Michelin-starred chef Charlie Palmer and luxury hospitality pro Christopher Hunsberger, founders of luxury hotel brand Appellation, are joining forces with developer and vineyard owner Frank Léal to bring a culinary-first hotel to Morgan Hill, California, according to a news release shared with Hotel Dive.
Located in Silicon Valley, the 76-room MOHI by Appellation is set to debut next year as Morgan Hill’s “first full-service luxury boutique hotel,” per the release. It fulfills a vision from Appellation’s founders to establish the town as a compelling food and culinary destination in Northern California.
“Our vision for Appellation has always been to get there first — to seek out the places where something extraordinary is already happening and bring it to the world stage,” Appellation CEO Palmer said in a statement. “Morgan Hill is exactly that kind of place: a destination on the verge of its moment, with a culinary and agricultural identity that deserves a real spotlight.”
Léal, of Léal Hospitality, said in a statement that Morgan Hill “has long deserved a hotel experience that reflects the quality of what’s being grown, made, and shared here.”
Hunsberger, COO of Appellation, noted that Léal’s establishments, including Léal Vineyards, have attracted crowds from the greater Silicon Valley area, and that locally sourced dining will be the upcoming hotel’s key to success.
The hotel will feature four food and beverage concepts that are designed to draw both guests and locals alike. These include Youngstock, a California-driven restaurant with a “cowboy spirit”; HOLT by Charlie Palmer, an immersive steakhouse; Nashelle, a Nashville-inspired, all-day dining venue; and Solene, a poolside restaurant serving light bites and cocktails.
MOHI is meant to serve leisure travelers as well as group and business gatherings, boasting more than 9,500 square feet in meetings and events space, along with a wine-country-inspired spa that includes a sauna, per the release. Other amenities will include a lush pool and deck oasis, featuring a pocket bar.
Additionally, hotel guest rooms will embrace a color palette inspired by valley landscapes, with many featuring balconies with mountain range views. The hotel’s signature suite will highlight a view of El Toro, a prominent hill in Morgan Hill, per the release. The property itself is located steps away from the town’s walkable and lively downtown.
The news of MOHI comes roughly a year after Appellation announced plans to open a wellness-inspired hospitality retreat in Park City, Utah, a collaboration with Deepak Chopra, sometime this year in response to the growing wellness trend among luxury travelers.
The brand also opened two properties in 2025, including the flagship Appellation Healdsburg and Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa, both in California.
