Palihouse Santa Barbara

The 10 Best Hotels in Santa Barbara of 2024

"Located in the heart of Santa Barbara, Palihouse offers a unique blend of historical charm and modern luxury, which is exactly why it earned a place on T+L's It List in 2022. There are just 24 rooms and suites here, ensuring personalized service from its attentive staff. Every room is decked out in individual decor, including colorful walls and tapestries and vibrant fabrics in mismatched patterns that all somehow go together." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Settle your seasickness and get some much-needed rest at Palihouse Santa Barbara, with its perfect Mediterranean courtyard, delightfully idiosyncratic layout, and American vintage design." - Mark Fedeli

How to Plan the Perfect Solo Road Trip on California's Famed Highway 1

"Downtown in Santa Barbara, amid Spanish colonial architecture, I landed at the new, 24-room Palihouse, an exercise in coastal vintage prep (think leafy courtyards, rattan chairs, and a cozy bar with bespoke cocktails)." - Travel + Leisure Editors

@goop

"The new Palihouse Santa Barbara is, in a word, dreamy. Located in the heart of the historic Presidio neighborhood, the hotel is perfect for a quiet, relaxing getaway with the cozy feel only a boutique property can deliver. We love the Spanish Colonial-inspired architecture, warm textiles, and pretty pool area. The swish hotel bar is a great spot to grab a Palisade sangria—peaches and white wine—before heading out for a bite to eat at (die-hard pizza fans should hit up Bettina). Thoughtful amenities like complimentary Linus bicycles, a Palisociety-curated neighborhood guide, Smeg toasters, and hot water bottles (nights can be chilly!) on-demand adds to the boutique, home-away-from-home feel. Next time we’re in town, we’ll be staying here. "

The Santa Barbara Guide

Sivan S

Google

We had a great time at this hotel. The room was very spacious with nice touches. It was walking distance to State St. Chandra and Alissa were wonderful! They were so helpful and kind. My children enjoyed the property as well. Highly recommended!

Jmassoumi1990

Google

We arrived at Palihouse for our babymoon and immediately was welcomed with come bubbly, well I'm pregnant so my husband drank the bubbles and I had some lovely lemonade. We had a great check in with Chandra, who was SOOOOO welcoming and lovely. She went above and beyond to show us around and welcomed us to our room. ||||We went to front desk after hearing our upstairs neighbor making a bit of stomping - nothing crazy but given I was already sleep deprived, Chandra switched us to a upstairs suite to allow us to relax fully, We so appreciate her consideration - and lil baby does too! She was so accommodating and kind throughout the entire stay - as were all the other staff but Chandra just MADE our stay above and beyond (we love her!!!!)||||The room itself is clean, HUGE, and provides lots of amenities - AC, fridge, bathtub, quality shampoo/conditioner/soap/lotion/etc. The bed is SOOOOOO comfortable - I fell asleep within 10 min of lying in that bed (and I have been struggling with pregnancy insomnia so that's saying something). The location is also PRIME! Nearby lots of good eats/shops/beach etc. And they offer complimentary cookies, lemonade, cucumber lemon water, and candy daily in the afternoon! We lovedddddd all of these so much!||||We relaxed so much being here at Palihouse. We didn't want to leave!!!! We will definitely be coming back again and again and we highly recommend this to anyone who wants a lovely and relaxing stay!

Jacob A

Google

We stayed 1 night during our U.S Road trip and couldn't have had a better experience. We were greeted by Mireia upon arrival who was extremely helpful and gave us some great suggestions for things to do/places to eat in the area. ||The hotel itself is beautiful and makes you feel completely relaxed. The pool area is also great with comfy sun-loungers. We also ordered drinks/bites from Melanie who was really friendly and made us feel at home.||I would highly recommend anyone to stay and we'll definitely be coming back soon!

amco24

Google

Had an excellent stay and this gorgeous hotel in the lovely Santa Barbara. Beautiful chilled out vibe, lovely property, rooms very spacious and stylishly decorated, team were super friendly. Lovely bar to have a drink and chat to other visitors. A particular mention for Chandra, Noelle and Alissa for offering such a great service. Will return!

roadtripSanDiego_CA

Google

Cozy & charming hotel in a great, walkable location downtown. This was a return visit for us and when I called ahead I spoke with Mireia who helped us reserve a specific room we requested, which was great service. Hotel also offers good food & drink options, and we received great hospitality & friendly service from Allissa for breakfast and lunch. Great Santa Barbara hotel option.

