Located smack in the center of one of the most desirable zip codes in the country, The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe is a beloved landmark for locals and an intimate gathering place for those who want to live like one.
Originally opened in 1924, The Inn was the weekend getaway for Hollywood royalty like Charlie Chaplin and Bing Crosby, and it recently underwent a $42 million renovation to ensure it offers every modern convenience in addition to its evergreen old world charm.
Although we didn’t have time for an overnight stay, The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe was an easy choice when my mom, sister and I were choosing a spot for our annual birthdaycation in San Diego. Our main criteria every year is a stellar spa and we were excited about checking out the Inn’s new Mila Moursi Spa.
Mila Moursi, a mentee of French skincare legend, Dr. Louis Renaud, opened the Mila Moursi Skin Care Institute in Los Angeles in 1981 and quickly became a favorite of A-listers including Jennifer Aniston, Sandra Bullock and Jane Fonda. Her collaboration with The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe is her first hotel partnership so we knew it would be special. We couldn’t wait to don our robes and settle in for our spa treatments.
But first, lunch.
Lilian’s at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
Lilian’s, The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe’s new signature restaurant, is named after master architect Lilian J. Rice, who designed the hotel as well as much of the community itself, including 10 buildings listed on The National Register of Historic Places.
The restaurant does her proud with dishes that are as inventive and true to their surroundings as her own work. The gorgeous green interior brings to mind the magic of Oz and reflects the sustainability philosophy that powers the creative geniuses behind the curtain.
On a nice day, though — and San Diego is defined by nice days — you’ll want to book a table on the outdoor patio so you can enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful landscaping along with your meal.
Because we were there for Sunday brunch, our orders were a delicious mishmash of breakfast and lunch items. My scrambled eggs came with addictive crispy smashed potatoes, my sister’s warm crab and avocado salad was fresh and flavorful and my mom’s filled-to-the-brim Clubhouse sandwich was so generously sized, she’s likely still eating the leftovers.
Of course, being full has never stopped us from ordering dessert. We were so intrigued by the description of Lilian’s Wonderland — “chocolate crumb soil, cherry chocolate mousse earth, ‘mushroom’ meringues, chocolate truffle stones, dark chocolate twigs, pistachio cake ‘moss’” — we ordered one to share.
Not only was it insanely good but it was an absolutely stunning piece of art. It felt sinful to destroy it three forkfuls at a time — and it definitely tasted sinful.
Since we were just going from the lunch table to the massage table, we took a little break in between to explore the property’s 11 lush acres and burn off a few calories.
The grounds are charming and the newly-redecorated interior spaces are warm and inviting, with lots of places to sit down and take in the art and design.
While we were there, we realized we weren’t the only ones celebrating an occasion. There was an appropriately princess themed one year old birthday party, complete with castle backdrop, a bachelorette party and a family reunion. It was all joyful and not at all surprising because, really, any day you can spend at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe is cause for celebration.
Mila Moursi Spa at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
Ahhhhh. Just walking into the new Mila Moursi Spa was enough to start our relaxation process. We quickly put on the robes and slippers waiting for us in our lockers so we could get to the relaxation room and sit by the fire.
The spa offers an extensive menu of face and body treatments and our massages were excellent, with each of our therapists catering to our individual needs and personal preferences.
After our massages, we were treated to tasty, nutritious green smoothies. We were tempted to enjoy them in the spa’s outdoor courtyard, where we could also take advantage of the cold plunge, dry sauna and cabanas, but the warmth of the indoor fireplace was too hard to resist and we sunk deeper into the cozy chairs, marveling at how much better we all felt and vowing to come back for an overnight soon.
Mother’s Day at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe is sounding pretty perfect. Hint hint, family.