The Allegretto Vineyard Resort, image from Expedia.
– The Ayres Hotels’ Allegretto Vineyard Resort opened recently on Buena Vista Drive off Highway 46 east in Paso Robles. The Allegretto is nestled on 20 acres that include wine-grapes, olives and fruit trees, 171 guest rooms and suites, a restaurant with chef’s garden, wine bar, 12,000-square-foot courtyard, pool and cabanas, spa, chapel, ballroom, indoor and outdoor event space, walking paths, manicured Mediterranean gardens, specially crafted vignettes, and arts and artifacts that invoke, “the luxury, warmth, and beauty of la dolce vita.”
The resort includes the Cello Ristorante and Bar, an upscale yet casual Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. It offers an extensive wine list, local artisanal beers and craft cocktails. It’s open for breakfast, lunch. Dinner service is expected to begin later this month. The restaurant opens to a patio with iron fire bowls and bocce ball that take advantage of warm evenings and sunsets. “Our promise to quality will be available whether guests are dining pool side, in-room or at events on- or off-property,” said chef Eric Olson.
The spa offers an infrared detox sauna, massage, facials, and body treatments. The spa offers a wellness program featuring Chära, an alternative to yoga, as well as Barre and Balance, high-intensity interval training, and a Glow Dance Fitness class.
The resort offers an array of wedding and event spaces, catering and event coordination. Venues on its property include the Dylan Board Room, 24-person capacity; Murano Private Dining, 30-person capacity; Veneto Ballroom, 300-person capacity; the Abbey, 40-person capacity; as well as a 12,000-square-foot courtyard and 40,000-square-feet of outdoor space.
Drawing inspiration from the beauty of the Paso Robles wine country that enchanted him decades ago, as well as his own extensive travels, Douglas Ayres said that he designed and built the Allegretto in the style of an Italian vineyard estate, filling the corridors and spaces with art and artifacts from his travels.
“It is exceptionally gratifying to see a vision and dream become a reality. We look forward to hosting our Central Coast neighbors and guests from afar, making the Allegretto a place of joy and inspiration,” said Ayres.
The family legacy of developing properties dates back to Douglas Ayres’ great-grandfather, Frank H. Ayres, who traveled to Southern California from Ohio and in 1905 established Frank H. Ayres & Son, a land development company in L.A. County. Frank’s son, Don Ayres, Sr., joined the family business in the 1920s. Third generation Don Ayres, Jr., joined the family business after WWII, just as the housing boom began, and within the decade became recognized for creating distinctive homes throughout Southern California. Doug’s father, Don Ayres, Jr., developed the concept of European boutique hotels after his travels abroad, which were rebranded as the Ayres Hotels in 2001.
