California is packed with small, cute little towns that are definitely a bit more off the radar when it comes to tourism, and one of my favorites that I visited this summer was Ojai.

I honestly didn’t know that much about Ojai before we went, but we ended up having such a great weekend here. We stayed at a super cute boutique hotel, ate a huuuge amount of good food, and somehow I also managed to do way too much shopping in just a couple of days.

There’s something about Ojai that just feels a little different from some of the bigger and busier places around California. It’s small, it’s charming, and you can actually slow down a little while you’re here. At the same time, there are plenty of cute shops, cafes, restaurants and things to do to keep you busy for a weekend.

And because Ojai still isn’t on everyone’s California itinerary, I decided to put together this little guide on is Ojai worth visiting, including what I loved about Ojai, what I didn’t like so much, and some of my favorite things to do while you’re here.

Is Ojai worth visiting? My Quick Answer

I really only knew Ojai from the high school movie Easy A with Emma Stone, just in case anyone has seen it haha. Other than that, I honestly had no idea what Ojai was even like. But a couple of friends told me I definitely had to go if I was going to be in the area, so I figured, why not? We decided to stay for a couple of nights and see what all the fuss was about.

And I’ll be honest, we really didn’t do that much during our short stay in Ojai. But I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing, because there also just isn’t a huge amount of stuff to do here. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved my time in Ojai, it just wasn’t a particularly active or activity-heavy part of our trip.

We stayed at a super cool boutique hotel called the Emerald Iguana Inn, which was close enough to downtown that we could just walk there whenever we felt like it. We spent our days checking out cute cafes, trying different restaurants, doing a bit of shopping, and just generally taking things pretty easy.

And honestly, I think that’s what makes Ojai so nice. You pick a really cool place to stay, slow down for a couple of days, eat some good food, chill by the pool, maybe go for a little hike or walk, and just enjoy yourself.

What I Loved About Ojai California

The Cute Boutique Hotels

One of my favorite things about Ojai is definitely all the cute boutique hotels and luxury hotels you can find in and around the town.

Of course, we only stayed at one of them, the Emerald Iguana Inn, which was super cool and quirky and ended up being a really fun place to stay. But when I was doing my research beforehand, I found so many other really beautiful hotels with awesome pools, gorgeous views and just really cool designs that I honestly wish I could’ve stayed at all of them.

And I think that’s one of the things that makes Ojai such a fun little getaway. There are some really unique hotels here, so I’d actually put a bit of thought into where you stay because the hotel can be a pretty big part of the experience.

It’s Less Touristy

Overall, I just loved how much less busy Ojai felt compared to some of the bigger destinations in California.

Especially if you’re visiting California from out of state, I’d definitely recommend seeing more than just San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Those places are great, obviously, but sometimes it’s really nice to get away from the huge crowds and spend a couple of days somewhere a little smaller.

Great Cafes & Restaurants

We also had some really good food and coffee experiences in Ojai, which honestly surprised me a little considering how small the town is.

For coffee, I really liked Three Birds and Highly Likely Ojai, both of which were great places to grab a coffee and hang out for a bit.

Then for dinner, we went to Pinyon, which was probably my favorite food experience here. It’s a pretty casual place, but they had amazing pizza, Italian snacks and wine, which is basically my idea of a perfect dinner anyway.

Very Walkable

And as you might already know, since I was born and raised in Europe, I just love a good walkable city.

So being able to walk from our hotel to coffee shops, restaurants, little shops and basically everything we wanted to see in the town center was a huge plus for me.

We could just leave the car at the hotel and head out on foot whenever we wanted, which made the whole stay feel so much more relaxed. And honestly, for a little weekend getaway like Ojai, that’s exactly how I want to spend my time.

What I Didn’t Like About Ojai

It Felt a Little Too Small at Times

I visited Ojai as part of a longer road trip around Central California, so by the time we got here, I’d already been to places like Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. And compared to those towns, Ojai definitely felt very small at times.

We stayed for two nights, which was totally fine, but looking back, I think one night would’ve been enough for me. You could also easily visit Ojai as a day trip if you’re not particularly interested in staying at one of the cute boutique hotels here.

That being said, I don’t think the small size is necessarily a bad thing. It’s more something you should know before you come. Ojai is tiny, and that’s kind of the whole point.

There Aren’t Many Activities

This obviously has a lot to do with Ojai being so small, but there just isn’t a huge amount to do here in terms of actual activities.

