Hotel Group Behind The Surfrider Malibu Makes First Foray Outside California, Into the Southwest

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Casetta — the innovative hospitality brand behind some of California’s most coveted boutique hotels (think The Surfrider Malibu, Palm Springs’ Casa Cody and The Pearl Hotel in San Diego) — is introducing its loyal community to the magic of Taos, New Mexico. Hotel Willa, Casetta’s first property outside The Golden State, is, simply put, the definition of cool.

Like all of the group’s properties, Willa gave new life to an existing building. In this case, the 50-room hotel was formerly the Indian Hills Inn, originally built in the 1960s, expanded in the 1990s and closed in 2018.

Hotel Willa maintains the inn’s history and charm while inviting guests to experience impeccable design, rotating art exhibitions (the hotel serves as a living gallery) and the crème de la crème of in-room amenities (think Aesop bath products, Parachute Home linens, custom Dandy Del Mar robes and a unique collection of local art). Every detail feels intentional.

The on-property restaurant, Juliette, is reason enough to visit Willa. Helmed by James Beard Award-nominated chef and artist Johnny Ortiz-Concha in collaboration with his partner, Maida Branch of Siempre Design, Juliette is a masterclass in food as an art form.

The duo’s first full-scale restaurant concept is intimate, experimental and deeply personal. The ceremony-inspired meals feel like a love letter to Taos, where sustainability and Indigenous traditions meet fine-dining finesse.

“As Casetta’s first outpost beyond California, Hotel Willa is both a retreat for design-minded travelers and a cultural touchpoint for the local community,” says Santiago LaRoche, Hotel Willa’s General Manager. “Everything from the Artist in Residency program to the seasonal menu at Juliette is meant to reflect the slower pace, raw beauty, and creative spirit that make Taos so singular.”

Semi-private jet-style air carrier JSX is helping these “design-minded travelers” experience Taos, allowing those journeying from Burbank (BUR), Carlsbad (CLD), Dallas (DAL), Austin (EDC) and Denver (APA) to fly directly into Taos Regional Airport (TSM). Beyond JSX’s unrivaled convenience, the nonstop hop-on jet service makes time in the air feel just as luxurious as the getaway itself, like an extension of the vacation.

Beyond Hotel Willa (and a reservation at Juliette), a perfect Taos itinerary would include lunch at Manzanita Market (the one-pot meals are divine) and dinner at ACEQ, where highlights include the lions mane mushroom cakes (just trust us), “wangus” steak (wagyu and black angus cross) and butternut squash gnocchi. For art and culture, visit the Couse-Sharp Historic Site, Hotel Willa’s on-site art gallery (with its Artist in Residence program activated by The Paseo Project) and, of course, the Taos Pueblo.

What makes Hotel Willa so special is that it truly feels like an extension of Taos. It captures the town’s essence — one rooted in history, creativity and an indescribable sense of magic.

Within California, other new openings for Casetta include Big Bear Lake’s Hotel Marina Riviera and the upcoming arrival of Hotel Lucile in Silver Lake. A property in Hudson, New York is also on the horizon in 2026. Learn more about Hotel Willa and Casetta’s rapidly expanding portfolio at casetta.com.