Ojai Valley Inn

TL;DR: Don't count on your Amex perks working, don't plan your trip around the "Pink Moment," and under absolutely NO circumstances should you eat at The Oak. For a resort that charges Ojai Valley Inn prices and enjoys Ojai Valley Inn hype, the guest experience was chaotic. We booked through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and requested early check-in and late checkout. We arrived around 2 p.m. and walked straight into pandemonium. The valet was backed up, the check-in line was spilling out the door, and the whole arrival experience was giving "Southwest boarding group C." While waiting for our room, we were directed to change into swimsuits in a ballroom bathroom while our luggage sat in a giant holding pen with everyone else's bags. When I asked a staff member if there was a wedding, conference, celebrity sighting, or any explanation for the chaos, she said, "No, it's always like this.” Yikes. Our room wasn't ready until 4 p.m. When we finally got in, one duvet had a hole in it and there were mysterious white stains on the blankets at the foot of the beds. Then came the Case of the Missing Shoe! After our bags were delivered, I discovered that one shoe had somehow vanished from a securely packed bag. An entire shoe. The hotel eventually located and returned it 20 to 30 minutes later, but I remain fascinated by the logistics of how this happened. Now let's discuss The Oak. The Oak is the resort's flagship restaurant, which makes its food all the more confusing. Breakfast was decidedly BAD. From our group, a few got the buffet and a few got menu items and we shared bites. The buffet eggs were genuinely nasty, the bagels were cardboard, and the breakfast burrito was one of the worst I’ve ever had the misfortune to put in my mouth. Nearly everything felt cafeteria-adjacent except the pastries, which were delicious and therefore suspicious. We gave dinner a second chance because we're optimists. I hate to report that was a mistake. Every dish arrived at once. The fries were sitting in a puddle of oil, wet and under-fried. The chicken bites were so tiny they appeared to be breadcrumbs cosplaying as chicken. The broccoli and carrots were present. The blueberry pie sundae contained approximately zero pie. The steak was genuinely good, but only after they informed us they were out of the steak we actually ordered and encouraged us to upgrade. Ojai has such a good food scene, it just clearly has not reached Ojai valley inn. Devastating. We left feeling completely underwhelmed, and headed to the fire pits. We asked about the s’mores kits we saw everyone else using and we were brought 2 -yay! Then saw them on our bill: $15 each. Odd that wasn’t mentioned. The much-hyped "Pink Moment" was perhaps the funniest disappointment of all. After hearing countless recommendations to grab a cocktail and watch the mountains “glow pink” from the Adirondack chairs, we learned that the famous pink mountain isn't even the mountain you're looking at from The Oak!! It's off to the side, almost totally obscured by the hotel, and only visible from certain angles. The Pink Moment feels less like a natural wonder and more like an extremely successful marketing campaign. The grounds themselves are undeniably beautiful. The pools are lovely, the property is expansive, and if you're traveling with kids or golfers, you'll probably have plenty to do. But for the price, the service, food, and overall guest experience simply didn't live up to the reputation. One final tip: if you need your car, call valet before heading downstairs. Otherwise, settle in. If you stay here, enjoy the pools, enjoy the scenery, and then leave the property for every meal possible. Downtown Ojai is just far enough away that you'll probably end up Ubering, which is annoying when you've already paid resort prices. That said, the piña colada is EXCELLENT.

We came for a casual dinner over Memorial Day Weekend and got food to go from Jimmy’s Pub and ate it on the lawn by the fire pits. I loved the family friendly and chill vibe of the hotel, and that we could walk in with no hotel booking or dining reservation yet still enjoy the property. They also have servers come around the lawn to grab your order (drinks and food from a separate menu). A+ experience and I look forward to visiting again as a hotel guest for a little staycation!

Beautiful spot! Celebrated my Bday here. The restaurant, The Oak, was good, service was excellent and the views were gorgeous! They knew it was my b'day and made sure to make my dinner special with a surprise dessert that added a nice touch. I highly recommend this place for any event; B'day, Anniversary, Proposal, Wedding, etc. I cannot rate the hotel rooms in all honesty because we didn't stay in the hotel. We had reservations for the restaurant and then we walked the beautiful grounds. The front desk was extremely friendly and guided us to the restaurant. One day I hope to actually stay at the hotel as they looked beautiful from what we were able to see from the ground level.

I proposed to my wife here. She said YES!!!! Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is one of those places in Southern California that truly feels like an escape the moment you arrive. Tucked into the Ojai Valley and surrounded by the Topatopa Mountains, the property spreads across hundreds of acres of beautifully landscaped grounds filled with oak trees, gardens, and quiet walking paths. It’s the kind of place where everything slows down and the focus shifts to relaxing and enjoying the setting.  The resort itself is impressive in both size and quality. Guests have access to multiple pools, a championship golf course, tennis courts, hiking trails, and one of the most well-known luxury spas in California. The spa alone is massive, offering dozens of treatment rooms, wellness classes, saunas, and relaxation areas designed to help you fully unwind.  The rooms are spacious and comfortable with a classic California resort style. Many have private terraces with views of the valley, and the bathrooms feel more like something you’d find in a high-end home with large soaking tubs and marble finishes.  What really stands out, though, is the overall experience. The service is consistently excellent, the grounds are incredibly peaceful, and there are enough restaurants and activities on the property that you could easily spend an entire weekend without leaving.  It’s definitely a luxury resort and priced accordingly, but if you’re looking for a relaxing getaway not far from Los Angeles or Orange County, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is one of the most beautiful and well-rounded destinations in California.

This was my second time staying at Ojai Valley Inn — the first was after graduating college, and this trip was for my 40th birthday and Mother’s Day. I absolutely love it here. One of my favorite things is riding bikes into town with my family and soaking in the beauty of Ojai. The beds are incredibly comfortable, and I especially love sleeping on their Frette sheets. Housekeeping is top notch and always makes the stay feel luxurious and relaxing. The food at the hotel is just OK in my opinion, but honestly that’s never bothered us because we love exploring and eating in town anyway. Such a beautiful, peaceful place to make memories.