Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
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.
A deposit may be required at the property.

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 249 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
S
Svetlana • family_with_children • us
10
Small luxury gateway.
Pros:

Clean rooms, comfortable beds, nice pool, great service.

2026-07-18 • via Nuitee
A
Aditi • couple • in
10
2026-07-07 • via Nuitee
E
Explore790806 • Couples
10
Beautiful property with great amenities and amazing staff
Pros:

Amazing! The property is beautiful, sprawling, with modern, clean, and comfortable rooms. Hard to find a boutique hotel in this day and age that is maintained with so much love and care. The staff are amazing - friendly, helpful, kind, and resourceful. The food is great, really fresh with good service. Located conveniently in the middle of Santa Barbara and easy to get around. It’s a comfortable atmosphere to hang out and relax between the pool, lobby, patio, and fire pits. New ownership is great and renovating the property in real time. We will be back!

2026-07-03 • via Tripadvisor
P
P1982APboh • Family
10
Exceptional Stay at El Encanto
Pros:

Our stay at El Encanto was absolutely wonderful. The property is stunning, the atmosphere is peaceful, and every detail exceeded our expectations.

A special thank you to Michael Noone, who went above and beyond to take care of our family during our stay. His kindness, professionalism, and genuine hospitality made us feel truly welcomed and made our experience even more memorable. Michael’s attention to detail and dedication to guest service are what make El Encanto such a special place.

We highly recommend El Encanto to anyone visiting Santa Barbara and look forward to returning in the future. Five stars all around! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

2026-06-28 • via Tripadvisor
3
310rajv • Couples • Bothell, Washington
10
Gorgeous old world retreat
Pros:

Beautiful hotel and grounds. Feels a million miles away yet only 12 minutes from State Street up in the hills. Amazing service from all staff including front desk, valet, and restaurants. Romantic and relaxing- an absolute treat.

Thank you for making our anniversary so special!

2026-06-28 • via Tripadvisor
B
Brett • family_with_children • us
9
2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
M
Maxime • couple • fr
9
Tout simplement magique
2026-06-20 • via Nuitee
J
Jeanette • couple • us
10
2026-06-20 • via Nuitee
D
Dina • couple • us
10
Pros:

Simply beautiful.

Cons:

Absolutely nothing, wish I could have stayed longer.

2026-06-19 • via Nuitee
A
Antonio L • couple • us
10
The Team at El Encanto exceeded our expectations and made our get-away a trip to remember.
Pros:

This was a tranquil facility away from the hustle and bustle of State and Cabrillo. And with the complimentary shuttle service nothing was inaccessible. The property was green and lush; the quarters immaculate and the Staff phenomenal.

2026-06-13 • via Nuitee
J
Jamie • solo_traveller • us
8
2026-06-10 • via Nuitee
J
Jamie • couple • us
8
2026-06-10 • via Nuitee
P
party4u • Couples • Los Angeles, California
6
Beautiful and Charming, but Lackluster Service
Pros:

This property was absolutely beautiful and full of charm, and although the location is a bit farther away than most, I thought it helped to capture that private and "hidden" resort vibe. The far location wasn't a problem at all, as they provided a shuttle service within a short distance; enough to easily get to Downtown SB.

The room was beautiful and quite large, but we were pretty disappointed at how far ours was from the lobby. The walk to and from our room was inconvenient mainly because we had to essentially wrap around the entire property. There was an area right in front of the room that seemed like it would lead to a staircase (and would be the perfect spot for one) to cut that walk time in half, but there isn't. Otherwise though, there was really no issue with the room, it was big, beautiful, clean, and quiet.

The restaurant had really amazing breakfast and I *really* miss some of the dishes, but the one time we tried dinner was disappointing. I ordered a vodka pasta that lacked any kind of flavor at all, the penne was overcooked and a bit mushy, and the sauce was soupy. Our server was missing for over 20 minutes once the food arrived, but a busser eventually came over and asked if we needed anything. We asked for parmesan and red pepper flakes, but we never received it and we never saw him again.

We also tried ordering room service one night, but our order had issues with every single thing except for one item. And I'm not exaggerating, I really mean every single thing. We ordered two cocktails, truffle fries with ranch, extra plates and utensils, and a dessert. One of the cocktails was not what we had ordered. The 'truffle' fries came and they were just plain fries but also incredibly soggy and old, and we did not receive ranch. They also did not give us the extra plates and utensils requested. The dessert came fine, though the spoons that they gave were visibly dirty so we did not use them. We called room service and asked them to bring plates, new silverware, and ranch, so they brought just plates and silverware but still no ranch.. My partner was fed up at this point and decided to go to the lobby and ask for it, and I was surprised to hear that they told him to go back to the room and they would send someone to deliver the ranch. That wouldn't ordinarily be a big problem, but the ranch did not show up until about 15 minutes later, so it was honestly unneeded at that point.

