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Palihouse Santa Barbara vs The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

Spanish Garden Inn and The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara are both rated highly by professional reviewers. Overall, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara ranks slightly better than Spanish Garden Inn. The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara comes in at 86 with approval from 11 publications including Concierge, Fodor's and Gayot.

Palihouse Santa Barbara
Palihouse Santa Barbara
8 / 10
915 Garden Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
From $309 /night
  • Free Internet
  • Room Service
  • Free Breakfast
  • Laundry Service
  • Concierge
  • Pool
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Concierge Concierge
"Hidden in a quiet residential neighborhood three blocks from State Street, this white adobe boutique hotel with a red-tile roof has a plain exterior that doesn't quite prepare you for what's inside."
Oyster Oyster
Upscale
"The 23-room Inn of the Spanish Garden isn't the most luxurious hotel in Santa Barbara, but it's certainly one of the most charming boutique options." Full review
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
"This Spanish-style inn, located in the Presidio District, is only three blocks from Santa Barbara’s main drag, State Street." Full review
Star Service Star Service
"A mile north of Stearns Wharf, three blocks east of State Street, and a 15-minute stroll to the promenade, this is a smaller, cozier version of Brisas Del Mar, with more sophisticated accommodations." Full review
i
Try to avoid the five rooms in the main building.
Rough Guide Rough Guide
"About the finest boutique lodgings the city offers, whose elegant rooms come with designer furnishings, fireplaces, high-speed internet connections and a fitness centre."
Gayot Gayot
"A few blocks east of State Street, the Spanish Garden Inn is a striking Spanish-Mediterranean building that exudes classic Santa Barbara style."
Lonely Planet Lonely Planet
Top Choice
"At this Spanish Revival–style inn, casual elegance, top-notch service and an impossibly romantic central courtyard will have you lording about like the don of your own private villa." Full review
Fodor's Fodor's
"This elegant Spanish-Mediterranean retreat celebrates Santa Barbara style, from the tile floors, wrought-iron balconies, and exotic plants, to the original art by local plein-air artists." Full review
The Telegraph The Telegraph
8.0
"Spanish Garden Inn, discreetly tucked away in historic Presidio District, is the ultimate intimate getaway to experience and savour the heart of Santa Barbara." Full review
U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report
9.0
"Nestled near downtown Santa Barbara, just three blocks east of State Street, this 23-room inn caters to couples looking for a quiet getaway." Full review
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The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara
8 / 10
8301 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117
From $149 /night
  • Pet Friendly
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hot Tub
  • Room Service
  • Free Breakfast
  • Laundry Service
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Concierge Concierge
"All the rooms are designed with a... beach-chic vibe, but the ocean-view suites hold the key to Bacara's secret weapon: dramatic sea cliff vistas that open onto a wild stretch of beach."
Oyster Oyster
Luxury
"There is much to love about the Bacara, a destination resort located on a rocky stretch of coastline about 20 minutes west of Santa Barbara." Full review
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
"Mediterranean-style oceanfront villas sprawled over 78 lush acres between the Pacific and the Santa Ynez Mountains, offering a laundry list of activities." Full review
Time Out Time Out
"This picturesque getaway could be mistaken for the coast of Italy, set up with mediterranean-style villas spread out over a long stretch of beach in Goleta." Full review
Star Service Star Service
"This ambitious, self-contained, deluxe destination resort is the only true oceanfront resort in Santa Barbara, though the Four Seasons is only about 14 feet shy of that claim." Full review
i
Avoid the less expensive rooms at the back of the property, where trains and cars rumble by, and request the more expensive quieter rooms overlooking the pools and ocean.
Gayot Gayot
"Spa aficionados still flock to the white stucco sanctuary."
Jetsetter Jetsetter
"Classic Santa Barbara-area celeb hideout mixing beach bumming with wine tasting and a sprawling spa." Full review
Afar Magazine Afar Magazine
"Bacara Spa and Resort feels secluded for a reason: it sits on 78 oceanfront acres on the North end of Santa Barbara." Full review
i
Don't miss the exceptional massages at the spa, 42,000 square feet of hot tubs, eucalyptus steam rooms, and areas to relax in.
The Telegraph The Telegraph
8.0
"With a spectacular setting overlooking the Pacific, Bacara is the only hotel in the area with direct beach access and gets it right on every level." Full review
Forbes Travel Guide Forbes Travel Guide
4 Stars
"Ideally located on 78 beachfront acres with the vast Pacific Ocean displayed before you, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara is quintessential California coastal luxury." Full review
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