Hotel Californian

"Hotel Californian is so utterly cool, it can make every guest cool just by association. The hotel, located near Santa Barbara's train station, was designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, who created a bright and airy atmosphere, including a Moroccan-inspired lobby with stunning tile work, which is mirrored throughout the hotel's luxurious rooms. But, the star here is the hotel's rooftop pool, which gives guests an ideal spot to relax in solitude while looking out onto the Pacific Ocean." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Old Hollywood meets the laid-back charm of the Central Coast at the alluring Hotel Californian, a coveted haven tucked into the vital Funk Zone of Santa Barbara. Within 121 generously apportioned rooms lies a treasure trove of tasty architectural flourishes. Spanish Colonial Revival elements blend harmoniously with the influences of Beat-era Tangiers, all masterfully envisioned by the renowned celebrity interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard. The rooms are their own sanctuary, but the Majorelle spa, with its Moroccan flair, offers a different kind of oasis—here, a personalized spa experience awaits, accompanied by an aroma design bar. Hotel Californian's allure is further heightened by its location in Santa Barbara—a coastal gem with sun-kissed shores and a vibrant culinary scene."

"How did it strike you on arrival?Even for just one night, this felt like a taste of Europe—or at least a slower pace than L.A., with an abundance of delicious food both at the hotel and nearby. I wanted to bring everyone from L.A. who felt like a fresh air, laid back, walkable weekend escape either by car straight up the Pacific Coast Highway or by taking the snazzy new trains running from Downtown L.A. The station is less than a block away from this 121-room hotel on Santa Barbara's slice of the Pacific Ocean, with charming staff, a Moroccan-spa and two fantastic restaurants. Nice. What's the crowd like?The guests are millennial to middle age couples, mostly escaping LA or San Francisco! From Friday night to Sunday afternoon, I never saw a child on the property. Guests are dressed for the Hamptons or Malibu, with their copies of 'What Happened' balanced on top of their carry-alls. You can tell the guests here live nicely at home—they're not here to be impressed by the in-room gadgetry or number of towels. They're here to explore the area they've come to. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.While the rooms are super comfortable (the robe was so plush I could have worn it all weekend) there is no couch for stretching out except in the most expensive suites. But this is a fantastic base—the deck offers some of Santa Barbara's best views through palm trees to the Pacific Ocean with an outdoor fire pit and cozy, shabby chic couches. Room service: Worth it?You'd be a fool to order room service when you're just above Blackbird, the hotel's restaurant. Overseeing the menu is Alexander La Motte (previously chef de partie at The French Laundry after stints at Jean George and Boulud.) Our server Katie steered us to the seafood charcuterie, a root salad of multicolor carrot slices with smoked blue cheese, peanut and coriander and then a succulent King salmon with artichokes, garbanzo beans and olives. The deserts were in a class of their own—the "chocolate forest" tastes as good as it sounds. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.The complimentary car service proved vital, as it's hard to get Ubers around Santa Barbara. Also, ask the hotel to organize a tour of the wine tasting rooms around Santa Barbara so you don't have to drive all over the Santa Ynez Mountains (especially after a few tastings.) It's also worth noting that Santa Barbara's weather is usually a little cooler than in LA. Bottom line: worth it, and why?The hotel is perfectly positioned to help you discover the area, thanks in no small part to the switched-on team who can be relied upon for their on-point recommendations. The front desk never pushed their own eateries, but rather directed us only to good spots nearby (and arranged a complimentary hotel SUV there.)" - CNT Editors

"If you do decide to stay over, the Hotel Californian is the spot to crash. The Moroccan-inspired, 121-room hotel’s interiors were designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard from the Bravo series Million Dollar Decorators, and it shows: it’s decadent and seductive, but timeless and flowing. In addition to seaside rooms looking out over Santa Barbara’s gorgeous beaches, the Californian offers several dining options, including Goat Tree, which merges Californian and Mediterranean influences, and Tan Tan for when you don’t want to leave the pool area." - Maxwell Williams, Krista Simmons

"At the Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara, the recently-introduced 'Recharging in Retrograde' package includes late checkout to accommodate delayed flights at departure, and special cards with calming mantras left in guests’ rooms during the property’s evening turndown service."