Five of the World’s Most Unique Hotels Named for Inspectors’ First ‘Gateway’ Award

Post Ranch Inn — Big Sur, USA

Remarkable architecture and high-level luxury in California’s most enigmatic natural landscape. California’s Big Sur is among the most romanticized natural regions in the country — and it is also one of the most protected, a place with few hotels and even fewer of such world-renowned quality. The existence of the Post Ranch Inn is a testament to the eco-friendly design that convinced the community of its good intentions, a perfect harmony of architecture and nature that captures the special feeling that’s brought seekers to Big Sur for generations. To find such luxury in Big Sur, more often known for campsites or rustic inns, would be enough for most. What makes this hotel so special is the way its design embraces the landscape through the type of creative thinking Big Sur has long inspired in its visiting artists. Some accommodations are built directly into the craggy cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, their living roofs a seamless blend of native grasses and wildflowers high above the Pacific. A perfect harmony of architecture and nature, the retreat cultivates privacy and intentional disconnection above all else to encourage full appreciation of California’s famous ocean vistas and star-strewn skies. Defining features: - The Sierra Mar restaurant with sweeping views above ocean waves and farm-to-table cuisine. - Edible garden tour with a master gardener to explore local crops, growing techniques and taste fresh produce. - Two heated infinity pools with ocean views and an additional lap pool. - Meditation workshops, yoga classes, guided nature walks and a falconry program. - Guided art walk exploring onsite installations.