The best hotels in California

Where to bed down in the Golden State

4 May 2023

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With its vibrant cities, golden sandy beaches, rolling surf and craggy mountain ranges, the sun-soaked state of California really does have it all – including some of the finest hotels in America. Whether you’re after urban cool in Los Angeles, secluded luxury in swanky Montecito or jaw-dropping ocean views along the Pacific Coast Highway, our picks of the bunch have got all the bases covered.

How we choose the best hotels in California

Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We're always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve.

Courtesy of Madrona Manor
hotel
The Madrona, Sonoma, California
$$
Originally built in 1881 as a private residence for the globetrotting Paxton family, this gabled mansion in Healdsburg has been respectfully restored and reimagined as a modern-day boutique hotel by San Francisco-based designer Jay Jeffers. The 24 accommodations include guest rooms located in the original mansion and carriage house as well as more secluded bungalows spread across historic buildings. Many rooms have soaring ceilings, and every accommodation features an original piece of furniture or artwork; many have period fireplaces, bay windows, and spacious balconies overlooking the hills of Dry Creek Valley. Madrona’s namesake restaurant is helmed by Michelin-starred chef Jesse Mallgren – there’s always a loyal local crowd for brunch on the heated terrace (the table waffle to share and salmon gravlax pizza with poached eggs are must-orders). Rooms from £520. Jen Murphy
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Stephanie Russo/Villa Mara Carmel
hotel
Villa Mara Carmel, California
Though Dev Patel grew up in a hospitality family, Villa Mara Carmel is his first project on his own – and certainly not his last. The almost top-to-bottom renovation of the property (which took three years) shows in every detail, from the leather-wrapped staircase handrails on the inside to the botanically perfect landscaping outside. And if you could fuse muted minimalism with beach chic and add a dash of fabric fantastic (e.g., the bed headboards and throw pillows), you’d have Villa Mara’s 16 guest rooms nailed to perfection. But the hotel’s most enviable feature is its location, nestled along one of the most historic streets in Carmel-by-the-Sea Carmel Point neighbourhood literally a few hundred steps from Carmel Beach, which is one of the most postcard-perfect stretches of sand and sea in America. Rooms from £400. Peter Taylor
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Chris Simpson
hotel
Sensei Porcupine Creek, California
Toeing the line between a self-improvement sabbatical and bone-fide holiday, Sensei Porcupine Creek is the ideal getaway for the chronically over-achieving: a place where real R&R is achieved proactively, through science and strategy, and in utter seclusion. Formerly the private estate of tech wizard and Silicon Valley billionaire Larry Ellison, Sensei’s co-founder, this intensely secluded retreat hidden at the foothills of the Santa Rosa mountains (studded with monumental Robert Indiana and Keith Haring sculptures from Ellison’s personal collection, no less) is only the second outpost for Sensei and marks the brand’s debut in the continental United States. (Its first, Sensei Lānaʻi, A Four Seasons Resort, opened in 2019.) But it’s also the brand’s first true standalone property, and with a lush, 75-acre golf course, a glamorous lagoon-style pool, and tennis facilities modelled after those at the nearby Indian Wells Tennis Garden, which hosts the annual BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament – in addition to a fleet of world-class wellness professionals, all poised to help you hit your marks – it really does stand alone. Rooms from around £1,130. Betsy Blumenthal
Book Now at Sensei.com
1 Hotel San Francisco
hotel
1 Hotel San Francisco
The unicorn this city has been waiting for, 1 Hotel San Francisco has an excellent location overlooking the Bay, an eco ethos at the core of its brand, on-point design, and a bar/restaurant that takes advantage of the fact that it’s mere feet from one of the country’s best farmers markets. While the lobby and the hallways are on the moody side of lighting, the 186 rooms and 14 suites are bright and sunny. My king room looked out toward the Ferry Building and over the Bay, with the Bay Bridge off in the distance. (For even more insane waterfront views, the panoramic suite – 630 square feet with sweeping Bay vistas – is the room to book). Rooms from £284. Rebecca Misner
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Robert Rieger
The Hoxton, Los Angeles
This US outpost of the buzzy hotel chain has brought a healthy dose of European flair to the West Coast courtesy of its design-led interiors, which were created as a collaboration between the Hoxton team and Soho House. No wonder, then, that you get such a distinctly clubby vibe as soon as you step into the lobby of the French Beaux-Arts building, which is filled with reclaimed vintage furniture, lush potted plants and fedora-wearing Angelenos tapping away on laptops. In the bedrooms, which range in size from Snug to Biggy, artisan ceramics and House of Hackney prints give a nod to the hotel group’s east London roots. There are two restaurants to choose from – the diner-style Sibling Rivalry in the lobby and Peruvian Cabra on the rooftop – which are both firm favourites with out-of-towners and locals from the hotel’s bustling Downtown neighbourhood.
Book your stay: Booking.com Book your stay: Expedia
Brecht Vant Hof
The Surfrider, Malibu
Set just off the Pacific Coast Highway, this former roadside motel has been transformed into one of Malibu’s most sought-after spots. The vibe here is laidback surfing-chic. The hotel’s young, globetrotting owners turned it into a sleek, stylish beach lodge packed with personal touches, including finds from their travels around the world and covetable trinkets from local makers. There are also custom surfboards to rent, as well as a vintage Land Rover for driving guests to local surf spots such as Leo Carrillo beach. The 20 light-filled rooms come with crisp linen, reclaimed wood and neutral colour palettes and all of them have balconies with stellar ocean views – though the best vistas can be found on the hotel’s rooftop terrace, which despite only being open to guests, is always buzzing come sunset.
Book your stay: Booking.com Book your stay: Expedia
Parker, Palm Springs
