Review: Kona Kai Resort & Marina in Shelter Island San Diego

Shelter Island, one of San Diego’s principal resort island, where marinas, resort hotels, restaurants and bayside parks welcome sailors and landlubbers with recreational amenities. Kona Kai Resort & Marina, located on the tip of Shelter Island, is a timeless San Diego Bay resort, offering captivating marina and bay views. Let's dive into the review of Kona Kai Resort Spa Marina San Diego. 

Having recently undergone a $22-million refreshment, new beginnings are in store for Kona Kai Resort & Marina and wonderful improvements are being made to completely restore the iconic resort. During the second phase of the transformation, Kona Kai is welcoming guests to experience the enfolding of a new chapter  for one of San Diego’s favorite spots.

Rooms

The first phase of the transformation entailed revamping the resort’s 129 guest rooms, lobby and waterfront restaurant. In redesigning Kona Kai, the goal was to create an iconic San Diego experience. With a nod toward its Spanish Colonial architecture, the lobby includes chandeliers and elegant classic furnishings in white and dark shades of woods with distressed brass finished in dark woods and forged, blackened hardware. Accents in gold and turquoise, emulating the sun and sea, are prevalent throughout. With Kona Kai’s novel teal color as a signature wall, the refreshed guest rooms include sea-fan motif to reminiscent of the ocean, while plush white beds with dramatic, yet classic, tufted headboards await. New technology includes flat screen TVs and iHome radios.

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Dining

Kona Kai’s freestanding all-day dining venue offers New American cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Erik Nitsche, served in a casual, stylish atmosphere. The regional coastal fare created by Chef Erik incorporates local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients, taking traditional delicacies and giving them a flavorful twist, such as Pulled Pork Sliders with crispy onions, served with baja slaw, and Chili Rubbed Baked Snapper with lemon potatoes, served with roasted tomato sauce. In terms of design, the restaurant leans toward vintage beach culture, combining modern Scandinavian elements with distressed, white-washed wood and raw materials. An aged brass sculpture and hand-forged chandelier, combining remnant metal with repurposed Sputnik lights, creates a dramatic entry. Vessels, in varying sizes and colors, are scattered throughout. Mirrors reflect light and add sparkle from the glistening bay, and a large dome centered over the middle of the restaurant reminds dinners of an evening sky. Varying table heights allow for views from every seat within. Black, white and varying shades of the sea are omnipresent, thereby confirming that one is sitting within a distinctive marina environment, chock-full of flair, sophistication and history. The restaurant also features a stunning outdoor patio with a warm bay breeze, perfect for sipping a tantalizing cocktail—all set against the colorful backdrop of the picturesque marina.

Local Attractions

Home to California’s only privately owned beach, guests at Kona Kai enjoy the sparkling blue waters of the San Diego Bay, white sand and gorgeous views of the marina, all surrounded by 11 acres of lush gardens. Perched from its spot on Shelter Island, Kona Kai serves as the perfect launchpad from which guests can enjoy nearby marine attractions such as the USS Midway Museum and Seaport Village.

Activities 

Shelter Island holds endless possibilities for adventure, and Action Water Sports provides guests and locals with a great variety of excursion opportunities on the San Diego Bay. Jet skis, kayaks, pedal boats, paddle boards, bicycles, Segways and powerboats are available to rent and allow guests to explore the Bay’s best views and marine life. From this location, guests can also enjoy other favorite activities like visiting the downtown area or taking a day trip to nearby Kellogg’s Beach. Whether kayaking and pedal-boating across the San Diego Bay or sipping a tasty cocktail on the patio overlooking the picturesque marina, Kona Kai Resort & Marina offers many opportunities for both relaxation and activity. From s’mores nights and dive-in movies at the pool to weekend beach parties featuring live music, Kona Kai provides an exciting excursion for all ages.

There are plans in the works to refresh Kona Kai’s pool and the existing meeting space, as well as to install brand-new cabanas, fire pits and a full-service tiki bar on the resort’s private beach.