Bernardus Lodge and Spa Unveils Multimillion Dollar Renovations

Bernardus Lodge RestaurantThe Bernardus Lodge and Spa in Carmel Valley, California, just opened after undergoing a four-month, multimillion dollar transformation. 

Located near the Santa Lucia Mountains and Big Sur, the redesigned 57-guestroom property is set on 28 acres of orchards and vineyards and has expanded its wedding and event spaces, as well as the re-envisioned Spa at Bernardus. 

Guestrooms and interior public spaces, designed by the ARYA Group Inc., have a contemporary style, and are decorated with Italian stonework, mosaic tiles, grass cloth, French oak floors and chandeliers. The addition of oversized Strathmore chairs, wrought-iron mirrors, limestone fireplaces and dining room tables, aim to deliver guests with a more residential, “ranch-style feel”.  

The new Lucia Restaurant & Bar, under the direction of chef Cal Stamenov, has a 2,300 square foot al fresco heated terrace with expanded gardens, and a large central fireplace designed from Bagattini Oregon stone. 

The restaurant’s spring menu, “California country”, serves dishes prepared with local ingredients. Menu items include Fava-Pecorino-Artichoke Salad with black truffle vinaigrette, Chicken Fried Quail with pickled vegetables and saffron-horseradish crème fraiche, and smoked Sonoma Duck Stew paired with green olives, purple artichokes and rich goat cheese polenta. The restaurant also has a craft cocktail program focused on seasonal and artisanal drinks. 

A new curated wellness program at the Spa at Bernardus offers yoga classes, hypnotherapy, guided meditation, sunrise stretch classes, tennis, and escorted hikes at the nearby Garland Ranch Regional Park.  Summer wellness activities will include workshops in culinary cultivation, boot camps, and classes centered on the property’s annual lavender harvest. The spa has nine separate treatment rooms, and a reimagined pool with private cabanas, custom furnishings and a food and beverage program.  

Woodside Hotels, an operator of independent luxury properties throughout Northern California, is the new management company for the Bernardus Lodge and Spa.