Prolific Angeleno developer Rick Caruso takes on the tony seaside enclave for his first hotel venture, the five-star Rosewood Miramar Beach, signaling a new, post-mudslide era. Not to mention, a great spot to motor to from Los Angeles for Memorial Day Weekend this May.
From top: The Grand Bungalow is just one of the structures spread across the resort’s 16 acres; outfitted with picnic baskets for bubbly and hors d’oeuvres, the resort’s retro-chic jollys are on hand to transport guests into town.
“I truly believe there is no piece of land like this,” says star developer Rick Caruso of the postcard-ready site of Rosewood Miramar Beach, his new ultraluxe resort on Montecito’s golden coast. He’s taken on reviving the property of the former Miramar by the Sea Hotel, first purchased as a private residence in 1876 by a young couple, and is not alone in his sentiment. “Beyond its distinction as one of the most beautiful beaches in the country, Miramar Beach has a storied history as a beloved destination that exudes a sense of serenity and bliss,” says Radha Arora, president of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. It’s hard to imagine stress following guests from L.A. onto the sand, where cocktail service, paddleboards and sunrise yoga are at the ready.
Guest rooms in the Bungalow offer semiprivate courtyards and terraces.
Himself drawn to hotels and resorts from a young age after spending much time growing up at an iconic Beverly Hills property, the Beverly Wilshire, Caruso says, “Miramar felt like an opportunity for me to realize a longtime dream.” In that spirit, he and Rosewood partnered on a residential-style concept, albeit a very grand residence—think neighboring sprawling estates. Its heart is the Manor House. With a checkerboard floor and elegantly curved staircase, the striking foyer pays homage to esteemed Southern Californian architect the late Paul Williams, whose drawings are displayed inside. Common spaces and 161 guest rooms—including sunny Beach House suites with epic seafront views, free-standing soaking tubs and monogrammed robes—maintain a grace and glamour apropos of the lineage.
The Cabana Pool’s serpentine-edge design is a nod to architect Paul Williams.
Highlights are many and include the handsome Manor Bar and Caruso’s, the alfresco restaurant marrying southern Italian flavors with local ingredients, as well as the resort’s vast original art collection handselected by the owner (think Norman Rockwell and Slim Aarons). Then there are the wicker-accented Barbie-pink jollys to take guests into town (the other option: a Rolls-Royce Ghost); Sense, A Rosewood Spa, doling out Montecito Sage Purification; and the Goop Sundries Shop. But nothing is as instantly iconic as the undulating black-and-white Cabana Pool, also a tribute to Williams. It’s the stuff of Instagram posts that boast of the ultimate escapism, and it’s less than two hours from L.A. Beach House guest room rates from $1,500 per night
From top: the Manor House’s elegant lobby welcomes guests into the luxurious resort; 22 rooms and studios are located directly on Miramar Beach for the ultimate seaside getaway.
Photography by: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
