Hotel El Roblar

Character and identity

Ojai's first hotel reopens on two acres along Ojai Avenue, its Spanish Revival façade and preserved Mission-style archway hinting at the century of history inside. A creative team including Eric Goode and designer Ramin Shamshiri took the property to the studs but rebuilt it to feel restored, all Monterey furniture, leather sofas, a stone fireplace recreated from old photos, and a Stefano Castronovo mural tracing Ojai's history. The 50 rooms split between a Main Building, 11 bungalows and the new Sycamore House. Dining runs through chef Brandon Boudet at the California-Mexican Condor Bar and garden-side La Cocina. Service is unhurried and local. A spa is slated for late 2027.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What sets this place apart is the curatorial hand: a meticulously rebuilt sense of place tied to Ojai's history and California condor and tortoise conservation, with cooking strong enough to justify the trip on its own. Book a bungalow for the garden patio and water feature (number 11 has the koi pond), come midweek, and build in time for the Turtle Conservancy tour.