California Dreaming
Santa Barbara Inn
As the vibrant colors of autumn fade into winter gray, there’s a reason so many snowbirds flock to Southern California in search of warmer temps chasing the sun.
Nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and cerulean Pacific coast, Santa Barbara Inn beckons visitors with its historic charm and views of the Channel Islands.
Just steps from the sand, this boutique hotel anchors the southern end of iconic Cabrillo Boulevard, just a short stroll from the infamous Stearns Wharf.
The hotel’s design embodies the spirit and soul of Santa Barbara with its Spanish architecture and Mediterranean flare.
It features 70 rooms and suites that combine comfort and luxury, each with its own balcony, most of which have dramatic sweeping views of the shore.
A TYPICAL DAY WHILE VISITING
Before I get into how to get to Santa Barbara Inn, its accommodations and amenities, I want to take time to share my typical day while visiting and why I loved this hotel so much.
Mornings were met with shades of pink and gold streaming across the sky over the Santa Ynez Mountains as the sun began to rise. I would slip into my bathrobe, sit on the patio and soak in the morning air, checking emails to the sounds of the birds chirping and singing in nearby trees.
A quick flip of a switch and the bathroom floor would instantly heat up. Wish I had heated bathroom floors back home! Time for a quick shower before heading downstairs to greet the day.
The hotel boasts a quaint Italian Restaurant Convivo with homemade delights where the scent of aromatic dark roast filled the air as I stepped off the elevator. Intoxicating!
I would take my coffee to-go wasting no time, heading outdoors and across the street to the long stretch of white sand beach, letting the salt air brush across my face, toes in the sand.
Each morning, a small pod of dolphins playing just off the shore would greet me as the sun continued to rise above the distant mountains that cascaded down into the water, swallowed by the sea.
Straight ahead, the Channel Islands were laid out before me in a low lying fog that was almost surreal, a mystical backdrop to the many sailboats lining the shore, teetering rhythmically in the quiet of the cool wind.
After the sun was high in the sky and the crimson light began to fade into daybreak, I would head back over to Convivo for a homemade breakfast on the quiet outdoor patio with views of the tides.
To work off my breakfast, I’d head back across the street to the beach for a brisk stroll down the paved pedestrian path running parallel to the shore lined by towering palms as far as the eye could see.
The chatter of couples out for their morning jog was drowned by the crashing waves as they passed, dog in tow.
About a mile down the path, I found myself at the infamous Stearn’s Wharf, a must visit for anyone staying in the area.
The Wharf was completed in 1872 and was an immediate commercial success.
As I walked along the creaking wooden planks, I could hear sea gulls screeching overhead, high in the sky and was fascinated by the pelicans skillfully diving into the waves in the distance searching for their morning catch.
The wharf is home to several restaurants and an array of quaint little gift shops.
At the end of the pier, anglers cast their lines into the rhythmic flow of the tides below.
Located on the Wharf and not to be missed is the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center.
On my first day there, I decided to explore The Sea Center with its multitude of live exhibits of marine life discovered in the waters around the wharf. and the Santa Barbara Channel.
I felt the excitement of a curious child touching the sharks, rays, sea stars and squishy sea cucumbers in the petting tanks.
I was mesmerized by sea horses slowly dancing toward one another in the water, and the octopus cleverly making its way across the tank, its tentacles flowing slowly and methodically across the glass walls much like a lava lamp of old.
Before I knew it, my stomach was growling, time for lunch. I grabbed a couple of tacos at Moby Dick’s and watched the kayakers below the wharf circling the giant buoys where seals fought loudly for a position on top.
The walk back was warm and the sun was high in the sky. The area came to life with bicyclists, joggers and an occasional rollerblader.
Artisans were beginning to set up booths with their homemade arts and crafts.
In the distance, I could see the hotel standing proud among the palms, a work of art in its own right.
On days I was not too tired (or lazy), I explored the fitness center complete with free weights, a multifunction fitness machine, treadmills, ellipticals, and exercise bikes. I would beat myself up on a bike, refill my water bottle and skip the complimentary coffee as I had usually had enough for one day.
The friendly, knowledgeable staff at the inn were more than happy to provide me with information on the city, its history and the best things to do.
So, my afternoons were spent exploring the sights including the Old Mission Santa Barbara, State Street and museums. I even kayaked in the harbor.
Sunsets were never missed and never ceased to amaze. Every night, they painted the skies in dramatic shades signaling the end of a perfect day.
