10-07-2025
The Most Exciting Hotel Openings of Summer 2025
Who wants fussy summer plans? Not us. Luckily, this season's most exciting hotel openings are all about low-lift escapes with maximum payoff. We're talking easily accessed spots where you can commune with the great outdoors and beat the heat back home—no passport required—all in a weekend's time (if you must). For example, there's a freshly reborn Ojai classic just ninety minutes from Los Angeles. In Connecticut, a beloved Mystic hideaway adds a luxe new building that's ideal for getting your New England coastal fix. And there's even an intriguing new addition to one of the South's most iconic (and perhaps infamous?) beach towns. Whether you have your sights set on the mountains, the coasts, or the city, these new stays make for the perfect low-key summer escape. Happy travels.
Moses Berkson/Hotel El Roblar
Hotel El Roblar — Ojai, California
Where it's located: Right on Ojai Avenue, with views of the Topatopa Mountains, and just steps from all the best health food cafés and crystal shops.
Why we're excited: Established in 1919, Ojai's longest-standing hotel is getting a new lease on life. Previously, it was an all-inclusive, adults-only spa hotel since the 1970's that closed after the Thomas fire in 2017 and never reopened—until now. A new team of hoteliers including Eric Goode, Ramon Shamshiri, Jeremy McBride and Warner Ebbink have turned a new page in the property's history. The design preserves much of the original building's Spanish Revival roots, with a Mission-style arched entryway, stone fireplaces, and Monterey furniture. The 50-room hotel features three new dining outlets, all helmed by chef Brandon Boudet of Little Doms in LA: Condor Bar, a modern Mexican restaurant; an intimate Snug Bar in the lobby; and a guests-only cafe for breakfast and lunch. There is a lovely walled garden at the hotel's heart, complete with a serene pool area for guests. For maximum Ojai vibes, book one of the rooms with a terrace—there's nothing more Ojai than taking in those famed 'pink moment' sunsets from the privacy of your own slice of paradise.
