Inside the California Hotel Where Jackie Kennedy Honeymooned and Sabrina Carpenter Spent Her Birthday
Before she changed the name to As Ever, Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand was called American Riviera Orchard. To the uninitiated, this might have sounded as fanciful as her signature flower sprinkles, but American Riviera is actually a longstanding nickname for her adopted home of Santa Barbara, California. With its beautiful coastline, temperate climate, red-tile roofs, and expensive real estate, the SoCal enclave more than lives up to its Mediterranean-inspired moniker.
If you fancy a visit to this area, I highly suggest making a beeline for Montecito, an unincorporated town in Santa Barbara County. That's where you'll find San Ysidro Ranch (and perhaps even the Duchess of Sussex herself, as she's a regular). Founded in 1893, the historic hideaway is situated between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. It's less than 100 miles from Los Angeles but feels a world away. It's an unequivocally luxurious, five-star experience that many reserve for their most special occasions, such as honeymoons and milestone birthdays. While undoubtedly expensive, bear in mind that the nightly rates, which begin at $2495, include complimentary breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Continue reading for my honest thoughts on the hotel's rooms, grounds, activities, and dining options, all of which I was lucky enough to experience firsthand this summer. Plus, of course, I'm giving you the lowdown on some of the most famous guests in its 132-year history.
Accommodations
If you subscribe to the Nancy Meyers school of interior design, you'll love the décor at San Ysidro Ranch. Here, the charming cottages practically beg for a rom-com soundtrack à la The Holiday, It's Complicated, or Something's Gotta Give. Clawfoot tubs, four-poster beds, Persian rugs, eclectic antique furniture, and stone fireplaces are just some of the many elements that make these hotel rooms feel like home. One unexpected detail I thoroughly enjoyed: floral wallpaper that, upon close inspection, sprang to life with 3D "petals" made of soft, fringed fabric. I was also obsessed with the customized block-letter sign outside my front door. (Luckily, there was just enough room to fit "Fitzpatrick" on the wooden shelf.)
Most of the 38 cottages are named after flowers or trees, with a few noteworthy exceptions, including the Kennedy Cottage, where Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy honeymooned in 1953, and the Churchill Cottage, which provided Winston Churchill respite from Britain's winter of 1912. I stayed in the Gardenia Cottage (pictured top left and bottom right), and I was blown away by the private hot tub, outdoor shower, and deck with ocean views.
The Grounds
Here, "stop and smell the roses" isn't just a suggestion—it's practically a mandate. The resort has invested tremendous time and effort into its landscaping, and nowhere is this more evident than in the rose garden, which boasts nearly every color of the rainbow. Aside from the revelatory roses, elsewhere on the property, you'll find sycamore, oak, olive, and lemon trees; wisteria, jasmine, and bougainvillea vines; and water lilies and papyrus plants floating in a tranquil pond. Oh, and how could I forget about the lavender that greets you when you first drive into the property? Not since I traveled to Provence have I seen so much lavender all in one place.
If your flora knowledge is lacking, don't fret—people used to inquire about the resort's flowers, trees, and vegetables so frequently that the staff decided to label everything with cute, discreet signage. All in all, the grounds are like the landscape version of an antidepressant. The only thing missing? The resort has not yet bottled its signature aroma, but if they do, I'll be first in line at the gift shop to buy the perfume. (Can I get royalties for coming up with the idea?)