If it’s swinging Sixties-inspired kitsch you’re after, the Parker has it in spades. This Palm Springs hotel takes the Pop Art theme and runs with it, with mismatching colours, clashing patterns and kooky sculptures galore as soon as you walk through the much-Instagrammed bright orange double doors. Designed by American potter and interior designer Jonathan Adler, there’s an irreverent, rock ‘n roll vibe here, with glamorous bedrooms filled with colourful scatter cushions, arty coffee table books and fabric wall hangings, as well as an indoor fire pit in the lobby that makes for great people-watching come nightfall. Have brunch at the diner-style Norma’s, famed for its tangerine-coloured banquettes, before taking a stroll around the bougainvillea-filled gardens and cooling off from the desert heat with a dip in one of the hotel’s two outdoor pools, which are always flanked by beautiful people basking in the sun.
Book your stay: parkerpalmsprings.com
Hotel del Coronado, San Diego
Few hotels in America can claim as compelling history as the Hotel del Coronado (or ‘the Del’ to those in the know), which celebrates its 135th birthday in 2023. This is the spot where Some Like It Hot was filmed during the height of Marilyn Monroe’s fame in 1958 when fans filled the beaches hoping to catch a glimpse of the star, and it was here that Edward, Prince of Wales, was honoured with a grand banquet in 1920, later to meet the love of his life, Wallis Simpson, who lived just a block away (her quaint Craftsman cottage now resides in the hotel’s grounds). Everyone from Charlie Chaplin to Katherine Hepburn has enjoyed its wooden Victorian splendour, and it’s just as popular today, with visitors flocking here for its brilliant beachside location, smartly appointed rooms and lush garden courtyard, which was once filled with tortoises, monkeys and parrots flitting between the trees.
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Doug Dun/BAR Architects 2020
Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai
Tucked away in a valley in the Topatopa Mountains, Ojai has long been a refuge for weary Angelenos looking for a relaxing weekend break away from Tinseltown, being just an hour-and-a-half drive from the city. And those escaping the hustle and bustle agree there’s only one place to stay: the Ojai Valley Inn. The sprawling property used to be a country club, and it still retains much of that fresh-air goodness amidst its sprawling Spanish revival buildings, which are surrounded by lush gardens and grounds. There’s plenty to keep you occupied here, whether it’s popping into the Inn’s artist’s cottage for a mindful jewellery-making session or art class, signing up for a private tennis lesson or flopping by the pool – the resort has four to choose from, each flanked by private cabanas, vine-covered pergolas and citrus trees (whose fruits are particularly famed in this region).
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Kodiak Greenwood
Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur
This hotel is often dubbed one of the most romantic in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. It has one of the most spellbinding locations you’re likely to come across, perched on the very edge of a cliff in the heart of Big Sur – peering out over the glittering Pacific Ocean, you feel like you’re at the edge of the world itself. The views inland are just as impressive, encompassing dramatic granite peaks. Cleverly, the hotel manages to feel like an extension of its natural surroundings rather than jarring with them, with wood-clad rooms that feature wall-to-ceiling windows (all the better for making the most of those jaw-dropping vistas), wood-burning fireplaces and a pointed lack of televisions and alarm clocks. Choose one of the rooms with an outdoor stainless steel soaking tub and settle back with a glass of local Pinot Noir (wine country is just a short trip up the Pacific Coast Highway, after all) as you spot the swooping condors overhead.
Book your stay: postranchinn.com
@ Manolo Yllera
Proper, San Francisco
The Proper in San Francisco was hailed the coolest kid in town when it first opened in 2017, and with good reason. The launch in the buzzy Mid-Market neighbourhood marked the Bay Area’s first truly design-driven boutique hotel, and the interiors really are something to behold. Spearheaded by the grande dame of West Coast interior design Kelly Wearstler, the décor is an eclectic mish-mash of styles old and new, blending clashing prints and patterns, bold fabrics, vintage furniture and over-the-top wallpaper. It smacks you in the face as soon as you walk into the flat-iron-shaped building’s grand marble lobby. Make a beeline for the perennially-packed rooftop bar, Charmaine’s – which often has queues snaking around the block – and order something strong to sip by the firepit as you savour SF’s twinkling skyline.
Book your stay: Booking.com Book your stay: Expedia
San Ysidro Ranch, Santa Barbara
Sweeping down the lavender-lined driveway, weaving between the olive trees, you know you’ve arrived somewhere truly magical as soon as you step foot in San Ysidro Ranch. Set in 550 acres of lush gardens with elegantly designed private cottages, the hotel is steeped in romantic nostalgia – John and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned here and Audrey Hepburn and Vivien Leigh were regulars, while Sir Winston Churchill was such a fan he spent several months there writing his memoirs. His namesake bungalow is the star of the estate thanks to a recent revamp, with a draped four-poster bed, freestanding bath and private rose garden in its front courtyard. The acclaimed Stonehouse restaurant, set under orange trees and dreamily lit by fairy lights, draws a starry crowd (Prince Harry, who lives just down the road, has been spotted here on more than one occasion), who come for the seasonal dishes made with local produce and the excellent wine list.
Book your stay: sanysidroranch.com
Lisa Romerein
Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica
Originally built to resemble the grand inns of Martha’s Vineyard, this grey-shingled beauty set slap bang on Santa Monica beach has come to embody the finest of So-Cal’s barefoot luxury. The vibe here is like staying at a friend’s incredibly chic (if rather large) beach house, with the living-room-style lobby filled with squashy sofas and walls lined with artworks by the likes of David Hockney and Roy Lichtenstein. The tranquil bedrooms come with romantic four-poster beds, white wooden shutters that open to catch the salty sea air and plenty of thoughtful touches – the artfully curated bookshelves are peppered with nautical trinkets, and there’s a copy of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea on every bedside table. Order a cocktail on the hotel’s outdoor deck and keep your eyes peeled for celebs, who love coming here for sunset.
Book your stay: Booking.com Book your stay: Expedia

