Amphitheater fever has spread across Queensway Bay — thanks to the recent opening of the city’s newest venue, the F&M Bank Amphitheater of Long Beach.
Years ago, ship advocates argued that the Queen Mary should be moved to the more accessible downtown side of the bay.
Now, amid the new “amiphifever,” much of the momentum is happening across the water, where four-letter names — the Maya, the Reef and the Mary — are drawing attention and increased business because of the new concert venue.
The Maya, for example, hosted a grand reveal celebration showcasing the hotel’s renovation — and its name — on Thursday, July 9.
The 2026 reintroduction, along with the new name “The Maya,” follows a $10.5 million renovation that refreshed the entire property and elevated the guest experience. The Maya now highlights its waterfront setting with “across the bay” views of the downtown Long Beach skyline.
The 191 guest rooms now have a more polished designer feel. Dyelot Interiors was brought in to modernize the rooms with playful tile patterns, Nespresso coffee makers, and high-tech upgrades.
The Maya celebrated its recent renovation and renaming in Long Beach on July 9. (Photo by Jo Murray).
The Maya’s restaurant, Fuego, now has a relaxed lounge feel with comfortable couches, potted plants, and an atmosphere reminiscent of a Mexican resort. (Photo by Jo Murray).
Inside a hotel room at The Maya in Long Beach, which recently underwent more than $10 million worth of renovations and upgrades. (Photo by Jo Murray).
Coffee master Mike Sheldrake attends The Maya’s celebration of its new look and name. (Photo by Jo Murray).
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The Maya celebrated its recent renovation and renaming in Long Beach on July 9. (Photo by Jo Murray).
Eight new one-bedroom suites have also been added, joining the existing Presidential and Loft suites.
Last August, I met with Hotel Maya general manager Gary Guthrie to discuss the remodel plans. Last week, those plans were unveiled.
I was eager to see what the Maya team had created, especially because these were the same investors behind Playa at the Maya, the man-made private beach inspired by one they had seen inKey West.
The plans included two new suites in each of the four buildings, a refreshed lobby, and a remodel of the popular restaurant Fuego.
As promised, Fuego now has the relaxed lounge feel Guthrie described, with comfortable couches, potted plants, and an atmosphere reminiscent of a Mexican resort. The menu features craft cocktails and small plates, making it a festive happy-hour spot for locals.
Fuego’s new morning coffee and pastry program, Café de Fuego, features local Long Beach favorites Sheldrake Coffee Roasting and Colossus Bakery. Coffee master Mike Sheldrake attended the reveal as Maya staff prepared a variety of coffee drinks.
I remember the hotel’s original grand opening on July 30, 1975. Then called the Queensway Bay Hilton, it drew Baron Hilton, Conrad Hilton’s son, who recalled staying at The Breakers when it was a Hilton property and playing at The Pike, according to 1975 Long Beach Press-Telegram articles.
The hotel took 18 months to build in the 1970s and cost $6 million. Its four five-story, pinwheel-shaped buildings were designed to take full advantage of the water and Queen Mary views.
Today, nearly 50 years after the hotel first opened, tourists and locals alike continue to book the venue, which is located on the Queen Mary/Amphitheater side of the bay.
The Reef
With the recent reopening of The Reef after a six-year pandemic-driven closure, I had questions for Specialty Restaurants CEO John Tallichet, a second-generation leader of the company known for their restaurants with clever themes, including The Reef, Orange Hill, and Proud Bird.
Tallichet’s father, David, was the visionary restaurateur who first opened The Reef in 1958.
“Being born into it, I figured everybody had a restaurant that they grew up in,” said- Tallichet, who also served as the general manager at The Reef for many years. “My mom comes to work and works with me periodically. She’s 92.”
Food and beverage offering at The Reef in Long Beach. (Photo by Jo Murray).
Food and beverage offering at The Reef in Long Beach. (Photo by Jo Murray).
Some offerings at The Reef Restaurant in Long Beach, which is reopening on Thursday, June 18, after years of reduced operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo courtesy of The Reef).
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Food and beverage offering at The Reef in Long Beach. (Photo by Jo Murray).