We did a bit of hiking, explored some of the canyons around Ojai, and spent plenty of time walking around town, checking out the restaurants, bars and shops. But once you’ve done all of that, there isn’t a massive list of other attractions waiting for you.

However, I don’t even really consider this a negative. I think it’s more about coming here with the right expectations.

My Favorite Things I Did in Ojai California

1. Visit Bart’s Books

The largest independently owned outdoor bookstore in the world is right here in Ojai. Yes, you heard that correctly.

And to be honest, Bart’s Books was one of the reasons I wanted to come to Ojai in the first place. It’s such a quirky and cool place, with books spread throughout this outdoor maze of little shelves, rooms and courtyards.

I didn’t even need to buy anything to enjoy it. Just walking around and looking at all the books was a really fun experience, and I’d definitely recommend stopping by even if you’re not much of a book person.

2. Do a Wine Tasting

Ojai is surrounded by some of California’s amazing wine regions, so naturally, there are plenty of wine bars and tasting rooms around town.

And obviously, we had to do a wine tasting while we were here.

We went to Majestic Oak, which has a really nice little outdoor patio where you can sit in the shade, relax and enjoy a couple of glasses of wine.

3. Visit the Ojai Farmers’ Market

I love a good farmers’ market as much as the next person, and the one in Ojai is super cute.

You’ll find plenty of fresh produce, but also snacks, coffee, breakfast burritos and all kinds of other little things to eat and drink. It’s a really nice way to spend a Sunday morning, especially if you’re staying nearby and can just walk over.

The market takes place every Sunday from 9 AM, so if you’re in Ojai over the weekend, I’d definitely recommend checking it out.

4. Hike Fox Canyon

And if you want to get a little more active, one of the hikes I really enjoyed around Ojai was Fox Canyon.

It’s not the most difficult hike in the world and only takes a couple of hours, but it does get fairly steep in places. The payoff is definitely worth it, though, because you get some incredible views over the valley from the top.

After spending so much time eating, drinking and wandering around Ojai, it was actually really nice to get out into nature for a few hours and work off some of the food and wine.

FAQs About Is Ojai Worth It

What Is There to Do in Ojai?

Ojai is a super cute little town with plenty of fun shopping, wine tasting and some really nice hikes in the valley around town. There isn’t a huge list of major attractions here, but that’s kind of the point.

What Is the Best Place to Stay in Ojai?

If you’re looking for a really nice hotel, Ojai Valley Inn is probably the most impressive option in town. It’s a beautiful luxury resort with Spanish Revival-style architecture, a gorgeous pool, and some stunning views over the valley.

I stayed at the Emerald Iguana Inn, which is a much more affordable option, and I really loved it too.

Is Ojai Expensive?

It definitely can be, but it doesn’t have to be.

There are some super expensive luxury hotels in Ojai, but there are also more affordable options like the Emerald Iguana Inn, which is where I stayed. So I think you can make Ojai work for different budgets depending on where you stay and how much you want to spend on food and activities.

Is Ojai Touristy?

Yes and no.

Of course, there are tourists here, especially on weekends, but it’s nowhere near as busy as Los Angeles, San Diego or even Santa Barbara. I actually really liked that about Ojai.

Final Thoughts on Should I Visit Ojai California?

All in all, I think Ojai is a fantastic little town in California and absolutely worth visiting, but I do want you to come here with the right expectations.

From my experience, there just isn’t a huge amount to do in terms of activities. But I don’t think that’s why you come to Ojai anyway. The town itself is cute enough to spend a day exploring, and then you’ve got the cafes, restaurants, shopping, hiking and, of course, all those beautiful hotels.

Personally, I think the perfect way to do Ojai is to pick a really nice hotel, stay for one or two nights, enjoy the pool, eat some good food, explore the town and just slow down for a bit.

That’s basically what we did, and I loved it.

I hope this guide on is Ojai worth visiting gave you a better idea of what Ojai is actually like and whether it’s worth adding to your itinerary.

Check Out My Other Ojai Guides

Is Ojai Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

Where to Stay in Ojai California: My Favorite Hotels & Areas

Things to Do in Ojai: The Best Activities I Did

The Best Time to Visit Ojai: My Seasonal Guide

The Best Restaurants in Ojai: My Top Foodie Spots

The Best Coffee Shops in Ojai: My Absolute Favorite Cafes

Day Trip to Ojai: How I Spent 24 Hours in Ojai