Where old money whispers like a breeze through palm trees and white lines dresses—The Rosewood Miramar is unvarnished, everlasting luxury. Where clocks never tick, seasons never change, and the only thing keeping you aware of day’s passing is sundown, melting into your wonderful Aperol Spritz, this hotel stands magnificently out of epoch, like a Hamptons retreat in the 50’s or a French Riviera escape in the 80’s. There’s a reason this beachside retreat has hosted more celebrities than Epstein’s island. Its old-school charm embraces you like a warm hug. 

Walking into the main house feels like you’re entering someone’s private Hampton’s vacation home, rather than a hotel in Southern California. With rows of white roses and boxwood cottages, the grounds are so perfectly manicured they could have been the backdrop of The Stepford Wives, in the best possible way. It’s a delightfully dated, yet immaculately designed property, where parents dress in their Italian brands for martinis, kids devour ice cream after a languorous day in the sun, and oyster umbrellas line the beach, offering a pastel backsplash to the powder-white buildings. When the Amtrak Pacific Liner dashes through the middle of the property, a streak of navy train cars that, for a brief second, blocks the crystalline ocean in the distance, it feels as if you’ve entered another era. Nearby bystanders watch their sun hats float away from the train’s breeze, the rose gardens sway and laugh in the wind, blades of perfectly mowed grass dart in all different directions and the line of Montecito moms waiting to cross to the beach try to keep their summer dresses from pulling a Marilyn Monroe. Then, silence. The ocean sparkles back into view, and the sound of clinking glasses at the beachside lunch spot resound their drunken chorus.

As a sucker for old money aesthetics, I can positively say there is no beachside resort in Southern California more atmospheric than Rosewood Miramar. Following a 200-million-dollar renovation, in which billionaire Rick Caruso and Hong Kong hospitality group Rosewood teamed to transform the once-abandoned hotel, the property has become as notorious as some of the celebrities who stay here. Notably, Travis Barker and Kim Kardashian were engaged here, and you’re almost guaranteed to run into a celebrity at some point while wandering the grounds. While sipping a glass of dry Sangiovese at the Manor Bar, cloaked in inky romantic lighting, fireplace vibes and sultry jazz music, I rant into Will Ferrell, who was utterly delightful, and at the gym, I ran into the cast of Curb Your Enthusiasm, who got a good chuckle after I introduced myself as, “Asher Luberto, don’t be nervous.” That’s what makes this property so special—you’re living in a swanky fantasy land where celebrities talk to you like normal people and Old Hollywood chic is still ready for its closeup. 

It helps that the rooms are equally modish. Divided into two sections, the main building and the bungalows, the vibe of the rooms is impeccably East Coast. Swathed in white, with sleek marble bathrooms and slick contemporary art dotting the walls, my ocean room had a King Bed that looked directly out to sea. Plus a balcony large enough to host an Oscars party, there were plenty of beach sand hues, soft blues and accessories like plush robes and coffee table books that set the breezy scene. All 158 rooms are furnished to dazzle, offering a nice place to relax after a day soaking up that crisp California sunshine. That the property offered a contemporary gym, bocce ball, a Michelin-starred restaurant and pools that were just the right temperature of refreshing just added to the experience.

All in all, the Miramar is a must when staying in Santa Barbara. Albeit pricey, there isn’t a more aesthetic property in this Spanish-style town, which is about as close to Europe as America gets. For those wanting to explore, take a day trip to the city, where people sip glasses of Bordeaux wines as savoury as a red velvet cake, before strolling down to the pier for a swim. Hiking in the mountains is a rugged treat, overlooking the vast stretch of sea yawning out to the Channel Islands, or grabbing a bite at one of the town’s eclectic mix of restaurants, boasting countless Michelin guide options. But we don’t blame you if you want to spend your entire trip on the property. Rosewood Miramar is a blast from the past, a pristinely luxurious one at that, that lingers in your memory like a classic Impressionist painting— a swirl of colours, beaches, breezes and for me, on this specific stay, romance, that holds a special place on my wall of memory. 

W: Rosewood Hotels Miramar Beach Montecito
T: 805-900-8388

Written by Asher Luberto for Luxuria Lifestyle International