History

The restaurant's history actually begins before its 1941 opening. The Spindrift Inn, as it was originally called, was a cozy, four-bedroom roadside inn and restaurant. It was built in 1916 and served as the only lodging on what was once called Long Beach - now La Jolla Shores. In 1935, The Spindrift Inn was purchased by Frederick W. Kellogg, who also bought the adjoining La Jolla Beach & Yacht Club now the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.

Kellogg planned to change the Spindrift Inn into a restaurant, but did not live to see his dream realized. Instead, his son, William Scripps Kellogg, resumed work and finally opened the restaurant under its new name, the Marine Room, on May 29, 1941. The opening day menu featured Fresh Lobster a la Newburg in a shell for $1.35, Rainbow Mountain Trout Saute Amandine for $1.25 and martinis for 35 cents.

The Marine Room quickly became famous as pounding surf created dramatic displays outside the original, single-pane windows. However, these windows were no match for mother nature so the room had to be boarded up during winter storms. When the Spindrift Lounge was added in 1948, the original glass was replaced with 3/4 inch tempered glass which withstood the ocean's assault for the next 34 years.

A major series of storms hit San Diego hard during the El Nino conditions of 1982 and unfortunately the Marine Room was featured on the world news as the waves forced their way through the windows and flooded the restaurant. Hence, we were forced to undertake an unplanned, nine-month remodeling project but came out all the better for it. The wait was well worth it and the Marine Room came back stronger than ever after its setback.

The storms that closed the restaurant in 1942 and 1982 get no credit for the landmark’s sixth and most recent restoration which took place in October of 1994. Signature elements such as the aquarium and logo seahorses were retained in keeping with the tradition and gracious style of hospitality central to the philosophy of La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, Inc., owner and operator of the Marine Room.