Wellness Guide To Ojai, California
Ojai [pronounced — oh hi!] is a magical place — all the healing + holistic vibes with lots of cute healthy cafes, fun shops to wander into, + beautiful hikes. I instantly felt at peace in Ojai. This is a perfect place to visit for a solo vacation or girls trip for a weekend.
Pro Tip — If you are traveling from LA/LAX, take the 1 to the 101 to the 33… it’s so much prettier than just the 101. Plus! It was strawberry season, so there were tons of delicious strawberry stands on the highways… + stop at Erewhon, my grocery store heaven.
Coffee + Cafes
#1] The Dutchess: *MUST. The best coffee in Ojai with takeaway pastries that are absolutely outstanding. We ate breakfast here, but they have an incredible looking dinner menu, too! Open 730am-9pm.
#2] Hip Vegan: *MUST. My favorite lunch spot. Everything is SO good. The Tiger Bowl is my fav. Open 11–8pm.
#3] Farmer + The Cook: *MUST. Classic Ojai establishment — vegetarian cafe + grocery store. I love their tacos! Open 8–4pm M-W, + 8–8pm Th-Su.
#4] Revel Kombucha Bar + Acai Bowls: Great kombucha + acai bowls, but the *must* is the nitro coffee with a scoop of coconut ice cream, yes please. Open 10–6pm.
#5] Harvest Moon: Cute + casual healthy cafe that has brunch on the weekends from 10am-3pm. During the week it’s open 12–3pm + 5–9pm.
#6] Cafe BoKU: Superfood coffee drinks + smoothies, salads, + sandwiches. Open 8-5pm.
Restaurants
#1] Rory’s: *MUST. Best date night spot! Make sure to get reservations. I’m still dreaming about the broiled oysters + hanger steak. We literally ordered a second steak immediately after getting one, it was that good lol. Open 5–10pm
#2] The Dutchess: I was drooling over this dinner menu, but we didn’t have time to go. It looks amazing! Open 730am-9pm.
#3] Ojai Rotie: This is great for a quick + casual meal with a beautiful outdoor setting — get the quarter chicken with all the side veggies, including bread! Open 730am-8pm.
#4] The Nest: Another good spot for a quick + casual meal. Get the crispy brussels! Open 11-9pm.
#5] Izakaya Full Moon: If you’re craving sushi, go here! Open 5–9pm.
#6] Pinyon Ojai: Pizza, bakery, + natural wine shop. Open 9am-9pm.
#7] Tipple + Ramble: Super cute wine bar with cheese + charcuterie boards. Great for a fun happy hour! Open 3–8pm.
#8] Westridge Market + Rainbow Bridge Natural Foods: Grocery shops for “takeaway” lunchs or dinner… stop here before a hike for some goodies! :)
Drinks— Topa Topa Brewing Company, Chief’s Peak, Majestic Oak Vineyard, Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room
Wellness + To Explore:
#1] Ecotopia Natural Hot Springs: *MUST. Make sure you book ahead of time, as it frequently fills up. Also, you’ll have no service when you get in the mountains, so make sure you know where you are going ahead of time!
#2] Hike: *MUST. There are so many beautiful hikes right in town, we did Shelf Road, Pratt, Foothill + Fox Canyon, + Gridley Trail.
#3] Take a yoga class at Light + Space: They also have workshops + events! Check out their calendar here.
#4] Shop! Wander around Ojai + you’ll see the cutest stores. Some of my favs are: Bart’s Books, Ali Golden Ojai, Summer Camp, deKor + Co, Magic Hour Ceremonial Teas + Gifts, Fig Curated Living, Blue Ojai
#5] Go to the Ojai Farmer’s Market: Thursday + Sundays!
#6] Visit The Krishnamurti Retreat: This was the home of Krishnamurti, an Indian philsopher + mystic — check out his library + walk the grounds. You can also stay on the property! I love his book: What Are You Doing With Your Life?
#7] Book an energy reading session or massage with Carrie: If you’re into the woo woo, you need to get an intuitive reading in Ojai! I’m sure there are tons of incredible people to choose from, but I really liked Carrie — I did the “body wisdom healing.”
*If you have a kid, you have to go to Libbey Park right in town! It’s one of the best playgrounds I’ve ever seen — Noah loved it!
Stay
I’ve stayed at an Airbnb (there are so many great spots to choose from!) + Capri Hotel. It’s dog + kid friendly with a pool, which I loved.
*If you want to totally splurge, spend the night at the iconic Ojai Valley Inn. Or, you could do what I did + grab a drink there + sit by the bonfires. It’s so such an oasis.
Did I miss any of your favorite spots in Ojai?! Let me know!
Love,
Elisabeth