Sensei and sensibility

GETAWAYS • Los Angeles and Surrounds 

This post appeared in yesterday’s premiere edition of FOUND LA. Looking for a little more West Coast in your life? Subscribe to FOUND LA, with new issues dropping each Thursday. 

True luxury often manifests as irrational generosity, increasingly rare in modern hospitality. Such extravagance is typically born from a visionary owner — with deep pockets.

Take Sensei Porcupine Creek. Twenty-five minutes down the road from Palm Springs in the town of Rancho Mirage, the property was Oracle founder Larry Ellison's private estate, designed for friends and family gatherings. In a relatively short timespan, it transitioned into the Sensei brand’s second outpost and a compelling alternative to the likes of Amangiri and Blackberry Farm. 

Some may be lured here by golf or tennis offerings. But Sensei’s true claim lies in wellness, with three-day sessions tailored from pre-arrival evaluations. The staff includes a physical therapist who rehabilitates the US ski team, and a psychologist specializing in unwinding deep-rooted habits and re-wiring oneself. 

Culinary offerings are helmed by Nobu Matsuhisa himself, delivering classics from both of his eponymously named restaurants. Sarah, who ran the room at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge, presides over dining areas.

Ellison’s (heavily Japanese) art collection elevates the entire experience. And of course, the landscape is a masterpiece unto itself: serene water features are balanced with thousands of landscaped cacti, succulents, and paired with a vast expanse of over 3,000 palm trees. 

But Sensei’s true magic lies in its temporal allure. A three-night stay feels like a week away. –Colin Nagy

→ Sensei Porcupine Creek (Rancho Mirage, CA) • 42765 Dunes View Rd.