Picolo recommends · Hotel in Avalon, Catalina Island
Pavilion Hotel
A low hotel on the sea side of Avalon's main street, where a green courtyard is all that separates your room from the sand.
Early morning on Crescent Avenue, and the only sound is the boats leaving the bay. From the Pavilion you cross the courtyard lawn and you are on the beach before anyone has laid out a towel.
In the late afternoon the garden fills with guests and a glass of wine with cheese. The ferry landing is a stroll away along the waterfront, so you can arrive, drop your bags and be in the water within the hour.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Pavilion Hotel
We choose it for a first visit to Catalina. Nothing on the island is simpler: walk off the boat, along the seafront and into a garden by the sea, with Avalon's shops and restaurants around you.
Rooms are on the small side, and the promenade stays lively into the evening. The beach in front gets crowded by midday, so plan your swims for the morning or late in the day.
What you get
- Green courtyard between rooms and beach
- Beach just outside
- Wine and cheese in the garden in the afternoon
- Views of the boats in the bay
- Short walk from the ferry landing
A day at Pavilion Hotel
- Morning
- A swim from the beach before the day-trippers arrive.
- Midday
- A glass-bottom boat trip from the pier.
- Afternoon
- Wine and cheese in the courtyard as the light softens.
- Evening
- A stroll along the seafront to the Casino building at the end of the bay.
Location
Avalon, Catalina Island, California, USA
Open in MapsQuestions about Pavilion Hotel
How far is Pavilion Hotel from the Catalina ferry?
It is a few minutes' walk along Crescent Avenue from the ferry landing in Avalon, so you will not need a taxi or a cart.
Does Pavilion Hotel have beach access?
Yes. The hotel sits on the beach side of the street, and the courtyard leads straight towards the sand.
Are the rooms large at Pavilion Hotel?
No, rooms are fairly compact. Most guests spend their time in the courtyard, on the beach or around town.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
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