San Ysidro Ranch, a Ty Warner property, is a luxury resort in Montecito, California, located in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains. Established as a guest ranch in the late 19th century, the property has hosted guests ranging from Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy to Justin and Hailey Bieber. Entrepreneur Ty Warner acquired San Ysidro Ranch in 2000 and subsequently undertook an extensive restoration of the property. The resort remains part of Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts.
History The land associated with San Ysidro Ranch dates to California's Spanish colonial period. Franciscan missionaries occupied and farmed the area during the late 18th and 19th centuries. The Ranch was named for Saint Isidore, the patron saint of farmers and agriculture.
An adobe structure was built on the property in the early 19th century and remains part of the Ranch. During the latter half of the century, the land was developed for citrus production. Harleigh Johnston and Taylor Goodrich acquired the property in 1883, and the San Ysidro Citrus Ranch, later associate with the Johnston Fruit Company, became a commercial producer of oranges and lemons.
A sandstone packing house was constructed in 1889 to process the citrus crop and was later converted into the Stonehouse Restaurant. In 1892, a ranch house was constructed that became known as the Hacienda. The property began accommodating guests in 1893.
By the early 20th century, The Ranch has become a destination for prominent visitors. Winston Churchill and his family stayed at the property in 1912. During the 1930s, actor Ronald Colman and hotelier and former California state senator Alvin Carl Weingand acquired the Ranch.
Over the decades, guests have included Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby, Groucho Marx, W. Somerset Maugham and Sinclair Lewis. Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier married at the Ranch in 1940, John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy honeymooned there in 1953, and filmmaker John Huston worked on The African Queen during a stay at the property.
Entrepreneur Ty Warner acquired San Ysidro Ranch in 2000 and incorporated it into Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts. Following the acquisition, Warner undertook an extensive restoration of the property, including the cottages, historic structures, interiors and landscaping.
Facilites San Ysidro Ranch is home to 38 individually designed cottages, surrounded by incredibly landscaped gardens, that each feature private entrances and outdoor areas, fireplaces, soaking tubs and indoor and outdoor showers.
The property also includes The Salon & Spa, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness facilities, mini golf and bocce, as well as 17 miles of hiking trails throughout the surrounding foothills.
Dining venues include The Stonehouse Restaurant, serving California cuisine with garden and terrace seating; The Speakeasy, offering cocktails and light bites in a 1920s-inspired setting; and The Veranda, featuring fireside and outdoor dining.
The Ranch has a wine collection of around 16,000 bottles, showcasing rare vintages and some of the world's most covered and historically significant wines. The Ty Warner Wine Collective offers private tastings and educational wine experiences drawing from the collection. A private tasting room know as the Secret Cellar is located beneath the Stonehouse Restaurant.
Awards In 2026, San Ysidro Ranch was named No. 1 hotel in the U.S. and No. 22 in the world on The World's 50 Best hotels list. It was the highest position achieved by a U.S. property since the ranking was established.
The resort has also maintained a Five-Star rating from Forbes Travel Guide and was awarded One Michelin Key by the Michelin Guide in 2026. The Ranch is consistently recognized by leading travel and lifestyle publications, including Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Modern Luxury, Sunset Magazine, among others. The Ranch has also been named the "World's Most Romantic Boutique Hotel" and the "#1 Boutique Hotel in the World."
The Stonehouse Restaurant has held Wine Spectator's Grand Award since 2014, the publication's highest distinction for restaurant wine programs. In 2026, The Speakeasy was named on the world's best hotel bars on Forbes Travel Guide's Hotel Star Bars list as only one of five bars in the U.S. to receive the distinction.
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