- Alila Ventana Big Sur’s 54 guest rooms now feature locally crafted furnishings, a nature-inspired color palette, spa-like bathrooms, and private terraces.
- The hotel has teamed up with Sony to offer a complimentary camera rental program so guests can capture the area’s scenic beauty during their stay.
- The revamped dining program combines Mediterranean influences with Californiaâs seasonal and local ingredients.
Half a century after opening as one of Big Sur, Californiaâs finest retreats, Alila Ventana Big Sur is celebrating its 50th anniversary with renovated guest rooms and new dining offerings.
The 160-acre property has long drawn travelers to Californiaâs dramatic Central Coast, which is known for its sweeping Pacific Ocean views and bounty of activities amid secluded beaches or ancient redwood groves. Today, the resortâa frequent World’s Best Awards winnerâis part of Hyattâs Alila brand and still underscores the regionâs reputation as a destination for laid-back luxury.
âFor 50 years, weâve been stewards of this extraordinary place, caring for the land, the community, and each other,â Matt Skaletsky, the resortâs general manager, tells Travel + Leisure. âWe honor our legacy while constantly evolving what it means to deliver conscious hospitality. Big Sur has never been about disconnecting from the world; itâs about reconnecting with yourself and with nature. Our role is simply to make those moments as transformative as they can be.â
The resortâs 54 guest rooms have been reimagined with locally crafted furnishings, sustainable materials, and a soothing color palette that reflects the surrounding landscape. Organic textures, spa-like bathrooms, and private terraces (some with outdoor showers) create contemporary spaces while staying true to the hotelâs roots in Big Surâs rugged character.
Beyond the guest room transformation, visitors can also expect a revamped dining program that marries Mediterranean influences with Californiaâs seasonal and local ingredients, including produce from the on-site organic garden.
At the Sur House, the resortâs signature restaurant, executive chef Andrew Lauer has created a new menu with dishes such as bone-in ribeye with shishito peppers and duck-fat potatoes, and housemade squid ink pasta, a nod to nearby Monterey Bay. A new brunch program showcases shareable Mediterranean plates from Moroccan shakshuka to heirloom wheat waffles topped with sumac strawberries.
Alila Ventana Big Sur has also teamed up with Sony to offer access to pro-grade cameras for capturing Big Surâs cinematic landscapes. As the hotel eyes its next half century, Skaletsky sees an even bolder approach to hospitality.
âFor us, it means pushing boundaries, creating experiences that inspire awe, and most importantly, making a positive impact on the planet we call home,” he says.
Nightly rates at Alila Ventana Big Sur start from $1,800, and you can book your stay at ventanabigsur.com.
