A Look Inside Hotel El Roblar in Ojai, California: Historic Hotel Gets a Luxurious Makeover
Hotel El Roblar in Ojai, California
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Hotel El Roblar is housed in the oldest hotel in Ojai, in an inn originally built in 1919 right in the center of town. The hotel, located on a 2-acre property, opened in summer 2025 with bookings starting at $495.
Accommodations include 31 guest rooms in the Spanish-inspired main building and 8 rooms in the newly designed Sycamore House. There are also 11 bungalows which feature private courtyards and fireplaces.
Guests can enjoy onsite dining at Condor Bar which serves modern Mexican cuisine or La Cocina, a daytime cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. There's also Snug Bar, a lobby bar in the hotel's main building.
Matilija poppies in front of Hotel El Roblar in Ojai, California
Hotel El Roblar's history
Before this charming hotel was Hotel El Roblar, it was The Oaks at Ojai, a hotel and spa founded in 1977 by Sheila Cluff, the "grandmother of aerobics." The Oaks was an all-inclusive wellness resort and spa where guests could enjoy fitness activities, spa treatments, demos, lectures, and a daily schedule of events. Healthy meals were also included in the stay. When I visited The Oaks in 2017, I found it to be like a summer camp for health-conscious adults (without the camping).
The new hotel is a collaboration between Eric Goode, an entrepreneur, conservationist, author, and Emmy-nominated filmmaker, along with Jeremy Mcbride, Ramin Shamshiri, Warner Ebbink, and Brandon Boudet.
While the exterior of the hotel preserves the original Spanish Revival architecture, the new interior design of the hotel is refreshing and modern, but also cozy. Every detail is intentional with some unexpected surprises. The lobby features an intriguing mural by artist Stefano Castronovo, a contemporary of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. It depicts the history of the Ojai Valley.
So far the new hotel doesn't have a spa yet, but it has plans to open one in the next 18-24 months. While a stay at Hotel El Roblar doesn't include an all-inclusive menu like The Oaks, here are the amenities that are available:
Stays at El Roblar include:
European-style breakfast
Complimentary bicycles on a first come first serve basis
Morning coffee
Daily bottled water
Wifi
Daily cleaning and turndown service
Swimming pool access
Extra charges to be aware of:
Overnight valet parking is available at $50 per night
A Resort Service Charge is an additional $30 plus tax
Some fun things for animal lovers to watch out for at the hotel:
Resident tortoises at Hotel El Roblar. Image Credit: Gregory Goode, courtesy of Hotel El Roblar.
Resident tortoises:
Hotel El Roblar’s owner Eric Goode is also the owner of Turtle Conservatory, and Hotel El Roblar is home to two Aldabra Giant Tortoises, Abra and Cadabra. Aldabra Giant Tortoises live in the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian ocean, can reach 600 pounds, and are an endangered species. They can live more than 150 years.
Condor plushies:
When you arrive at your room, you'll notice that there is a cute condor plushie on your bed. You can purchase the plushie as a souvenir, and a portion of the sale goes towards a condor rescue center.
Dog-friendly rooms:
Dog-friendly rooms are available. Be aware that there is a $250 dog charge, and dogs are not allowed in the pool area.
Do you love a good makeover? We do too! Here's a before and after peek at the new Hotel El Roblar in Ojai:
Exterior
Before (When it was The Oaks at Ojai):
The Exterior of The Oaks at Ojai before it was The Hotel El Roblar
After:
Swimming Pool at Hotel El Roblar
Before (When it was The Oaks at Ojai)
Swimming Pool at The Oaks at Ojai before it was El Roblar
After:
The swimming pool at El Roblar Hotel in Ojai, California. Image Credit: Gregory Goode, courtesy of Hotel El Roblar.
Accommodations at Hotel El Roblar in Ojai
Before (When it was The Oaks at Ojai):
Bungalow living room with fireplace at The Oaks at Ojai
Bedroom at The Oaks at Ojai before it became El Roblar Hotel
Bathtub at a bungalow at The Oaks at Ojai before it became El Roblar Hotel
After:
Hotel El Roblar Bungalow Living Room. Image Credit: Gregory Goode, courtesy of Hotel El Roblar.
Hotel El Roblar Bungalow Kitchenette. Image Credit: Gregory Goode, courtesy of Hotel El Roblar.
Hotel El Roblar Guest Bedroom. Image Credit: Gregory Goode, courtesy of Hotel El Roblar.
Hotel El Roblar bath and bathroom area. Image Credit: Gregory Goode, courtesy of Hotel El Roblar.
Lobby:
Lobby at The Oaks at Ojai before it became El Roblar Hotel
After:
Hotel El Roblar Lobby. Image Credit: Gregory Goode, courtesy of Hotel El Roblar.
Dining at Hotel El Roblar
After:
La Cocina Outdoor Dining at Hotel El Roblar. Image Credit: Gregory Goode, courtesy of Hotel El Roblar.
Condor Bar at Hotel El Roblar. Image Credit: Gregory Goode, courtesy of Hotel El Roblar.
There’s our look inside Hotel El Roblar in Ojai, California. (This article is an update to “A First Look at Hotel El Roblar in Ojai, California” which originally appeared on May 25 2025.)
A University of Michigan graduate, Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning writer/editor. You can also find her work in publications including Healthline, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo!, MindBodyGreen, Men’s Journal, Bezzy, and more. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA, and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @zillizy, @zillizy16