By Allison Mitchell By Allison Mitchell | November 27, 2023 | Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Feature, Travel & Recreation, Best of The Best, New Restaurants, Eat, Date Night, Hotel Bar, Stay, Hotel Lobby, Hotel Suites, Hotel Amenities, Hotels For A Staycation, Luxury Hotels for Pleasure, Luxury Hotels for Business, Date Place, Drink, Relax and Renew, Hotel Resto, Features, Travel, Food & Drink, Featured, Food & Drink Feature, Lifestyle Feature, Community, City Life, Hotels For A Weekend Detox Retreat, Restaurants,
As its complete renovation comes to a close, The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe is heading into its centennial year. Here’s your guide to San Diego’s most exquisite new property that’s elevating the Rancho Santa Fe community to great new heights.
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe's lush exterior; ALL PHOTOS BY JESSICA SAMPLE
Opened in 1924, The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe has found new life in its 99th year thanks to renowned architectural designer Steve Hermann and interior designer Nina Chiappa. Hermann, the mastermind behind Palm Springs hot spots L’Horizon Resort & Spa, the Colony Palms Hotel and Hermann Bungalows, sought to pay homage to the property’s old Hollywood glamour, a space in which Bing Crosby, Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford once retreated to in its heyday.
Thoughtful design elements add panache to The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe’s pool deck. PHOTO BY JESSICA SAMPLE
It’s no surprise that Hermann is a Montecito resident as The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe exquisitely captures the charm of storied properties like San Ysidro Ranch with its lush grounds that shroud its 85 suites, bungalows and residences in blooming privacy. Bungalows range from 500 to 1,200 square feet and offer visitors marble rain showers, clawfoot soaking tubs, wood-burning fireplaces, private hot tubs and spacious outdoor areas, depending on the model. While those amenities are unique to the room you book, every accommodation includes Frette robes, Le Labo bath products, Dyson hair dryers, Nespresso coffee makers, custom marble bathrooms and sleek hardwood floors. Retreating to your room feels like stepping into a serene private home, perfectly punctuated by designer-picked furnishings, plush bedding and enchanting wall coverings.
A gorgeous suite at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe; PHOTO BY JESSICA SAMPLE
Elegant wall coverings and gold accents add whimsy to the marble-clad bathrooms at The Inn. PHOTO BY JESSICA SAMPLE
By morning, a grab-and-go cafe features coffee drinks and pastries best enjoyed on the outdoor patio featuring verdant green lounge furniture and a focal-point fireplace. By night, Bing’s Bar buzzes as imbibers sink into sumptuous couches and fringe-trimmed lounge chairs to sip classic and original cocktails with small bites. (Don’t miss the lobster rolls; the truffle bearnaise sauce they’re topped with had us ordering two rounds!) It’s an elegant yet approachable space that its namesake star would be proud of.
The elegant lobby gives way to Bing's Bar.
Indulge in mini lobster rolls at Bing’s Bar.
Adjacent to Bing’s Bar is the spectacular Lilian’s, the property’s signature restaurant by Clique Hospitality, named for the female architect who designed the original Inn in 1924. Indoor and outdoor seating is available across daily breakfast, lunch and dinner. Embroidered napkins and beautiful green patterned plates showcase the restaurant’s thoughtfulness before you even order. For dinner, don’t miss the classic 8-ounce filet paired with brown butter mushrooms and crispy frites served with cajun aioli. Just save room for dessert—it’s the star of the show at Lilian’s. The Beehive Honey Baked Alaska and Lilian’s Wonderland are as photo-worthy as they are delicious, a testament to executive chef Moira Hill and her fabulously creative team.
The beautiful dining room at Lilian's
The king salmon crudo at Lilian's is paired with truffle ponzu.
The Lilian's Wonderland dessert
The Nov. 2023 reopening of The Inn ushers in a new era for a sprawling property near the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club and Solana Beach. Next, The Inn will debut its refreshed spa in December, a sanctuary reflecting the property’s unmistakable hospitality. With exceptional service, exquisite surroundings and an authentic getaway-from-it-all ambiance, The Inn is a must for locals and visitors alike. Your weekend of bliss awaits.
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