THE HOTEL CALIFORNIAN

A 100-Year-Old Moroccan Gem Just Steps from the Pacific in Santa Barbara, California.

Sandy toes, ocean sunsets, and palm trees swaying in the breeze. With direct flights recently reinstated from O’Hare to Santa Barbara Airport, escaping to the California coast has never been easier.

On a recent weekend getaway, my family and I checked into The Hotel Californian and quickly discovered why the property has become one of Santa Barbara’s most sought-after stays. Spanning three separate Spanish Colonial-style buildings along State Street, the hotel sits just a block from the Pacific’s wide sandy beaches. But it is upon entering the lobby that the hotel truly reveals itself. Moroccan influences unfold throughout the interiors, led by the wildly imaginative vision of interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, whose layered use of tile, pattern, arches, and rich color gives the property a transportive feel rarely found in a traditional beach hotel.

The hotel is perfectly situated in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, a walkable neighborhood filled with boutiques, wine tasting rooms, outdoor dining, breweries, and art galleries. From the hotel’s doorstep, guests can wander through the neighborhood, or head toward the waterfront with bicycles to cruise along the beach path. Families will love exploring Stearns Wharf, including the highly interactive Sea Center aquarium, while more adventurous visitors can spend the afternoon boogie boarding or surfing in the Pacific. Nearby, the harbor offers another quintessential Santa Barbara experience for families: boarding the Lil’ Toot, the cheerful, bubble-blowing water taxi affectionately known as the “happiest boat in the harbor.”

Returning to the hotel, an afternoon at Tan Tan’s rooftop pool beckons. With panoramic views of the Pacific stretching before you and the Santa Ynez Mountains rising behind you, it is one of the most beautiful urban pool settings I have encountered. The 121-room hotel feels like a true oasis in the middle of town—walkable, relaxed, and effortlessly luxurious without feeling overly formal. Ocean-view rooms invite in the coastal breeze through windows that open wide, while intricate Moroccan tilework adds warmth and character throughout the guest spaces.

Evenings begin naturally at The Society: State & Mason, the hotel’s intimate tasting room, where guests can sip Foley Family Wines or selections from abroad while enjoying small bites outdoors. Dinner at Blackbird is an experience not to be missed. The seasonal menu highlights local ingredients and coastal flavors, from yellowtail crudo and West Coast oysters to local black cod and my personal favorite, the Chinese steamed fish. Dessert—the pear and cardamom crème brûlée—offered a unique and delicious flavor to end the meal.

On the first full moon of each month, the hotel hosts HOWL inside Djinn, its vibrant library bar lined with dramatic floor-to-ceiling glass windows that blur the line between indoors and out. Guests gather beneath the glow of the moon to listen to a live DJ, sip signature cocktails, and even have their palms read, creating an experience that feels distinctly Santa Barbara: relaxed, eclectic, and just a touch mystical.

Whether choosing to spend the day poolside, unwind with a treatment at Majorelle Spa, venture into the nearby Santa Ynez wine country, or simply linger by the beach, mornings should begin at Goat Tree. The all-day café serves flaky pastries, lemon ricotta pancakes, cold-pressed juices, and hearty savory sandwiches that make lingering over breakfast easy.

Having recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of its original 1925 opening, The Hotel Californian continues to embody the timeless glamour that has long defined Santa Barbara, often referred to as the American Riviera. Equal parts coastal retreat and design destination, it is the kind of place that lingers in your memory long after checkout.

For more information, visit hotelcalifornian.com.