Santa Barbara hotels

Set in a quiet, palm tree-lined neighborhood a few blocks from State Street, The Eagle Inn puts you close to the action while still lending a peaceful night’s sleep at the end of the day. Housed in a 1929 Mission Revival building, the family-run, boutique inn showcases Spanish tiles and hand-carved wooden doors.
Choose from a variety of room configurations, some of which include fireplaces, balconies, and verandas. For more seclusion, nab one of eight freestanding casitas with added luxuries such as pillowtop mattresses and whirlpool tubs.
Complimentary parking and Wi-Fi are welcome amenities, yet it’s the freshly baked afternoon cookies and a hot breakfast delivered to your table – or your room, for those in the casitas – that are the real perks.

With Spanish Colonial buildings strewn throughout a lush hillside property, El Encanto embodies Santa Barbara’s natural and cultural beauty. The beloved local landmark has entertained many Hollywood celebs since its founding in 1918 and was fully restored to its former glory in 2013.
“Encanto” is the Spanish word for “charm,” and the botanical garden-worthy grounds offer up plenty of enchantment with mature palms, lily ponds, and splashing fountains. Dotted throughout the gardens are clay-tiled guest rooms outfitted with luxuries such as stone fireplaces, freestanding soaking tubs, and heated bathroom floors.
The Spa at El Encanto lends another quiet retreat with unique treatments such as sound bath meditations. The property’s definitive highlight is the infinity pool showcasing panoramic views of Santa Barbara and the Pacific beyond. The resort’s signature restaurant, The Dining Room, features the same vistas with composed plates of California fare best enjoyed on the scenic landscaped terrace.

The local outpost of this fashionable boutique brand brings its stylish digs to the historic Presidio Neighborhood, home to Santa Barbara’s most celebrated Spanish Colonial gems including the Santa Barbara Courthouse and El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park. As with other Palihouse locales, interiors are a visual treat with artful decor consisting of a clever mix of contemporary and vintage finds.
The aesthetically pleasing property offers numerous spots to sip a Hemingway daiquiri, from the retro-tinged lobby lounge to the leafy courtyard pool ringed with pink scallop-edge umbrellas. The hotel showers guests with fun perks such as afternoon lemonade, an evening wine and cheese spread, and complimentary Linus bikes to cruise to the beach or restaurant-filled Funk Zone.
There’s also the Pawlisociety program which rewards pet owners with plush dog beds and chew toys for their four-legged companions.

Housed in an 1872 Victorian home surrounded by a one-acre English garden, the Simpson House Inn is one of the fancy hotels in Santa Barbara. It’s adults-only and feels like staying at your friend’s posh estate. The fetching property is ringed by privacy hedges and filled with numerous indoor and outdoor nooks to cozy up with a book or glass of wine.
There hardly seems a moment when you’re not offered a nibble or sip, from evening wine and hors d’oeuvres to a morning breakfast served in the main house or delivered to your room. In addition to the main house’s antique-furnished rooms, you can also choose from contemporary guest quarters within a converted carriage house or freestanding cottages warmed by wood-burning fireplaces.
All feature premium linens, soaking tubs, and a mini refrigerator stocked with complimentary drinks.

Families will appreciate the many thoughtful, practical amenities found at the Harbor House Inn, one of the top-rated hotels in Santa Barbara. The hotel’s wife-and-husband owners are avid travelers and know the value of the little things that make life easier when on the road.
The tidy, modern rooms cover all the basics with free fast Wi-Fi, local coffee, refillable water bottles, and some form of kitchenette. Didn’t have time to swing by the market? You’ll find complimentary snacks in the office. There are also a few indulgent perks such as plush robes and slippers.
And, because West Beach is located just one block away, the hotel stocks a Fun Garage with beach chairs, towels, and sun umbrellas. The staff is always happy to point the way to their favorite brewery or taco spot which you can reach via the hotel’s beach cruisers.

