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John Steinbeck's Writer's Studio: Home of Classic American Author - 30 night min

John Steinbeck's Writer's Studio: Home of Classic American Author - 30 night min

Photo gallery for John Steinbeck's Writer's Studio: Home of Classic American Author - 30 night min

Front of studio during the day
Queen bed headboard
Garden view through beautiful multi-pane window
Spacious bathroom with shower
Spacious bathroom with shower and beautiful accent tile wall

Overview of John Steinbeck's Writer's Studio: Home of Classic American Author - 30 night min

Reviews
9.8 out of 10 Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 233 sq m

Popular amenities

  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space
  • Ocean viewOcean viewOcean view

Check out the area

Map
Pacific Grove, CA
  • Popular LocationCannery Row9 min walk
  • Popular LocationMonterey Bay Aquarium10 min walk
  • Popular LocationLovers Point2 min drive
  • AirportMonterey, CA (MRY-Monterey Peninsula)8 min drive

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Bedroom 1

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

John Steinbeck's Writer's Studio: Home of Classic American Author - 30 night min

This charming historic studio was once owned by American author John Steinbeck. It's been featured in several articles: including “20 Romantic Getaways” and in NYT's "Frank Sinatra Slept Here, and So Can You" (August 2020).

There is a 30-night minimum stay for this cottage. Daily rate listed reflects discount and enjoy no city occupancy tax.

'I bought a small house and garden in Pacific Grove...' (John Steinbeck: A Life in Letters). American author John Steinbeck wrote these words to a friend about this charming house he called home in the 1940s.

This cozy studio retreat has one bedroom with a queen bed and and a sitting area, a spacious full bathroom, and a fully stocked kitchen. There is cable TV and wireless internet.

The studio is approximately 350 square feet. It is original 1920's architecture and has short doorways throughout the studio. Taller guests (anyone 5'10" or taller) will need to mind their heads passing through entry-ways and in the kitchen (it has low ceilings). The studio has been renovated throughout in December 2023 - new flooring, kitchen and bathroom.

It is one of three cottages on the property and has a unique and rich literary history, having belonged to John Steinbeck in the early 1940's. He used it as his writing studio and worked on novels including The Sea of Cortez while living here.

The Neighborhood
Pacific Grove has been called “Butterfly Town U.S.A.,” “The Most Romantic City in the U.S.,” “A Dreamy California Destination, ” as well as an idyllic place to get married, to honeymoon or to just hang out. Some of it is self-proclaimed, some the acclaim of people who have actually visited Pacific Grove.

You will find Pacific Grove on the very tip of the scenic, tree-shrouded Monterey Peninsula with a rocky coastline and an ambiance of charm, grace and beauty.

Founded in the 1870s as a Methodist summer retreat, Pacific Grove still bears the look and feel of yesteryear. As you stroll the residential streets admiring the charm of home after home, you will notice little plaques on many of the homes that bear the name of the original owner and the year in which it was built. To qualify for a plaque from the Heritage Society of Pacific Grove, a structure must look like it did when it was originally built.

Among its visitors are brightly colored orange-and-black Monarch butterflies, who overwinter in Pacific Grove after traveling up to 2,000 miles, arriving by the thousands starting in October, peaking around Christmas and departing by March.

Besides its scenic beauty and idyllic neighborhoods, Pacific Grove offers an eclectic downtown experience, with small boutiques, gift shops, art galleries, antique stores and more. Other vibrant shopping areas are along Central Avenue at the entrance to Pacific Grove from Cannery Row and at the top of Forest Avenue on Forest Hill.

Getting around
The Writer's Studio is centrally located and a short walk from many scenic destinations. It is located a half mile from The Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row, as well as downtown Pacific Grove. Lover's Point beach is just one mile away and downtown Monterey is two miles away.

There are many fantastic restaurants, activities and shops in the area.

Other Things to Note
- Check-in time is 4:00 pm and check-out time is 11:00 am.
- There is a firm no smoking, drugs and vaping policy.
- There is a no pet policy.
- We do not have a washer/dryer on the property for guest use.

