Historic SLO County hotel opens new restaurant, preps for future expansion

Anna Armstrong
·2 min read

The historic Carlton Hotel in Atascadero is set to see some major changes this year and next as the nearly 100-year-old establishment expands.

The first change that kicked off the expansion was the opening of a brand new restaurant and wine bar, Nectar and Noble, on Thursday.

“We are excited to introduce Nectar & Noble as part of our ongoing journey to reimagine The Carlton Hotel,” owner Kamal Patel said in a news release. “This wine and beer concept represents just the beginning of an extraordinary transformation with our goal of elevating every aspect of our guest experience.”

According to Patel, the hotel and restaurant have worked with a food and beverage coordinator to ensure everything served is “uniquely local.” All beers and wines are sourced in San Luis Obispo County, with many coming specifically from North County.

Meanwhile a larger remodel is expected to continue into spring of next year, and will include the refurbishment of the lobby, the addition of new rooms and the opening of a distillery and speakeasy space.

Each hotel room will also be refreshed and modernized.

“Our main goal is to make Atascadero a destination of its own,” Patel said. “Utilizing local distilleries, craft artisans, honey and lavender fields and things that are very unique to Atascadero, we are really seeking to make Atascadero a unique destination for travelers.”

The Carlton Hotel has added a new wine, beer and bites restaurant, Nectar & Noble, as it prepares for a major renovation of the historic Atascadero hotel, as seen here on April 17, 2024.
The Carlton Hotel has added a new wine, beer and bites restaurant, Nectar & Noble, as it prepares for a major renovation of the historic Atascadero hotel, as seen here on April 17, 2024.

Historic Atascadero hotel joins major hotel brand

According to its website, The Carlton Hotel opened in 1929 as The Annex, a “top-of-the-line companion to the Atascadero Inn.” Its 52 rooms were located on the second floor of a block-long building that also housed a J.C. Penney, Sprouse-Reitz and Safeway, according to the website.

The name changed to The Carlton in 1931. It would undergo a series of new owners and name changes across the following decades.

The Carlton Hotel is undergoing renovations through spring 2025. A current view of the Carlton Suite on April 12, 2024. The new renovations will include a new restaurant, revamped rooms, a distillery and a speakeasy.
The Carlton Hotel is undergoing renovations through spring 2025. A current view of the Carlton Suite on April 12, 2024. The new renovations will include a new restaurant, revamped rooms, a distillery and a speakeasy.

Patel and his company Capricorn Property Group took ownership of the Carlton Hotel in October 2023.

In an interview with The Tribune, Patel confirmed The Carlton Hotel is also joining the Tribute Portfolio, a hotel brand by Marriott.

The hotel will keep its name and remain in its historic building, Patel said.

“We are really excited to be here in Atascadero,” Patel said. “It’s a beautiful building with a lot of history in a town that is really becoming more vibrant.”

Renovations at The Carlton Hotel include a new wine, beer and bites restaurant, Nectar & Noble, revamped rooms, a distillery and a speakeasy.
Renovations at The Carlton Hotel include a new wine, beer and bites restaurant, Nectar & Noble, revamped rooms, a distillery and a speakeasy.

For more information

The Carlton Hotel will remain open during the renovations.

To reserve a room or for more information, visit the-carlton.com or call 805-461-5100.

The Carlton Hotel will remain open while undergoing renovations from 2024-2025. The renovations will include a new restaurant, revamped rooms, a distillery and a speakeasy.
The Carlton Hotel will remain open while undergoing renovations from 2024-2025. The renovations will include a new restaurant, revamped rooms, a distillery and a speakeasy.