Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Health or beauty spa nearby
Electric bicycle charging station
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Pets allowed
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Beautiful location
Friendly staff
Great food
Cons:
Limited amenities
Room issues
Inconsistent service

Categories

Cleanliness
9.55
Property was clean and well maintained.
Service
10
Incredible staff with attentive service.
Location
10
Beautiful location and grounds.
Room Quality
8.55
Room was dated, with some functional issues noted.
Amenities
8.55
Limited amenities were mentioned, impacting the overall experience.
Value for Money
9.05
Overpriced for what was provided, especially noted in room quality.
Food and Beverage
9.55
Food was delicious but service was inconsistent.
Overall Experience
9.95
Overall a wonderful experience, with minor issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-16 04:53

Property Description

Sweeping Pacific Ocean Views:
Experience breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean from our boutique hotel, located just 5 minutes' drive from Central Santa Barbara.

Luxurious Amenities:
Indulge in our outdoor pool, spa and wellness centre, and on-site bar and restaurant. Each spacious room features a flat-screen TV, minibar, fireplace, and seating area, all with complimentary Wi-Fi access.

Convenience and Recreation:
Enjoy our 24-hour reception, business centre, and fitness centre during your stay. Explore nearby attractions like the Santa Barbara Mission, Botanical Gardens, and Municipal Golf Course, all within 2-10 minutes' drive from El Encanto.

Book now to experience the perfect blend of luxury and convenience at El Encanto.

Important information:

You must show a valid photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all special requests cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability upon check-in. Additional charges may apply.

Please note: For Premier Bungalow and Deluxe Bungalow Room Types the bed type is by request only and is not a guarantee.

For reservations booked with breakfast the maximum credit is $60 per day.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 AM
Airport code: SBA

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Groups

    When booking more than 5 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 17 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    People no matter the age stay for US$40 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

  • Parking

    Private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and costs USD 45 per day.

Location

Guest Reviews

9.4
Based on 212 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.55
Service: 10
Location: 10
Room Quality: 8.55
Amenities: 8.55
Value for Money: 9.05
Food and Beverage: 9.55
Overall Experience: 9.95
F
FAA1996 • Family • Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida
10
Amazing Get Away...
Pros:

Amazing property, you feel like youre visiitng friend's home. Property nd views are lovely. Had a dinner and daily breakfast at the restaurant and everything was great. Rooms and bathrokms were huge and beautiful, only concern is some rooms can be pretty far away from common areas.

2026-01-26 • via Tripadvisor
F
Francisco • couple • us
6
It was ok.
Pros:

The scenery

Cons:

They don’t have the pictures updated on the site.
They wanted to charge us for taking pictures.

2026-01-23 • via Nuitee
J
JPatti1 • Solo travel • Chicago, Illinois
10
Lovely view means some removal from center of town.
Pros:

Went with a Backroads cycling group. The room was very large with an absolutely enormous bathroom, with the rooms scattered around the property in various stuccoed casitas. The rooms were very nice and the restaurant/bar area was lovely, with the outdoor eating area having a lovely view over Santa Barbara. Not a convenient place for walking about Santa Barbara but an excellent choice if you do not mind being somewhat up in the hills.

2026-01-22 • via Tripadvisor
G
G7821GAfrans • Couples
6
Disappointing
Pros:

Not ready for prime time. While the grounds are gorgeous and the rooms are lovely, it is clear that the new management has not prepared their staff properly. From the front desk to the bell staff to housekeeping, they were not performing at the five-star level that the price should deliver.

2026-01-10 • via Tripadvisor
T
Trek398822 • Family
2
Ghastly food at horrendous price
Pros:

The food was horrifically bad. The service was amateurish. The prices were insane.
I simply cannot imagine why anybody would go through such a gastronomic nightmare twice.

The dinner menu was simply weird -- with very few choices. Rather than pay for a ridiculously expensive steak, I chose a ridiculously expensive plate of pasta caccio e peppe. What I got was overcooked pasta with an insipid, watery butter sauce with black pepper. I asked the waitress for some parmigiano (I guessed they didn't have any pecorino romano), but she never came back.

Save a whole lot of money. Go anyplace else.

2026-01-06 • via Tripadvisor
R
Ronan • couple • us
7
Beautiful location and ambience but resort price for limited amenities.
Pros:

Beautiful location and grounds.

Cons:

Small pool, limited amenities, no buffet breakfast, poor gym.

2025-12-09 • via Nuitee
M
Melissa • extended_group • us
8
Lovely grounds and friendly staff but disappointing food.
Pros:

Gorgeous grounds

Cons:

Pool was very small with limited seating. The pool menu was extremely limited with only two offerings and very slow service. Room service did not bring condiments or salt and pepper and when asked for them, they never arrived. For 2k a night those things were disappointing.

2025-11-29 • via Nuitee
F
Francesca • family_with_children • it
10
Top
Pros:

Tutto

Cons:

Nulla

2025-11-27 • via Nuitee
K
Katalin • family_with_children • us
8
2025-10-31 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • family_with_children • us
10
Pros:

The setting is spectacular
The grounds are well maintained
The staff is very attentive
The food was great

Cons:

The restaurant service was unpredictable

2025-10-30 • via Nuitee
F
F2745MCandrewf • Friends getaway
4
subpar service, hefty price
Pros:

I have stayed at this hotel a few times before when it was managed by Belmond. Let me tell you, there is a HUGE difference in the quality of the service since it has come under new ownership--not in a good way. The rooms and grounds are gorgeous; however, with the hefty rate comes an expectation of quality, attentive service. There were no towels at the pool. At one point, the pool attendant offered USED towels to the guests. Restaurant service was inexcusably slow. I had to wait 15-20 minutes before someone would even come to the table to offer water. I was staying with a friend, and her car was returned by the hotel valet with hard water stains on it which required a $250 cleaning. The hotel took absolutely no responsibility, and I have yet to hear back from the general manager after writing him directly. If you are looking to spend a nice sum of cash for middling service, used pool towels, and an unprofessional management staff, this is the hotel for you.

2025-10-16 • via Tripadvisor
L
Lemara • solo_traveller • gb
10
2025-10-08 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • partner
10
Pros:

Beautiful, clean and comfortable property. Staff was friendly, courteous and went out of their way to assure our stay was special. A wonderful experience all the way around. 5 stars!

2025-09-26 • via Nuitee
J
Jacqui • solo_traveller • nz
10
2025-09-20 • via Nuitee
M
Maria • couple • it
10
Pros:

Tutto

Cons:

Niente

2025-09-18 • via Nuitee
G
Gordon • couple • gb
10
2025-09-13 • via Nuitee
B
Barbara • couple • us
10
We celebrated my husbands birthday and it was the perfect place to do so.
Pros:

It was so beautiful!
The grounds were well kept.
All the buildings were beautiful.

2025-09-10 • via Nuitee
S
Sherita • couple • us
9
2025-09-07 • via Nuitee
K
Kjell • family
10
Pros:

Incredible staff - check-in happens in the sitting room while they fetch you a welcome cocktail from the bar. Rooms are gorgeous, quiet, and spaced far apart. The entire surrounding grounds are beautifully manicured gardens.

Not cheap but very very nice.

2025-09-07 • via Nuitee
M
murray • couple • ca
7
Would try again once new ownership has had more time to bring things up to speed.
Pros:

Breakfast was delicious. Location amazing. Property beautiful.

Cons:

Our room was dated and the furniture placement not functional ie. no table or reading light beside the chair. No reading light on one side of the bed. Room overpriced for what it was. Small details missing... for this quality and price of a hotel.

2025-09-01 • via Nuitee