Hotel El Roblar

This Charming New Hotel in Ojai Captures the City’s Enduring Mystique | Vogue

"Fresh off a six-year renovation that took a 105-year-old building down to the studs, this 42-room retreat has already become an energy vortex of its own—so popular it’s hard to snag a room or even a seat in the lobby bar. Grand Spanish Mission Revival architecture and a prime perch on Ojai Avenue set the tone, while every inch feels handmade and historically rooted: a stacked-stone fireplace rebuilt as an exact replica of the original anchors the lobby, a mural by Stefano Castronovo traces the valley’s natural history, archival photos line the halls, and Monterrey-style furniture and vintage art sourced from local estate sales mingle with Mexican-style chaise lounges by the pool and gardens of local stone and flowering plants. The personal touch continues in the rooms with hand-painted terracotta tiles from Mexico, fluffy bespoke bathrobes, and custom embroidered Pendleton blankets; most rooms in the main building have private patios, while bungalows add secluded garden terraces, kiva fireplaces, and minibars stocked with fresh local oranges and old-school metal juice presses. With two resident Aldabra tortoises from the nearby Turtle Conservancy and a buzzy lobby and Condor Bar that keep both visitors and locals lingering, the whole place channels Ojai’s mission-era charm and a deeply local sensibility." - Christina Pérez