7 Beautiful Hotels in California Worth Planning a Trip Around
Korakia Pensione, Palm Springs
Some of my favorite trips in California have been great because of the hotels at the center of each trip. Hotels that, thanks to their excellent hospitality, unique location, or amazing food, were more than just a place to stay: they were a reason to plan the trip. I tend to gravitate towards those that are stylish or interesting in design and in beautiful or fun-filled locations. I steer away from large, nondescript properties, and while I don’t mind a splurge every once in a while, I rarely spend over $500 per night. If this sounds a bit like you, I’m sure you’ll love these hotels too.
From luxurious retreats and boutique properties so beautiful I never want to leave, to charming bed and breakfasts and cozy cabins where hosts greet you like old friends, this is a running list of the best boutique hotels in California to plan a trip around.
Note: These hotels are not ranked in any particular order.
1. Harbor House Inn
Location: Elk, California (Mendocino Coast)
Book: Website
Harbor House Inn stands out not just as a hotel, but primarily as a destination for culinary enthusiasts. The restaurant, which draws inspiration and ingredients from the surrounding area (kelp harvest from the beach below; salt from the ocean) holds two Michelin stars and a green star, Michelin’s designation for sustainable restaurants. Although the menu changes with the season, expect items like red abalone with sea vegetable vinegar and candy cap mushroom ice cream from chef Matthew Kammerer.
Although you could easily come just for the food, it’s worth spending the night as well. Located on a quiet, often foggy, piece of the Mendocino Coast, it’s an ideal location to go to retreat from it all. The 11-room property is perched above a high cliff, offering excellent and unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean. Guests also have access their private beach and garden. Guests can enjoy the view from the homey yet modern rooms (each of which has a set of binoculars) or while sipping a glass of local Pinot Noir around one of the outdoor fire pits in the backyard. Overnight guests will also be treated to a delicious, in-room breakfast included with the stay.
2. Constellation Creek
Location: Sierraville (North of Lake Tahoe)
Book: Website
Constellation Creek is a collection of cabins that were once was a fishing lodge, and have been lovingly updated and refreshed by owners Georgie and Seb. Located against a peaceful creek in a remote area of the Sierra Nevadas north of Lake Tahoe, coming here is an escape from the world. Guests can expect comfortable beds and a petite, but fully equipped, kitchen in their cabin, along with thoughtful touches like a record player, camping-style Stanley French Presses, and a private fire pit lit with ambient string lights. However, guests should be sure to wander away from their cabins as well—hammocks, Adirondack chairs, and even a teepee are scattered in the wood on site, all of which are perfect for enjoying a book or your morning cup of coffee before heading out into the nearby nature for the day. In large part thanks to the wonderful hospitality and good vibes, this is one of those places that we go out of our way to return to and love introducing friends to this special woodsy retreat.
3. Boon Hotel + Spa
Where: Guerneville
Book: booking.com | website
Come summertime, Guerneville is my favorite place to be. The Russian River flows right through town and is a popular spot for swimming, kayaking, and tubing. Additionally, it’s long been known as an LGBTQ+ friendly getaway destination in Northern California—so much so that it earned itself the nickname “The Gay Rivera”—and is generally known to be a fun, inclusive, and summary getaway destination. Although a number of excellent, boutique properties have opened up over the past few years, Boon Hotel + Spa was the first I ever stayed at—and kept coming back to year after year.
This adults-only (but dog-friendly) boutique hotel is has 14 rooms, each of which are equipped with comfortable beds and hip details like record players. Some also have retro-looking fireplaces and/or private patios. During the summer months, they also have three (slightly cheaper) glamping tents complete with heaters and king-sized beds, as well as a tiny airstream trailer called “Boonito” that guests can stay in. Having stayed in both the tents and standard rooms, I can confidently recommend either. However, the dreamy pool and hot tub area are the heart of this small property. That, and the tasty in-room breakfasts included in every stay, are the main reasons I keep coming back summer after summer.
