Luxury Leisure

Sprawling across nearly ten acres in sunny La Jolla, California, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa is a hot new hotel with a rich and storied past. Once the site of Black Family Horse Farm, a thoroughbred horse ranch, today the elegant estate has a modern look that still gives a nod to its past.

Estancia, (which means “estate” in Spanish), was owned by the Black family in the 1880s. Every year, thousands of visitors flock to the adjacent Black beach, also named for the family, and explore the sea-washed caves. It was purchased by the Scripps family and reopened in the summer of 2004, immediately drawing praise for its unique approach to relaxation.

Drawing inspiration from the architecture of early Spanish colonizers, the modern estate embraces its roots with a variety of equestrian artifacts, clay tile roofs and wrought iron. Thick plaster walls and other traditional materials help nurture the warm rancho feeling, even as it revels in the offerings of the twenty-first century.

Designed to be a completely sensory experience, the hotel is comprised of a series of low-rise adobe structures. The surrounding courtyards are lush with landscaping to contribute to the ambience of a thoroughly unique escape.

Everything about Estancia is executed in grand style. The two hundred-plus deluxe guest rooms and suites are joined by an 8,000 square-foot full-service luxury spa, unique restaurants and bars, a complete fitness center and a courtyard heated pool with luxurious poolside cabanas. In short, this is the resort that dares you not to relax; with this kind of indulgence, it’s virtually impossible not to let the world melt away.

Room, Service

The rooms included in Estancia’s offerings include oversized suites and a Presidential suite to complement its deluxe guest rooms. The suites are positioned around beautiful courtyards that offer a sense of privacy and escape, and the Spanish Mission mood, which is created with the red tile roofs and faux adobe walls, continues once guests step inside. The Mexican reproduction antiques offer unique artistic appointments to the rooms, while the amenities are thoroughly modern. Plush comforters, linens and pillows are both beautiful and luxurious, and the soft robe and equestrian blanket make it tempting to stay and enjoy the comforts of the room.

From the elegant marble bathrooms to the comfortable reading chair with a leather ottoman, the rooms are beautifully furnished and create a feeling that is both elegant and cozy. With wireless high-speed internet in every room and all the comforts of home (and then some), guests just may want to take advantage of the extensive in-room services. But if you’re short on time, the best place to spend your days is on the grounds of this gorgeous property.

For starters, explore the many recreational options, which begin with the heated sixty-by-twenty-five-foot pool and many courtyard whirlpools. The poolside cabanas provide the perfect place for relaxing and enjoying the California sun.

At the Executive Fitness Center, guests can enjoy a workout on their own, or get assistance from a personal trainer. Guided hikes, yoga and fitness classes also are offered throughout the day.

Golfers can get their game on at the nearby Torrey Pines Golf Course, or for other outdoor activities, visit the Torrey Pines Nature Reserve and enjoy such activities as hiking and biking. Other options include paragliding, hang gliding and horseback riding.

Strolling through the grounds, it’s impossible not to take a moment to take a breath and appreciate nature. The outdoor areas, many of which are designed for business retreats and outdoor functions, include a garden courtyard, herb garden and hacienda courtyard. Using the same attention to detail as is found in the interiors, the landscaping and design brings the elegant feeling into the great outdoors.

More than six hundred trees populate the grounds, including eucalyptus, pineapple guava and Chinese flame tree. The shrubs and colorful ground cover include Mexican fan palms, heavenly bamboo, white oleander and sage. Together, the variety of botanical gardens represent more than $2 million in landscaping, and the result is both visually and aromatically breathtaking.

Dining Pleasure

Continuing the rancho influence, the restaurants and lounges all rely upon natural terra cotta, exposed wooden beams and muted, earthy tones to create their mood and character. From casual to upscale, every dining desire has been thought out and met.

At the Adobe El Restaurante, which was named Best New Restaurant by the La Jolla Light and was a finalist for the California Restaurant Association’s Best Hotel Restaurant, SoCal cuisine is king. The restaurant’s contemporary chic-casual environment has an upscale urban feel, and the menu reflects both its modern Southern California influences as well as its Ranchero past.

The more casual Mustangs & Burros, which has become the hotel’s primary gathering place, has a sports bar feel with a stylish spin. To complement the bar’s vast array of offerings, the menu specializes in intense, bold flavors. The large outdoor patio includes an outdoor fireplace, where guests can enjoy the Spanish flamenco guitar entertainment.

Inside the Bordega Wine Bar, guests will discover a relaxed retreat crafted in traditional Rancho style. Instead of large meals, “small plates” pair well with the nightly flight tastings of California wines. All of the restaurants draw upon local produce to create some of the freshest flavors around, while the chefs, including Adobe El Restaurant’s award-winning Jesse Frost, bring innovation and accessibility to unique menu offerings.

Comfort food isn’t the only way to relax, however. For ultimate escapes, a trip to The Spa at Estancia La Jolla is a must. The eleven treatment areas are luxuriously appointed, which helps the relaxation begin even before the treatment has started. Services include sports, shiatsu, deep tissue, couples massages, deep cleansing and cellular repair facials; the private men’s and women’s areas offer both indoor and outdoor relaxations areas. With whirlpools and eucalyptus-infused steam rooms, the moments after your treatments may be just as sensational as the treatments themselves.

While the spa is truly magnificent, it isn’t the only place to receive such pampering. An outdoor massage in your own private garden offers one more way to relax and enjoy the serenity of this sprawling estate.

Whether it’s for business or pleasure; for a week or a weekend, the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa has created a new approach to rejuvenation. One of only three California hotels to make Conde Nast Traveler’s prestigious “Hot List,” and ranking on the magazine’s Gold List 2006, the four-diamond retreat may be inspired by the past, but it is clearly set to enjoy a bright future.