Where To Go When You Need To Get Away From It All: The Lovely Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego

Spa swimming pool at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

After a particularly chaotic week, I was ready for a reset. My week had started with someone hitting my parked car and quickly went downhill from there, but I was determined to turn things around.

I needed a break from LA for a few days. What I craved was a little quiet, tranquility, and some time to breathe. And luckily, I had planned a getaway in San Diego that couldn’t have come at a better time. I was headed to Rancho Bernardo Inn, a resort that provided just the self-care and calm I needed.

A hidden gem in the hills of San Diego

Walkway and sitting area at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

When you think of San Diego county travel, you might picture its coast and beaches, but there’s so much more to the region. Rancho Bernardo Inn is nestled in San Diego’s rolling hills; It’s inland.

Lobby seating area at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

I know the term hidden gem is so frequently overused, but I can’t keep these words from popping into my head when I think about my visit to this property. It’s tucked away within a quiet residential neighborhood. Driving through this suburban neighborhood, you wouldn't expect to arrive at a 265-acre resort, but then all of the sudden there it is.

Exploring peaceful garden paths at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

The property is filled with peaceful garden paths, calming fountains, and plenty of opportunities to relax and unwind, from the spa to the dining destinations to its three swimming pools. The resort is also home to an 18-hole championship golf course.

Here’s why I loved Rancho Bernardo Inn for a recharge:

Accommodations

Two-Queen Golf View Room at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

The family-friendly resort offers a variety of rooms and suites for groups of various sizes. I traveled with my mom and we stayed in a Two-Queen Golf View Room. The room was spacious and comfortable. My favorite feature was the terrace with views of the property’s beautiful golf course.

If you are sustainably minded, the resort strives to take steps to be eco-friendly and gives you the option to decline housekeeping service to conserve water during your stay.

Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn

As you walk down a path past the golf course, turn a corner, and finally catch your first glimpse of the spa, you are suddenly wowed by the surprise of just how striking the grounds are. During my visit, I watched several guests have the same awed reaction to their first sight of the spa.

The sight at first view of The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

The spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn is beautiful, with lots of peaceful indoor and outdoor features. Indoor offerings include a well-appointed locker room, hot tub, steam room, and relaxation lounge stocked with tea and snacks.

Indoor relaxation area at The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

During my one hour massage, my therapist intuitively worked her way through my knots. I was carrying all the stress of the last week in my back and shoulders, and it felt so good to let it all go though my treatment. The service flew by, and I felt like a whole new person by the time my massage was over.

Outdoor hot tub at The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

After my massage, I savored every second in the spa’s lush outdoor setting. It’s filled with flowers, greenery, and more soothing fountains. There’s a co-ed relaxation area with a hot tub, and you can even book services in outdoor casitas (though my massage was in an indoor treatment room).

Fountain and outdoor casitas at The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

The star feature of the spa is the enormous saltwater swimming pool, surrounded by towering Cypress trees. I wanted to spend all day at this pool, and I practically did. The poolside restaurant service was excellent, offering a healthy menu of nutritious dishes and refreshing beverages.

Relaxing by the swimming pool at The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

Relaxing at the spa swimming pool was one of the highlights of my stay, and even if you aren’t getting a spa service, it’s worth purchasing a day pass for access to the spa’s fabulous swimming pool. Bring a book, order lunch, and find a nice comfy spot to lounge during breaks from swimming. You’re sure to feel renewed.

Swimming Pools and Activities

Family swimming pool at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

I was in heaven at the spa swimming pool, so I didn’t spend time at any of the other pools, but there are two other pools at the property. While I was at the spa, my mom enjoyed her day at the adult swimming pool, which is situated in a peaceful setting surrounded by pretty florals and other plants.

There’s also a large family swimming pool, which is steps away from a lawn game area, offering everything needed for a day of fun for all ages.

In addition, the resort is home to a beautiful and popular18-hole golf course.

