A restored 1963 midcentury modern motel in Ojai, featuring design-forward rooms, a heated pool, and a lush lawn.
The Capri Hotel is a reimagined 1963 midcentury modern roadside retreat located on East Ojai Avenue, just east of downtown Ojai. Originally built to accommodate budget-conscious families visiting the valley, the 30-room motel underwent a complete, design-forward renovation in 2020. The property is operated by Kenny Osehan of Shelter Social Club, the hospitality group behind other notable regional stays like the Ojai Rancho Inn and the Alamo Motel in Los Alamos. For this project, Osehan collaborated with designer Jessica Pell of the Eagle Rock-based Manola Studio to craft a space that fuses California modernism with a subtle nod to midcentury Italian resort style, creating a tranquil oasis framed by the Topatopa Mountains.
The design of the property begins in the lobby, which functions as a stylish, communal living room. Anchored by a massive, original Mediterranean-style exposed stone wall with a flickering fireplace, the room features an open, white-beamed A-frame ceiling and large glass windows that flood the space with natural light. Furnishings include auburn leather chairs, orange velvet seating, and curated artwork by contemporary artists like Mattea Perrotta. Guests can browse a small retail corner stocked with incense, crystals, and candles, or purchase craft beers, regional wines, and specialty beverages like Apiary cider and Matchako lattes to enjoy on the property. Outside, the lobby opens directly to a large lawn shaded by towering palm trees, featuring a heated swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a conversation fire pit, and strings of glowing pendant lights that illuminate the grounds after the sun sets.
The guest rooms are accessed via classic exterior corridors and are designed with a minimalist, warm palette of earth tones, including sage, lavender, and dusty pink. Each room features cork flooring, custom millwork, and hand-cut tiles in the bathrooms. Comforts are kept simple but high-quality, featuring refrigerators, flat-screen televisions, and organic bath products. Select rooms offer private balconies, patios, or deep soaking tubs that elevate the lodging experience. To encourage exploration of the surrounding valley, the hotel provides complimentary cruiser bicycles for guests to ride to downtown attractions like Bart's Books, the Ojai Certified Farmers' Market, or nearby trailheads.
Grab a bottle of local cider or craft beer from the lobby shop and spend the evening lounging by the conversation fire pit under the glowing pendant lights.
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