotel. Boutique in the purest sense of the word. Very European, both the good (the hors d'oeuvres hour, breakfast, and quaintness of it) and bad (the comically small bathroom, that's comically too close to the bed, with a comically to small sink). Overall, a very amusing stay, and the staff is SUPER NICE, but sometimes you just want the Marriott, y'know? read more

Old and historic building with an extremely friendly staff, but the rooms are literally the size of a walk-in closet! Your bathroom will have you doing contortions around the sink just to get to the toilet. Not an exaggeration. And with the TV mounted so high up the wall, a bit of a cramp on the neck. The free breakfast is very limited with very few places to sit. An incredibly tight parking lot as well, be very careful pulling out. The neighborhood is also rather seedy. Fortunately we only had to spend one night here. Never again. read more

We checked in on a Saturday afternoon the front desk was very nice and helpful. They even go outside and point you in the correct direction when showing you how to get some where. The hotel is cute and little but not uncomfortable. For two people and only one night it was just right. When walking us to our room the attendent told us it was a hotel orginally in the 1920's which was nice. The seals on the windows are shoddy but what do you expect from a building that is about 90yrs old. The AC in the room did its job. The bathroom is a little small but if you are of average size it shouldn't be a problem. Over all we had a great experience. Only 2 no so great things to note: 1) The door to our room #7 on the first floor, I swear this thing weighs at least 40pounds. I am a tiny 5' nothing with joint problems and I couldn't get the door open at all on my own. The BF who is 5'8 165lbs or so had to slam his body into it and then brace to get the door open. 2) The pillows are 100% awesome feather. This is great till you actually want to go to sleep then your head just squshes them down in to flatness. So bring your own pillow if you can. I will stay here again, with my own pillow. read more

My wife and I are currently staying here for 2 nights. At first glance, I was a bit horrified by the appearance of the hotel, it is very old and on first look appears to be a roach motel. The guy at the counter instantly made me feel better with amazing customer service, and as the other reviewers said, carried out bags to the room and showed the room. Once he led us back, I was pleasantly surprised at the obviously remodeled interior. The beds are amazingly soft and quite comfortable, but the small size of the room makes everything less comfortable overall. The bathroom is located so close to the bed that it makes doing any bathroom business quite embarrassing, as you can hear everything that goes on. The sliding bathroom door was also quite a negative, as it leaves a crack that anyone else in the room can see through, totally eliminating any sense of privacy. The showers are laughable, and the bathroom sink is actually out in the main part of the room. The bathroom facilities are probably the worst part about this hotel. The final thing to mention here is the smell. It smells clean, but it smells like it was cleansed in oven cleaner or 409 bathroom cleaner, or both. This hotel could have gained another star by using something to make the smell better. Overall, the saving grace is the customer service. It's definitely a unique experience, for better or for worse. Location is perfect!! read more

This is a great little boutique hotel right in the heart of Long Beach. What it lacks in room size, it makes up with charm. The staff here was quite helpful, and were more than willing to assist in getting luggage up to your room as there are no elevators. I appreciated the easy access parking, and clean accommodations. The location worked out great for me to just park my car there and walk around the city. With this type of hotel, it is an ask if you need something kind of place. I needed an iron, but they aren't in the rooms, but they were quick to bring one to me. They also had some nice little wine happy hour events each day, and genuinely seemed happy to have you there. It was a nice break from the typical chain hotel, and if I'm in the city again, would be on my list of places to stay. read more

Loved our night at the Varden Hotel! The staff is SO friendly, nice and helpful! They really made our experience there go from really good to great. Everything is clean and fresh and although the rooms are small, they are meant to be. It is a European inspired boutique hotel, which translates to extremely simplistic, modern and generally best for a single person, rather than two people. But even with that said, the two of us very much enjoyed our stay there and will be back soon. read more

I generally stay in Costa Mesa when I'm working in SoCal, but I could only get one night at my usual hotel so decided, since my Day Two meeting was in Long Beach, to try out the Varden. I'm so glad I did -- what an unexpected little hotel. I'm an Ace Hotel fetishist, and the Varden really reminded me of Ace's hotel in Portland. Love the clean, contemporary decor and styling. My room was cozy, but perfect for one person and had everything I needed, even as a business guest. I'm a fan also of room service, but I realized that the set-up at the Varden beats typical room service. The small kitchenette stocked with coffee and tea was a major attraction for me. After a couple of days of making presentation, I was in serious need of some herbal tea, and I helped myself to several cups to unwind during the evening. In the morning, I felt perfectly comfortable slipping my hoody over my PJs and going to make myself a cup of coffee first thing, when is exactly when I need my coffee. So much better than waiting half an hour for a pot of coffee to be delivered by room service! The bed was small but dreamy, the air conditioner was easy to operate and well positioned, and the hotel was quiet enough for me -- though granted I live in the middle of SF and seem to sleep better when there's some signs of life in the airwaves. There is the issue of the sink, which made me laugh since I'd read a review ... and yes, it is impossible to rinse your face in the adorable little sink without bonking your head on the adorable glass shelf. Just get in the shower to do it. Finally -- location! The night I stayed, I asked the concierge about a place a friend had recommended nearby, George's Greek Cafe. She gave me walking directions and I headed over to find a street party going on, with a live band right across from George's. I sat at the outside bar and people watched while I ate my meal, then walked back to the Varden. There were many, many, many fun bars and restaurants on the street. The next day I needed to move on to a meeting in LA before flying home, and my kind hosts helped me with my luggage, made me a cup of tea to go, and made sure I had directions. You definitely don't get that at the big-name hotels ... So, yes, thanks for the great at the Varden! I'll be back! read more

Ok...booked this based on being #1 on trip advisor. Pros: free wine 5-7pm, friendly workers, not super expensive. Cons: rooms are as small as a closet, no dressers, no room to move, bathrooms are small, NO counter space, shower is literally 3x3 feet with 2 corners being walls and the other 2 the curtain. If the room was any louder I would be in a construction zone. This place was not comfortable at all. I will NOT return. read more