Kate J

Google

I enjoyed my solo weekend at Palihouse so much! Even before I checked in, customer service couldn’t have been better. I had emailed the hotel to ask for restaurant suggestions where I wouldn’t feel out of place dining alone, and Ava responded with a bunch of great recommendations that turned out to be spot on! They even made a reservation for me when I wasn’t able to get in by myself. Chandra at check in was just fantastic, and throughout the weekend too. So nice that they have bikes you can borrow and the hotel couldn’t have a better location. My room was so well appointed, and I love the small, luxurious feel of the property. I can’t imagine staying anywhere else in Santa Barbara, this place is a gem! Thank you!

Amaya P

Google

I was very surprised to get such a beautiful hotel in downtown Santa Barbara. Great staff. Very friendly and helpful at the reception. Mireia has a great personality, and Melanie makes the best cappuccinos in town. I can’t wait to be back. Thanks

Sue M

Google

Stunning little hotel with beautifully appointed rooms, pool and courtyard. Really helpful staff including Nate on the front desk and Allissa who does a great job at a very busy breakfast time! Would definitely come back if we were in the area again and stay a bit longer

Sivan S

Google

Jmassoumi1990

Google

Jacob A

Google

amco24

Google

roadtripSanDiego_CA

Google

Kate J

Google

Amaya P

Google

Sue M

Google

Nicole W.

Yelp

We had an incredible experience at Pali House .The ambiance was simply fantastic, creating a perfect setting for a relaxing afternoon. Vinny, the bartender, was an exceptional host and a delightful conversationalist, making us feel right at home. The drinks were perfectly balanced and absolutely delicious. As locals, we truly appreciated the warm and welcoming atmosphere. We cannot wait to come back and enjoy the patio and the beautiful water fountain. Highly recommend

Ingilborg S.

Yelp

This is a very different hotel. It's small and historic, quite intimate. Not many rooms. They're very tastefully decorated with nice artistic details. It's also dog friendly. The rooms all have verandas you can actually go out and sit on. Rooms are stocked with drinks and snacks which not surprisingly are not cheap. There's daily housekeeping services which is disappearing these days. The staff is amazingly friendly. There are bicycles in the courtyard you can ride around. There's no hot tub but there is a little pool. The grounds have a lot of walking trails with nice landscaping. You can walk to restaurants and coffee shops. The hotel is also dog friendly. There's a small restaurant which services breakfast and lunch. You might not want to bring kids here as there's a lot of nice breakable stuff around and not a lot for them to do. And of course the place is not cheap. But you do get what you pay for.

Kris M.

Yelp

Small hotel, great service from Alisa and Noel. Used to be whitewashed but new owners added color. Great little bar scene. Expresso for breakfast in the courtyard is delightful. Perfect location downtown.

Rita C.

Yelp

Walking by this hotel and we stopped to grab a drink. This review is based on ambiance, which is beautiful and tranquil. We ordered a meat plate to enjoy with our cocktails, not very good. The bologna and bruschetta were not fresh. Aside from the meat plate, we enjoyed our drinks and the beautiful outside seating. Our bill for 2 cocktails and a meat plate was roughly $79, pretty much overpriced from my experiences at bar lounges.

Michelle T.

Yelp

Cute boutique hotel close to State Street and other downtown attractions. Friendly staff (especially Melanie at breakfast!) and thoughtful touches, like a full-size fridge and big cocktail-sized ice cubes in the room; fancy bath amenities; and luxe coffee table books in the room to read near the fireplace. We loved sitting in the fountain courtyard for breakfast and lounging in the quiet pool area. The property is older, so don't expect *all* the modern conveniences: The Wi-Fi was slow sometimes, there weren't convenient plugs near one side of the bed, and the shower water had a strong smell. I also wish they supplied more than two large towels in the bathroom. But overall, the good far outweighs the bad, and I'd stay here again.

Jorge H.

Yelp

Great Hotel as far as Privacy and friendly staff. They don't offer any complimentary items. For the price it's not worth it. The mini fridge is full of "for sale" items. There's no room for your personal drinks or snacks. No jacuzzi. Tiny pool, 5ft deep. Maybe I'm missing something about my stay. But it was pretty average.

Jay P.

