Boutique-style Hotel Marina Riviera breathes new life into a vintage 1968 lodge, blending retro mountain aesthetics with contemporary sophistication. Casetta Hotels transformed the space with clever design choices—think cozy textures and alpine nostalgia reimagined for modern travelers who appreciate style. The property sits right on Big Bear Lake with direct water access, which changes how you experience the place compared to other lodges in town.

Year-round amenities include a heated pool, hot tub, barrel sauna, and multiple fire pits along the water’s edge—genuine places to relax after hiking the surrounding trails with your dog. Lakefront views come standard in the main lodge, where select rooms also feature gas fireplaces for extra coziness on chilly mountain nights. The layout gives you real privacy options depending on your group size. “Third Wheel” rooms offer flexible sleeping with queen beds and twin bunks, while six standalone cabins across the street work well if you’re traveling with multiple dogs or a larger group—each cabin sleeps up to six.

De La Nonna, the property’s Italian restaurant, is the alpine sister outpost of a Los Angeles original. The setup matters if you’re bringing your dog: wood-fired pizzas are served in the resort’s open-air dining space, which happens to be Big Bear’s only exclusively lakeside restaurant with outdoor seating. You’ll actually have a view while eating, and your dog gets to be part of the scene rather than stuck back at the room.

The location itself puts you near several trailheads for morning walks—Mill Creek Trail and the Castle Rock Trail network are both within easy driving distance. The whole vibe here skews toward people who want mountain relaxation without feeling like they’re roughing it, which translates well if you’re bringing a dog who might appreciate heated accommodations after time outside.