This year has been filled with multiple hotel openings and major renovations across Northern and Central California.
Back in July, we took a closer look at Guerneville’s new favorite camp hotel, The River Electric, and we’ll soon be digging into the details of a couple of the newbies coming this fall (looking at you, La Bahia and Le Petit Pali St. Helena).
Until then, whether you’re looking for a culinary-focused trip, a beachside spa getaway, or a mountain retreat, there’s something for you at these new and freshly renovated hotels.
Appellation Hotels, Lodi + Healdsburg
(Courtesy of Appellation)
Co-founded by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer, Appellation Hotels, a brand dedicated to celebrating food and place in Wine Country, unveiled its first two properties this year. Appellation Lodi: Wine & Roses Resort and Spa (2505 W. Turner Rd.) opened this summer, transforming what had been a 10-room B&B into a seven-acre, 66-room boutique hotel with a French-style bakery and the Americana House, a restaurant focused on seasonal dishes and featuring a cheese-aging cabinet.
Appellation Healdsburg opened this month with 108 rooms spread across 12 buildings. The hotel is all about culinary delights from the moment you arrive, with seasonal cocktails and snacks upon check-in and fruit trees and kitchen gardens on site. They’ll host culinary workshops, and you'll find locally caught seafood at Folia Bar & Kitchen at the heart of the resort and a rooftop perfect for a sunset cocktail at Andy's Beeline. There are also two pools and the Terroir Spa, where your visit starts with a foot bath ritual using seasonal herbs. // 101 Dovetail Ln. (Healdsburg), appellationhotels.com
More Appellation Hotels are on the way, too. Hotel Mohi by Appellation is set to open in spring 2026 in Morgan Hill, followed by Appellation Pacific Grove, which will feature rooftop gardens and Monterey Bay views.
The Ava Hotel, Paso Robles
(Courtesy of Ava Hotel)
The Ava Hotel, perfectly placed just a block from the park in downtown Paso Robles, started taking reservations in August 2025. The elegant 151-room hotel is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, and it features a fantastic rooftop space complete with a saltwater pool and a Baja-inspired restaurant and bar. You can also enjoy Mediterranean cuisine at Emre and pop in for a quick pick-me-up at the espresso bar.
“We wanted to create a place where travelers can immerse themselves in the essence of the Central Coast and where locals want to gather,” says general manager Matt Kleefisch—and they’ve definitely succeeded. // 944 Pine Street (Paso Robles), theavahotel.com
The Milo, Santa Barbara
(Lela Brodie)
The Milo in Santa Barbara is named for Milo Potter, who opened a 400-room hotel on the waterfront near Stearns Wharf in 1903. That hotel burned down in 1921, but like a phoenix from the ashes, a new hotel was built on the site. Fast forward to 2025, and all of the 121 guestrooms in the Spanish colonial stay have been redone with an eye toward maximizing comfort with refined coastal style. Details pay homage to the hotel’s history, like the custom heron wallpaper in the rooms, a tribute to the zoo that was on the grounds of the original hotel.
The Milo has two pools and a hot tub, along with a bocce ball court, firepits, and a tiny library. They also have beach gear like umbrellas, volleyballs, towels, and chairs to borrow, as well as cruiser bikes to rent, to help you make the most of your Santa Barbara vacay. // 202 W. Cabrillo Boulevard (Santa Barbara), themilo.com
Martis Valley Lodge, Truckee
(Courtesy of @martisvalleylodge)
What was once the Hampton Inn & Suites in Truckee is now the upscale Martis Valley Lodge. Part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, this 109-room hotel started taking reservations in July after spending millions on major updates to the pool, bar, and lounge areas, as well as the guestrooms using local materials and artwork. After a day of outdoor adventure, you can come back to the hotel to relax by the outdoor fire pits, curl up with a book in the library, have a soak in the year-round hot tub, or keep the fun going with a game of shuffleboard. Their restaurant, Trailhead Social, is the perfect après-ski spot, serving locally sourced cuisine like Truckee River trout, craft beer, and coffee. // 11951 State Hwy 267 (Truckee), martisvalleylodge.com
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara
(Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara)
Perched on a bluff above Haskell’s Beach, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, is a veritable beacon of luxury—the ideal “treat yourself” getaway. For the resort’s 25th anniversary this year, it underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation that included all 358 rooms and suites spread across 19 buildings. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Spain with the whitewashed buildings and tile roofs, while Chumash motifs in the redesigned guest rooms nod to the area’s Indigenous people. The pools, including one for adults only, have all gotten a refresh, and for the ultimate in cutting-edge technology, you can get a robot massage at the four-story spa (it also has more traditional human massages and other treatment options).
The restaurants and bars have also been redone. What was once The Bistro is now Lulio, a Mediterranean-style restaurant where you can dine on the patio for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The fine dining restaurant Marisella is a must-visit spot with stunning ocean views and an Italian-inspired menu. The cocktail lists at both restaurants include new and innovative flavor combos and tasty mocktail choices. // 8301 Hollister Avenue (Santa Barbara), ritzcarlton.com
Alila Ventana Big Sur
(Daniel Kelleghan)
The high-end, all-inclusive Alila Ventana Big Sur has unveiled a major renovation in honor of its 50th anniversary. The 54 guest rooms now feature locally made furnishings and more spa-inspired décor. There’s also a series of new amenities and programming, including a partnership with Sony that gives guests the chance to borrow professional-grade cameras for free during their stay. The menu at The Sur House has been updated to focus on hyper-local ingredients sourced from the onsite garden, as well as a caviar add-on option from SF’s The Caviar Co. // 48123 Highway 1 (Big Sur), ventanabigsur.com
Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove
(Courtesy of Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove)
The Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove is set to open in December 2025 at the heart of Pacific Grove near Lovers Point, giving you easy access to the best of Monterey County Wine Country. The four-story, Spanish-style hotel will have 101 rooms, many with fantastic views of Monterey Bay, a restaurant serving seasonal California cuisine, complimentary wine hours every evening, and bikes for guests to borrow. // 157 Grand Ave. (Pacific Grove), ihg.com/kimptonhotels