The last issue we had was an issue with our bill, which was never corrected to this day. We had free breakfast every morning, but on the last morning our server mistakenly marked it as a lunch, causing a $90 charge for something that should have been free or nearly free. I've sent three or four emails and made three phone calls, but they were all unanswered except for one of the phone calls. The host informed me that she would check in with the manager and I should receive a call or email back, but I never did.

Although the property was extremely beautiful and I really enjoyed taking some walks around it, those issues kinda ruined it for me, especially for the price of this hotel. Before realizing the issue with my bill, I was open to staying here another time and giving them another chance, but after being completely ignored about it, I definitely would not come back. If you do decide to stay here though, I would 100% review your bill before you leave. If you notice an issue when you get home, good luck being able to get a hold of anyone.

2026-06-05 • via Tripadvisor
I
Izi • family_with_children • gr
8
Not quite the Santa Barbara vibe.
Cons:

The property needs a renovation. Rooms smell like old house. The general ambiance is stale.

2026-05-30 • via Nuitee
W
wenke • solo_traveller • us
10
PERFECTION
Pros:

Where to even begin! I had never been to the El Encanto but my parents used to go before I was born. I arrived to a quaint and beautiful property. From the first interaction with the valet to checking out, the service was top tier. Intentional, thoughtful, and lovely. Angel at the front desk really went above and beyond to welcome me. Liz at the pool really did a fantastic job. Overall the whole staff was welcoming and went above and beyond. Lets not forget to mention how beautiful the rooms and the grounds are.

This property feels very much like home, while have the amenities of a large hotel, the rooms are all bungalows and very large. The bed has the most incredible linens and PILLOWS, MY GOD THE PILLOWS WERE EVERYTHING. The bathroom floors have radiant heating and all the fixtures are waterworks. Basically it really feels like you are on vacation.

I have stayed at a lot of 5 star hotels but this one takes the cake, I have never not had one complaint about a property.

The pool is incredible, while there is limited seating it works itself out, and the pool is INCREDIBLE. VERY HISTORIC. Large and deep. NOT TO MENTION, the FOOD!!! Wow, before coming I had read that the food was not great, I would highly disagree, the pool food is EXCEPTIONAL!!!

I have never felt so good about spending that much money on anything.

I absolutely will be coming back, I feel like this was a true vacation. The smell of star jasmine will intoxicate you once you walk out the front door of your room, and it stays with you.

I cannot recommend this hotel enough.

I love you EL ENCANTO!!

Cons:

I dont think there is one thing I can say.. The service, the food, the property... it was all 100%. Again, I have stayed at the ritz, the ojai valley inn, all of the amazing hotels in the area.. while its not about better or worse, this is a very special place.

2026-05-27 • via Nuitee
M
michelk136 • Friends getaway • New York City, New York
10
Extra Special Service With A Very Personal Touch
Pros:

Special shout out to Alec Foster, the general manager of the restaurant, who made our meal experience extra special. I will be back… for sure… and am excited at the renovations to be made.

2026-05-11 • via Tripadvisor
I
Inês • couple • pt
10
Um verdadeiro Encanto!!! Ambiente único
Pros:

A beleza e sossego do resort, o enquadramento na paisagem, o espaço de refeições, a qualidade do quarto e a simpatia dos empregados

Cons:

O facto do duche não funcionar com a pressão de água correta.

2026-05-10 • via Nuitee
D
Deborah • family_with_children • gb
6
I was staying there for my daughter’s wedding which was beautiful but my experience wasn’t the best
Pros:

The location and gardens

Cons:

I had stayed at this hotel previously and thought the rooms beautiful but sadly the room I had this time was not up to expectations. The night of my arrival I wanted to have a bath and as I stood beside it to turn on the taps a side panel fell on to my foot.
A gentleman came to fix it but it happened again in the morning.
For breakfast I ordered a matcha latte and a croissant to the room but it took so long I went to the outside dining terrace and asked them to bring it to me there. When it arrived it was a cappuccino and not a matcha and the croissant was minuscule !!! For that I was charged $25 + taxes

2026-05-04 • via Nuitee
S
Shari • couple • us
10
2026-05-01 • via Nuitee
J
Jamie • solo_traveller • us
9
2026-04-23 • via Nuitee