Christmas in Southern California doesn’t follow a single script — and that’s the appeal. One morning might start with ocean air and end with mountain chill; one evening might call for fireside quiet, the next for a martini with a view of Sunset Boulevard. Within an easy 90-minute drive of Los Angeles, the holidays can feel as traditional or as unexpected as you want them to be.
Some travelers lean into nostalgia: garlands draped just so, crackling fireplaces, dinners that linger long after dessert. Others prefer a sleeker version of the season — polished lobbies, well-timed cocktails, and celebrations that feel more cosmopolitan than cozy. Southern California accommodates both, often within the same long weekend.
The region’s best hotels understand this flexibility. They don’t force December into a snow-globe fantasy, nor do they ignore the season altogether. Instead, they offer their own interpretations of the holidays — whether that means candlelit cottages in Montecito, palm-framed Christmas Eve dinners, or New Year’s celebrations that trade snow boots for stilettos.
This is holiday travel without rigid expectations. The sweaters are optional. The settings are not. These are the most festive hotels in and around Los Angeles — places that prove the season doesn’t need cold weather to feel celebratory.
Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito
Rosewood Miramar elevates the holidays into a mini festival. Highlights include “snow” falling on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and a special Feast of Seven Fishes tasting menu at Caruso’s. Come New Year’s Eve, the Le Bal Cristal, the resort’s annual gala, rings in the new year under Baccarat chandeliers, with an open bar, late-night bites, and a midnight toast. (Distance from LA: Approximately 95 miles, about 1.5 to 2 hours by car.)
San Ysidro Ranch, Montecito
For the holidays, Montecito’s San Ysidro Ranch is blanketed in décor from the minute you set foot on the property, with colorfully decorated trees and thousands of twinkling lights at nearly every turn. The Stonehouse restaurant and Plow & Angel speakeasy celebrate with special holiday dinners and 12 nights of specialty cocktails. (Distance from LA: Approx 95 miles, about 1.5 to 2 hours by car.)
Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai
During the holidays, Ojai Valley Inn sets a quiet stage set for “Serenity Season.” The resort orbits around a 41-foot Christmas tree at the center of the property, which turns into a natural meeting point for photos, cocoa, and the nightly transition from golden hour to twinkle lights. The tone is multi-generational, equal parts spa retreat and family tradition, with everything from in-room Hanukkah kits, nightly menorah lightings, and hands-on activities for kids and adults who still like to make things. World-class golf, yoga, and spa provide a relaxing backdrop to special meals during Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve at The Oak or Olivella and The Farmhouse’s Christmas Grand Buffet, where carving stations, raw bar, and desserts turn the meal into the main event. (Distance from LA: Approximately 80 miles, about 1.5 hours by car.)
Hotel Bel Air, Los Angeles
Hotel Bel Air’s canyon hideaway is transformed into a twinkling holiday oasis, with special prix fixe menus for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve, plus a Christmas Day brunch that includes a visit from Santa and live carolers. Guests can also take pieces of the season home through festive treats such as chocolate Yule logs and cookie decorating kits.
The Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills
At The Beverly Hills Hotel, the Polo Lounge hosts Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations, plus a sparkling New Year’s Eve party, all set against the property’s famously festive décor. In the lead up to Christmas, the hotel runs its 12 Days of Soufflés series, revealing a different holiday-flavored soufflé each night, alongside seasonal drinks such as mulled wine and spiked eggnog.
The Langham Huntington, Pasadena
The Langham Huntington’s season opens with the Winter Festival and Tree Lighting, cookie decorating, live caroling, a kids’ holiday train, a Snow White performance, and of course, a visit from Santa. Throughout the holidays, the hotel layers on festive afternoon teas and elaborate holiday buffets in the ballrooms, complete with raw bar, carving stations, and abundant desserts. The public spaces are fully lit and decorated for the season, creating a classic holiday backdrop. (Distance from LA: Approximately 12 miles, about 25 to 35 minutes by car.)
Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, Beverly Hills
Beverly Wilshire’s famous lobby becomes a holiday spectacle, with displays like Valrhona chocolate polar bears and rich, multicolored décor. Festive programming includes curated holiday dining menus, menorah lightings, and a seasonal holiday package where suites come with a decorated Christmas tree and gingerbread house kit ready to assemble.
Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
At Four Seasons Los Angeles, the season is defined by the return of Veil and Velvet, an old-Hollywood-inspired speakeasy with a special seasonal cocktail menu, and dramatic floral and décor installations by Jeff Leatham, turning the property into a fully dressed holiday backdrop.
Feature image courtesy of San Ysidro Ranch. Travel Curator may earn a commission from product or booking links on this page.