Design lovers will swoon over the bold, glammed-out interiors of the luxurious Hotel Californian. Its Spanish Colonial exterior hides chic, Moroccan-inspired decor with lantern light fixtures, patterned fabrics, and hand-painted tiles. Spacious guest rooms are bathed in soothing grays with teal accents alongside Moorish tile wainscoting and marble bathrooms.
Juliette balconies offer views of the Pacific, as does the rooftop pool, while the Majorelle spa lures with body treatments and a dazzling relaxation lounge sheathed in blue Moroccan tile. The multi-building property flanks a desirable stretch of State Street, strolling distance to Stearns Wharf and the bustling Funk Zone, yet you needn’t step foot outside to enjoy some of the city’s best food and drink.
The hotel is home to three notable restaurants including Blackbird, which showcases Central Coast ingredients in a dramatic dining room, and The Society: State & Mason where local wines are paired with small plates.

One glance at its beautiful Mission Revival facade and it’s apparent that La Playa is one of the top boutique hotels in Santa Barbara. Incorporating Santa Barbara’s Spanish-style hallmarks – exposed wood beams, arched walkways, clay tile – the boutique property radiates a warm, pleasant atmosphere.
Sleek guest rooms feature contemporary furnishings and padded mattresses plus a few welcome conveniences such as mini refrigerators, microwaves, and, in select rooms, private balconies or patios.
Guests also enjoy free Wi-Fi, complimentary water bottles, and a grab-and-go breakfast with local pastries. There’s also free parking – a premium in this area – with an on-site EV charger. Yet, given the inn’s immediate proximity to big-ticket attractions such as West Beach, Stearns Wharf, and The Funk Zone, you may forget all about your car after you arrive.

For those seeking a quintessential resort experience, The Ritz-Carlton checks all the boxes. The whopping 78-acre property, one of the luxury hotels in Santa Barbara, encompasses three infinity pools, six restaurants, four clay tennis courts, and a massive 42,000 sq. ft. spa with a pool reserved solely for adults. It’s little surprise the luxury brand delivers such a lavish setting, yet the Ritz-Carlton Bacara distinguishes itself with elements that speak to its environs.
Situated on an enviable swath of land overlooking the Pacific, the vast property delights with whitewashed archways and succulent- and palm-filled gardens that reflect its Santa Barbara surroundings. The resort’s seaside setting also allows guests access to two miles of sandy shoreline, and you’ll admire sparkling ocean vistas throughout the grounds.
At day’s end, retreat to warm guest rooms designed with an upscale take on Old California with exposed wooden beams and neutral tones accented by Arabesque rugs.

One block off State Street, you’ll find the English-inspired Cheshire Cat Inn, a family-friendly bed-and-breakfast engulfed by mature oak trees and colorful blooms. The inn, which happens to be one of the best hotels in Santa Barbara, offers a variety of rooms spread throughout a pair of Queen Anne Victorian homes, a carriage house, and four Craftsman cottages.
Most rooms are decked in tasteful, traditional decor and floral prints while the cottages feature more contemporary furnishings. Layouts vary upon setting, but many include fireplaces, Jacuzzi tubs, and private patios. And, as the inn is named for the English town of Chesire, you will find subtle references to Alice in Wonderland throughout, including a stained glass window depicting a white rabbit.
Guests have access to a 24-hour refreshment station, but the real treats come at breakfast with homemade dishes such as blueberry French toast.

An iconic, downtown mainstay since the 1920s, the Hotel Santa Barbara puts visitors smack dab in the middle of State Street’s buzzing eateries, bars, and boutiques. Furthermore, with complimentary use of hotel bikes and the city’s open-air trolley rolling past your doorstep, you’re just a quick jaunt to the beach.
The stately hotel exudes retro charm with details such as an original lobby elevator with scissor doors and an ornate Spanish-style edifice flanked by two palm trees. Updated rooms keep things current with pillowtop mattresses, cushy robes, and free Wi-Fi.
There’s no on-site restaurant, but the hotel coordinates room service from Joe’s, a delightfully old-school Italian American restaurant just across the street. In the morning, wake to a cut-above continental breakfast with fresh juices and local baked goods such as pain au chocolat and flaky croissants.