One-day itinerary: explore Riverside from The Mission Inn
Start your day at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa with breakfast at the on-site Mission Inn Restaurant and a guided Mission Inn Museum tour, then spend the afternoon walking Riverside’s nearby museums and returning for a spa treatment at Kelly’s Spa before dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants.
In this guide
Morning: Breakfast and a hotel tour
Begin with breakfast at the Mission Inn Restaurant (serves breakfast starting at 7:00 AM). The restaurant sits beneath vaulted ceilings and colorful tiles and accepts reservations.
After breakfast, join a guided Mission Inn Museum tour on the property to see the hotel’s chapels, catacombs, and historic art collection; tours run daily.
- Mission Inn Restaurant hours include breakfast starting at 7:00 AM (Monday–Saturday 7–11 AM, Sunday 7–9 AM).
- Guided daily tours explore the hotel’s museum areas, chapels, and historic collections.
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Mission Inn Restaurant — reservations accepted |
| Museum tour | Guided daily tours of hotel collections and chapels |
Late morning: Walk to nearby museums
Historic Downtown Riverside is very walkable from the hotel. The Riverside Metropolitan Museum and the California Museum of Photography are about a 1–3 minute walk; the Riverside Art Museum is roughly a 4-minute walk.
Use this time to visit one or two small museums or to stroll Main Street and see the local shops and architecture.
- Riverside Metropolitan Museum (Museum of Riverside) — about a 1-minute walk.
- California Museum of Photography — roughly a 3-minute walk.
- Riverside Art Museum — roughly a 4-minute walk.
| Attraction | Walking time from hotel |
|---|---|
| Riverside Metropolitan Museum | About 1 minute |
| California Museum of Photography | About 3 minutes |
| Riverside Art Museum | About 4 minutes |
Lunch options: Hotel patios and local Main Street
If you prefer to stay on-site, Bella Trattoria offers patio and sidewalk dining on Main Street and serves lunch and dinner on select days. Las Campanas provides a garden patio setting with Mexican cuisine and a tequila bar.
For a quicker option or a casual bite in the hotel, the California Lounge and Presidential Lounge offer small bites and cocktails; hours vary for the California Lounge, and the Presidential Lounge is open daily from 11:00 AM–11:00 PM.
- Bella Trattoria: patio dining, Friday–Sunday hours vary (check hotel for current schedule).
- Las Campanas: Mexican cuisine, hours Sun–Thu 11 AM–9 PM and Fri–Sat 11 AM–10 PM.
- Presidential Lounge: open daily 11:00 AM–11:00 PM (cocktails and small plates).
| Venue | Typical service |
|---|---|
| Bella Trattoria | Lunch & dinner (patio seating) |
| Las Campanas | Lunch & dinner (garden patio) |
| Presidential Lounge | Cocktails & small bites |
Afternoon: Spa time or pool & fitness
Book a treatment at Kelly’s Spa (also called The Spa at the Mission Inn) for access to Roman-inspired bathing tubs, eucalyptus steam rooms, and relaxation lounges. The spa is open to hotel guests and day visitors with reservations.
If you prefer sun and water, the heated outdoor pool and Jacuzzi are open daily from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The fitness center is also available daily from 6:00 AM–11:00 PM.
- Kelly’s Spa features treatment packages and signature services such as the Fountain of Youth bathing ritual; spa appointments can be booked in advance.
- Spa visit includes access to the pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, and relaxation areas.
- Heated outdoor pool and Jacuzzi open daily 6:00 AM–11:00 PM; fitness center open 6:00 AM–11:00 PM.
| Option | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Kelly’s Spa | Treatment rooms, Roman baths, steam room, relaxation lounge |
| Pool & Jacuzzi | Heated outdoor pool and hot tub (open 6 AM–11 PM) |
| Fitness center | Cardio and strength equipment (open 6 AM–11 PM) |
Late afternoon: Short hike or downtown stroll
If you want a short outdoor excursion, Mount Rubidoux Park is a popular local hike about 1.4–1.5 miles from the hotel and offers city views. Bring water and comfortable shoes.
Alternatively, continue exploring downtown Riverside’s shops, galleries, and historic architecture within a few blocks of the hotel.
- Mount Rubidoux Park: approximately 1.4–1.5 miles from the hotel; popular for a short hike and city views.
- Downtown Riverside: walk Main Street for galleries, boutiques, and more close to the hotel.
| Option | Distance / time |
|---|---|
| Mount Rubidoux Park | About 1.4–1.5 miles from hotel |
| Downtown walk | Within a few blocks of the hotel |
Evening: Dinner at the steakhouse or lounge
For an evening meal on property, the Mission Inn Steakhouse (Duane’s Prime Steaks & Seafood) serves dinner on select evenings and recommends reservations; the restaurant follows an upscale business-casual dress code.
If you prefer a quieter end to the day, the Presidential Lounge and California Lounge offer cocktails and small plates in historic settings.
- Mission Inn Steakhouse typically serves dinner and suggests reservations; check current nightly schedule.
- Dress code for the steakhouse is upscale business casual (no shorts or baseball caps).
- Presidential Lounge open daily 11:00 AM–11:00 PM for cocktails and lighter fare.
| Dinner spot | Notes |
|---|---|
| Mission Inn Steakhouse (Duane’s) | Dinner service; reservations recommended; upscale business casual |
| Presidential Lounge | Cocktails and small bites; open daily |
| California Lounge | Small bites and cocktails — hours vary |
Practical tips and room choices
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM and check-out is at 11:00 AM. A debit or credit card is required at check-in to secure incidentals, and the hotel may authorize the full stay amount plus an additional incidental hold.
Choose a room type that fits your needs from the hotel’s room list (examples include Deluxe Room, Junior Suite, Room (Mission), Room (Raincross), Room (Glenwood)). Rollaway beds and cribs are available for a fee subject to availability.
- Check-in/check-out: 4:00 PM / 11:00 AM.
- Examples of room names: Deluxe Room; Junior Suite; Room (Mission); Room (Raincross); Room (Glenwood).
- Pool access is available only after check-in; early arrivals can store luggage and use hotel restaurants or the spa.
| Facility | Notes |
|---|---|
| Parking | Valet and self-parking available (surcharges apply); EV charging on site |
| Resort fee | Daily resort fee applies and covers fitness/pool access and in-room amenities |
| Children | Up to 3 children 11 and under can stay free using existing bedding |
