A Wine Country Escape at The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern

When you live in Southern California and deal with a lot of traffic, sometimes you need a quick getaway to reset. Even driving only a

couple of hours to get somewhere still feels like it’s in your backyard, but that is the ideal time to find a nice little getaway for a staycation. Enter The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern. This Auberge property is tucked beneath oak trees and vineyard-draped hills in the charming town of Los Olivos. You will feel warm and welcomed the moment you approach the property; the rooms are cozy, even at a glance. A rustic, yet modern cottage feel with fireplaces, firepits and private patio. Make sure you grab a smores kit and enjoy that firepit I just mentioned. The property itself has a lot of history, as it used to be a 19th-century stagecoach stop. Now restored, it caters to travelers seeking tranquility, slow living, and intimate access to the heart of Santa Barbara wine country, without the crowds of Napa or Sonoma.

Although it’s an Auberge property, Mattei’s feels more like a private countryside estate than a resort. In addition to lounging in your cottage (did I mention they have clawfoot soaking tubs?!), you can also stroll through lavender-scented paths, or lounge by the outdoor pool surrounded by olive trees. It’s a great atmosphere to be hanging out with friends, sipping on wine, or nibbling on loval food while writing in a journal. Ok let’s pause to talk about the food. The onsite, Mattei’s Tavern restaurant is a destination in its own right, serving elevated farm-to-table fare that celebrates local growers and vintners. If you dine there, the food is perfectly prepared and served with the utmost exceptional care. The food was incredible, so you never felt like you needed to sneak away and get local food off property.

At the same time, the property is a very short walk to downtown Los Olivos and there are fascinating local boutiques there. You can walk to all the wineries if you’d like. And that’s the best part. It’s wine country without the crowds, which is just the way it should be!