Yelp

ANTI-FORMULAIC well-designed hotel, it was originally an Art-School founded in 1920 and is now a small boutique hotel with only 24 rooms but oozing with charm. The attention to detail is amazing from the welcoming tiles in the parking garage to the pleasant smell of flowers when you get on the elevator. It has a perfect low-key appeal and design that feels "Santa Barbara" without the artificiality of primarily using white stucco and orange tiled roofs to fit local vibe like some fancy hotels in the area. Very cool place to stay and we loved it. The rooms are eclectic but memorable and we enjoyed resting in some of the public areas like the fireplace and fountain. The rooms have a GIANT bathtub for you to soak in and my wife was all chill and calm until she saw the shampoos, soap, and lotion were from "Diptique" and she went crazy texting her friends while I wondered why it felt slimy and made my eyes burn. Location is tops, its easily walkable to some of the heavy-hitting sites and eateries in the Presido area, the longest we had to drive to anywhere else was 10 minutes.

Tyler M.

Yelp

Stayed here when I was in SB for a business meeting. Very charming, right by state street by lots of restaurants and entertainment. Has bikes you can use one site. Great pool and courtyard to have breakfast and relax

Ryan P.

Yelp

I was looking at my bank account and I noticed that they tried charging me another $14. I called and they said it was for water from the minibar, which I didn't take. They are refunding me, but c'mon.

Erica K.

Yelp

This hotel is the most accommodating hotel I've ever stayed at. When I first arrived my room wasn't ready but Ryan offered to buy me a drink at the bar while I waited. I got checked into my room about 320 and he said it was the nicest room on the property and I absolutely loved it! It overlooks the pool the amenities were incredible and I loved the McConnells ice cream touch they had in the freezer. I asked if my room could be cleaned the next day before I had gotten back gave them the time I would be back and it was done before I got back and I even got back early. The Santa Barbara citrus beer was what I had the first day I checked in and I went to check the honor bar and they were out and the hotel manager who I believe it was went and checked in the back and brought me two out super kind, super accommodating! The end of the night on my last night I even heard him printing out something for another couple for something that they needed and they were so thankful this place is so nice and very accommodating! I ask for late check out because I had a meeting 30 minutes after check out time and they were completely fine with that! The bed was super comfortable, they had the nicest touches for my little dogs and my room had real plates and real silverware and everyone was just really nice this was an incredible first experience here!

Lizzie S.

Yelp

I cannot say enough nice things about this lovely property. Every tiny detail is considered, offering a relaxed resort like experience in a small boutique hotel with a vintage aesthetic that feels incredibly personal. The common areas are roomy and inviting, we spent almost as much time on the patios as we did in our rooms. Limited room service that was delicious and surprisingly inexpensive comparatively. Comfortable beds, very nice bathroom fixtures, free bicycles, large fridge well stocked with goodies. The staff while professional are also friendly and chatty if you engage. My very picky husband said to me, "i don't know how we come to Santa Barbara and stay anywhere else". Thank you Team Palihouse. Well done..

Ashley S.

Yelp

The hotel is in a stellar location and the property itself is well-planned and beautiful. The refurbishment didn't really add a lot of value to the guest experience, though. The rooms don't function well, since there really isn't anywhere to unpack - no dressers or closed storage (aside from a dark closet with a few hangers). There was a ton of liquor/food for sale in the room and the mini fridge, but no surface area to sit down with some takeout or even sit on the balcony. Front desk staff was sparse at best, but everyone (including the bartender) were pretty friendly when they were there. The bar was cool, but the drinks were very pricey. It just doesn't feel like a luxury hotel worth the $$$.

Richie D.

Yelp

In celebration of Yelp's Travel Like a Local campaign, I was on the search for a hotel with a coffee shop or cafe in Santa Barbara that I hadn't yet visited. I was excited to check out the semi new Palihouse in town. The hotel is fairly hidden given that it looks like any other building along Garden Street by maintaining a Mediterranean/Spanish style. The decor inside is truly picture-worthy and timeless. You feel like you are within your own home given multiple communal rooms, complimentary goodies, and multiple seating options and a welcoming bar/cafe. There is a central courtyard with a fountain where you can sit and enjoy a coffee, cocktail, or breakfast/lunch. The menu offerings are for all day; so breakfast for lunch fans go crazy! I ended up staying all day working from the patio with Melanie being my waitress. She was very sweet and attentive. I absolutely loved the chill vibe, plus there is an underground parking lot for patrons (including two EV chargers). I will recommend this hotel for guests when they visit town.

