Hotel Californian captures the region’s sun-soaked elegance
Words by LESLEY McKENZIE
Old Hollywood glamour and coastal casual go hand in hand at Hotel Californian, Santa Barbara’s answer to effortless luxury. A block away from the pier and tucked in the heart of the pedestrian-friendly Funk Zone, this 121-key retreat is the definition of laid-back opulence. Think Moroccan-inspired interiors, sun-drenched paseos, and a level of service guaranteed to turn first-timers into repeat visitors. Originally opened in 1925, the hotel’s storied past includes a dramatic post-earthquake rebuild and a decades-long evolution, culminating in its 2017 reopening and 2021 acquisition by Foley Entertainment Group, whose portfolio includes NorCal’s Farmhouse Inn and Black Walnut Inn and Vineyard in Oregon.
AD100 designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard reimagined the interiors of the hotel’s three low-rise buildings on the corner of State and Mason Streets, combining his signature aesthetic — ornate tilework, gilded snake sconces, and jewel-toned textiles — with Moroccan flourishes to complement the property’s Spanish Colonial Revival–style architecture. Majorelle, the hotel’s 2,500-square-foot spa, carries that same transportive spirit, with deep cobalt Marrakech tiles setting the scene for pampering like craniosacral therapy and chakra meditation massages. Relaxation continues on the rooftop, where poolside loungers serve as front-row seats to uninterrupted views of the ocean and the Santa Ynez mountains.
On the culinary front, Blackbird, helmed by Executive Chef Travis Watson, serves up a Central Coast–centric menu that channels the best of land and sea, including Santa Barbara halibut with jumbo lump crab and lemon caper sauce. Just steps away, Djinn, the hotel’s moody library bar, turns out wildly inventive cocktails such as the Al Hamrā, featuring sumac and hibiscus-infused vodka. In the mood for a picnic? All-day café and marketplace Goat Tree has guests covered with seasonally curated baskets alongside a selection of pastries and baked goods. And because any trip to Santa Barbara is a perfect reason to sample its wines, don’t miss The Society: State & Mason tasting room, where you can sip and savor more than 70 selections of Foley Family Wines — ideally paired with people-watching on a slow, sunny afternoon. hotelcalifornian.com.
February 21, 2025
Discover more TRAVEL news.
