Readers Rank This Central Coast California Resort Among the Best in the World — Take a Look Inside (2024)

The evergreen trees towered above as our rental car made its way up the hills, serpentining around the charmingly narrow streets of Santa Barbara into Montecito, California.

Soon, we slowly rolled into the entrance of the ultra-enchanting 550-acre San Ysidro Ranch for our much-needed two-night minimoon. After an intense nine months of wedding planning, the unexpected loss of our beloved dog, and then hosting 70 of our closest friends and family for our wedding, we were desperate for a long exhale in the form of a romantic and relaxing getaway.

The sight of the fuchsia bougainvillea naturally shaped into an undefined heart over the doorway of the Hacienda made for a charming backdrop as attentive staff members simultaneously unloaded the luggage and asked for our drink preference with an effortless grace — we had clearly just arrived at the very place we imagined we needed to be for our total reset.

For years, San Ysidro Ranch has ranked #1 in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards and there is no denying its rightful place in the annual reader-voted list. Whether a result of the alluring natural beauty of California mingling with abundant and colorful plant life combined with the ranch's long history, there is an immediate sense of uniqueness and an almost sacred feeling of the land that is unlike any resort I'd ever been to.

The earliest settlers of the land date back to Franciscan monks in the late 18th century, while The Old Adobe building on the property — now a preserved dining space — was built in 1825, and Mission Padres farmed the land until 1864. In 1883, the ranch became home to the Johnston Fruit Company at San Ysidro Citrus Ranch, where more than 400,000 citrus fruits were grown and harvested. By 1893, the Hacienda opened as a small hotel, kicking off its legacy as a retreat for Hollywood stars like Lucille Ball, Audrey Hepburn, and Bing Crosby, as well as notable dignitaries like Winston Churchill and the Kennedy family.

The storied ranch continues to be a celebrity-loved hideaway in the hills, and there’s no doubt why — it’s simply a breathtaking, comforting, and private escape. Whimsical touches throughout, like hand-drawn notecards, the hand-painted wooden crows that top each cottage gate, and porcelain pigs perched on shelves in the cottages, all serve as small hidden reminders to have a childlike sense of wonder and an ode to the current owner, Ty Warner. (Yes, that guy.)

Soon after an informative and unfussy check-in, we were escorted to the Churchill cottage, where we would instantly feel at home. Each of the 38 secluded cottages is meticulously tucked behind rustic wooden fences with delightfully kitschy signs. Our cottage was among the most exquisitely executed, with its own 4,000-square-foot English rose garden. Named for Winston Churchill, who spent time at San Ysidro Ranch to write, the cottage today is built to inspire writers with an extensive library collection and a few choice nooks to curl into and put pen to paper.

The garden, designed by Oprah’s master rosarian, Dan Bifano, greets guests as they open the gate, and may look familiar to some — this is where Megan Markle was photographed for her Variety magazine feature. Inside, the double French doors open to illuminated shelves overpouring with books, and the glow of the dual-sided fireplace does everything to encourage guests never to leave.

Here’s everything you need to know about San Ysidro Ranch.

The Rooms

The sprawling property in the hills has 38 unique bungalow-style cottages offering ultimate privacy for every guest. Cottage interior design varies within each as a result of the owner’s hand selection of personally sourced vintage furnishings and decor accent pieces from his world travels, making each hideaway feel like a world in and of itself. Every cottage features statement-making four-poster canopy beds and clawfoot soaking tubs alongside a fireplace.

Among the cottages are private gardens with oversized sunken spas and outdoor showers for soaking away stress and woes, where the spirit gets drenched in light and flora. Because San Ysidro Ranch is committed to intimate privacy, there are small nooks for outdoor or indoor dining, which comes inclusive at no additional cost.

Food and Drink

While guests may choose to dine at their guest cottage exclusively, the award-winning onsite restaurant, Stonehouse, is one not to miss. Known for its romantic and rustic atmosphere and contemporary American cuisine rooted in the organic seasonality of the Central California coast, the restaurant is also home to a coveted and highly lauded wine cellar with a collection of more than 14,000 bottles. As part of the Ranch's Secret Cellar experience, up to 14 guests can be seated among the world's most exclusive bottles of wine.

While Stonehouse and the cellar offer a traditional fine-dining atmosphere against ocean views, the property’s latest outpost is below at Plow & Angel. As it goes with speakeasies, Plow & Angel is inspired by the Prohibition era and offers indulgent and fun co*cktails in a jazz-filled room with bold prints and intimate seating.

Activities and Amenities

The original, lovingly restored Art Deco pool sits among the gardens and is surrounded by vibrant orange umbrellas and timeless lounge areas. A few steps away — an unexpected fun twist — is a mini-golf course where you'll find the holes more difficult than you might initially think.

The ranch is also home to more than 17 miles of hiking trails, which will lead you along a creek to hot springs and waterfalls, among other places. For the adventurous guest, the concierge has a slew of experiences on hand to arrange — mountain or beach horseback riding, Channel Islands sailing trips, anta Ynez Valley wine tastings, or exquisite golf excursions to Montecito Country Club’s Jack Nicklaus-designed course or the oceanside Sandpiper. The experiential offerings here are as boundless as your imagination.

The Spa

San Ysidro Ranch's on-site spa is quaint in the sense that it is small and almost underwhelming until you see the illustrative storybook hand-painted birds on the pale robin’s egg blue walls and alluringly intimate private treatment rooms.

The Yon-Ka Paris skincare and infused essential oils (made with ingredients sourced from the ranch’s many gardens) elevate any treatment. The couples-focused Romance package includes an aromatic bath with Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, followed by a complete body exfoliation from an exclusive and custom selection of scrubs and oils. The in-room steam shower is the perfect starting point for a relaxing massage. After two hours, you will float away from the spa, thanks to the truly sublime service.

Accessibility and Sustainability

San Ysidro Ranch's Terrace Cottage is ADA-compliant.

The resort-wide initiatives for sustainability can be seen through the on-site use of the chef’s garden, local farmers, and single-source purveyors. San Ysidro Ranch is committed to its multi-approach recycling programs (from soap, linens, and Nespresso pods) and eliminating single-use plastics on the property.

Location

San Ysidro Ranch is nestled in the hills of Montecito near Santa Barbara, California. The closest airports in proximity to the resort property are Oxnard and Santa Barbara, and it sits a scenic 95-mile drive from Los Angeles International Airport.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Nightly rates start at $2,495 and range up to $10,000, but all rates are inclusive of meals and cottage-side parking.