Paid
Children 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: 11:00 AM
Airport code: SBA

Location

Property Video

Guest Reviews

9.4
Based on 262 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
J
Jazmin • extended_group • gb
8
2026-08-23 • via Nuitee
S
Steve • extended_group • us
9
Lovely
Pros:

Thomas helped us a lot
Linda, the server was excellent

2026-08-21 • via Nuitee
F
Flores • family_with_children • mt
10
2026-08-19 • via Nuitee
L
Lisa • couple • us
10
Exceptional birthday extravagance! One of my favorite places on earth.
Pros:

Exceptional birthday extravagance! One of my favorite places on earth.

2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
T
Thomas • couple • us
8
2026-08-11 • via Nuitee
G
Gracieruns • Couples • San Francisco, California
10
Book week days if possible. Pool can be a bit crowded weekends in the summer
Pros:

Our 4 days could not have been more perfect. The transfer from a Belmond property seems to have been a positive move. Upgraded gardens, same warm helpful staff. Still an excellent spa experience, glad to see the same faces there. We can’t wait to return.

2026-08-07 • via Tripadvisor
W
wildirishrose53 • Family • San Luis Obispo County, California
10
Perfection
Pros:

The hotel is well named: ours was an enchanting and luxurious two day experience, with every thoughtful amenity considered. The friendly check in staff offered us a chilled lavender/lemon cocktail or mocktail on arrival, then proceeded to show us to our beautiful room, which was ready early. A bowl of sweet ripe peaches awaited us, along with a handwritten greeting. The next morning we needed more coffee pods, which arrived within two minutes. The room was charming, complete with fireplace and a deep tub for relaxing with bath salts. We spent one day lounging by the pool, waited on by an attentive staff member. Dined that night on the terrace and enjoyed perfectly prepared halibut and salmon. Loved the oversized chess and checkers games laid out on the grounds, as well as the romantic fire pits. The steam room is available to all guests, not just those using spa services, and it's a revelation! Don't miss this experience. We came here to relax, and relax we did, enjoying the sumptuous gardens, the view, and the friendly staff. We even threw a penny in the wishing well, and wished to return again. Soon. Well done, El Encanto. Simply superb.

2026-08-06 • via Tripadvisor
S
Stephanie • couple • us
9
Despite its shortcomings with the subpar food and inconsistent rooms, the staff is lovely and this feels like a special
Pros:

Helpful staff!

Cons:

Our first room wreaked of mold and the dining staff is sooooo slow! The food is also pretty bad.

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
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