Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa: Local Color and Quiet Luxury

Any night that ends in a hot tub is a good night—and even better when it’s with a cold beer. I finished my recent one-night stay at the Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in Rancho Santa Fe, Cali., with a dip in the private Jacuzzi in the secluded backyard of my casita, cold one in hand, reflecting on the luxury and comfort of this five star property north of San Diego. I’ve been privileged enough to stay at a remarkable number of world class hotels in my life, and Rancho Valencia is right at the top alongside the best of the bunch. It’s the kind of place you’ll never want to leave once you check in, and that you’ll long to return to whenever you have the chance.

I say this despite having no interest whatsoever in what Rancho Valencia might be best known for. Rancho Valencia isn’t just about tennis, but tennis is its main bag; Tennis Magazine has called it the best tennis resort in Southern California every year since 2008, and across its 45 acres you’ll find 16 tennis courts to play on, both Plexiplave and red clay. And if you’re more partial to the other net-and-ball sport that’s been sweeping America, there are also four pickleball courts to dink on. If you’re a tennis fan, you’re probably already aware of Rancho Valencia and its world-class facilities; if you aren’t a tennis fan, don’t worry—there’s more than enough to do here without racket in hand.

For me, that meant drinking. A couple of cocktails at the bar of the Pony Room, Rancho Valencia’s excellent restaurant, was the perfect start for my one-night immersion into the high life. Its menu is rich with enticing margaritas, built around both tequila and mezcal, and the La Pinata, with its charred pineapple mezcal and serrano tequila, was a perfect first drink—sweet, spicy, and smokey, all at just the right amount. The seasonal cocktail list for late summer included a couple of other tequila concoctions, along with a handful of inspired vodka, gin, and whiskey drinks. I inevitably wound up off-menu with a classic Old Fashioned, and hey: it did the job way better than it needed to.

You can drink almost anywhere, of course. (Although, obviously, there are many places you shouldn’t.) What you can’t do at most bars is walk idly through pristinely manicured lawns and gardens surrounding adorable casitas. After my brief sojourn at the bar I toured Rancho Valencia’s gorgeous grounds, admiring the scenic views and rolling hills of this region of Southern California. Near my room was a decent-sized garden that provided the Pony Room with much of its produce; as I checked out the greens on display I oversaw a wedding party getting their photos taken overlooking a small valley below. If you can make the money work, I imagine a wedding at Rancho Valencia would be something truly special.

During my stroll I came upon both the property’s main pool, which is open to all ages, and, amid a cluster of olive groves, the hotel’s spa. Home to a fitness center, a salon, and various relaxation spaces, the spa also offers a variety of treatments by reservation, from massages and facials, to trendy procedures like body sculpting, hydrotherapy, and injections. The spa also has its own private pool for adults, which is available to anybody staying on property. Except kids. No kids allowed. They get all the fun stuff anyway. Kids are more than welcome to enjoy the main pool on property, which is more fun than that stuffy old spa pool anyway (at least that’s what I would tell my kids, if I had any, as I went and swam without them in the spa). Even if I’m only at a hotel for 24 hours, I’ll almost always make time to hit the pool—except I didn’t have to at Rancho Valencia, as I knew I had my own hot tub waiting for me at the end of the night.

As surprising as it was to find a private hot tub when I first entered my casita, that probably wasn’t even one of the five most exciting things about the room. First off was the immediate sense of comfort I felt when I stepped in, like I was back home, or at least the second home I would have if I could afford to buy a rustic getaway near San Diego. Tastefully appointed with decor and furniture that felt inherently Californian but with an elegance that might not always be associated with that concept, this cozy house had a king-sized bed with a desk, a small dresser, and TV overlooking a sunken living room, which had its own TV along with a full-sized couch, a leather armchair, and a coffee table. Outside was the small patio area, completely secluded from view by a wall and large olive trees, with that hot tub and a table with four chairs. I’d maybe have to sell some of my books, records, and pinball machines to permanently fit into that space, but I could definitely see myself living there extremely easily.

And that’s without even getting to the bathroom, which was larger than my first apartment. A counter with two sinks and a wall-length mirror took up one entire side, with a large tub in the middle of the bathroom right next to an enclosed walk-in shower. That shower was outfitted with a steam kit, so it was basically a sauna, as well. And behind that was a sprawling walk-in closet, with multiple shelves and drawers that could easily hold more than a week’s wardrobe. So not only did this casita come with a hot tub, but a steam room, and a closet that just by itself could easily sleep two on the floor.

(If you’re attending with family or multiple friends, Rancho Valencia also has a handful of private residences available, from the five-bedroom Casa Valencia, to 12 villas with three bedrooms and private kitchens.)

After getting a little preview of the bar, exploring the grounds, and being positively overwhelmed by how large and nice my casita was, I finally made it to the Pony Room for my dinner reservation. Seated outside, near a large central fountain that really makes a statement when you check into the Rancho Valencia, I started with a Manhattan and an appetizer recommended by my waiter: the focaccia with cheese and garlic honey. A large, perfectly cooked mound of dough, seasoned with rosemary and sea salt, arrived at my table, alongside rows of locally made ricotta surrounding canals of garlic honey. Without the ricotta the focaccia would’ve been probably the best thing I ate during a week in Southern California; with it it became something truly sublime—the kind of dish you go out of your way to tell others about. A superbly cooked prime filet mignon was the main course that night, and although it was excellent, that focaccia was truly special.

With dinner done, and a few more cocktails in my system, I returned to my casita with one thing in mind: hanging out in that hot tub. I cracked a beer from the fridge, threw on the trunks, and sank into the almost 100 degree water, with a clear night sky above. I had worked hard this day—indulging in one of the most opulent resorts I’ve ever experienced—and more than deserved this relaxing finale. Rancho Valencia isn’t just for tennis players, or wedding parties, or those who can afford a membership; it’s for anybody who wants (and can afford) to live in luxury, even for just one night.

Senior editor Garrett Martin writes about videogames, comedy, travel, theme parks, wrestling, and more. He’s also on Twitter @grmartin.