Ojai Travel Guide

California Summer roadtrip on your mind? We’ve put together a curated travel guide for one of our favorite places just 1 1/2 hours north of Los Angeles. A charming town called Ojai also known as the Valley of the Moon has quickly become a popular destination for those who desire to escape the city life. The valley was settled by the Ancient Chumash Indians spanning more than 10,000 years ago. They believed that the valley holds mystical powers and that a magnification of energy exists exuding a peaceful sacredness that can be felt. Ojai's history as a spiritual sanctuary and proximity to nature has long drawn people in search of ecological and spiritual enlightenment. A hotbed of meditation retreats, yoga, boutique hotels, wine tasting, herbal medicine shops, hiking, some of the best farmers' markets, farm to table restaurants and access to local organic agriculture. Here's our list of favorites. We hope you enjoy this place as much as we do. 

STAY

EAT/DRINK

1. Rory's Place (Dinner)- Our favorite restaurant in Ojai. Their menus are inspired by the fresh, seasonal produce, seafood and livestock from Ojai, Santa Barbara, and the surrounding areas using live-fire cooking and other timeless techniques, while weaving in new ideas, approaches, and flavors from our travels around the world. Reservations recommended. rorysplaceojai.com
2. Rory's other place (Breakfast/Lunch)- Fresh baked goods, market goods, coffee, wine, beer and spritzy things. The perfect spot for a pastry and coffee. Make sure to order their soft serve ice cream! 
3. Hip Vegan (Lunch/Dinner)- A casual eatery that uses high quality, organic ingredients. hipvgn.com
4. The Dutchess (All day dining)- Add this to your favorites. An all-day bakery, café and Burmese-Californian restaurant. Daytime features great coffee & tea from local purveyors, freshly-baked breads, pastries, treats & pre-made sandwiches, with breakfast & lunch dishes. Nighttime shifts into an energetic restaurant featuring Burmese fare, with farmers' market-driven cocktails, regional craft beers & small-production wines. Everything is crafted with beautiful ingredients, with the majority coming from less than 50 miles away. thedutchessojai.com
5. Ojai Rotie (All day dining)- Nestled in the center of Ojai's historic downtown, Ojai Rôtie is a chef-driven/farmer-driven, fast casual patio restaurant offering extraordinary rotisserie chicken, freshly-baked, handmade sourdough, an array of of innovative side dishes, plus a wine and beer list highlighting Ojai Valley agriculture, viniculture, and the "Ojai Appellation". Great for groups and families. Make sure to buy a loaf of sourdough to-go. ojairotie.com
6. Farmer and the cook (All day dining)- Organic market & bohemian cafe with a large patio serving vegetarian Mexican fare & salads. Grab a bite to eat here after exploring the Ventura River Reserve. farmers-and-the-cook.com
7. The Nest (Lunch/Dinner)- Great lunch spot in heart of Ojai. Diverse menu, offers something for everyone. thenestojai.com
8. Pinyon (All day dining)- A family and friend-run, wood-fired pizzeria, bakery and natural wine shop committed to sourcing from local farmers and like-minded artisans.
9. Osteria Monte Grappa (Dinner) - Italian cuisine and house-made pastas in a lively setting with live guitar music.
10. Chief's Peak Bar- Tucked inside the Ojai Rancho Inn this tiny bar is a great daytime hang out spot or perfect place to end the night. If the weather permits lay one of their blankets on the lawn and enjoy drinks poolside.
11. Old Creek Ranch- A charming ranch and winery right as you enter the town of Ojai off the 33 HWY. Stop here for wine tasting in a beautiful setting. oldcreekranch.com
12. Side Street Wine at Ojai Valley Brewery- Side Street Wines offers fresh, exciting, and vibrant wines on tap and by the bottle. They produce wines from the forgotten vineyards around Ojai. sidestreetwine.com 
13. Ojai Noodle House (Lunch/Dinner)- A beautiful tavern-esque corner restaurant with an attached outdoor patio, serving modern renditions of familiar Vietnamese and East Asian favorites alongside beers, wines, and classic Vietnamese libations.
14. Izakaya Full Moon- A traditional Japanese Izakaya restaurant. No reservations. Walk-ins only. fullmoonojai.com
15. Sama Sama- Focuses on Southeast-Asian-inspired cuisine because few dishes bring people together like those of Bali and beyond. littlesamaojai.com

