Best Luxury 5 Star Hotels in California

Found on Wilshire Boulevard, this hotel is a short schlep to the beach. The rooftop pool deck (the only one on the Westside) is a feature, along with the Ayurvedic Surya Spa, lush garden terrace and the Balearic outdoor restaurant and bar with its chic cabanas. Earthy tones blend with a Scandi meets mid-century design vibe, that’s accented by creative artworks, murals and indoor palm trees. The Proper Hotel is deeply fashionable, with sushi, oysters, organic juices, biodynamic wines and small-batch mezcals found on the menus. Here you can start the day with a Greek Goddess yoghurt bowl and end it with prime flat iron steak.

Holiday in 78-acres of Pacific side resort, at the Ritz-Carlton’s Santa Barbara address. The hotel has two beaches, three infinity-edge pools, a 42,000-sq-ft spa and five places to eat and drink; Angel Oak serves aged and prime steak cuts and has the deepest cellar in the city, ‘O’ Bar + Kitchen features Latin style sharing plates and market specials, while The Bistro (the hotel’s third main restaurant) focusses on sustainable seafood, with a terrace overlooking the adjacent ocean. Rooms come with sea or garden views and upgraded versions have their own patios complete with fires, private luxury poolside cabanas and two bedrooms.

Found in the Montecito area of the city, this is a five-star hotel situated right on the beach — a rarity in Santa Barbara. Guests can arrive in the Rosewood’s chauffeur-driven open-top Rolls Royce — it has a personal touch, as indeed does the entire experience of staying here. The hotel looks more like a lavish New England home than a hotel and the service adds to this vibe. Both adults-only groups and families are catered for, with pools for each. There are outdoor hot tubs, a kids club, beach butlers, ball courts, shuffleboard games, two boutiques (including Gwyneth Paltrow’s goop) and a Sense Spa using local ingredients. Dining options include the popular Malibu Farm.

Run for the hills and you’ll find this Forbes Five-Star luxury hotel up there. It has 92 rooms, including private bungalows. The heated infinity-edged saltwater swimming pool is the ultimate in serenity, with stunning Pacific views (take a look through the hotel’s terrace-based telescope to spot whales and dolphins). An indoor-outdoor restaurant uses fruit, herbs and veg grown in the on-site kitchen garden, cheese made from the resident cow and home-brewed beer and coffee, as well as locally-sourced Santa Barbara delicacies. El Encanto also has a spa, is child and pet friendly and boasts artworks from creators such as Damien Hirst.

Conveniently located just a short walk from Union Square, the Ferry Building and Fisherman’s wharf, the second Four Seasons hotel in San Francisco is a sky high urban retreat. With unparalleled panoramic views from the 11 floors of the 48-storey landmark building the hotel offers guests a choice of contemporary designed rooms and suites; from a deluxe city view room to a golden gate view corner suite. With a 24-hour fitness and business centre this hotel is as equally suited to business guests as it is leisure. The hotel eagerly anticipates its new concept signature restaurant and bar (due to open 2022) and meanwhile an all-day In-Room dining service is the convenient choice for great food for those who don’t wish to venture far. The expert concierge team is always on hand to tailor the best experiences for guests to fully immerse themselves in the incredible things to do in this culturally diverse and vibrant city.

The iconic Fairmont San Francisco is renowned as one of the most luxurious hotels around, offering incomparable customer service. You can dine at any of its three restaurants, offering a variety of cuisine from California-inspired dishes at the Laurel Court Restaurant to Polynesian fusion in the Tonga Room and European cafe culture at Caffe Cento. The Fairmont’s location offers spectacular views over San Francisco and with the cable car lines just a few steps away, there’s easy access to Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown and other famous tourist attractions. You’ll be able to explore the bustling vibrant city and then retire to the peace and serenity of your hotel. Check out the One-of-a-Kind Suites if you’re really wanting to push the boat out and indulge yourself – and why not?!

Hotel Drisco, a sophisticated Edwardian building dating back to 1903, will impress you with its excellent service, luxury fittings and little perks like free bicycles to use during your stay. Guests have a distinctly San Franciscan experience here, staying in the friendly Pacific Heights neighbourhood nestled in the hilltops, a short step away from the bustle of the city centre. You’ll be able to help yourself to delicious local delicacies like currant scones with lemon curd, smoked salmon and brie and local hand-made granola from the breakfast buffet and the daily evening wine reception is not to be missed.

You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back into another era when you enter the Ritz Carlton, still oozing the charm and ambience of past days with the luscious decor and the striking 1909 architecture. With a cable car stop right outside the entrance, you’ll have no trouble getting around the city with the Ritz as your base. The Ritz Carlton San Francisco is a top spot for weddings, celebrations and other functions with the Terrace Courtyard offering an exquisite setting and backdrop for photos. Home to L’Occitane Spa, refreshing massages, body and face treatments are available and rustic Californian-style food is served up at Parallel 37.

The rooms at the Four Seasons Hotel envelop you in the beauty and charm of the San Franciscan Bay Area, with a palette of blue, grey and white bringing to mind the fog over the sparkling ocean. The Four Seasons Hotel is truly a sensuous oasis in the middle of busy San Francisco. Treat yourself to classic cocktails with a twist at the MKT Restaurant-Bar or take an exhilarating class in the superbly equipped fitness centre.

Voted the number one resort in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler magazine, Pelican Hill has welcomed the likes of Kate Beckinsale. 332 bungalows and two, three and four-bedroom Tuscan-style villas (the latter provide access to a Villa Clubhouse) are set within over 500 acres of manicured grounds, boasting rattan furniture, wood-beam ceilings, deep soaking marble baths and limestone fireplaces. Guests can sun themselves on private cabanas beside the Roman-inspired Coliseum Pool, where 1.1 million hand-cut glass mosaic tiles glow beneath the waters. All of this is surrounded by serene and protected green space.

Indulge your inner Willy Wonka when you stay in this former chocolate factory. One, two and three-bedroom apartments are offered within the building, with round-the-clock butler and concierge services on hand. These come with fully equipped kitchens and entertaining areas, ideal for an extended stay. Decor is US loft-style, with polished wooden floors and internal brick walls. Guests can enjoy a drink on the terrace warmed by the glow of a fire pit while looking out over the city. There’s a trolley stop right opposite and direct access to the buzzing Fisherman’s Wharf waterfront area of San Francisco.

Surrounded by hundreds of acres of vineyards and a backdrop of forests and mountains, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences offers a supreme location. It’s set on a highly esteemed vineyard in Calistoga and is brand new for November 2021. The resort has 85 bedrooms and suites and a stone spa sanctuary with the option of alfresco treatments using local mud. The dining offer includes Truss, with its signature farm-to-table dishes, a Californian-Mexican open-air eatery and a wine tasting room. There are two outdoor pools one of which is adults only and a programme of activities for younger guests, making it ideal for families wishing to relax together.