Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore

California
United States

The Experience

Twenty acres of breezy oceanside resort tucked into upscale Montecito—home to celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Kevin Costner—the Four Seasons is a seamless blend of the region’s Spanish colonial architecture and art deco touches dating to the hotel’s 1927 Jazz Age opening. Sitting on the patio of the Bella Vista restaurant, gazing at the landmark Coral Casino along the waterfront, you may feel like the Great Gatsby himself--but the fine pinot noir in your hand will remind you that you’re firmly in modern California.

The Rooms

Individual rooms and suites reflect the colonial design, with Spanish tile in the bathrooms, muted golds in the bedding and carpets and forest green accents that emphasize the lush exterior views of gardens, courtyards and palm-lined fountains. Spa rooms include heated floors and steam showers, and cottages set away from the main buildings offer increased quiet and privacy.

The Service

Playful and inventive (hardly surprising, given that the property is owned by Beanie Babies tycoon Ty Warner), the Bella Vista’s menu emphasizes fresh local ingredients. The nearby Ty Lounge holds weekly “flight nights,” offering trios not of wine but unusual cocktails created expressly for the season. (A late summer visit could focus on fruit-based martinis, while an autumn flight may be designed around maple syrup.) Weddings can be arranged in numerous spots around the various terraces, gardens and cottages, and loaner bicycles are available for riding around the scenic neighborhood or into town.

The Highlights

The Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club, a 1937 private club complex designed by Gardner Dailey and one of the finest examples of International Style design on the West Coast, lies adjacent to the property. Thanks to a three-year, $65 million (and somewhat controversial) renovation completed in 2008, the casino now hosts an oceanside Olympic-size outdoor pool (plus one foot, lest major competition disturb the quiet privacy), state-of-the-art fitness equipment, sauna and steam rooms and private cabanas overlooking the pool and sea. The club remains private—but as a guest of the Four Seasons, you can dive right in.

 

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