This year’s World’s Best Awards survey closed on Mar. 2, just before widespread stay-at-home orders were implemented as a result of COVID-19. The results reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic, but we hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your trips to come—whenever they may be.

Best Resort Hotels in California

The Golden State is home to bays and canyons, surf beaches and redwood forests, ski mountains and deserts. All of that astounding geographic diversity is reflected in the best resort hotels in California. Browsing the list of the top properties is like taking an armchair tour of California’s most compelling locales: Kimpton the Rowan (No. 4) lies in the middle of Palm Springs’ Midcentury Modern glory; the Inn Above Tide (No. 7) sits on the edge of glittering San Francisco Bay; Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa (No. 2) is tucked among estates north of San Diego; and the Farmhouse Inn (No. 9) puts the Sonoma Valley’s rolling foothills front and center.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, iBestTravel invites its readers to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

Despite California’s nearly 3,500 miles of Pacific coastline, fewer than half of the top 15 resorts in the state are on the water. Four, including the beloved Auberge du Soleil (No. 13) and its sister property, Solage (No. 6), are in northern California’s wine country. This area is known for its relaxed good taste and outstanding tasting rooms. Two properties are perched on the rugged Big Sur coast: the charming Tickle Pink Inn (No. 14) and the iconic Post Ranch Inn (No. 8). “Truly amazing rooms in the clouds up on the cliffs,” wrote one iBestTravel reader of the latter. The 2018 landslides temporarily closed off access from Highway 1, considered to be one of the most beautiful routes in the world, but now that the roads have been fully restored, “driving in is part of the fun,” the respondent added.

Yet the resorts recognized in this list have two common traits. Firstly, as a state that grows two-thirds of the fruits and nuts in the U.S. and has started multiple food movements, they all emphasize food. (Farmhouse Inn and Auberge du Soleil have even been awarded Michelin stars.) Moreover, while all of these resorts excel in attention to detail and service, they’re also infused with the Golden State’s laid-back style, which means the hospitality is genuine, never stuffy, making an escape to the West Coast all the sweeter.

Top Resort Hotels in California

1. North Block Hotel, Yountville

Score: 95.24

In the heart of Napa Valley, North Block is a adults’ retreat that places guests within walking distance to some of the region’s most beloved tasting rooms and restaurants (the French Laundry is just a few blocks away). Serenity abounds here: its 20 guest rooms feature neutral color palettes and soothing heated bathroom floors, while the romantic, fireplace-lit courtyard exemplifies the best of California indoor-outdoor living. A nice touch: The on-site spa incorporates local elements like wine corks and ground grape seeds. Also, service garners top marks, with staff members who go out of their way to anticipate guests’ needs.