Santa Barbara Inn Reopens to Rave Reviews after Two Year Renovation

Newly-renovated resort along the ocean reopens July, 2016 

SANTA BARBARA, CA - Santa Barbara’s popular waterfront now features a beautiful, newly-renovated beachside resort,  as the Santa Barbara Inn reopened to the public in July, 2016. The 55-year old boutique resort underwent a complete restoration, beginning in late 2013. 

The Santa Barbara Inn features 70 spacious guest rooms and suites, most with views of the Pacific, while others face the majestic Santa Ynez Mountains. Five fixture bathrooms, 400+ square foot rooms and 700+ square foot suites with Jacuzzi tubs are but a few of the features offered at the resort. 

Guest amenities include complimentary use of the resort’s fitness center, pool and whirlpool spa. In the guest room, high definition 42” and 55” flat screen televisions with movie channel, hard wire and wireless internet access are all provided complimentary. 

Two premier living room-bedroom suites are the Penthouse and Anacapa. The Penthouse (760 sq. ft.) sits above it all on the resort’s fourth floor, with wrap-around deck so guests can take in the views of nearby Montecito to the southeast to historic Stearns Wharf to the southwest. The Anacapa (1120 sq. ft.) has three decks, perfect for gazing out to the bucolic Channel Islands. These two luxury suites have poster beds, Jacuzzi tubs and panoramic ocean views. 

Owners Mimi and Richard Gunner selected the color palates and furnishings for each room and suite. The two color schemes for the guest rooms are cucumber with Devonshire cream furnishings, and honey, with tobacco furnishings. The rooms and suites exude a warm, residential feel. 

Teaming up with the Santa Barbara Inn is legendary restaurateur Larry Mindel and Owner/Chef Peter McNee of Sausalito’s Poggio Trattoria. They are operating the Inn’s Italian-inspired Convivo Restaurant and Bar. Convivo, (Latin, meaning to come together and feast) offers fresh seafood, house made pasta, wood-fired pizza and more. Convivo will attract overnight guests and locals alike to a restaurant of 70 seats indoors and 70 seats outdoors, overlooking the Pacific. Cocktails, an extensive wine list and microbrews on tap will be offered at Convivo’s lively bar. 

For corporate meetings and social functions, the Inn’s Montecito Room seats up to 80 guests comfortably. For multiple meetings, this room is divisible by two. 

Santa Barbara Inn guests have miles of white-sand beaches at their doorstep. Also within walking distance is historic Stearns Wharf for dining and shopping, the Santa Barbara Zoo, a multitude of water sports at the marina and whale watching year-round. Wine tasting is available at the nearby Urban Wine Trail, a collection of Santa Ynez Valley vintners’ who’ve brought their award-winning wines to tasting rooms along the waterfront. Picturesque Santa Barbara is one of “The Most Beautiful Towns in America” according to Conde Nast Traveler (January 2016) and voted “Best Beach Town” by Sunset Magazine (May, 2015). 

Thinking Green:The hotel and restaurant staff and management are committed to eco-friendly practices. The hotel and restaurant recycle over 50% of the total waste, including glass, plastic, paper and cardboard. Water conservation is vital in this area that has faced drought conditions for years. 

“Our guests appreciate our water conservation throughout the hotel,” explained Ed Galsterer, General Manager. “If they can re-use their guest room towel, we ask them to hang it on the hook and our guests don’t mind at all. In fact, they’re complimentary of our environmental concerns.” 

All of the beautiful brick pavers seen at the entrance, around the pool and restaurant’s outdoor decks have been recycled from a 100-year old street recently unearthed in Iowa. 

Santa Barbara Inn is a member of Car Free Santa Barbara, offering extra savings for those guests who go carless during their visit. 

“Amtrak is just down the road, and guests can pick up the electric shuttle right in front of our hotel,” explained Galsterer.