WHERE TO STAY

Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this peaceful luxury hideaway is ideally located to explore the region. Less than two kilometres from Stanford University at the gateway to Silicon Valley, this resort-like property is only 55 kilometres south of San Francisco, so after a day of sightseeing there you can retreat to its tree-lined pool, wallow in the outdoor whirlpool or enjoy a sunset jog around 6.5 hectares of landscaped gardens. Even the spa menu has a Californian vibe, with scrubs and lotions made from locally sourced walnuts and seaweed. Be sure to dine at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Madera, where a harvest of the season’s freshest sustainable local produce is masterfully crafted into beautifully presented comfort food using wood-burning ovens (madera means wood in Spanish). Ask one of the four full-time sommeliers to help you choose from more than 2,300 wines, a collection given the highest recognition for excellence by Wine Spectator magazine last year. Try the Monte Bello Chardonnay from award-winning local winery Ridge Vineyards with a dish of pan-seared barramundi, celery root, camomile and fennel. Guests are also invited to play at nearby Stanford Golf Course, the renowned course where Tiger Woods and Tom Watson developed their games while playing on the Stanford University golf team.

Bestsellers include salted caramel and balsamic strawberry ice cream, but more unusual flavours such as Bombay spice and Earl Grey are just as lick-tastic