Santa Barbara Hotels

Auberge has certainly staked a claim in wine country resorts up in Napa—it has three up there—but the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern marks their first in southern California. Here, the bright, airy farmhouse cottages are outfitted with gas fireplaces, cushy four-poster beds, and claw-foot soaking tubs. Settle in, have the concierge book you winery tours all over the Santa Ynez Valley, and let yourself take on the pace of the place: leisurely.

At Craft House Inn, you have the option to book one of the rooms or suites—or take over the entire house (and yard) with friends or family. It’s close enough to downtown to get anywhere quickly, but it feels totally private when you’d rather decamp from it all. When you’re not checking out Santa Barbara’s famously good food scene, the inn can stock the fridge for you or recruit chef Julian Martinez, who heads up the kitchen at Barbareño just a few blocks away, to prepare breakfast spreads, private dinners, and picnic packs, which are convenient for days of hiking and biking.

Hotel Californian, in all its Spanish-Moroccan glory, is right in the Funk Zone and a minute from the beach. And it’s just a block from the train station, which makes it a convenient landing spot if you’re coming from LA or San Francisco and want to ditch your car for the weekend. (If you want to explore the wineries over in the Santa Ynez Valley, the hotel can book you a driver for the day.) Enjoy plush beds, excellent service, and the hotel’s Hitchcock-inspired restaurant Blackbird, which serves hearty steaks, scallops, braised short rib, and risotto.

The Palihouse Santa Barbara is, in a word, dreamy. Located in the heart of the historic Presidio neighborhood, the hotel is perfect for a quiet, relaxing getaway with the cozy feel only a boutique property can deliver. We love the Spanish Colonial-inspired architecture, warm textiles, and pretty pool area. The swish hotel bar is a great spot to grab a Palisade sangria—peaches and white wine—before heading out for a bite to eat at (die-hard pizza fans should hit up Bettina). Thoughtful amenities like complimentary Linus bicycles, a Palisociety-curated neighborhood guide, SMEG toasters, and hot water bottles (nights can be chilly!) on-demand adds to the boutique, home-away-from-home feel.

Rosewood Miramar Beach is a bright, airy refresh of a property that dates back to 1876. There’s history here—it was formerly the storied Miramar by the Sea—and so much beauty and comfort you (almost) won’t want to leave the property. Guest rooms are done up in shades of cream and blue, and each has a private terrace with deck chairs made for lounging and ocean-gazing. If you’re coming with kids, go for a bungalow suite. On site, don’t miss Michelin-starred Caruso’s: Chef Massimo Falsini does a prix fixe menu of California-inspired Italian dishes. (You’ll lose your mind over the carbonara; the chef’s from Trastevere.) Or join the small family-style dinners on a seaside patio at Caruso’s FrontMare, where you can mingle with Falsini (he moves his kitchen outdoors for the occasion) and other guests—or book the table out for your group. Edomae-style AMA Sushi is a highlight, too. The property is also home to a goop store—it’s a jewel box of G. Label by goop dresses, beachwear from our favorite brands, and the best of clean beauty. As for the rest of your time? Two pools and a beach concierge make…

With the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Santa Ynez Mountains on the other, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, is not lacking in the natural beauty department. And in fact, what sets it apart from the other Santa Barbara hotels is this immediate connection to nature: You can leave your room and walk directly to the beach without dodging traffic or even crossing any streets. It’s the only resort in Santa Barbara with such prime waterfront real estate (seventy-eight acres of it), and it's used to great effect. The hotel will arrange surf or sailing lessons, there are hiking trails to see the region’s flora and fauna firsthand, and tide pools are ready for exploration with one of the expert naturalists. As you’d expect from a Ritz-Carlton, guest rooms are super plush—we love the huge beds with their Frette linens, and the marble bathrooms are the size of some studio apartments.

Just north of Santa Barbara, Bacara is the only resort in the area that's directly on the beach, which means that you get some pretty epic sunsets over dinner. While all of the rooms are getting refurbished, they're comfortable without being fussy—and if you participate in one of the Sky Ranch Fitness weeks, you won't be spending much time in them. These week-long wellness weeks revolve around daily hikes through the Santa Ynez and Gaviota mountains, coaching from nutritionists, doctors, and physiologists, as well as gym time: In addition to a four-story spa, Bacara offers a huge (by hotel standards) fitness center, complete with Pilates Reformers and spin bikes. Don't worry: Each week comes with restorative spa sessions, too. While many (healthy) meals happen on-site (the Spa Café is excellent), they also take you out and about in Santa Barbara. Meanwhile, Bacara is a great place for kids. There's a mini-beach adjacent to the pools (complete with tons of toys), kids menus at all the restaurants, and plenty of acreage to explore. They also rent out boogie boards, paddle boards, and surf boards.

Made up of cabins and tents (for those who are looking to "glamp" in large decked out tents with a double bed and electric lighting), El Capitan offers a rustic but luxurious way to experience the El Capitan Canyon and beach near Santa Barbara. Perfect for a family trip with kids, choose between doing your own cooking (each cabin has it's own "outdoor kitchen" with a grill/fire pit) and opting for super healthy meals at the Canyon Market and Deli.

Perched on an olive tree-studded hillside overlooking the Pacific ocean, the Belmond El Encanto is more than deserving of its Forbes five-star accolades. The 90-room hotel (consisting of Craftsman-style suites and freestanding bungalows) re-opened in 2013 after undergoing a comprehensive renovation, which added a pool and tricked-out fitness studio to the grounds. Thankfully, the historic property’s architectural integrity and immaculate gardens were kept intact. Complete relaxation is the name of the game at the full-service spa where guests and day-trippers are pampered by way of water therapies, steam rooms, and local ingredient–inspired facials. When planning his California-coastal menu, Executive chef Alex Bollinger took full advantage of Santa Barbara’s bountiful produce offerings—including herbs from the on-site herb garden.

This Four Seasons hotel sits along Montecito's best beach, and it occupies a rambling set of Spanish Colonial bungalows and buildings that are lushly landscaped in a way that makes every room feel like a hideaway. Though the on-site pool is lovely, the members-only Coral Casino Club is right across the street, which boasts an Olympic-size swimming pool that's great for kids.