Steve H.

Yelp

The former Spanish Garden Inn at has reopened as Palihouse Hotel, Café and Bar. The café is quietly open to the public from 8am to 3pm daily. There's a nice garden patio in the interior courtyard with a gurgling fountain. A calm, secret retreat in the center of downtown. Website: https://www.palisociety.com/hotels/santa-barbara/ Menu: https://s3.amazonaws.com/palisociety.com/live-v2/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12174159/all_day_menu.pdf

Shelby S.

Yelp

My review is only about their food, as I came here for a lunch meeting. I've walked by Pali House so many times and have always wanted to check it out. Their decor and furniture are all so beautiful and very California vacation vibes. This is an excellent spot for photos. I was a with a large group of 12 people and there was plenty of room for all of us without making a reservation in advance. The waitress helping us was amazing. She had several orders to take and remember, which she did without issue. Their iced lattes are so fresh and the Pali Cobb salad was delicious! I will definitely be back. They also serve breakfast well into the lunch hour, FYI. Parking is only for guests staying at the hotel, though!

Taylor C.

Yelp

This is the best hotel experience we've ever experienced yet on Santa Barbara. We won our trip through gala auction bidding!! The French, Ralph Lauren Vibe and the amazing/welcoming staff made the place feel so inviting. The rooms were clean and the quality of this place is A plus plus. The bartender was really sweet and great 5-6PM free drinks. We love how there are bikes and free overnight parking. The staff even gave us little chocolates before we left. We will be coming back again and possibly be our go to hotel from here on out. We hope management will see this. Your staff and skills are equally amazing!

Laurie E.

Yelp

Enjoyed our stay here, rooms, courtyard and staff are all lovely. Close to downtown so able to walk. Happy hour,5:00-6:00 on certain nights was nice. Had breakfast and lunch a few times, food good.

Thomas C.

Yelp

Great place to stay, a bit noise at night , and one thing I didn't expect was a cashless hotel. They leave a tip envelope in the room and they couldn't make change.

Ben C.

Yelp

I had to travel for business - thousands of nights in hotels. I don't like most hotels. I'm also old and cranky. The Palihouse was a great experience. The staff (and guests) are on the younger side, but friendly, kind and accommodating. Several guests had dogs, which I enjoy seeing and interacting with. The rooms are definitely not "top tier", but clean, comfortable and fun. If this place doesn't make you smile or if you don't like dogs, you should change your meds. Priced reasonably, for the area. Enjoyed breakfast.

C V.

Yelp

This place is awesome. It's centrally located, has a complimentary happy hour, the staff is good people, and the buildings and grounds are gorgeous and well appointed. There are well maintained bicycles that can be taken out at any time--SB is a great bike town!

Reza S.

Yelp

For the most part the staff was friendly except the older lady in the front. For some reason it seemed like she was having a bad day and not friendly at all. The parking was great, hotel is a very nice cozy environment. They have a nice after hours bar and happy hour 5-6. You can get one of their bikes and ride it to state street as well. Their food is horrible, do not eat there. They use frozen hashbrowns and give you one strip of bacon. They also charge a mandatory 20% gratuity which, in my opinion, always be left to the individual giving gratuity not the establishment. I won't be staying here again, not work the price you pay. Much better hotels in the area for the price they charge

E H.

Yelp

Great reviews for a reason. I'm so happy we stayed here. We were here for our wedding (getting married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse). Great location. Beautiful hotel. They think of all the details here. The staff was super accommodating for everything we needed. Dog friendly. We felt so taken care of. We can't wait to come back for future honeymoons!

Anna Q.

Yelp

I stayed at the Palihouse Santa Barbara for two nights. The hotel is amazing with a Spanish structure. The rooms are big and have good beds. The bathroom was nice with a jacuzzi inside and a glass shower door. The toilet is separated in a small room next to the shower and bathroom sink for better privacy. The property was clean. I enjoyed staying at the Palihouse, it's a peaceful and beautiful property. I felt like I was at my house.

Alison H.

Yelp

Our stay at Palihouse this past summer was so lovely! The room was gorgeous, super clean, and the pool area peaceful and perfect for our family of three. We can't wait to go back!

Ana P.

