The Varden Hotel

335 Pacific Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802, Los Angeles County, United States

3-star hotel

Guest rating: 4.3 / 5

Overview

The Varden Hotel is a storied, contemporary 3-star hotel in downtown Long Beach, originally dating to 1929. It holds a public rating of 4.3 based on 190 reviews and is positioned as a compact, design-forward stay near major downtown attractions.

Rooms

Rooms are described as bright and minimalist, with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and work stations equipped with ergonomic chairs. Guest feedback frequently notes that rooms and bathrooms run small, so the overall experience tends to favor travelers comfortable with a tighter footprint.

Food & Drink

Complimentary offerings include a continental breakfast and afternoon drinks with light snacks served in the lobby. Reviews also highlight perks such as wine-related tastings and readily available small bites like fruit, contributing to a “value-add” feel despite the hotel’s compact rooms.

Fitness

On-site amenities are not documented, but guests receive discounts at a nearby gym. This can be useful for travelers who want workout access without needing a full hotel fitness center.

Location & Nearby Highlights

The hotel is about a half-mile from the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and about a mile from the Aquarium of the Pacific (1066 m). Nearby points of interest include Shoreline Village (1225 m), Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) (1350 m), and The Queen Mary (2092 m), with longer outings possible to Knott's Berry Farm (19655 m) and coastal/harbor sites such as the Port of Long Beach (2815 m) and Rosie's Dog Beach (5310 m).

Best for

The Varden Hotel is best for couples or solo travelers who want a downtown Long Beach base near the Convention and Entertainment Center and walkable attractions like the Aquarium of the Pacific and Shoreline Village. It also suits guests who appreciate included extras such as continental breakfast and afternoon lobby drinks/snacks, and who don’t mind smaller room and bathroom sizes.

Travel tips

If you’re attending an event, the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center is roughly a half-mile away, making this a practical downtown stay. Consider packing light: guest feedback reports there is no elevator and stairs may be involved even on the ground floor. Plan time for nearby highlights like the Aquarium of the Pacific (about 1.1 km) and The Queen Mary (about 2.1 km).

What guests say

Guests frequently praise the staff for being friendly and helpful, and many highlight the included perks such as free Wi-Fi, continental breakfast, and afternoon drinks/light snacks. Sleep comfort is a recurring positive, with some guests calling out especially comfortable beds. The most consistent drawbacks mentioned are very small rooms and bathrooms, along with layout and function issues in certain rooms. Accessibility and logistics concerns also appear in feedback, including the lack of an elevator and the challenge of managing luggage on stairs, with some guests questioning overall value when extra fees apply.

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