An Ideal Day in Ojai, California
The formerly sleepy ranch town is serving up more lodging, shopping, and dining than ever before.
Bart's Books, an Ojai institution. Photo by Thomas J. Story.
Bart's Books, an Ojai institution.
By turns funky, foodie, and just plain fun, Ojai can occupy much more than one single day. Here are some of our favorite Ojai haunts to set you on your way toward exploring this Southern California gem.
Where to Shop
Thomas J. Story
In the Field
If the Ojai boho chic look had a starter kit, this is where you’d find it: Perfectly picked, locally made surf wear, jewelry, caftans, hats, and home goods make this the top lifestyle shop Ojai.
Bart’s Books
No pilgrimage to Ojai is complete without an hour or so browsing the stacks and flipping through art books, novels, and poetry at the preposterously charming open-air used bookstore that’s been a long-standing national treasure to in-the-know bibliophiles.
Where to Eat
Thomas J. Story
Ojai Rôtie
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Next level “Lebanese French picnic food” and excellent local wine from restaurateur Larry Nicola (formerly of Nic’s Beverly Hills) on a lovely patio downtown. You’ll find juicy rotisserie chickens, smoky baba ghanoush, and French sourdough boules slathered with rich cultured butter.
Izakaya Full Moon
Sunset’s Wellness Issue 2022
More from this issue:
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- Booze-Free Bars and Shops Are Finally Gaining Momentum in the West
- Warmer Weather Is Around the Corner: Your February and March Garden Checklist
- These Wellness Getaways Offer Next-Level Spots to Soak
- New Nostalgia Is on the Menu at Seattle’s Hottest Filipino Restaurant
Possibly the best izakaya in Ventura County, this charming family-run spot serves exquisitely prepared Japanese dishes like rice pot with uni and A5 wagyu beef, bincho grilled meats, seasonal sashimi, and artisanal sake.
Pinyon Ojai
Serious sourcing (think Neapolitan tomatoes, boquerones, and local goat kefir), natural wines, and employee profit-sharing make this new wood-fired pizza spot the benchmark for mindful deliciousness. AKA: very Ojai.
Farmer and the Cook
The quintessential boho-hippy-ranchy mostly vegan Mexican restaurant where all walks of Ojai life converge. Wood-fired pizza nights are a long-standing town ritual that always draw crowds.
Sanders & Sons Gelato
Tucked away behind the main drag’s arcade, this spot serves true Italian-style gelato in traditional flavors like pistachio and new spins like Valrhona and ancho.
The Dutchess
Zoe Nathan of Los Angeles’s Rustic Canyon restaurant group (Milo & Olive, Sweet Rose Creamery, Huckleberry, et cetera), pastry chef Kelsey Brito, local baking sensation Kate Pepper, and chef Saw Naing join forces to serve Burmese food, bread, and other baked goods in the former Azu space.
Ojai Tortilla House
Hearty tacos rolled with handmade rosemary-stuffed tortillas and wrapped in foil are the perfect to-go lunch for a picnic in nearby Libbey Park. The al pastor in the loaded “specialty” taco is a carnivore’s delight. Follow @ojaitortillahouse.
Rory’s Place
This highly anticipated eatery from sisters Rory and Meave McAuliffe is finally open. We’re excited enough about their locally-sourced, farm-to-table-family affair that we wrote about it in our 2022 Wellness Issue.
Where to Drink
Thomas J. Story
Ojai Valley Brewery
The brewery’s new taproom and beer garden are a lovely spot to shoot pool, play shuffleboard, and sample micro-seasonal brews featuring local produce grown on the owner’s ranch. Sip gluten-free lemongrass beer, spritely Ojai Pixie tangerine wheat beer, and earthy chaparral sage.
Point de Chêne
A well-curated world-class wine shop featuring local wineries, killer Barolos, natural bottlings, and tasty surprises from Austria and the Balkans.
Beacon Coffee
This local roaster has been pulling perfect Fair Trade espresso and cupping pour-overs for over a decade and is the must-stop spot in and out of town. Grab a bag of beans and local granola to bring those Ojai vibes home.
Where to Stay
Thomas J. Story
Capri Hotel
The folks who run Ojai Rancho Inn are behind a groovy ’70s-vibes reboot of the Capri motor lodge. A pool and palm trees line the grounds, making it a soothing local crash pad. Up next from the gang: a refresh of the nearby Hummingbird Inn.
