Belmond El Encanto
A historic property set in generous grounds filled with exotic plants, the Belmond El Encanto offers 1920s period glamour alongside classically elegant but contemporary styling and excellent service and food.
Cheshire Cat Inn
Set across two large Victorian houses surrounded by lovingly-tended gardens, an elegant coach house and a series of early Californian craftsmen cottages, the Cheshire Cat Inn is a delightful place to stay. The rooms are carefully styled to provide a sense of the charm and history of these period properties but also to include all modern comforts and are matched by friendly and attentive service and great attention to detail.
The 14 guest rooms and four cottages are all individually and tastefully furnished with English antique furniture, oak floors and fine fabrics. Some are larger split-level junior suites with private balconies, while others have in-room Jacuzzi baths and original fireplaces. The cottages are more contemporary and feature Oriental rugs, pine furniture and down comforters.
A gourmet breakfast is served each morning with a wide range of fresh produce and homemade dishes. In the afternoons you can join a Californian wine tasting in the garden and enjoy freshly made cookies and brownies with hot drinks at bedtime.
The inn is just one block from Santa Barbara’s main shopping and restaurant area, with its attractive courtyards and alleys so there are plenty of options for dinner, while the beach and Old Mission are easily accessible.
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Rooms
The inn has 14 rooms spread across two large old Victorian houses and an elegant coach house, as well as four early California craftsmen cottages dating to the 1940s, each with two bedrooms. The décor is elegantly refined with muted tones, fine floral fabrics, antique furniture, oak floors and fresh flowers. The split-level junior suites have private balconies with views of the garden or mountains, while other rooms have original fireplaces or a Jacuzzi bath. The self-contained cottages, which are just across the street from the main house, have their own living rooms with fireplace, a full kitchen and private decks and their décor is a little more contemporary with pine furniture and bright rugs. All rooms have private bathrooms and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Location
Conveniently located for access to central Santa Barbara, the Cheshire Cat Inn is just a short walk from the main shopping and restaurant area with its attractive courtyards and alleys. A five minute trolley ride from the beach and an easy 20 minute walk to the Old Mission, it makes a very central base for exploring the area.
Food and drink
Breakfast is a highlight of a stay with fresh fruit and yogurt served alongside homemade pastries and granola, vegetarian quiche, Mexican casserole and a sweet potato and spinach frittata. The inn's afternoon wine hour pairs local wines with hors d’oeuvres such as curried eggs and warm stuffed mushroom caps, and is served in the gardens. Staff are happy to recommend a variety of restaurants just a short walk away for dinner and on your return, homemade chocolate chip cookies and brownies are available along with tea, coffee and hot chocolate.
Our opinion
We love the period charm and attention to detail in the rooms at the Cheshire Cat Inn. The friendly hosts, great food and convenient location make it a great option in central Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara tour ideas
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Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favourite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can’t be bettered.
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