Château du Sureau rises out of the golden California foothills, its dazzling white walls and terracotta-tiled rooftops towering over Italian cypress trees. Stroll up the stone walkway and through the heavy, wooden door and you’ll swear you’ve just entered an enchanted palace. No detail has been spared in creating the Old World allure of a European castle.
Situated on nine acres of manicured lawns and whimsical gardens, the grounds of Château du Sureau are as beautiful as the interior. Lounge beside the outdoor pool while you sip on a glass of Bordeaux or meander through the garden to discover a hidden gazebo and sparkling fountains. Don’t miss the life-sized chessboard. While you indulge in a lively game of chess, a butler will provide a glass of elderberry iced tea to keep you cool.
Situated on nine acres of manicured lawns and whimsical gardens, the grounds of Château du Sureau are as beautiful as the interior. Lounge beside the outdoor pool while you sip on a glass of Bordeaux or meander through the garden to discover a hidden gazebo and sparkling fountains. Don’t miss the life-sized chessboard. While you indulge in a lively game of chess, a butler will provide a glass of elderberry iced tea to keep you cool.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- Step into Château du Sureau and you’ll feel like you’ve entered a European castle, but this elegant resort is only 14 miles away from Yosemite National Park.
- Spend a day exploring the park’s wonders, then return to Provencal architecture, sumptuous furnishings and impeccable service at the hotel.
- Whether you’re on the adult-friendly swings in the garden or strolling on the jogging path, all you need to do is press a button and a staff member will come out to give you anything from a push on the swing to a glass of fresh strawberry lemonade.
- A hint at just how lavish the boutique hotel is: Affixed to the doorway, a small plaque inscribed with a quote by Oscar Wilde reads, “I have the simplest of taste, I only want the best.”
- Château du Sureau has a single restaurant, The Elderberry House, but you won't become bored with its offerings. The Four-Star restaurant is simultaneously upscale nouveau cuisine and an authentic taste of California’s world-renowned bounty.
Things to Know
- Château du Sureau’s spa is beautifully Art Deco-themed. Make sure to try the spa’s Hydrostorm treatment, an enormous couple’s shower that massages your entire body with alternating steam and hot water.
- Antique writing desks in the rooms will inspire your creativity, and a viewing balcony of the gardens invite leisurely afternoons. In the morning, enjoy a freshly baked croissant with house-made elderberry jam.
- You’re welcome to enjoy the Four-Star hotel’s signature elderflower and champagne cocktail, the Sureau, by the pool.
- Also perfect for soaking luxurious in-room bathtubs. Some rooms have Jacuzzis, while others have black marble or limestone baths — all have plenty of room for two.
The Rooms
- Every of Château du Sureau’s ten exclusive rooms has its own richly tiled bathroom, stone fireplace and king-sized feather bed encased in fine linen sheets.
- The entire Château is furbished in the French Empire style, with impeccably restored 19th-century antique furniture in every chamber. Each of the rooms is named after one of the ingredients in the classic French herb mélange Herbes de Provence.
- The rooms each have their own color scheme, decorative style and layout, although they all remain perfectly within the realm of early-to-mid 19th-century French interior décor, with floral fabrics, ornately carved furniture and exposed wood ceiling beams.
- All but one of the rooms have functional wood-burning fireplaces, a large queen- or (more typically) king-size bedroom set, and a lavish bath accented with marble or limestone.
The Restaurant
- The menus are completely personalized (yours might even have your name printed on it), and they change daily. With dishes such as seared halibut clam chowder, spruce and blackberry braised wagyu short ribs and roasted hazelnut panna cotta, this fine-dining experience is a must.
- While Château du Sureau doesn’t have its own bar, you’ll find an impressive collection of wine next door in the restaurant, which features its own wine cellar, Le Cellier, which is run by expert cellar master Samuel Aguilar.
- If you’re in need of a cocktail, a glass of wine or a beer at any hour of the day, the staff at Château du Sureau will be happy to ferry your request over to the restaurant and promptly return with your libation of choice.
Getting There
48688 Victoria Lane, Oakhurst, California 93644
TEL559-683-6860
TEL559-683-6860
NEARBY AIRPORT(S)
FAT (1 h )
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