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Looking for the best hotels in Big Sur? The Central California coastline is a bucket-list vacation for many—especially those who yearn to drive down the dramatic, cliffside roads of Highway 1 with the endless sprawl of the Pacific Ocean beyond. And that’s just the scenery: Big Sur is known for its remote campgrounds, world-famous hiking, as well as farm-to-table cuisine crafted from Californian homegrown produce. (Chez Noir and Nepthene are a must.)
There’s a number of hotel recommendations Vogue has for the region, whether one is looking for a once-in-a-lifetime luxurious five-star stay amid the notorious Big Sur fog, or a rustic retreat within a redwood forest.
Vogue’s Guide to the Best Hotels in Big Sur:
- ForTrue Luxury: Post Ranch Inn
- For the Ultimate Glamping: Alila Ventana Big Sur
- For a Remote Getaway: Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn
- For a Downtown Gem: La Playa Hotel
Below, the best hotels in Big Sur. Cue the Big Little Lies soundtrack.
Post Ranch Inn
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Post Ranch Inn isn’t just one of the best hotels in Big Sur, but one of the best hotels in America: recently, the Michelin Guide awarded it three Michelin keys—its highest distinction for hospitality. It’s easy to see why: the hotel’s structure, by modernist architect Mickey Muennig, is built into the dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific. So much so that you feel an almost complete immersion with your surroundings: when you wake up, you often find your room completely engulfed in fog. (That’s if you chose an ocean room: their Tree Houses, meanwhile, are surrounded by redwoods.) Meanwhile, their restaurant, Sierra Mar, offers classic California farm-to-table cuisine. That may seem like an overdone term—but remember, this is the region where that type of dining was invented. Post Ranch Inn is also considered the most romantic hotel in Big Sur, making it perfect for a couple’s getaway or special occasion vacation.
- Amenities: spa, heated pools, yoga, meditation, outdoor activities, on-site restaurant
- Address: 47900 Highway 1 Big Sur, CA 93920
Alila Ventana Big Sur
If you looked up glamping in the dictionary, there might as well be a picture of Alila Ventana Big Sur, a hotel and tented camp nestled across 40 wild acres of a Redwood Canyon. In fact, there’s so much to do on site—including hiking trails, Japanese hot baths, as well as two separate pools— you may find yourself not wanting to leave the property. Although the splendor of Big Sur that lies just beyond is well worth exploring.
- Amenities: fitness center, two pools, spa, bar, multiple on-site dining options
- Address: 48123 Highway One, Big Sur, CA 93920
Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn
Deetjen’s is magically rustic: built in 1937 by Helmuth and Helen Detjeen, the hotel and its quaint long cabins, intertwined between creeks and Redwood trees, have since been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The lodgings are somehow both idyllic and no frills: there’s no cell service, internet, or television, although most do offer wood-burning stoves. (Unsurprisingly, Detjeen’s has become something of a haven for artists looking to hone their creativity without distractions from the outside world.) The restaurant, famous for their breakfast, is a must-stop for Highway 1 roadtrippers—order their buttermilk pancakes or breakfast burrito.
- Amenities: on-site restaurant
- Address: 48865 Highway One Big Sur, CA 93920
La Playa Hotel
For those seeking an in-town stay, look no further than La Playa Hotel in the charming Carmel by The Sea. Once a mansion owned by an artist and his wife, a Ghirardelli chocolate heiress, in 2023 it re-opened after an extensive $20 million dollar renovation, complete with interiors by Post Company. Rooms feel like those in an unpretentious but elevated California beach home, many of them boasting ocean views. Inside there’s a dark and moody interior: the lobby, with its floral carpets, nude statues, and Spanish-style architecture looks like the home of an eccentric heiress (because, well, it was), whereas the dark-wooded Bud’s Bar is a place one could drink for hours without realizing what time it was. Outside, there are gardens as well as an expansive pool to enjoy—although the beach is only a short walk away.
- Amenities: pool, bar, on-site restaurant
- Address: Camino Real at Eighth Ave., Carmel, CA, 93921
