Current Time
Currency
Weather
Advertisement
hotels
Santa Barbara , California
Tel: 888 424 5866
Tel: 805 969 2261
Fax: 805 565 8323
Concierge.com's insider take:
In privileged Montecito, this exclusive Spanish colonial–style 207-room resort is more than a beachfront Four Seasons—it's been a glamorous Santa Barbara institution since opening as the Biltmore in 1927. A place where Greta Garbo, Errol Flynn, Lana Turner, Bing Crosby, and other Golden Age movie stars once played croquet on the front lawn, the hotel is now a gathering spot for locals (the Sunday brunch, oceanfront dining, and bar with live entertainment are big draws) and the resort of choice for visitors who want Santa Barbara's toniest beach getaway. Sweeping archways, heavy carved entry doors, colorful imported Spanish tile, and carved woodwork are renovated features of the original hacienda, but modern amenities abound, too, including a 10,000-square-foot spa. Only a sprawling green lawn and a road separate the hotel from Butterfly Beach. Revamped rooms feature Mission-style antiques, local art, more Spanish tile, decorative ironwork, rain showers and deep soaking tubs, 42-inch plasma-screen TVs with surround sound, DVD players, and broadband Internet. A botanical guide to the 44 exotic and rare plants in the resort's 22 acres of tropical and subtropical gardens is available at the concierge desk. Normally, guests are also allowed access to the private Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club next door, but the club is closed for renovations until summer 2007.
From the readers of Condé Nast Traveler:
(207 rooms)
—2009 Gold List
Overall Score: 91.9
- Rooms: 93.1
- Service: 94.4
- Food: 90.7
- Location: 92.1
- Design: 92.5
- Activities: 83.9
View the entire 2009 Gold List of the world's best places to stay ›
Also appeared in the Gold List in 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005
Amenities: Beach, Pool, Spa, Tennis, Water sports
Subscribe now to Condé Nast Traveler ›User Reviews
write a review ›BEEN HERE? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
Be the first to write a review of Four Seasons The Biltmore and share your tips with the Concierge.com community.
RSS Feeds