Topanga Canyon Inn B&B

My husband and I live hours away, so when we got a last minute chance to get away for one night, the owner kindly made room for our short notice booking. The place has a lovely feel, with gorgeous views all around, and seems a world away from the city. Its old world style worked really well, and the artwork was a highlight. Breakfast was delicious, and I enjoyed a long chat with the owner. I admired the flowers and plants around the property, and he sent me home with several cuttings for my garden. We’ll be back!

They charged us a 10% cancellation fee even though the property had no water. We had paid extra for early check in, and just 10 minutes after entering the room, the manager, who was the only person there, knocked to explain that a street pipe had burst. She couldn’t say whether water would be restored that night. With no shower or toilet, of course we wanted to cancel, and she offered that option. Still, they said, “That’s our cancellation policy,” as if it were our fault. If I could give the rooms less than one star, or the service even less, I would.

The room was lovely and clean, though there were quite a few spiders, probably because of the heat outside. I liked that the place felt normal and relaxed instead of stiff like a hotel. The towels were soft and didn’t have that strong bleach smell, and little homey touches like the unique tiles added to the feel. There were common areas where guests could sit and unwind together. The host family was kind, professional, and easy to talk to. I loved this beautiful inn.

Warren cooked us a nice meal, but despite my several requests for vegan food, I ended up with only melon and coffee. My wife had a long, enjoyable chat with him; he’s a fascinating, colorful guy. His children were courteous, though we only saw them at check in and breakfast. Breakfast is served at 8:30 or 9:30. It’s a real B&B, and the rooms feel like bedrooms in someone’s former home. They were very clean and nicely decorated, if a bit dated. We liked the vintage furniture and the paintings by the owner’s wife, and the dozen roses I’d arranged ahead of time were a lovely touch. We also appreciated the maps for walking up the driveway and hiking into the state park. One thing we hadn’t expected was having to sign a statement that using any drugs on the property, including cannabis, would get us evicted without a refund, even though cannabis is legal in CA. The setting was farther out than we expected, around a 10 minute drive beyond Topanga village, on a hillside almost inside the state park. The views are of rocky, scrubby hills, which weren’t especially attractive in July, and we didn’t get the cool lushness of Topanga Canyon. It was probably in the 90s that afternoon. Getting there meant taking a narrow public road that becomes a very steep, poorly maintained private road, and the parking is tight and limited. We’d booked a Saturday night for our anniversary. This seemed to be the only interesting place within a few hundred miles that didn’t require a two night weekend minimum, and the only thing resembling a hotel in Topanga. It’s charming and quirky, though not quite what we expected. We had a pleasant enough night, and my wife seemed to enjoy it, but it felt a little like staying with a distant relative, so I couldn’t quite relax.