The Maybourne is just about as Beverly Hills as they come, eight floors of classic Californian luxury, paying direct homage to Hollywood’s heyday, right in the heart of the Golden Triangle. The interiors are every bit as elegant as those of the Maybourne’s English sister hotels, though they’re obviously Californian in a warm and sunny Art Deco–influenced style. As for the comforts, they’re pure 21st-century luxury, and the spa and rooftop pool cement the hotel’s pleasure-palace status.

Nozawa Bar is secreted away in the back of the Beverly Hills location of Sugarfish, yet this jewel box is entirely independent of the local chain it's housed within. Omakase is the sole dining option here, served as multiple courses of nigiri along with some sashimi and handrolls. Each sequence centers on exceptional seafood, most of it sourced from local waters. Chef Osamu Fujita may be a traditionalist, but the menu includes many novelties.

Post Ranch Inn is blessed with one of the most extraordinary locations on the face of the earth. Post Ranch Inn is his only hotel design, and indeed it’s hard to imagine it translating into some kind of movable hotel template, comprising as it does a number of discreet house designs, each uniquely suited to its location. The Tree Houses, for example, are almost exactly as advertised, built on nine-foot stilts and camouflaged amongst (if not actually nailed to the branches of) the redwood trees.

Housed inside the exclusive Post Ranch Inn resort, the breathtaking location certainly seems to call out for romantic celebrations like honeymoons or anniversaries, while the rustic modern décor and friendly service promote comfort and calm. Stunning vistas aside, the approachable four-course dinner menu (and simpler three-course lunch) offers a bounty of California seasonality, from Monterey abalone with garden lettuce to homemade cavatelli with summer squash.

Napa is ground zero for a new green building movement, and its hotels are leading the way — no doubt something greener will come along, but at the time of its opening, Bardessono was pretty much as sustainable as it gets. The construction, which looks like sandstone or blond concrete, is actually rammed earth. You’ll see a lot of wood as well — when sourced properly it’s the other green building material, and most of it is reclaimed or recycled.

While it may be set smack dab in the midst of quaint Yountville, Thomas Keller's take on the lively French bistro paints a scene that may as well be straight out of Paris. Picture red velvet booths, marble tables, polished brass, and that iconic tiled floor. Then throw in a buzzy scene dominated by bon vivants, a next-door bakery that ensures bread here reigns supreme, and the result is spot on. The kitchen keeps the mood upbeat thanks to a litany of well-crafted plates.

Picture the ideal California coastal destination and you might picture a place like San Luis Obispo. It's equally suited as a home base for exploring or as a sanctuary for a private getaway. The hotel’s elegant modern exterior ruffled some feathers early on — this town loves its Spanish Colonial architecture — but it’s a vibrant addition to the downtown historic district. Inside, airy and spacious suites, decorated in a style that draws inspiration from breezy beaches and boho-chic ranch life.

Chef Ryan Fancher's modern steakhouse is on the grounds of Hotel San Luis Obispo, in a separate building connected by a walkway. The hotel's contemporary Southwest vibe lives on in the restaurant. Staff are well-informed, so let them steer you through the menu. Start with such comfort fare as savory goat cheese croquettes with sweet lavender honey before embarking on the main event—charred steaks and sides of creamed spinach topped with onion rings.