TL;DR

Setting: 200-acre Malibu Hills property surrounded by Southern California’s natural beauty.
Heritage: Family-owned for 80 years, with Californian authenticity.
Vibe: Tranquil, secluded retreat with scenic drives to city attractions.
Check prices here

If you’re in LA to enjoy Southern California’s natural beauty, this Malibu Hills boutique retreat is for you.

Owned by the same family for 80 years, Calamigos Guest Ranch is a 200-acre property offering privacy and relaxation in a stunning natural setting.

Sure, it takes a drive to see the Hollywood Stars or the Venice Boardwalk, but when you’re far away from the hubbub of the city, the hubbub is far away from you.

If you do it right, that drive might be one of the most scenic of your life.

What are the rooms like?

Options: 52 Bungalows, Cottages, and Estate Rooms, each private and peaceful.
Highlights: Cottages with fenced patios, outdoor baths/showers, fireplaces or fire pits.
Design: Eco-friendly luxury with sustainable furnishings, wood accents, and lush greenery.
Bathrooms: Indoor/outdoor setups with signature bath products and cozy robes.
See each room in detail here

Rooms come in all shapes and sizes, but peace and quiet is the general rule. You have Bungalows, Cottages, and Estate rooms, all of which offer a place to call your own.

Accommodation access winds through the beautiful grounds.

The Estate rooms are in a notably private area of the property, but in our opinion the Cottages are the standouts.

Each has a fenced-in patio, many with outdoor baths and showers, for you to enjoy the morning birdsong in solitude.

The smallest, the Premium Private Cottage, is supremely charming, while the 890 square foot Two Bedroom Suite can house a full family with ease.

Each cottage has either a fireplace or an outdoor fire pit and relaxing dining areas.

Cottage, Estate, or Bungalow, you’re looking at the best in sustainable furnishing and eco-friendly luxury.

Beds are pillowy cotton affairs set off by natural wood accents and there are plants flourishing in every room.

Bathrooms, indoor and out, are airy and open, well-stocked with signature bath products and cozy robes for you to lounge around and marvel at nature in.

What are prices like?

> Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Dining: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on-site with produce from the hotel’s garden.
Variety: High-end American fare with multicultural influences—sushi, steak, kale salads, desserts.
Pools & Beach: Three onsite pools plus guest access to Calamigos Beach Club with parking.
Wellness: Spa, fitness center, hiking trails, and games on property.

Mornings at the coffee saloon are an absolute treat, and you can hang out there all day if you like.

There’s nowhere else to eat nearby, so you’ll be relieved to know that breakfast, lunch and dinner at Calamigos are exceptional and extensive.

It’s fairly straightforward high-end American fare, that is, inspired twists on multicultural classics.

The variety, from kale salads and truffle sushi to steak entrees and decadent chocolate desserts, ensures that you won’t get bored.

The kitchen sources most of the fruit and veg from the on-site garden, while meat and fish are sustainably farmed and wild-caught.

You can order takeout if you’re planning on an excursion, and a limited menu is available poolside.

Now, let’s talk about poolside. It’s always easy to find a chair at the three onsite pools, but the real plus is the guest access to the nearby Calamigos Beach Club.

This haven of beachside comfort offers free parking to enjoy beaching and paddle boarding all day.

If you’re feeling a bit more active, the hotel property has table games and access points to some picturesque hiking.

The fitness center and spa can give a little more pampering; you can trust a Malibu spa to treat you well.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Onsite: Guests often stay within the property with its nice grounds, pools, beach, and spa.
Scenic Drives: Pacific Coast Highway offers iconic Southern California views.
Nearby: Malibu beaches, downtown LA, Hollywood, Pasadena, and Huntington Gardens.

The property is designed to keep you both happy and close by, and many people will get everything they need from wandering the grounds, lounging at the beach, and relaxing in their rooms or in the spa.

However, if you do get the itch to explore further out, you can easily take the Pacific Coast Highway, one of the highlights of any trip to Southern California.

You can simply stop in Malibu for a change of scene, but a stunning drive south will take you to the other, less exclusive, beaches of Los Angeles proper.

Here you can people-watch, arcade, or skateboard to your hearts content.

Stop in Pasadena for some high-end shopping or a trip to the gorgeous Huntington Museum and Gardens.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“Exceptional service with every detail considered. The cashless and tip less approach is terrific, and somehow results in even friendlier and more attentive service. The details in the room from the wine, to the spa product samples, and the personalised candle elevate the experience. The rooms are stunning and luxurious. The property is beautiful, well maintained and has no shortage of activities and areas to explore….”

“Calamigos Ranch is a hidden gem located in the mountains of Malibu. The perfect place to enjoy a quick staycation getaway or do some local wine tasting. The restaurants and bars in the property are all wonderful….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”Service at the outdoor grill/bar was very subpar at lunch time…”

”The service at the pool and at the beach needs improvement for sure. The service was good but for the prices I would expect it to be absolutely excellent. The service at the ranch club where we had breakfast and dinner was excellent as was the front desk and valet staff. This was only a comment about specifically the pool and the beach….”

> Read all the reviews right here