Tag Archives: The Mission Inn

The Mission Inn: Fine dining offers steak, seafood, pizza and brunch

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54 Degrees at Duane's (Photo courtesy of The Mission Inn)

54 Degrees at Duane’s (Photo courtesy of The Mission Inn)

By Richard Irwin, Staff Writer

For more upscale dining, try Duane’s Prime Steaks and Seafood at The Mission Inn. The very elegant restaurant has received the AAA Four Diamond Award since 1996, as well as Wine Spectator’s award of excellence.

We loved the warm amber decor and marveled at the central masterpiece, “Charge Up San Juan Hill.” The 8-by-6-foot painting of Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders is one of the largest paintings in The Mission Inn.

54 Degrees at Duane’s wine bar next door offers 28 wines by the glass and 285 wines by the bottle. The simpler Mission Inn Restaurant is famous for its champagne brunch on Sundays, with unique food stations and a mimosa bar.

Las Campanas Mexican Cantina in the front courtyard offers seating under shady umbrellas. We sampled the signature margaritas and Mexican cuisine for lunch.

Bella Trattoria Italian Bistro, located under an outside arcade on the pedestrian plaza, offers southern Italian cooking with pizzas baked in a brick oven, custom pasta dishes and pressed panini sandwiches.

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The Mission Inn: Presidential Lounge and Spanish Courtyard ooze history

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The Spanish Courtyard at The Mission Inn in Riverside. (Photo courtesy of Mission Inn)

The Spanish Courtyard at The Mission Inn in Riverside. (Photo courtesy of Mission Inn)

By Richard Irwin, Staff Writer

The Presidential Lounge is named for the many presidents who have stayed at The Mission Inn. If the presidential portraits on the walls weren’t enough of a hint, the majestic mosaic presidential seal on the floor under our feet was a dead giveaway.

Theodore Roosevelt visited in 1903. Richard Nixon and his wife, Pat, were married next to the fireplace, while Ronald and Nancy Reagan honeymooned here. Take a minute to try out the enormous chair hand-built for the portly

William Howard Taft. A total of eight presidents have visited, including John F. Kennedy.

Outside is the Spanish Patio, a restaurant that feels like it is in the inner courtyard of a castle in Spain. Its design was inspired by owner Frank Miller’s visit to Spain in 1911. Some of the tiles came from Seville, while the four grinning gargoyles in the water fountain are copies of a waterspout from a castle near Barcelona.

In March, the Spanish Patio celebrated 100 years. Every month for a year it will feature a special entree.

In July, it is Ronald Reagan veal osso buco with herb couscous, roasted chanterelles and turnips. In August, the menu will include Cary Grant barbecued squab with fingerling potato salad, mustard green slaw and red onion paste.

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The Mission Inn: Time travel is possible at this elegant hotel

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The Mission Inn in Riverside. (Photo courtesy of Mission Inn)

The Mission Inn in Riverside. (Photo courtesy of Mission Inn)

By Richard Irwin, Staff Writer

Time travel is possible. Travelers just have to use their imaginations to step into the past. Fortunately, they can combine Old World charm with modern amenities for a comfortable visit in Riverside.

It was on a record 104-degree day that we stepped through the San Gabriel Mission style bell tower at The Mission Inn in Riverside to find a vibrant part of California history. As we strolled down the lush garden path past ancient Spanish cannons, we stopped in front of a huge birdcage.

Normally, two brightly colored macaws greet guests, much as they have done for more than 100 years. But the heat had driven the birds indoors.

Stepping through the doors, we entered another era, a time when Spanish missions towered over the land, calling the faithful to worship.

Moving into the cool, dark lobby, we rolled our carry-on bags past elegant seating areas to a beautiful wooden registration desk. An antique phone on the desk drew us back into California’s colorful 1900s.

No soaring ceilings, glass walls and marble desks can be found here. The Mission Inn celebrates its unique past by maintaining its historic style. The mission of the Mission is to share its glorious history with travelers tired of the hustle and bustle of the modern world.

Soon, we were huddled in a tiny European style elevator for a rumbling ride to our room. Each of the 238 guest rooms and 27 suites are decorated differently. No cookie-cutter rooms here.

We then took the elevator to the rooftop of the historic hotel for a magnificent view of downtown Riverside. While there, we found a secluded, restful patio on top of the Rotunda wing.

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