The Inn at Newport Ranch, Fort Bragg
While the majestic natural beauty of Big Sur and the delights of Napa Valley are well known, there’s one spot along the Pacific Coast Highway that has managed to dodge the crowds and retain its remote, unspoilt splendour. Just north of San Francisco sits Fort Bragg, a remote stretch of oceanfront bluffs and soaring redwoods – at the heart of which sits The Inn at Newport Ranch, a 2,000-acre estate. The property itself is a masterpiece of carpentry, with nods to its timber heritage (the inn was built on the site of an old lumber mill) in the rugged exposed beams and vaulted ceiling made from redwood tree trunks. There’s 20 miles of private trails to explore by foot, horseback or quad bike, as well as an active cattle ranch and majestic forests to uncover (tap into your spiritual side with one of the regular forest bathing sessions). If there’s anywhere to go spectacularly off-grid, this is it.
Book your stay: Booking.com Book your stay: Expedia

TopicsPlaces To Stay Hotels Hotel reviews California USA North America

How we choose the best hotels in California

The Madrona, Sonoma, California

Villa Mara Carmel, California

Sensei Porcupine Creek, California

1 Hotel San Francisco

The Hoxton, Los Angeles

The Surfrider, Malibu

Hotel del Coronado, San Diego

Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai

Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur

Proper, San Francisco

San Ysidro Ranch, Santa Barbara

Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica

The Inn at Newport Ranch, Fort Bragg