Of course, there’s the classic PCH roadtrip. But if you take a detour, you might get lost in one of the most charming valleys in California. Rumor has it that Ojai is an energy vortex, and others will say that it’s because of its rare East-West orientation: but everyone agrees that it’s a heavenly place to come for a day—or stay for a lifetime.
Eat
– Hip Vegan. It’s hip, it’s vegan, and you can eat on a charming picnic table in their backyard. Order the spring rolls and the Indian bowl, but skip the dry cookies for dessert. Probably the most Ojai spot in Ojai, right by the Farmers Market.
– The Farmer and the Cook. Another good vegetarian option in Ojai, especially for the pupusas and raw tacos. They also have a small market, which is useful if you haven’t been able to visit Rainbow bridge food store.
– Ojai Rotie. Head there for a break from vegan food, and get the Lebanese rotisserie chicken platters with sides of tabbouleh, roasted fingerling potatoes, etc.
– Rory’s Place. Helmed by a former Gjusta chef, this natural wine, raw bar and live fire cooking restaurant is rumored to be the hottest spot in town.
– The Dutchess. A wonderful restaurant and bakery opened by Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb, the owners of the Rustic Canyon empire who moved out to start a farm in Ojai a few years ago.
Drink
– Ojai Rancho Inn. This hipster hotel with claw baths also hides an extremely cute bar in the back.
– Deer Lodge. An over-the-top cheesy American bar up the hill in Meiners Oaks, with live music most nights.
– Beacon. A locals’ favorite for coffee and fresh pastries at the counter, the kind of place you’d like to visit every morning.
– Tipple & Ramble. It feels like Bacchanal in New Orleans, or simply a good friend’s backyard: grab a bottle and cheese plate at the small bar, and make your way to one of the patio tables.
Do
– Meditation Mount. Closed for two years after the fires, this is a spiritual hilltop and garden, perfect to meditate or simply enjoy the scenery.
– Bart’s Books. A house turned into an open-air bookstore with books old and new, where you’ll find cookbooks in the kitchen and kids’ books in the backyard.
– In The Field. A cool shop for clothes and pottery, it doesn’t get more Ojai than this.
– Meher Mount. Just outside of Ojai, another hilltop with breathtaking views all over Santa Barbara, but dedicated to an Indian guru.
– Farmers Market. Every Sunday, take a stroll in the aisles of the Ojai Farmers Market, to find produce and a few hippy-dippy products.
– Ojai Olive Oil company. A small olive farm with trees from France, Italy and Spain, where you can learn about the entire process, as well as sample various olive oils and vinegars.
– Summer Camp. Another cool store, this time in a former gas station.
– Friend’s ranches. A citrus farm to visit, enjoy, or to bring lemons and oranges back to Los Angeles.