The Santa Ynez Valley’s most recent addition to the Michelin guide is Mattei’s Tavern, which reopened in December last year following a sumptuous renovation. Chef Rhoda Magbitang’s menu is stuffed full of Californian classics. There’s pork belly that melts like butter, served with clams, and sizeable scallops with corn miso and English peas. The lengthy, inventive cocktail list is not to be ignored, especially the sensational Golden Spur, which offers an aromatic, romantic blend of lavender vodka and golden honey.
Bar Le Côte
A new arrival on the Santa Ynez scene in the summer of 2021, this seafood tavern in Los Olivos has an open kitchen and an upmarket Spanish tapas bar vibe. Chef Brad Mathews sources the finest seafood from Santa Barbara and further afield, including the divine Mere Point petite oysters which arrive from Maine. Ingredients this good lend themselves to being served raw, so don’t miss the scallop crudo with pickled mighty cap mushrooms, or the Santa Cruz island halibut crudo with dried tomato and basil. Soft shell crab is served with shaved cabbage and plum preserves for a taste somewhat akin to a deconstructed Po’Boy, while whole sea bream comes perfectly marinated in chilli. Like Bell’s, Bar Le Côte is both a destination restaurant and the sort of place locals swear by.
PeasantsFEAST
The Pastrami Reuben is a highlight of the lunch menu (PeasantsFEAST)
Another unmissable spot is the delightful PeasantsFEAST in Solvang, which was recently added to Michelin’s California Guide and awarded the Bib Gourmand recognition. The surrounding town may trade on its Danish heritage and picture-book architecture, but here Michael and Sarah Cherney offer seasonal, locally sourced food with an emphasis on the homemade – the only thing they don’t make themselves is the ketchup. There’s hearty fennel soup, a fresh, crisp Brussels salad, and colourful (and flavourful) pickled vegetables, but the highlight of the lunch menu has to be the pastrami Reuben. The pastrami is hand-cured for two weeks, then smoked for a day – the care that goes into it is evident from the taste. The restaurant itself is cosy and welcoming, with rattan furnishings, shelves filled with cookbooks and a classic rock playlist so you can enjoy some Creedence while devouring a meal you won’t forget.
Where to drink
Casa Dumetz Wines
Sonja Magdevski owns Casa Dumetz and makes top quality wine (Casa Dumetz Wines)
Located just across the road from Bell’s in Los Alamos, the Casa Dumetz tasting room is the perfect spot to begin your exploration of Santa Ynez wine culture. Owner Sonja Magdevski is a winemaker herself, producing under her own Casa Dumetz, Clementine Carter and The Feminist Party labels, and also an expert guide who can arrange tours to local vineyards such as Portico Hills.
The Hilt Estate
A beautiful, sprawling estate comprised of three vineyards, The Hilt Estate is also home to tasting room The Barn, which offers one of the most diverse line-ups of wine to be found anywhere in Santa Barbara County.
Babcock Winery and Vineyards
A visit to Babcock isn’t just about the excellent wines and rolling vineyards. There’s also a hangar-sized “retro rock’n’roll” venue and vintage shop featuring old LPs and a party atmosphere.
Where to visit
Zaca Creek Ranch
Experience ranch life with llamas and alpacas (Kevin EG Perry)
It would be a crying shame to leave the Santa Ynez Valley without getting a real taste of ranch life, and Zaca Creek is the place to do it. One of the last of the grand rancheros granted by the Mexican government in “alta California”, it comprises some 1,600 acres of pasture and is still a working cattle ranch. They offer regular farm tours that allow visitors to get up and close with their animals, including a charming herd of llamas and alpacas, and an enormous Tamworth pig named Walker.
Where to stay
The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection
The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos has real Old West history: it first opened in 1886 as a stagecoach stop, and a guest book from that year is still on display. Fortunately, the amenities have been thoroughly updated since then. The storied landmark reopened in February after being given a luxurious make-over by Auberge Resorts. New buildings have a modern farmhouse design in keeping with the tavern’s rustic Western aesthetic, and the lavish rooms include private patios where the scent of lavender is never far away. There’s also a spa, fittingly known as The Lavender Barn, and a serene outdoor swimming pool with a bar offering a Mediterranean-inspired menu.
Book now
Svendsgaard’s Danish Lodge
A charming motor lodge in Solvang built in keeping with traditional Danish architecture, this small hotel is well located for exploring the nearby bakeries and the Hans Christian Andersen museum. There’s also an outdoor pool for cooling off in the heat, and the lodge offers a straightforward continental breakfast each morning in the lobby.
Rooms available from{{#price}}{{price}}per night{{/price}}{{^price}}Check availability for dates and prices{{/price}}
{{#amenities}}Hotel Amenities{{#amenities.foodDrink.length}}
Food & Drink
{{#amenities.foodDrink}}{{.}}{{/amenities.foodDrink}}{{/amenities.foodDrink.length}}{{#amenities.internet.length}}Internet
Please check hotel for more information on amenities
{{#amenities.internet}}{{.}}{{/amenities.internet}}{{/amenities.internet.length}}{{#amenities.services.length}}
Services
{{#amenities.services}}{{.}}{{/amenities.services}}{{/amenities.services.length}}{{#amenities.parking.length}}Parking
Please check hotel for more information on amenities
{{#amenities.parking}}{{.}}{{/amenities.parking}}{{/amenities.parking.length}}{{#amenities.health.length}}
Health & Wellbeing
{{#amenities.health}}{{.}}{{/amenities.health}}{{/amenities.health.length}}{{/amenities}}
Wine Valley Inn
Also in Solvang, this quaint inn and cottages get the basics right with just enough old-world charm. The hotel offers on-site bicycle rental for those looking for a sedate way to explore the surrounding area, a 24-hour gym and outdoor fireplaces for unwinding in the evening. Hot breakfasts are complimentary, and rooms are pet-friendly with a $25 fee.
Rooms available from{{#price}}{{price}}per night{{/price}}{{^price}}Check availability for dates and prices{{/price}}
{{#amenities}}Hotel Amenities{{#amenities.foodDrink.length}}
Food & Drink
{{#amenities.foodDrink}}{{.}}{{/amenities.foodDrink}}{{/amenities.foodDrink.length}}{{#amenities.internet.length}}Internet
Please check hotel for more information on amenities
{{#amenities.internet}}{{.}}{{/amenities.internet}}{{/amenities.internet.length}}{{#amenities.services.length}}
Services
{{#amenities.services}}{{.}}{{/amenities.services}}{{/amenities.services.length}}{{#amenities.parking.length}}Parking
Please check hotel for more information on amenities
{{#amenities.parking}}{{.}}{{/amenities.parking}}{{/amenities.parking.length}}{{#amenities.health.length}}
Health & Wellbeing
{{#amenities.health}}{{.}}{{/amenities.health}}{{/amenities.health.length}}{{/amenities}}
Getting there
The nearest airport is in Santa Barbara, with services to Portland, Seattle, Dallas, Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas, Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
For international arrivals, the closest point of entry is LAX, which has direct flights from London via British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, United and American. From there, it’s a two-to-three-hour drive north to the Santa Ynez Valley; you’ll likely want to hire a car to truly explore the variety of the region.
Read more of our reviews of the best USA hotels
Source link : https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/north-america/usa/california-santa-ynez-wine-country-b2389619.html
Author :
Publish date : 2023-08-17 03:00:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