WELLNESS

1. Wellness by Irene- Our founder recently relocated to Ojai. Book an Ayurvedic Hair Wellness Consultation or signature "Ayurvedic Head Spa" treatment that takes you on a transcendent journey from mind to body. wellnessbyirene.com
2. Ojai Valley Inn Spa- Pamper yourself with a luxe spa experience at this luxury hotel spa. ojaivalleyinn.com
3. Hearth of Healing- Book a transformative healing session with Reiki healer Amber Lee Aymara. Amber integrates energy therapy, Esalen massage, deep bodywork, craniosacral and reiki. hearthofhealing.com
4. Light and Space- This studio offers yoga as well as workshops and special events. Make sure to check the calendar on their website. lightandspaceyoga.com

SHOP

1. BLUE- Curated selection of fashion, home and beauty products. Woman-owned from LA and NYC. 
2. Sanctum- A local woman-owned business with a curated selection of global home, body care and fashion
3. Duo Luto- Local ceramic artists making unique statement pieces for your spaces.  
4. Ali Golden- Trendy boutique with fashion, home and beauty products.
5. Bart's Books- Established in 1964 this outdoor book store was inspired by outdoor book carts along the Seine in Paris. bartsbooksojai.com

COMMUNITY/ MUSIC

1. Libby Bowl- Movie nights, concerts and dancing (Imagine the mini mini version of The Hollywood Bowl in LA). libbeybowl.org
2. Ojai Deer Lodge- A historic restaurant that hosts live shows. Check their website for the line up of rotating musical guests. deerlodgeojai.com
3. Chief's peak- Tucked in the Ojai Rancho Inn. A great place to begin or end your night. Check out their IG for event updates from Karaoke night to live musical guests 
4. Farmer's Market (Thursday and Sunday)- On Thursday's you can grab a bite to eat from one of the local vendors and enjoy it on the lawn while listening to live music. Sunday's has more vendor options. Be sure to check the website for times and location. 

EXPERIENCE

1. Ojai Tea Hut- Book a unique meditative tea ceremony. You'll explore tea as meditation and a daily practice. Participants will come together to spend some time in silence while sharing warm bowls of tea. There are a few moments at the end for reflections or questions. ojaiteahut.com
2. The Farmhouse at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa- From cooking classes to top-notch guest chef dinners. Must reserve in advance. ojaivalleyinn.com  
3. Meditation Mountain- Experience a sunset yoga or meditation class with incredible sunset views. It's the perfect place to catch a "pink moment" sunset what Ojai is known for. meditationmount.org
4. Meher Mount- A spiritual sanctuary. Enjoy the beauty of nature an oasis of peace with spectacular views in all directions. mehermount.org

EXPLORE

1. Lake Casitas- Choose from camping, hiking, bike riding, a sunset picnic or book a pontoon boat to cruise around the majestic lake.  
2. Ventura River Reserve- Hike to natural swimming holes. Bring your swim suit and go during the weekday to avoid the crowds. ovlc.org
3. The Mob Shop- You can't come Ojai and not bike around the town. There's a bike path that takes you into town and all the way to the beach. themobshop.com
4. Ojai Valley Trail Riding Company- Horse back riding with views of beautiful vistas, river crossings and forests. ojaivalleytrailridingcompany.com

PACK

1. Plantas Medicinas- Effortless packable haircare. Take care of your haircare wherever you go. Solid haircare is the perfect travel companions you need in your life. The plastic free and water less formulas are a no-brainer when it comes to travel. Not only do they take up less space you also never have to worry about spillage or TSA security ever again. plantasmedicinas.com 
2. OZMA of California- The LA-based brand we are wearing this summer. ozmaofcalifornia.com
3. Janessa Leone- Protect your hair and scalp with one of our favorite hat brands. janessaleone.com
4. NOTO botanics- This clean beauty brand just launched an SPF we're using  for sunscreen protection. notobotanics.com