With holiday romance in the air and Valentine’s Day approaching, is this the year you make a vacation reservation at dreamy San Ysidro Ranch?
The property was just named the World’s Best Romantic Boutique Hotel and America’s Best Honeymoon Hotel in the 2024 Boutique Hotel Awards – the perfect destination for an enchanting couples getaway.
Nestled on 550 scenic acres in Montecito, California, San Ysidro Ranch is the epitome of romance. A storied retreat that once hosted honeymooners John and Jacqueline Kennedy, this historic hideaway blends timeless elegance with five-star service and ultimate privacy. The 38 individually styled accommodations feature handpicked antiques, original art, handcrafted canopy beds, and luxurious soaking tubs—many with private patios, plunge pools, and large yards. The grounds are a paradise of lavender fields, olive groves, and rose gardens, leading to indulgent amenities like a hillside pool reminiscent of the countryside in Provence, full-service Salon & Spa, the award-winning Stonehouse restaurant, and the exclusive Speakeasy at Plow & Angel.
A coveted destination for dream weddings and special celebrations, San Ysidro Ranch offers magical venues including the gardens where Katharine Hepburn witnessed Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier wed in a secret midnight ceremony, and the cottage shared by Jaqueline and John F Kennedy during their honeymoon in 1953. The enchanting grounds have witnessed the nuptials of many other illustrious guests including actor Chris Pratt to Katherine Schwarzenegger and Gwyneth Paltrow to Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
Share a candle-lit dinner in an original 1825 adobe cottage, savoring The Stonehouse’s exquisite farm-and-ocean-to-table fare, like Santa Barbara diver-caught sea urchin and gold label wagyu striploin. Indulge in a guided wine tasting in the Secret Cellar, hidden within the Ranch’s 12,000-bottle wine collection featuring some of the world’s rarest bottles (including an 1893 bottle of Chateau d’Yquem). For adventure, explore nearby hiking trails or Santa Barbara wine country for an unforgettable romantic escape.
