4 Best Hotels in Ojai, The Central Coast

This outdoorsy, golf-oriented resort and spa is set on 220 beautifully landscaped, oak-studded acres, with hillside views in nearly all directions. Although the rooms and suites have been refreshed over time, all still reflect the Spanish-Colonial architecture of the original 1923 resort. If you're a history buff, ask for a room in the 100-year-old adobe Neff Building. In 2019, the resort opened The Farmhouse, a sprawling epicurean center that hosts numerous foodie events for guests of all ages.

This posh, Mission Revival–style inn sits in a quiet neighborhood a few blocks from Libbey Park and a short walk from downtown. One- and two-bedroom suites, each named after a bird, ring a cobblestone courtyard with fountains and olive trees. All suites have spacious living rooms, kitchenettes, fireplaces, and feather beds.

Artists own and operate these two bohemian-chic inns—the Blue Iguana, a cozy Southwestern-style hotel about 2 miles west of downtown, and the Emerald Iguana, which has art nouveau rooms, suites, and cottages in a secluded residential setting near downtown. The owners' works and those of other local artists decorate the rooms at both inns; some suites and cottages have kitchens.