A new 504-acre estate that took its cues from the best of Italy.

Teensy. Example: there are six restaurants on-site (all of them indoor/outdoor).

When 16th-century Italian architect Andrew Palladio inspires a new mega-resort, you know you’re in for a decadent treat. Every moment of a guest’s experience here is akin to what they’d find in under the Tuscan sun, except you’re a quick hopscotch from Los Angeles (and there’s a 36-hole, Tom Fazio-designed golf course on-site that’s not exactly an Italian Idyll). We adore the Coliseum-inspired pool, which could have easily read as cheesy but is the delightful opposite, and the fact that each neutral-swathed bungalow on the property has an Italian limestone fireplace, exposed beam ceiling and a soaking tub Pope Francis himself might appreciate (plus, Southern California necessities like Bose stereo systems, plasma TVs and granite wet bars).

You long to wander through olive groves, lavender and cypress, but you can’t take two weeks off work to do jet-lag to Italy justice. Thankfully, this resort has all that (seriously: they replanted 100-year-old olive trees) and more—so beautifully scented you wish you could bottle it.

“Sure,” you think. “It looks like Italy. But does it taste like it?” Pelican Hill’s restaurateurs have perfected dishes that would pass any nonni’s muster, including gelato made fresh every day. When they begin to prepare your risotto tableside within a giant wheel of parmesan, you can feel yourself literally floating up to heaven.

Andrea - Northern Italian cuisine with fresh, local ingredients

Coliseum Pool & Grill - Poolside favorites like pizza, pasta, and salads

Pelican Grill - Coastal California dining with an extensive wine list

Piccolo at the Villas - Globally inspired menu

Caffe & Market - Gelato, espresso, and retail

Caffe II - Offers an array of Italian coffees, beverages and light fare for breakfast and lunch

Great Room Social Lounge - A lively scene of contemporary music, creative cocktails, small bites and seasonal activities