Capri Hotel in Ojai by Shelter Social Club

Situated about an hour from both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, Ojai (pronounced “Oh-hi”) feels almost suspended in time. Tucked into a valley surrounded by the Topatopa Mountains, this small town was once called “Awha’y”— meaning “the moon” or “the nest”— by the Chumash.

The famous Pink Moment, when the Topatopa mountains glow in shades of rose and gold for a few minutes after sunset, has long drawn painters, photographers, and filmmakers to Ojai. Today, the town has become a haven for California’s bohemian elite —sometimes cited as a telling example of America’s growing “spiritual gentrification.” Yoga retreats, meditation centers, and alternative practitioners are everywhere: acupuncturists, sound healers, shamans, and holistic therapists.

It is within this distinctive landscape that Capri Hotel finds its place. One of six properties in the Shelter Social Club collection, the hotel stands apart in a Californian hospitality scene often defined by overt luxury. Instead, it emphasizes community and shared experiences. Lunar New Year celebrations, film screenings, flea markets, and creative gatherings regularly animate the property. The goal is not simply to stay the night—it is to come together.

Neither a boutique hotel nor a classic roadside motel, Capri Hotel feels more like a retreat. Located along East Ojai Avenue, the mid-century modern property is the most ambitious address in Shelter Social Club’s Ojai collection, which also includes Ojai Rancho Inn and Hummingbird Inn. Founder Kenny Osehan has made it her mission to breathe new life into old roadside structures. Here, that vision is fully realized. The 1963 hotel has been entirely reimagined by a carefully assembled ecosystem of creatives.

From the moment you arrive, the reception area sets the tone: a built-in fireplace anchored in a stone wall creates a warm, intimate atmosphere. The inspiration draws from Italian design of the 1960s and 70s. Guest rooms, pool, jacuzzi, and gardens have all been redesigned to evoke a Mediterranean-inspired Californian villa rather than a roadside motel.

Artist Mattea Perrotta created all the paintings found in the rooms, along with the large canvas in the lobby. The furniture punctuates the space with precision: lighting by Eny Lee Parker, armchairs by Faye Toogood, tubular seating from Atelier de Troupe, alongside carefully sourced vintage pieces and thoughtfully curated artworks. Shelter Social Club even developed, in exclusive collaboration with the brand La Tierra Sagrada, a body and hair care line scented with palo santo. The result is a place that feels quietly magnetic. You barely leave before wanting to come back.