In the evenings, the weather was absolutely perfect for a pre-dinner stroll. Couples were out for walks intimately chatting as they meandered along the shore. Off in the distance the sound of children running ahead of their parents, giggling with delight filled the night air.
Convivo, with its full bar and specialty cocktails, was the perfect spot for a drink on the terrace each night.
The menu is extensive with fresh, local cuisine - seafood, grilled meats, homemade pasta (actually made in house) and wood-fired pizza.
After dinner, I enjoyed quietly relaxing in the warmth of the outdoor fire pit before retiring for the evening.
HOW TO GET THERE
Santa Barbara Inn is located in the heart of Santa Barbara near the southern border with Montecito. This spectacular boutique hotel sits directly across the street from a pristine stretch of the California coast and provides sweeping ocean views from the balconies of most of its rooms as well as the outdoor patio of its onsite restaurant, Convivo.
It is conveniently located just north of Los Angeles near three airports and is accessible by plane, train, cruise ship, and car.
Closest Airports:
Santa Barbara Airport/SBA - 18 miles
Burbank Airport/BUR - 95 miles
Los Angeles International Airport/LAX - 95 miles
Driving Directions:
Santa Barbara Inn is located at the corner of S. Milpas Street and E. Cabrillo Boulevard. Parking, including hotel valet parking, is located off Milpas.
Heading north on US-101, take exit 96A for Milpas Street. At the traffic circle, take the 4th exit onto S. Milpas Street. The hotel is on the left.
Heading south on US-101, take exit exit 96A for Milpas Street. At the traffic circle, take the 4th exit onto S. Milpas Street. The hotel is on the left.
By Train:
Amtrak’s The Pacific Surfliner makes tracks down the coast from San Luis Obispo all the way to San Diego with the Santa Barbara Train Station being one of its many stops. The Santa Barbara train station is just two blocks from the beach, steps away from the popular Funk Zone and only 1-1/2 miles from the hotel making access from any of its many destinations easy.
Train stations north of Santa Barbara Inn: San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach, Guadalupe, Surf, Goleta
Train stations south of Santa Barbara Inn: Carpinteria, Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Chatsworth, Northridge, Van Nuys, Burbank - Airport, Burbank - Downtown, Glendale, Los Angeles, Fullerton, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Oceanside, Solana Beach, San Diego - Old Town Station, and San Diego - Santa Fe Depot.
GETTING AROUND
Once you get to the hotel, getting around town is easy (assuming you don’t want to spend your whole day poolside or on the sand).
Santa Barbara Inn is directly across the street from a long stretch of white sand beach and a pedestrian/bike path runs parallel to the shore, lined on both sides by towering palms as far as the eye can see. This makes the inn walking distance to almost anywhere you want to be.
To the north of the hotel is Stearns Wharf with its many restaurants, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, and wine tasting room (1.3 miles); The Funk Zone (1.1 miles); and State Street (2 miles). Just south of the hotel is Santa Barbara Zoo (0.5 miles). It is also just 3 miles from the Santa Barbara Harbor, many performing arts theaters and other popular destinations. If you don’t feel like walking there are many other options:
E-Bike
Directly across the street from the hotel are e-bike rentals which use a credit card to unlock. You can easily bike from here to almost anywhere around town.
Pedi-Cab - Hail down one of these fun, small pedal-operated vehicles that serves as a taxi.
Ride Share Apps - It is easy to catch an Uber or Lyft from the hotel to anywhere you want to go.
Bus - The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District buses will transport you to where you need to go whether its a tourist attraction, restaurant or even a local grocery store. There’s a stop right in front of Santa Barbara Inn.
Taxis - There are several taxi companies that operate in the area and can be contacted to arrange rides: American Taxi, Santa Barbara City Cab, Santa Barbara Checker Cab or Santa Barbara Yellow Cab.
Santa Barbara Inn is part of the Santa Barbara Car Free program and offers incentives to car-free guests so consider taking a shuttle, taxi or train from the airport for a possible room rate discount during your stay.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Here are some tips and things to know when planning your stay.
Santa Barbara is known as the American Riviera due to both its beauty and year-round Mediterranean climate characteristic of coastal California. Average year round temperatures are highs in the 60s/70s and lows in the 50s.
Nights along the coast can be chilly as temperatures drop and the ocean breeze picks up. Be sure to keep this in mind when going out at night and carry a light weight jacket.
