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.
Thomas J. Story
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.
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.
Thomas J. Story
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thomas J. Story
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.
A well-curated world-class wine shop featuring local wineries, killer Barolos, natural bottlings, and tasty surprises from Austria and the Balkans.
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.
Thomas J. Story
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.