The 40 state-of-the-art rooms and suites at Post Ranch Inn add up to a masterpiece in sustainability and harmony with the landscape. And what landscapes, courtesy of the fabled stretch of wild Californian coastline that is Big Sur.
There’s something extraordinarily elemental about the rugged, mountainous stretch of central California coastline that is Big Sur. And Post Ranch Inn, an adults-only collection of 40 rooms and suites runs with that theme in extraordinary style.
The work of architect Mickey Muennig, a diverse medley of lavish modern units spread out along cliffs 360 m/1200 ft above the Pacific Ocean with a backdrop of mighty redwoods. Each one’s organic environmental design responds perfectly to its setting, whether a sleek, ocean-facing lodge-style house with a wraparound veranda or a stilted tree house surrounded by mature forest, and delivers perfect privacy. Vast windows, reclaimed redwood timber, raw stone and handsome fireplaces feature strikingly in all, while other delicious extravagances include private decks, plunge pools and outdoor soaking tubs.
TV and alarm clock-free, the inn’s mission is rarefied reconnection with nature and self, offering outdoor yoga, guided nature walks, falconry, forest bathing, three serene infinity pools and a sculpture trail. Condors soar overhead, and migrating whales can often be seen off the shore. It is also a masterclass in sustainability and proudly maintains 90 of its 100 pristine acres of wildlife-rich forest and pasture as a zero-impact protected area.
Appetites are exquisitely served by the award-winning Sierra Mar ranch-style restaurant, which serves locally sourced produce and ingredients grown on site with French and Mediterranean influences, with some 3,200 wines to choose from. A lavender martini meanwhile, freshly made with botanicals from the organic, on-site Chef’s Garden, also a source of the inn’s handmade spa products, is a signature treat.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Escapist | SFO | GMT -7 |
| While you’re Out There |
| Big Sur’s epic mix of ancient redwood forests, towering sea cliffs and pounding ocean surf has over the decades magnetised and inspired creative luminaries from Hunter S. Thompson to Rita Hayworth to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. But no artist is more identified with the place than author Henry Miller, and the Henry Miller Memorial Library, the simple wooden cabin the writer made his home in the 1960s and 1970s, crystallises the area’s bohemian vibes. And it’s much more than a memorial, also serving as a vibrant, non-profit performing arts centre that has hosted appearances by Laurie Anderson, Philip Glass, Joanna Newsome and Kirsten Dunst. |
Photography courtesy of Post Ranch Inn
