Even if your late summer plans don’t involve sunbathing along the Cote d’Azur or dining at Lo Scoglio on the Amalfi Coast, no need to fret. Heaps of shiny new hotels and immersive experiences in European-style destinations right here in California are beckoning. Dubbed The American Riviera thanks to its sun-drenched beaches and topography reminiscent of the South of France, Santa Barbara is home to the posh hamlet of Montecito where Rick Caruso’s opulent hotel is perched.
Studded with a verdant great lawn, ocean view guest rooms and jacaranda tree-lined cobblestone pathways, the property oozes a Camelot-style ambiance. Its crown jewel is Michelin star and Michelin green star Caruso’s, the resident beachfront restaurant helmed by chef and partner Massimo Falsini. In addition to the recently introduced three-course petite dining journey ($145, available Monday-Thursday), Falsini just debuted Fronte Mare, a decadently bespoke culinary experience that takes inspiration from Caruso’s, but with a completely different seafood-focused menu.
“I transformed the corner of the restaurant as a new way for guests to connect around the table, right next to the ocean, listening to the waves while I cook live,” Falsini tells Designed for six to 20 patrons with a $5,000 food and beverage minimum, the customized menus feature crudo, freshly made pasta, and other whimsical creations Falsini dreams up from such acclaimed local purveyors as Sea Stephanie Fish and Roots Organic Farm i.