California Dreaming at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

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Legendary hospitality destinations like the Ojai Valley Inn, Santa Barbara Biltmore, Alisal Ranch, La Valencia in La Jolla, and the Beverly Hills Hotels still channel the mystique of the Golden State. The romantic pull of these Spanish Colonial Revival style properties is particularly fierce. Lesser known is the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe north of San Diego, due in part to its community and setting, where its particular brand of affluence avoids the spotlight. 

The lobby is full of modern and traditional elements. Photos courtesy of Inn at Rancho Santa Fe.

Thankfully, a jewel in its crown has gotten the attention it long needed and deserved, and this Southern California hidden gem is ready to reintroduce its quiet magic to visitors and locals alike. 

Another view of the lobby that features beautiful herringbone floors. Photos courtesy of Inn at Rancho Santa Fe.

Stepping onto the grounds and into the wood-truss-capped lobby anchored by a roaring fireplace feels like an extension of Rancho Santa Fe’s town square. The sense of place is no accident; pioneering architect Lilian Rice master planned the village in 1921, and her vision remains strikingly intact.

Inside a cozy suite living room. Photos courtesy of Inn at Rancho Santa Fe.

The Inn’s roots trace back to a century-old collaboration between the Santa Fe Railroad and the Santa Fe Improvement Company, a real estate arm created to sell inland plots near Encinitas. Once water arrived, citrus groves flourished—and the railroad had a fresh commodity to ship north and east (also a convenient marketing tool). The Inn began as La Morada guest house, with just a few modest rooms to host and entice prospective land buyers.

A view of a guest suite. Photos courtesy of Inn at Rancho Santa Fe.

Today, the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe features over 80 keys, including a variety of rooms and suites. Options range from the irresistibly quaint Lover’s Cottage to the expansive three-bedroom Hibiscus Residence, one of five family-friendly standalone homes available through the Residences & Villas Collection. White bouclé and green velveteen chairs and sofas add a fresh stylistic dash to the historic interiors reimagined by designer and hotelier (and former Inn at Rancho Santa Fe owner) Steve Hermann and interior designer Nina Chiappa. Botanical wallpapers and warm burled wood case goods bridge Old World and contemporary sensibilities.

Three meals a day with an emphasis on California-sourced ingredients can be enjoyed in the trellis-clad Lilian’s restaurant, with evening cocktails and night caps taken in Bing’s Bar, named in honor of former town resident and hotel stalwart, Bing Crosby. For lighter bites and Erewhon provisions, The Café offers a casual daytime alternative.

Lilian’s restaurant is covered in green trellis. Photos courtesy of Inn at Rancho Santa Fe.

Recreation and relaxation are within easy reach, with tennis and pickleball courts available across the street. The sun-dappled pool stands with cabanas and classic white-and-green stripe umbrellas at the ready. Guests who want to turn up the wellness notch can indulge in treatments at the on-site Mila Moursi Spa, and explore the new StayWell Longevity Menu focused on integrative treatments from Dr. Sarah Corey. The intimate scale both indoors and out is perhaps best appreciated by wandering the 11-acre property’s landscaped paths, some of which feel lifted from another time. The Inn and Rancho Santa Fe’s next era taps into the Golden State’s charm with plenty of low-key panache, and without fuss or flash.