4. Dawn Ranch
Where: Guerneville
Book: booking.com | website
Boon Hotel + Spa is adults only, but if you’re looking for a more family- or group-friendly getaway in Guerneville, I’d highly recommend Dawn Ranch. This sprawling, 22-acre property has been welcoming guests since 1905 under various different owners and iterations (it was once a private events venue and the site of various different hotels) but reopened in its current form in 2022.
Fitting for the area, it has a distinctly summer-camp vibe, thanks to on-site kayak rentals, direct river access, lawn games, fire pits, and live music at the main building. As for the accommodation itself, expect modern but woodsy cottages of various sizes. Although each cabin type is a little different, look for amenities like fireplaces, views of the redwoods, and cozy beds to settle into at night. In 2023, they also added an outdoor pool as well as a private spa (featuring massages, outdoor baths in a redwood tub, and saunas) to complete their long roster of on-site activities.
After a full day in the sun, you won’t want to miss dinner and drinks at their on-site restaurant—which has one of the better meals in town. My husband and I loved the prawns with shaved coconut on the dinner menu, and will definitely return for a plate (or two!) of those next time we’re in town.
💡 Tip: Sign-up for their newsletter, where they’ll sometimes share deals and promotions (especially during the off season).
5. Harmon House
Where: Healdsburg
Book: booking.com | website
I always love returning to Harmon House, a modern, eco-friendly hotel just off the main square in Healdsburg, a small town in the heart of Sonoma wine country. Thanks to its slated wood exterior, it’s an architecturally impressive and easy-to-spot building in the otherwise old school, yet charming, Healdsburg town. Thanks to its use of natural materials and wood tones, the warm and welcoming vibe continues inside the building as well. Guests can expect large, airy rooms, complete with comfortable beds and a pillow-filled lounge area ideal for enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning or glass of wine in the evening. They are also well equipped with all your standard amenities (mini fridge, spacious closets, Nespresso machines, bathrobes, and nice bath products), while thoughtful design touches bring the space together to create a calm and serene retreat.
But one of my favorite features is that guests have access to not just one but two private pools. Their sister property, H2Hotel, is right next door and connected by a garden which guests of both properties have access to. Although Healdsburg has no shortage of wonderful hotels and resorts, this one is (in my opinion) the best one in the town itself—perfect for those who want to drop their car after a long day of wine tasting and walk to happy hour and dinner in town.
6. Korakia Pensione
Where: Palm Springs
Book: booking.com | website
I’ve literally flown to Palm Springs just to stay at Korakia Pensione, a dreamy desert-oasis of a hotel just off the town’s main drag. Drawing inspiration from the Mediterranean, half of the boutique hotel is designed to feel like you’re stepping into a Moroccan riad, while the other half transports visitors to Greece. Each half of the property draws design inspiration from different corners of the globe, but comes together with a bohemian yet modern aesthetic throughout.
Delicious and fresh breakfasts are served in the Moroccan' side’s lush patio each morning, while classic Hollywood films are shown on an outdoor screen on the Greece side each evening. Although you can’t go wrong with any of the rooms, booking a suite that opens up directly out to one of the property’s two (yes, two) pools is worth the splurge. Palm Springs is a destination for relaxing and taking it easy, and this is an ideal spot for it.
7. Silverlake Inn & Pool
Where: Silverlake, Los Angeles
Book: booking.com | website
From the sunny pool area to the mini fridge stocked with an impressively good selection vacation-ready beverages, this Los Angeles hotel exudes California vacation vibes. Each of the 54 rooms at Silverlake Inn & Pool is stylishly designed with a retro-meets-modern-LA-flair—such as colorful terrazzo countertops in the bathroom, black and white prints of cacti, and warm, lived-in leather sofas in their suites. Plus, a rarity in Los Angeles, it’s located in a very walkable neighborhood, with plenty of shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants nearby.
It’s part of the Palisociety group and, in all honesty, I’ve had some mixed experiences with their hotels. Though always stylish and never a bad, I’ve found a few of their properties to be good not great (think: older buildings that are a bit noisy or had dated carpeting). That’s definitely not the case with Silverlake Inn & Pool. This boutique hotel is one I would easily return to on any future trip to Los Angeles.
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