Name: El Encanto Santa Barbara
Address: 800 Alvarado Place, Santa Barbara, California, 93103, US
Rating: 9.4

The stay, in detail

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.

Live guest feedback

Guest reviews

Remarkably consistent

92% of 12 recent stays rated 8+

9.4262 reviews

Guest review
7/10
BRIAN · couple · 2026-09-19
“Beautiful place.”
Loved it!
10/10
Beth · couple · 2026-09-17
“Gorgeous property. It feels very exclusive.”
Lovely
9/10
Steve · extended group · 2026-08-21
“Thomas helped us a lot Linda, the server was excellent”
Exceptional birthday extravagance! One of my favorite places on earth.
10/10
Lisa · couple · 2026-08-17
“Exceptional birthday extravagance! One of my favorite places on earth.”
Book week days if possible. Pool can be a bit crowded weekends in the summer
10/10
Gracieruns · Couples · 2026-08-07
“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.”
Perfection
10/10
wildirishrose53 · Family · 2026-08-06
“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.”
Despite its shortcomings with the subpar food and inconsistent rooms, the staff is lovely and this feels like a special
9/10
Stephanie · couple · 2026-08-02
“Helpful staff!”
Small luxury gateway.
10/10
Svetlana · family with children · 2026-07-18
“Clean rooms, comfortable beds, nice pool, great service.”
Beautiful property with great amenities and amazing staff
10/10
Explore790806 · Couples · 2026-07-03
“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!”
Exceptional Stay at El Encanto
10/10
P1982APboh · Family · 2026-06-28
“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! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”
Gorgeous old world retreat
10/10
310rajv · Couples · 2026-06-28
“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!”
Tout simplement magique
9/10
Maxime · couple · 2026-06-20

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Hotel info and reviews come from third-party sources.

El Encanto Santa Barbara

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The stay, in detail

Sweeping Pacific Ocean Views

Luxurious Amenities

Convenience and Recreation

Popular amenities

Pools & wellness

Dining & drinks

Fitness & outdoors

Rooms & comfort

Safety & cleanliness

Getting around & access

Guest services

Services & essentials

Guest reviews

Guest review

Loved it!

Lovely

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

Book week days if possible. Pool can be a bit crowded weekends in the summer

Perfection

Despite its shortcomings with the subpar food and inconsistent rooms, the staff is lovely and this feels like a special

Small luxury gateway.

Beautiful property with great amenities and amazing staff

Exceptional Stay at El Encanto

Gorgeous old world retreat

Tout simplement magique

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