Yelp

WARNING to potencial visitors! I do not like to write my bad experiance, but this was over the top unprofesional service I have had lately. It was not first visit to this hotel, so I been extreamly dissapointed how NOONE ( staff) care about guests. Jan 1 we arrived after we booked room with extra bed, because they advice us to do that while making reservation.We got air bad which was broken, 3 times over the night we asked for that solution, plus for pillow, sheets, blanket... did not work out because staff -guy has problem to understand any english words ( finally with sign language we explain him the different problemos)... long storry to final...- bed collapsed, noone responded, we lost any sleep at all, and finale come when we check out- after we told over and over what happend, lady ( without mask) did not charge us extra bed... Hallelujah - thanks for treat!! The magic dissapeared... Also when we entered to reno room where you can not have any privace in the bathroom without door, with plastic outdoor shades inside (not protect lights from courtyard all nights) two towels for 3 people etc etc..list is not short... Yes, it is still great location, cute hidden place with funky ideas, but the BASIC didn't work... I'll try to understand their business policy without contacting any kind of inspection....

Sabina M.

Yelp

The hotel is wonderful! With the pretty Mexican architecture, red glazed floor tiles, white walls and balconies facing the courtyard or the pool. Everywhere you find chairs or lounges where you can peacefully relax and feel like you are in an exotic vacation place! The spacious rooms are lovely decorated and no detail is missing: from all the bathroom necessities, little chocolates, an Espresso maker, a vintage mini fridge, and a complimentary bottle of Prosecco - so nice! Not to mention that the beds are a dream, with duvet covers. The only thing that you should avoid is having breakfast there The cream was curling in the coffee, the croissant was at least one or two days old, scrambled eggs and a patty came from the microwave and were luke warm, and it was very pricey. There is better breakfast at an average motel by the freeway. But that did not stop us from loving our stay there! And Santa Barbara is offering so many great places to eat! Also a French patisserie on State Street, only minutes away...

Jason K.

Yelp

This place is beautiful, well located, has a surprising amount of amenities. Also the staff is incredibly helpful and nice! It's right next to the Presidio and short walking distance to several downtown Santa Barbara historical sites. This is our new default place to stay in SB!

Carlo E.

Yelp

Everyone that works here is extremely helpful and friendly. Super clean and beautiful. But the best thing of all is that they really make your stay special. We are currently staying here for my girlfriends birthday and they wrote her a birthday note with chocolates and rose petals on the floor and bed such an amazing place with even better staff

M M.

Yelp

Super Chill Vibe. We had a large room on the ground floor by the lounge area with an ample lounge area, private porch, nice bedroom and very large bathroom. As a criticism, no access to smart tv streaming services and the bathroom was one of the largest rooms in the suite for no particular reason, it was poorly lit.

c l.

Yelp

It is a charming small hotel, and, yes, it is in Santa Barbara, but it is just too expensive for what they offer. Our five-day stay overlapped with the film festival so I can understand that there would be some price gouging, but over $1,000 for a Saturday night was ridiculous. Is it nice? Yes, but it would have been nice to get more than two bath towels a day. The room was very clean and comfortable and the staff was nice. The location is good. We would stay there again, but not for $1,000.

Rick B.

Yelp

Great hotel, loved it. Good location, friendly service. Will definitely stay here again.

R W.

Yelp

Beautiful laid back kind of a vibe! Quiet, relaxing place for brunch! Our server Bianca was fantastic! I would definitely return again.

Erik W.

Yelp

I absolutely love the aesthetics of this hotel! We live In Santa Barbara so came for drinks. Great service and the drinks were well made. The server did all she could to make our time enjoyable. The only issue I had was the automatic 22% gratuity added to the check. We had 3 drinks which added $9 to our bill. I'd ask that they rethink the percentage tip automatically added. I'm all for supporting workers especially during this time but 22% seems a bit steep, especially for an automatic gratuity. Otherwise everything was great! May rethink visiting again until I can control the tip amount.

Mike L.

Yelp

Indifferent service, noisy, and supposed upgrades from previous owners. At $650/night, you can do much better. Newbe hotel developer has no clue. No water pressure, terrible shower, poor quilts, no maintenance on many systems, screaming kids; if this is your thing, you will love it. Previous owners maintained lovely service, quiet facility. Now you get bad and loud 80's music in the courtyard, guests yelling over that noise, staff yelling at each other, a real scene. Fake Indian decor also adds to ambience. Seek your entertainment elsewhere.

The 10 Best Hotels in Santa Barbara of 2024

How to Plan the Perfect Solo Road Trip on California's Famed Highway 1

@goop

The Santa Barbara Guide