Dining

During my stay at Rancho Bernardo Inn, I began my evenings unwinding in the cozy outdoor bar area at Veranda, a vibey al fresco restaurant with an expansive patio and golf course views. The drink menu features a variety of cocktails and even a thoughtful selection of non-alcoholic beverages. The Strawberry Lavender Non-Alcoholic Lemonade and Hugo Spritzes were particularly refreshing on warm evenings.

The ambiance was enhanced by live music from talented local artists, including The Heart Band. Guests at Rancho Bernardo Inn can enjoy live music at Veranda just about every evening.

Veranda

On the first night of our stay, my mom and I dined at Veranda. I was in the mood for a salad and decided to start my meal with a Caesar which was fantastic.

I ordered the Pan Seared Scallops for my main. It’s prepared with sunchoke puree, cherry tomato, broccoli, king oyster mushrooms, and a smokey salsa macha. Meanwhile, my mom ordered the Seared Striped Bass with parsnip puree, romanesco succotash, blistered tomatoes, and herb vinaigrette. Everything was delicious, and we were too full to order dessert. But when we got to our room a little surprise was waiting for us, chocolates on our pillows, a sweet end to our day.

Avant

After how much we enjoyed our meal at Veranda, we had a feeling we would be in for something really special at Avant, the resort’s elegant dining destination featuring California-inspired cuisine. The restaurant is known for its signature three and four-course prix fixe experiences, along with an extensive carefully-curated wine list.

We dined at Avant on the second night of our stay. There was no question we were going to order the signature 4-course experiences and share everything, but when it came to making decisions about what to order, that was no easy choice. Everything sounded amazing. And many of the dishes were prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients from the property’s Chef’s Garden. Our waiter Paul was wonderful, l and we went with all of his recommendations. Every dish we tried was exceptional!

Crudo:

Local bluefin tuna with spicy tomato ponzu.

The four-course menu at Avant starts with a crudo course. We enjoyed the delicate contrast of flavors between the hamachi, served with a lemongrass/coconut sauce and the local bluefin tuna, which was complemented by a spicy tomato ponzu.

Beginnings:

For our Beginnings we started with the Lobster Bisque. Hot bisque is poured over Maine lobster salad right at your table. We also ordered the Heirloom Tomatoes and Burrata, prepared with compressed watermelon, basil pistou, and burrata from San Diego’s own Little Italy.

Main:

The Alaskan Halibut was light and tender, served with summer squash, castelvetrano relish, and sungold tomato soubise, a French-inspired sauce. Our other delicious entree was the Grilled Whole Branzino, served with a vibrant citrus and caper relish and an addictive side of buttery Haricot Verts Almondine (in this case green beans and peas).

Dessert:

The desserts at Avant are as thoughtfully crafted as the rest of the menu. Our selection included Oranges on The Trees, a caramelized vanilla custard served with burnt honey, mango, and yuzu sorbet, along with a Baked Alaska, made with strawberry and pistachio gelato, meringue, and strawberry consume.

Insider’s Tip: Avant offers a happy hour Tuesday through Saturday from 4pm-6pm where guests can wind down with select Avant bites and sommelier's wine selections.

The Chef’s Garden

One of my favorite things to do while traveling is wandering through gardens, and I enjoyed spending time meandering through the idyllic Chef’s Garden. It’s filled with all kinds of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Many of the dishes at the resort’s restaurants are prepared with house-grown ingredients.

Herb garden at the Chef’s Garden at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

A Change of Pace

Wandering the Chef’s Garden at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

I didn’t leave the property at all during my stay, and it felt so good to have a few days of slow restful living. Rancho Bernardo Inn provided just the change of pace I needed; I enjoyed uplifting live music, beautiful gardens, spa relaxation, unwinding poolside, nourishing food, and some quality time with my mom.

Spending quality time with my mom at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

I arrived at Rancho Bernardo Inn totally frazzled and left absolutely refreshed.

A peaceful fountain at night at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

Lizzy Sherman, Co-Founder of Spa & Beauty Today

A University of Michigan graduate, Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning writer and 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

wellness, spa, travelLizzy ShermanOctober 12, 2026Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego Resorts, Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn, Avant restaurant, San Diego travel