Santa Barbara averages over 300 days of sunshine each year so be sure to bring sunscreen.
Santa Barbara Inn is a member of the Santa Barbara Car Free program and offers incentives to car-free guests. If you are car free, be sure to ask about possible rate reductions.
Santa Barbara Inn offers a fantastic onsite restaurant and bar, Convivo, that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Santa Barbara Inn offers ADA compliant ocean view rooms, mountain view rooms and suites featuring low profile beds, compliant bathrooms with grip bars, roll-in showers, accessible sinks with clearance and ADA compliant door clearance. The hotel offers closed caption TVs, audible alarms, and Braille signage. Support animals are welcome and there’s a wheel chair lift for the pool and outdoor Jacuzzi.
The hotel has an electrical vehicle charging station for guests.
The hotel offers dry cleaning services that can be arranged through the front desk.
Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.
Make your reservation by calling the hotel directly and ask about its Welcome Back Amenity Program, a breakfast reward program.
When you check in, show your valid AAA card for a 10% discount.
Santa Barbara Inn is a great place for weddings offering bridal suites with incredible views. It’s also a great place for honeymooners seeking solitude as it’s close to downtown but in a quiet part of town with privacy.
ACCOMODATIONS
Santa Barbara Inn features 70 spacious rooms and suites that combine luxury and comfort.
Most rooms have dramatic sweeping views of either the Pacific Ocean or the Santa Ynez Mountains, all of which have recently been updated and redesigned in an elegant Spanish Mediterranean style.
There are also several suites to choose from including:
Standard king suites that include a living room area and either ocean or mountain views.
The hotel’s premier Anacapa Suite on the third floor with 3 balconies and stunning ocean views, 1-1/2 bathrooms, and a large living area connected to a King bed room.
The Penthouse, a spacious studio on the fourth floor featuring a marble bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub and a stunning panoramic ocean view from its balcony.
Room Amenities:
Private balconies
Plush bedding
Mini Fridges
Heated bathroom floors
Slippers and bath robes
Luxury toiletries
Air conditioning
Streaming compatible smart TVs
In-room safes
Alarm clocks with USB charging capability
HOTEL AMENTITIES
Santa Barbara Inn has everything you’d expect from a luxury resort, but with the individual attention of a family-owned property.
Convivo Restaurant - Santa Barbara Inn offers ocean front dining at its onsite restaurant, Convivo. The restaurant boasts a menu of classic Italian dishes including homemade pasta and wood-fired pizza, as well as fresh seafood and steak, created and cooked to perfection by its world-renowned chef, Peter McNee.
The outdoor terrace has gas lanterns to keep you warm and an outdoor fireplace creating a romantic ambiance with the Pacific Ocean as its backdrop.
The upscale restaurant also features a full size bar with microbrews on tap, regional wines and specialty tequilas. It’s open daily from 7 am to 9 pm.
Heated Outdoor Pool and Jacuzzi
The pool area is great for taking laps or soaking up the sun with an ocean view.
Modern Fitness Room - Santa Barbara Inn has an onsite fitness room overlooking the ocean equipped with state-of-the-art equipment including treadmills, recumbent bikes, ellipticals, a multifunctional fitness machine and free weights. There is filtered water, complimentary coffee and towels.
Business Center - The hotel has a lobby business center with computer access and the front desk can assist with printing needs.
Valet and self-parking
Electrical vehicle charging station - The hotel offers an electrical vehicle charging station for overnight guests who valet-park in the hotel’s private lot.
Wi-Fi & Smart TVs- All rooms and common areas have high speed Wi-Fi internet access and each room has a streaming compatible smart TV.
Room service - Room service is offered through the hotel restaurant Convivo during normal restaurant hours.
Events & Weddings
Santa Barbara Inn features over 1,300 square feet of event space for business conferences and corporate banquets for up to 80 people. The hotel’s Montecito Room is perfect for weddings and social events with stunning ocean views in an elegant setting. The space holds up to 90 guests and Convivo Restaurant staff will design the perfect menu for your special day.
THINGS TO DO NEARBY
Santa Barbara Inn’s central location puts visitors just minutes from downtown Santa Barbara and all that the city has to offer.
Take a Stroll on the Beach
Santa Barbara Inn sits directly across the beach from the pristine waters of the Pacific with views of the Channel Islands in the distance. The Santa Ynez mountains cascade down into the water in the east where the sun rises and off to the west, you can catch the setting sun - the rare advantage of a south facing beach.
