California Coast Digest
Laguna Beach, Santa Monica, Topanga, Santa Ynez, Big Sur, Carmel
Welcome to our California Coast Digest! You asked, we listened— Over the last year, I have taken multiple trips to CA and each time get so many requests to share sources and locations. So, here it is! From visiting clients, site/land visits, to Design Camp and road trips with my family, the California coast has a special place in my heart. I am sharing all of my favorite spots from yummy restaurants, to insta-worthy stops and some beautiful boutique hotels. From what I wore to where to stay and where to eat, keep reading for my comprehensive digest on my latest California trips!
Laguna Beach
Where to stay
California’s ultimate beach town is nestled in between a lush canyon and incredible coastline: meet Laguna Beach. Our favorite place to stay? Hotel Joaquin. Sit back, relax, and renew your soul with ultimate California craftsmanship. The individually designed rooms are equal parts chic and playful with one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, customized furniture and curated artwork.
Where to eat
Looking for a European atmosphere with its own adjacent speak easy? Ahba is a beachside experience reminiscent of LA neighborhoods such as Venice Beach or tight Eastside pockets along Sunset, where diners enjoy unique curbside fare and captivating conversation. They may have the best burger in town…and don’t forget to check out Hellen’s next door for a cocktail after hours. For coffee, we love Zinc! Zinc has everything from aesthetics, food and emotions a special landscape for a true sense of gathering. Malibu Farm in Newport Beach is also an amazing stop! They have fresh, farm-to-table food all from Southern California.
Where to LOOK
The outdoor shopping experience at Lido Marina Village is unmatched. Located on the harbor and filled with boutiques, coffee shops and a Nobu, you shouldn’t look further for a visually fufilling day! One of our favorite vintage/ European-inspired shops is Good Together House in downtown Laguna. We always find the best vintage glassware there…
Topanga + Santa Monica
Where to stay
We love the collection of Proper Hotels…The Santa Monica Proper introduces a looser kind of luxury to Santa Monica. Here, along sun-drenched Wilshire Boulevard, successfully optimizes the city’s abundant ocean breezes and natural light, while the interior design finds inspiration in the organic tones and textures of the local coastline. Another option would be to stay at an airbnb. We loved this Topanga Tree House! This 70s-esque wood-paneled “treehouse” is California living at its finest, or at least its most clichéd. The design scheme is minimal and serene—radiating warm, meditative energy—with a yoga studio built into the house that's ideal for doing sun salutations overlooking the canyon. Take in the jaw-dropping sunsets from the large nearly floor-to-ceiling windows, or experience it first-hand with a hike in the area. For the first time ever, namaste.
Where to eat
Santa Monica Proper beckons guests with the only rooftop pool deck on the Westside, a one-of-a-kind setting that includes a Balearic outdoor restaurant, bar, and cabanas, where guests are front-row for sunsets over the Pacific.
Where to LOOK
With an emphasis on Eastern inspired wellness, the hotel’s Surya Spa, presided over by internationally renowned Ayurvedic guru Martha Soffer, offers custom-designed programs supporting physical, mental and spiritual health.
Santa Ynez + Los Alamos
Where to stay
We had the pleasure of staying in a cabin at El Capitan Canyon: A spectacular setting on the Santa Barbara coast where the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains provide a stunning backdrop for activities and adventure. Experience nature lodging in the beauty of the environment in camp-like surroundings with all the creature comforts you enjoy and expect. The Bodega House is an intimate option that is designer approved!
Where to eat
More like “Where to Drink”… The Sunstone Winery did not dissapoint. The peaceful 52-acre Santa Ynez ranch is the first organic vineyard estate in Santa Barbara County. It is a terraced site overlooking the Santa Ynez River and embodies beautiful European-inspired architecture and stone elements. A few restaurants in the Santa Ynez/ Los Alamos area we love would be The Victor (pitcured), SYK Kitchen, Bells, and Bobs Well Bread.
Where to LOOK
Santa Ynez General is our kind of place to shop. Modern muses and vintage treasures cover the tables and walls. They have a great offering of home decor and furniture while also curating mens/womens collections. Relax in the open-air wine & beer garden featuring natural and organic wines from near and far and unusual, hard to find beers and ciders at Bodega Los Alamos. Elder Flat Farms was a special place that housed everything yummy. They are a specialty Grocery Store with organic produce, cheese, flowers, jams & more!
Big Sur + Carmel
Where to stay
We passed through the beautiful town of Big Sur on our “road trip”, but immediately feel the need to go back. If we stayed there for the weekend, some places we would look into are… Post Ranch Inn which is high atop the cliffs, the striking views and otherworldly serenity can’t help but stir your soul. Ventana is where the sky, the sea, the mountains and the redwoods all converge, you find a place of unmatched beauty and tranquility. Tree Bones has it all. From autonomous tents to yurts and campsites with the best views, you are met with a farm to table restaurant (complimentary breakfast), an insane yurt omasake experience, yoga studio, hot tub and pool, generous redwood decks with spectacular coastal views.
Where to eat
The Wild Coast sushi experience at Tree Bones is unparalleled. It is the most elaborate Fifteen-Course tasting menu artfully crafted and served by Chef Yancy Knapp, which incorporates the highest quality seafood and locally harvested herbs and seasonings, many of which from Treebones’ own organic garden. Dining takes place in an intimate and thoughtfully designed indoor/outdoor space which accommodates eight guests per seating. BOOK IN ADVANCE! Coast Big Sur Cafe offers a picnic-inspired menu, coffee, beer and wine sourced from California's Central Coast, house made pastries and stunning ocean views from our rooftop terrace and round windows. Big Sur Bakery is all about the simple things: coffee & baked goods, lunch, and dinner. Since they source the freshest local ingredients, their menu changes frequently with local harvests. Sierra Mar sits inside Post Ranch Inn and celebrates the coastal bounty of Big Sur and our neighboring communities, Sierra Mar offers dishes centered around the dialogue of balance: on the plate, between land and sea, with sustainability always in mind.
Where to LOOK
Everywhere! There are 360 views of natural beauty anywhere you look. Embrace the outdoors, go on hikes, swim in the ocean, and explore! Some of our favorites: McWay Falls, Julia Pfeiffer State Beach, Andrew Molera. Don’t forget to try to do some antiquing in Cambria on your way home! They have one of my favorite vintage stores: Rich Man Poor Man Antiques Mall.
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