Ojai, CA
The small city of Ojai, set in the Ojai Valley, Ventura County, is famous for many things. Of particular note are its locally grown pixie tangerines, and the fleeting “pink moment” experienced just before sunset when the Topatopa mountains take on a mystical pink glow.
Located just 90 minutes north of Los Angeles, Ojai Valley Inn is a sprawling Spanish hacienda-style resort set amongst 220 lush acres, surrounded by mountains. There are approximately 300 rooms and suites grouped in various white stucco and terracotta buildings, forming an idyllic Californian village setting. Natural beauty abounds, with extensive landscaping and huge oak trees dotting the resort. The views are spectacular in every direction.
The resort has historic roots stretching back to 1923, when it started out as the Ojai Country Club. Although the resort has expanded dramatically since then, its original Spanish colonial spirit remains. The list of facilities and amenities at the Inn is an exceptionally long one. In addition to the championship golf course, there is a 31,000 square foot award winning spa, tennis courts, four swimming pools, and no less than eight food outlets. Since our visit, the Inn has undergone significant renovations and enhancements, including the remodeling of the signature restaurant Olivella and the adult Indigo Pool.
Dream
Rooms at the resort fall into a multitude of different categories, including the 425 sq ft Ojai Rooms, mini suites, suites, penthouses, right up to Casa Elar: a five bedroom, 10,000 sq ft private gated villa. We opted for a Wallace Neff historic room. There are 22 of these 400 sq ft rooms, built in 1934 and connected to the original golf course clubhouse, now repurposed as the Wallace Neff Heritage Bar.
The Wallace Neff rooms are designed to offer the ambience and charm of a bygone era. The sleeping area featured the usual hi-tec amenities expected of a luxury hotel. The bathroom was decorated with painted Spanish tiles. While comfortable, we found the bathroom to be somewhat rustic, with a tub-shower combination rather than a walk-in shower. However, this was more than compensated for by the room’s historic appeal.
Dine
We enjoyed our dining experiences at the Inn, but did not see this side of the resort at its best, as the main restaurant was closed during our visit, and others had yet to open.
Currently there are eight food outlets to choose from: two restaurants: Olivella and The Oak; two bars: Jimmy’s Pub and the Wallace Neff Heritage Bar; food service at two pools: the Indigo Pool and the Pixie Pool; and finally, two cafes: the Spa Café, and Libbey’s. In addition, there is 24 hour in-room dining.
During our stay we ate dinner once at The Oak and twice at Jimmy’s Pub. Food was good, as was the service. Now that there are several additional dining options, we can't wait to visit the Inn again.
The Oak: This restaurant offers daily breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring locally sourced ingredients, many picked straight from the Inn’s own herb garden. Guests may dine in the dining room or al fresco under the vine-covered pergola with dramatic views of the huge old oak trees, golf course and surrounding mountains.
Jimmy's Pub: Guests dine inside the tavern or under the stars and enjoy local wines, cocktails, and upscale pub fare in an energetic setting.
If you wish to venture slightly further afield, Downtown Ojai, which is only about a mile from the Inn, has a good number of alternative dining options. We tried a couple of the local favorites for lunch.
Agave Maria's Restaurant & Cantina: Casual Mexican in the heart of downtown Ojai, with a large terracotta-tiled outdoor patio.
Farmer and the Cook: Rustic organic market with a bohemian café serving farm to table vegetarian Mexican food, with tables set curbside on an outdoor patio.
We have also heard very good things about Suzanne’s Cuisine, a family owned and run restaurant since 1992 serving a fusion of Italian American and French food, located on W Ojai Avenue. We look forward to visiting the restaurant on our return to Ojai.
Do
Ojai Valley Inn provides an extensive menu of activities whether you are looking to get some exercise or just simply relax. The resort’s Discover Ojai Center staffed with expert “Experience Planers” can assist guests in maximizing their time in the Valley. Here is a sampling of our long weekend of fun in Ojai.
Downtown Ojai: Explore art galleries, boutiques, wine tasting rooms and restaurants on Ojai Avenue, just one mile from the resort. Guests may take advantage of the trolley that regularly travels between the Inn and Downtown.
Spa: Get pampered at the award-winning Spa Ojai, take a yoga class or relax in the Spa Leisure and Lap Pools.
Indigo Pool and Pixie Pool: The resort has two main swimming pools. The adults only Indigo Pool recently underwent a complete remodel and features oversized cabanas and spectacular mountain views. The Pixie Pool is the resort’s family swimming pool, set among vine-covered pergolas and estate citrus trees. Lunch is served at both locations.
Hiking: The Ojai area has a number of dramatic hikes ranging from easy to difficult, providing breathtaking mountain and valley views. Along the way, hikers can enjoy the sights and smells of the abundant pixie tangerine trees which flourish in the warm sunshine of the valley. There are more than 50 family-scale tangerine farmers in the valley, growing about 25,000 tangerine trees. These growers harvested and packed over 4.8m lbs of fruit in 2017.
Biking: The resort has complimentary bikes to explore the grounds or venture Downtown. More strenuous bike tours are also offered, with rentals available on site.
Golf: The resort’s 18-hole par 70 championship golf course has previously hosted seven Senior PGA tour events. Situated literally on your doorstep, you can watch golfers tee off or enjoy a round yourself.