Cabrillo Boulevard Arts & Crafts Walk
Every Sunday year round, local artisans set up booths on Cabrillo Boulevard just a half mile away from the hotel to sell their arts and crafts to passers by.
Santa Barbara Trolley
For over 30 years, the Santa Barbara Trolley has offered narrated sightseeing tours taking you to many popular spots - the harbor, Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara Courthouse, Santa Barbara Zoo, Museum of Natural History, and the historic Santa Barbara Mission. Note that this is not a hop on and hop off tour.
State Street Promenade - The heart of downtown Santa Barbara is the State Street Promenade where you can find live entertainment, fashionable boutiques and incredible dining options.
Wineries
With over 280 wineries in Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara is widely considered not only one of the premier wine destinations in California but in the world.
Be sure to visit its working wineries, wine tasting rooms and the Urban Wine Trial in downtown where over 20 tasting rooms are all located within blocks of each other.
Craft Beer Tour - Take one of several beer tasting tours where you can experience different brews at the local breweries and distillery.
Santa Ynez Mountain Hikes
The nearby Santa Ynez Mountains offer hundreds of miles of hiking trails from easy to challenging, most with stunning views. You can take a quintessential scenic stroll from vineyard to vineyard or explore the 80-foot waterfall at Nojoqui Falls Park.
Santa Barbara Zoo - Santa Barbara Zoo is just minutes from the hotel and home to over 500 animals exhibited in open, naturalistic habitats. The Zoo is a partner in the heroic effort to save the California condors and the Island Fox recovery program. Visit from mid-November to mid-January and experience the park coming to life with festive holiday decorations during Santa Barbara Zoo Lights.
Old Mission Santa Barbara
Starting in 1769, Spain built a chain of 21 missions along the California Coast starting in San Diego, ending in Sonoma. Built in 1786, Old Mission Santa Barbara is known as the Queen of the Missions with 2 bell towers, a stunning rose garden, and an abalone-encrusted Chumash altar.
Mass is still held here today, and part of the mission’s original aqueduct is still used by the City.
Natural History Museum - Founded in 1916, Santa Barbara’s Natural History Museum hosts unique exhibits which showcase the region’s rich and diverse history. The museum is home to more than 3.5 million specimens covering every aspect of natural history including geology, astronomy and anthropology. It is also the Central Coast’s only planetarium.
Stearns Wharf and Sea Aquarium
Stearns Wharf is a must visit for anyone staying in the area. The Wharf was completed in 1872 and was an immediate commercial success.
Today there are several restaurants and quaint shops that occupy space on the Wharf along with an ice cream parlor, candy store and even a palm reader.
Conway Family Wines has an upstairs wine tasting room on the wharf serving handcrafted Deep Sea and Conway wines with stunning views from a higher vantage point.
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center
The Sea Center is located on Stearns Wharf and exhibits hundreds of species of local marine life native to the area as well as hands on educational displays.
It even has petting tanks full of starfish, urchins, sea cucumbers, sharks and rays.
Kayaking and Jet Skis
Rent a kayak and explore the harbor from the water. Watch the seals soaking up the sun on buoys in the harbor. It’s fun to watch them as they bark and push each other off their perch.
If you’re looking for more speed, jet skis are also available for hourly or daily rentals.
Channel Islands National Park
From the Santa Barbara Inn, you can see the Channel Islands cascading into the ocean. The park is comprised of 5 islands which you can take a boat ride to and explore.
Although Santa Barbara Island is temporarily closed to visitors due to damage on the dock, you can still explore and hike three of the other islands - Anacapa Island with its 1932 lighthouse perched along the cliffs, Santa Rosa Island with its unique Torrey Pines, and Santa Cruz with its sea caves.
There is no off trail hiking permitted on San Miguel Island because it was a former bombing range, but you can still apply for a permit to visit and explore with a ranger.
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS
Santa Barbara Inn is dedicated to protecting the environment and ensuring eco-friendly programs are in place at the hotel including:
An electrical vehicle charging station for overnight guests.
Water and energy-efficient equipment.
Glass, paper, cardboard, and plastic recycling throughout the hotel.
Changing bed linens during guest stays only when request by guests.
Incentives for car-free guests as part of their commitment to and membership with Santa Barbara Car Free.
Using recycled bricks from a 100-year-old street throughout the hotel exterior.
