California

Nobu Ryokan Malibu: Where Japanese Minimalism Meets the California Coast

A 16-room Carbon Beach retreat pairs Japanese-inspired design, teak soaking tubs, ocean views, and Nobu room service with one of Malibu’s most private addresses.

The Baby Grand: This Dizzying New Hideaway Near San Diego Proves That More Really Is More

A 31-room maximalist hideaway in Coronado turns a former 1950s motor lodge into a theatrical world of clamshell beds, hidden bars, Champagne, and delightful excess.

Aliza Hotel: The Softer Side of Venice Beach

A 19-room, family-owned hideaway on Rose Avenue pairs mid-century motel bones, Art Deco character, free parking, and an unusually peaceful Venice Beach address.

Simpson House: Santa Barbara’s Most Charming Bed & Breakfast Hides in Plain Sight

A restored 1874 Victorian estate trades grand-resort spectacle for intimate rooms, chef-driven breakfast, and a genuine secret-garden setting.

The STILE DTLA Reimagines the Art of an Urban Escape

The former Ace Hotel keeps its Spanish Gothic bones while shifting toward a casual, code-entry urban stay with a tiny but charismatic rooftop pool.

Surf & Sand Laguna Beach: The Oceanfront Hideaway You'll Want to Keep to Yourself

Every room faces the Pacific, and the newly refreshed resort keeps Laguna Beach close enough to hear from bed.

The Lodge at Pebble Beach: Where Old-School Hospitality Meets Coastal Elegance

Today, this 161-room property continues to cater to a specific type of traveler—one seeking exclusivity, convenience, and a more traditional hotel experience.

Inside Hollywood’s Premier Private Members’ Club and 35-Key Boutique Hotel

A review of The Aster in Hollywood: a 35-key boutique hotel and private members’ club with rooftop dining, co-working spaces, and Capitol Records views.

San Ysidro Ranch: Montecito’s Most Romantic Cottage Hideaway

San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito is a legendary cottage hideaway known for its private hot tubs, lush gardens, and romantic ambiance—plus dining at the iconic Stonehouse Restaurant.

The Sands Hotel & Spa Is a Moroccan-Inspired Jewel Box in Palm Desert

Step inside The Sands Hotel & Spa in Palm Springs, an adults-only Moroccan-inspired oasis where mid-century design meets vibrant colors, luxurious rooms, the...

The Madrona Offers an Imaginative Escape in California Wine Country

A whimsical five-star Victorian retreat in Sonoma wine country with standout design and dining in Healdsburg.

Bay Shores Peninsula Hotel – This Newport Beach Stay Is the California Coastline’s Latest Catch

Stay at Bay Shores Peninsula Hotel, a retro-chic boutique hotel in Newport Beach with beach gear, bikes, rooftops, and easy access to Balboa Peninsula, Newport...

La Playa – La Playa Encapsulates the Quirky Charm of Carmel-by-the-Sea

Champagne breakfast, ten-cent cocktails, and a firelit garden keep Carmel’s grande dame delightfully eccentric.

Casa Loma Beach Hotel – Casa Loma Rewrites the California Beach Hotel Playbook

The reimagined Casa Loma in Laguna Beach blends California’s creative heritage with modern coastal luxury.

Short Stories – This Refurbished Motel Is One of West Hollywood’s Best-Kept Secrets

Discover Short Stories, a stylish 66-room boutique hotel in West Hollywood that blends urban energy with serene design.

Parker Palm Springs – Parker Palm Springs is The Epitome of Desert Chic

Hidden behind a fantastical breeze-block facade, Parker Palm Springs is a maximalist playground for stylish travelers designed by Jonathan Alder.

Harbor Court Hotel – Boutique Bayfront Escape at San Francisco’s Harbor Court Hotel

Stay steps from San Francisco’s Embarcadero at Harbor Court Hotel.

Rancho Valencia – Inside Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa: A Spanish Colonial Haven in Rancho Santa Fe

Tucked in the sprawl of Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Valencia feels more like a private estate than a hotel.

The Jay Hotel – This New Downtown San Francisco Hotel Feels Like a True Boutique Stay

The Jay Hotel in New York City offers a modern, stylish stay with vibrant energy.

L’Ermitage Beverly Hills – Old Hollywood Meets New-Age Comfort at L’Ermitage in Beverly Hills

Lowkey and Beverly Hills don’t often exist in the same sentence, but L’Ermitage is the kind of low-key, quiet luxury escape that’s hard to find in LA.

Hotel Yountville – Napa Valley’s Hotel Yountville Proves Its Boutique Hotel Scene Is Top-Notch

The city of Yountville, California is charm personified, which immediately sets the standards high for its eponymous hotel.

North Block Hotel – This Luxury Stay in Yountville, California, Is Made for Vinophiles

The Lafayette Hotel – The Urban Lafayette Hotel & Club Proves San Diego Is More Than Just Pretty Beaches

The hotel underwent a significant transformation—a $31-million makeover—and reopened in 2023 as a reborn legend with the superpower to reel in tourists and locals alike.

The Stilwell – A Sophisticated Stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Newest Luxury Boutique Hotel

Carmel-by-the-Sea’s newest boutique stay brings sophisticated design and coastal calm within strolling distance of downtown.

The Ranch at Laguna Beach – Meet The Ranch at Laguna Beach: A 97-Room Hotel in a Coastal Canyon with Serious Sustainability Cred

Hidden in a Laguna Beach canyon, this sustainable retreat trades the typical oceanfront scene for farm-grown dining and laid-back California calm.