Renovated
2021
Price
$$$
Outside the door
Off-grid blufftop cove
Solar arrays and micro-turbines power this blufftop outpost, where timber boardwalks wind above the crashing Pacific.
“The canvas-constructed tents are comfortable - it’s more like a hotel stay than a campground.”
Where it shines
Remarkable
Circular yurts with stargazing skylights join hand-woven branch nests above the Pacific.
What they say
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
This upscale, off-the-grid retreat offers a clever way to experience Big Sur’s seaside splendor from a variety of creative dwellings set amidst rocky outcrops.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Highway 1 trails run right past the bluffs, with Salmon Creek Falls just down the rugged southern coast.
The rooms
Circular yurts have pine floors and stargazing skylights, while cocoon-like Autonomous Tents add gas fireplaces and private fire pits.
The water
Bring a swimsuit.
Hot tub and massage
A blufftop hot tub looks straight over the Pacific, and the rustic massage studio warms by a stone hearth.
Yoga on the deck
Morning yoga classes meet under an open-air canopy pavilion overlooking the hillside lawn bowl and pine trees.
The Lodge Restaurant
Seasonal four-course dinners center on a wood-fired oven, with drinks served out on the ocean-facing redwood deck.
Restaurant
Wild Coast Sushi Bar
An eight-seat timber counter serves an eighteen-course omakase menu featuring seasonal catches and garden herbs.
How it began
John and Corinne Handy bought the coastal land in 1986, clearing the bluffs with local artisans before opening in 2004.
Big Sur
More like this
Post Ranch Inn
“Clifftop redwood redoubt”
Alila Ventana Big Sur
“Cliffside redwood sanctum”
Deetjen's Big Sur Inn
“Handcrafted redwood outpost”
The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.