The Greatest Eating places in Ojai, California

Solely 90 minutes north of Los Angeles by automotive and 15 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, Ojai has lengthy been a go-to place for Angelenos to get away and recharge. The city is tucked right into a valley of the identical title, surrounded by mountain ranges. A sense of serenity permeates the principle road (Ojai Ave.) and the encircling panorama is lush with citrus and avocado groves, wildflower fields, and climbing trails. Towards this stunning backdrop, a burgeoning restaurant scene has taken form, one which shows the open-heartedness and geniality for which the city is understood. Within the final 12 months alone, a flurry of artistic, heat, and downright scrumptious bakeries and eating places have opened their doorways to have fun the bounty of a beautiful agricultural area.

Should you spend sufficient time in Ojai you’ll begin listening to about how its east-west orientation makes for a type of ethereal power vortex (nearly all of California’s mountains and valleys are configured north to south). It’s this geological positioning that causes the city’s well-known “pink second,” when simply earlier than sundown, the Topa Topa Mountains to the north radiate a luminescent shade of salmon. For these environmental causes, Ojai has attracted non secular leaders together with J. Krishnamurti, Aldous Huxley, Beatrice Wooden, John Lennon, and Yoko Ono. However as a buddy who grew up right here informed me, “Regardless of the non secular factor is, the Vortex is only a handy means of wrapping all of it up in a single concept.” Whether or not you’re non secular or not, you’ll haven’t any hassle understanding what makes Ojai so particular. Listed here are the can’t-miss spots, outdated and new, for these visiting Ojai.

The Necessities:

• Don’t overlook to pack… climbing footwear, so you’ll be able to hit the paths in Los Padres Nationwide Forest.
• Don’t depart city with out… a growler of native Revel kombucha or a shirt from Rory’s Place to take residence.
• One of the best place to remain is… Ojai Rancho Inn. This revamped retro motel boasts ’50s ranch-style structure, a swimming pool for decent days (of which there are various), and firepits for cool evenings. Bonus factors for the complimentary bicycles to journey round city.

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Images by Yasara Gunawardena

First, a Bountiful Pastry Case (and Espresso)

Mornings at The Duchess, one among Ojai’s newcomers, are heavenly. Cappuccinos fly by way of the area, youngsters devour chocolate croissants, and canines pant beneath the sidewalk tables. The one potential stressor comes with deciding what to order from the bakery’s overflowing pastry case. You may’t go mistaken, however my suggestion is a sticky toffee date muffin and one thing with seasonal produce, like a ardour fruit danish or vegetable frittata. Get pleasure from your treats in one among The Dutchess’s a number of rooms or on the again patio shaded with hand-painted Burmese umbrellas. (At dinnertime, the restaurant transitions to an Indian-Burmese menu, and chef Noticed Naing serves puri with hen liver mousse, golden egg curry, and beef masala price coming again for.)