Best Inns and B&Bs
Back to CaliforniaCalifornia's Best Inns and Bed & Breakfasts
St. Orres (Gualala; tel. 707/884-3303): Designed in a Russian style -- complete with two Kremlinesque, onion-domed towers -- St. Orres offers secluded accommodations constructed from century-old timbers salvaged from a nearby mill. One of the most eye-catching inns on California's North Coast.
Albion River Inn (Albion; tel. 800/479-7944): One of the best rooms-with-a-view on the coast, the Albion River Inn is on a cliff overlooking a rugged stretch of shoreline. Most of the luxuriously appointed rooms have Jacuzzi tubs for two, elevated to window level. Add champagne and you're guaranteed to have a night you won't soon forget.
River Ranch Lodge (Lake Tahoe; tel. 800/535-9900): Alongside the Truckee River, the River Ranch has long been one of our favorite affordable inns around Lake Tahoe. It has everything you'd want in a mountain lodge: rustic decor, a great bar and outdoor deck overlooking the river, and a restaurant serving wood-oven-roasted Montana elk loin and other hearty dishes.
Evergreen Lodge (Yosemite; tel. 800/935-6343): Scattered through a grove of towering pines near the entrance to Yosemite, Evergreen's rustic cabins, with a beautiful old bar and restaurant, afford easy access to dozens of outdoor adventures. Enjoy a pitcher of beer and a game of Ping-Pong on the patio, or sit around the campfire telling stories and roasting marshmallows; it's all part of the Evergreen experience.
The Mosaic (Beverly Hills; tel. 800/463-4466): This Beverly Hills boutique is an ideal blend of art, luxury, service, location, and value. Huge rainforest showerheads, Frette linens, Bulgari bath products, Wolfgang Puck refreshments, and piles of pillows will leave you wondering if you checked in at the pearly gates.
Casa Malibu (Malibu; tel. 800/831-0858): This beachfront motel will fool you from the front; its humble entrance on the Pacific Coast Highway belies the quiet, restful haven within. Bougainvillea vines festoon the rooftops and balconies of the motel's 21 rooms around a courtyard garden. Many rooms have private decks above the sand, and one suite was reportedly Lana Turner's favorite.
Olallieberry Inn (Cambria; tel. 888/927-3222): This 1873 Greek Revival house, furnished in a floral-and-lace Victorian style, is an ideal base for exploring Hearst Castle. The gracious innkeepers provide everything from directions to Moonstone Beach to restaurant recommendations -- and a scrumptious breakfast in the morning.
Casa Cody (Palm Springs; tel. 800/231-2639): You'll feel more like a houseguest than a client at this 1920s Spanish-style casa blessed with peaceful, blossoming grounds and two swimming pools. The Southwestern-style rooms are large and equipped for extended stays, and the hotel is just a couple of easy blocks from the heart of the action.
La Pensione Hotel (San Diego; tel. 800/232-4683): In Little Italy, on the fringe of downtown San Diego, this find feels like a small, modern European hotel, with tidy lodgings at bargain prices. Great dining options abound in the surrounding blocks, and you'll be perfectly situated to explore the rest of the city and region by car. The immediate neighborhood is filled with art galleries and some of the city's most dashing new architecture.
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