That gave me some understanding regarding the family’s passion for their generational business, which went public in 1968. Even still, it’s a “family business” with three generations of the Tallichet family still part of the company’s operations.
One interesting — and often forgotten — part of the company’s history took place when the Queen Mary was preparing to open in 1971 with Diners Club as the planned main operator.
Diners, though, pulled out at the last minute, and Specialty Restaurants was brought in to replace them. David Tallichet brought his talent in destination dining, and graced the ship with one major change: The addition of a high-end themed restaurant on board, “Sir Winston’s” named in honor of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who had spent plenty of time aboard the Queen Mary.
Tallichet, now, keeps a photo of Churchill behind his desk. That photo, he said, was passed on to him after his father died. Tallichet’s father, who served in World War II, had kept the photo behind his own desk before he passed away.
“The Queen Mary was something that I think he felt a connection to, even though he never traveled by the Queen Mary — but just kind of what it represented,” Tallichet said. “Its history in the war was something that my dad, I think, really felt (it) was an amazing opportunity to be involved with the Queen Mary and operate there.”
A few days after the interview, my husband David and I went to The Reef for dinner.
All the menu items are made from scratch, including fresh eggs that make the mayonnaise in the chipotle aioli. The chargrilled oysters were a modern take on oysters Rockefeller, the crab and shrimp cake was grilled, and the crispy Brussel sprouts were cooked with a chili glaze that had basil and mint.
Entrees include seafood steak and vegetarian options. Beer is available served in buckets of seven bottles and the happy hour menu (3-6pm) has seven savory options including well drinks, beer, wine and specialty cocktails.
The Reef’s general manager wasn’t there during our visit. Tallichet put up his own World Cup tickets as the prize for an employee raffle, according to the acting manager, which the general manager wound up winning. We learned from other employees like executive chef Romell Panis that the company has a culture of taking care of their employees.
Panis, a 25-year employee, shared he was able to remain employed during the pandemic because of innovative solutions like increased to-go services and the way the company worked with long-term suppliers.
Queen Mary
Speaking of the Queen Mary, the ship’s operators recently unveiled a new “summer vacation experience,” featuring a new three-night, four-day staycation getaway that is reminiscent of an ocean cruise.
The experience, according to a recent news release, was created in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Queen Mary’s maiden voyage. The idea of the getaway is to treat guests to an onboard experience that is authentic to the golden age of ocean travel, inspired by onboard programming from 1967 preserved in the ship’s historical archives.
The Queen Mary in Long Beach will host a Fourth of July celebration featuring live entertainment, family-friendly activities and a fireworks show on Saturday, July 4.
(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
People visit the Queen Mary in Long Beach on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, on the 90th anniversary of the ship’s maiden voyage. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
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The Queen Mary in Long Beach will host a Fourth of July celebration featuring live entertainment, family-friendly activities and a fireworks show on Saturday, July 4.
(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
“The newly released daily itinerary features an expansive lineup of activities designed for families, couples, history enthusiasts and travelers looking for an entirely different kind of Southern California getaway,” the news release said. “The package includes accommodations in a historic stateroom, all meals throughout the stay, a welcome reception, access to Queen Mary exhibits and tours, and exclusive vacation programming from morning through evening.”
The itinerary will include a welcome reception, crew orientation, dinner, screenings of classic maritime-themed films, Coffee with the Captain events, a guided deck hike, yoga, and more. There will also be a lecture commemorating the ship’s maiden voyage, a pickleball lesson and tournament, a family scavenger hunt, trivia, dance class, afternoon tea, and more.
Evening entertainment will feature social experiences and entertainment including Brushes & Bubbly, access to the ship’s on board speakeasy, and more.
“Guests will also have access to more than 23 exhibits and attractions, tours, historic public spaces, dining venues and bars throughout the ship,” Steve Caloca, the ship’s general manager, said. “This is the new golden era of the Queen Mary, and we look forward to welcoming adventurers, historians, music lovers and foodies from around the globe this summer.”
The experience will get underway from July 20 to 23. To book, visit queenmary.com.