Property manager

Kevin & Vicky Delaney

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Outdoor space
Ocean view
Fireplace

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

About the area

Pacific Grove

This apartment is located in Pacific Grove. Fisherman's Wharf and Pebble Beach Golf Links are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Monterey Bay and Lovers Point. Check out an event or a game at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and consider making time for Monterey Bay Aquarium, a top attraction not to be missed. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and cycling.
Map
Pacific Grove, CA

What's nearby

  • Cannery Row - 9 min walk
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium - 10 min walk
  • Lovers Point - 2 min drive
  • Fisherman's Wharf - 3 min drive
  • Pacific Grove Golf Links - 5 min drive

Getting around

  • Monterey Station - 10 min walk
  • Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) - 8 min drive

Restaurants

  • Monterey Bay Aquarium - 10 min walk
  • Gianni's Pizza - 9 min walk
  • Starbucks - 12 min walk
  • Carl's Jr. - 8 min walk
  • Sea Harvest - 13 min walk

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 42 out of 48 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 48 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 48 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 48 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 48 reviews" "

8.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay
Cute little property with a great history. Location was great, an easy walk to the grocery, drugstore and to town. Coming from AZ where they were having triple digit temps it was a pleasure to spend a month with temps never hitting 70 degrees. Owners were great and very responsive. Lots of Steinbeck books to enjoy while you are there.
Stayed 30 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Christopher S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect work from home getaway
After a year of working from home, I came here for a month for a change of atmosphere. It was just what I needed. The cottage is quaint and charming and has so much history. It looks just like it does in the pics. There are plenty of places not too far away to grab a bite to eat (the empanadas at Cafe Guarini were a go-to fave of mine). Before my daily Zoom calls, I would walk near the ocean in the AM and then pickup some coffee and breakfast on my way back through Pacific Grove. Kevin and Vicky were quick to respond to any questions and were wonderful hosts! Highly recommend staying here
Stayed 30 nights in Feb 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michael B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfectly accommodated 2 working adults for 3 months
The place is well located, it is basically on the border between Monterey and Pacific Grove. Short walk down the hill leads to restaurants, shops, Cannery row, the bay. We could hear the seals at night. We loved that the cottage is in the middle of the property: it provided some protection from the streets. Having the garden and the sitting area outside made for lovely lunches. We didn't cook (only some breakfast and salads for lunch). While the square footage is small it was easy to accommodate our belonging and find a place to work. Bathroom sinks/toilet, kitchen and fridge were very clean.
Stayed 91 nights in Oct 2020

8/10 Good

Theresa A., Clayton

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Was very quaint & charming!
Would have given 5 stars except my husband is over 6ft and hit his head several times on the door jam. Great place otherwise!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019

8/10 Good

Larry H.

Communing with John.
The electric heater was not working per the instructions. Other than that we again enjoyed our stay at the Writer's Cottage in all its quirkiness and history.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2019

About the host

Hosted by Kevin & Vicky Delaney

Host profile image
When we are not hosting our guests, Kevin is an author and motivational speaker, after spending 25+ years in high tech and Vicky loves to bake and works in HR. We eloped in Central Park in New York City and love the simplicity of what life brings. We enjoy exploring new things. Whether it’s new foods, places to visit or experiences, we love the adventure of life. Most of all, we love time with each other, our kids, family and friends.

We were lucky enough to purchase the home of John Steinbeck, American author and Pulitzer Prize winner, and have poured our labor of love in renovating these 100 year-old cottages. Pacific Grove is our home away from home. Kevin spent a lot of time writing his first book, A Life Worth Living, in our cottages - what a fantastic place for literary inspiration!

Why they chose this property

Pacific Grove is a charming town with wonderful restaurants, a beautiful coastline and the historic Cannery Row. And there’s plenty to do – sailing, whale watching, hiking, kayaking, cycling, and wonderful coastline pathways to stroll between the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Lover’s Point. Pacific Grove also has the historic literary appeal of being the home of John Steinbeck, American author and Pulitzer Prize winner.

What makes this property unique

Besides being charming and beautiful, the cottages are distinctly unique having once been the home of author John Steinbeck. There is a rich and wonderful history to these 100-year-old cottages.

When Steinbeck resided here he formulated the plot of The Grapes of Wrath, and wrote several books including The Sea of Cortez. This is the home he shared with his second wife, Gwyn Conger, who would become the inspiration for the lead antagonist, Kate Trask, in his epic novel, East of Eden. In a letter to a friend, Steinbeck wrote of the cottages, “It is a pleasant little house, and we miss it… You’ll find you get a lot of thinking done in that house.” ' (from John Steinbeck, A Life in Letters).

We are excited to share this wonderful piece of history with you!
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