One of California’s most historic resorts has been in the midst of celebrating its 130th anniversary, but one might be hard pressed to guess this bucolic locale’s age with its idyllic atmosphere and luxe hospitality.
San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, just shy of Santa Barbara and approximately 90 minutes by car from Los Angeles, was named by the Franciscan monks who occupied the land in the late 1700s. It first opened to guests as a hotel and resort in 1893.
Given its geographical location, nestled in between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean (with views of the Channel Islands on clear days, of which there are many here) and proximity to Hollywood, it’s no surprise that the ranch has long been a favorite getaway for some of the most A-list celebrities of all time, including Audrey Hepburn and Lucille Ball.
While a favorite among Hollywood titans since the golden age of cinema, the history of the hotel goes back much farther. Upon arrival, guests check in at what is known as the Hacienda, which was the original building constructed for people to stay in when the property—now spanning 550 acres—first opened in 1825 when it was part of a Spanish land grant. Today, it hosts the front desk, a library, a lounge, and a gift shop. Just across the path is the Adobe, the first building ever on the property, and one of the three original Spanish adobe buildings in the Montecito area, making it a California historical landmark.
The Stonehouse, the onsite fine dining restaurant open to both guests and the public was named so as Franciscan friars (and other owners over time) began to plant citrus trees throughout the property. And the building housing the restaurant (as well as the speakeasy bar and wine cellar) used to be the packing house for the fruit, which would be later shipped to Los Angeles or San Francisco and beyond as far back as the dawn of the California Gold Rush beginning in 1848.
Since then, San Ysidro Ranch has hosted numerous celebrities and dignitaries, both for private trips (many songwriters and screenwriters often visit the library-esque “Churchill” suite for inspirational retreats) as well as celebratory events. The resort hosted the wedding of Silver Screen legends Vivian Leigh and Laurence Olivier in 1940; and President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy spent time on the property during their honeymoon in 1953. (The two-bedroom suite is now aptly named the “Kennedy” cottage.)
No room is exactly the same at San Ysidro Ranch, and every single one of the 38 bungalow-style cottages is bespoke. The bathroom wallpaper, for instance, is actually fabric turned into wallpaper, even installed all the way up the ceilings of the A-frame above the shower. (The crew that works on the wallpaper also has experience in the White House.)
Yet while all of the cottages are unique in design and layout, there are some standard luxury amenities found in each one, including an outdoor jacuzzi, an outdoor rain shower, an indoor fireplace (flipped on by just the flick of a switch), a soaking tub in the bathroom, Dyson hair dryers, high-speed Wi-Fi, internet-connected HDTVs, Nespresso machines, heated floors in the bathroom, and an electric car charger at every single parking space. (Parking is included, and there is no resort fee.)
Best of all, the cottages at San Ysidro Ranch are dog-friendly as are the open areas around the property. The resort recently launched its “Pampered Pet Program,” in which pets are treated like the primary guests that they are with plush dog beds, dog bowls, house-made dog treats, and dedicated menus both at the Stonehouse and room service for pets; menu items include peanut butter and bacon pancakes as well as “puppuccinos” (whipped cream in a cup). Pets are also gifted a Ty beanie dog toy in a nod to Ty Warner, founder and CEO of the eponymous toy company, who is also the owner of San Ysidro Ranch.
San Ysidro also offers what might be the most pet friendly amenity anywhere: doggy massages at the spa. Yes, owners can book a massage for their dogs for a professional massage service, which helps alleviate tension and pain in areas that might not be so apparent, often reflective of how much sitting and lying around dogs do on a daily basis. (Humans can also visit the full service spa, which offers a curated list of 90-minute massage treatments, facials, and body wraps by reservation.)
The layout of the individual cottages gives the resort the feeling of a small village, which played a helpful role in more recent history. San Ysidro Ranch stayed fully open to guests throughout the pandemic; only the restaurant closed in 2020 for a few months due to state regulations, although there are two outdoor dining patios, which are heated in the evening amid cooler temperatures. A number of design choices already lended a helping hand in making San Ysidro Ranch an ideal getaway during a pandemic involving social distancing. All of the cottages have plenty of outdoor space with yards and patios, all cleanly separated from other bungalows with trees and foliage.
There are numerous open-air activities that one can do alone or in a small group, such as traversing the multiple hiking trails in the area toward the Santa Ynez Mountains, or taking a turn on the mini-golf course or bocce ball court. And all of the rooms within the cottages have their own ventilation systems, constantly circulating fresh air.
The hotel has picked up a few tricks since then, too. At the full service salon, guests can make reservations for virtually any need, from haircuts to hair coloring to hair extensions. And now guests can also reserve manicure and pedicure treatments outside, which is quite pleasant given the regularly warm but dry climate in the area throughout the year.
What makes San Ysidro Ranch an easy but complete getaway is that there are so many amenities onsite that one could easily spend days here without ever wanting to leave. One critical component to that is the dining program. For overnight guests, all meals are included—that means breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as the snacks in the minibar, which can be refilled upon request. It also includes basic non-alcoholic beverages like coffee and tea.
Of course, guests can order beer, wine, and cocktails at the Stonehouse as well as the hotel speakeasy, Plow & Angel. Open seven days a week, the tucked-away lounge emits a cozy after-hours vibe, offering live music in the evenings with a lengthy list of local and international wines as well as craft cocktails. (There are more than 14,000 bottles in the subterranean wine cellar.) To much fanfare, the speakeasy also recently procured the only bottle of Glenturret 50-Year-Old Scotch in the United States; a one ounce pour can be tasted at Plow & Angel for $12,000.
Oenophiles can opt for a more private experience in the wine cellar itself. The Stonehouse recently unveiled a new clandestine wine and culinary experience, which includes three wine pairing menus curated by Advanced Sommelier Tristan Pitre, each inspired by the great wine regions of the world, paired with a four or five-course seasonally inspired tasting menu by Executive Chef Matthew Johnson. The entire experience is completely customizable based on the guest’s preferences and offers a no holds bar exploration of the best wines across the globe.
The Secret Cellar is open to hotel guests and the public, seating up to 14 guests, and includes a private tour. With the arrival of this new experience, the Stonehouse added over 2,000 bottles to its wine collection, including a wide variety of old and rare bottles such as a 1926 Lafite Rothschild, a new selection of vintages from Domaine Romanee Conti, and 1978 Diamond Creek “Lake Vineyard” (the inaugural vintage).
For a lighter option, afternoon tea is served in the outdoor garden and veranda, enhanced by fragrant citrus groves and rose bushes. The menu includes seasonal scones, pastries, a choice of organic teas, and a hyper-local selection of tea sandwiches. Enhancements include Beausoleil oysters on the half shell, lobster tail, and a seafood tower, along with champagne.
Rates at San Ysidro Ranch start at $2,495 per night for a 775 square foot, one bedroom cottage.