BELMOND EL ENCANTO
Belmond El Encanto is a luxury hotel with 92 suites or rooms located in the hills below the Santa Ynez mountains. Most importantly, the Belmond offers spectacular views of Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean.
Though the hotel opened in 1918, in 2004, Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. purchased the hotel and spent seven years on renovations. When I visited recently, I based my hotel review on our four-night stay.
BELMOND EL ENCANTO RATES AND AMENITIES
Belmond El Encanto hotel rates start at $600 per night, but they also offer hotel packages online. Generally, when selecting a room, guests can choose between one with a fireplace, patio, or balcony.
In addition to the room rate, taxes and a resort fee are added. The fee covers amenities like Wi-Fi, motorized bikes, the El Encanto spa and gym, the daily local paper, an in-room Nespresso coffee machine, shuttle transportation and more. We used most of the amenities, and our adult children used the espresso machine to make coffee in our luxury hotel room.
BELMOND WARM HOSPITALITY
Unfortunately, I had booked late for a Memorial Day weekend wedding, and I wasn’t able to reserve a room in town within walking distance of bars and restaurants. We arrived at the hotel and walked through a flower-covered entranceway to the lobby. The receptionist welcomed us with a smile and said that the staff was available to assist us. The atmosphere seemed professional yet relaxed.
As a result of the beautiful setting and the receptionist’s kind welcome, we knew that we had made the right decision selecting Belmond.
BELMOND EL ENCANTO WEDDING VENUE
We followed the bellman along brick walkways lined with gardens filled with purple lilies, ferns, and palms. Brick columns enclosed a courtyard with a pond.
In the pond, orange fish swam among water lilies, and turtles sunned themselves on rocks. To me, this natural setting seemed like the perfect venue for a Belmond El Encanto wedding.
BELMOND EL ENCANTO BUNGALOW
Our bungalow had a red tiled roof and a small patio with two chairs and a table. The garden along with the patio made it feel like someone’s home.
We entered the living room that was furnished with a sofa, tables, chairs, a widescreen TV, and a desk. The living room led to a short hallway with closets on the left and a marble bathroom with a heated floor on the right. The hallway ended in our bedroom that was outfitted with a king-size bed and a few tables.
With the addition of a cot for our daughter who joined us for a night, the suite accommodated our family of four, and it felt cozy but elegant.
EL ENCANTO RESTAURANT
We unpacked and donned light-weight jackets and strolled down the hill to the El Encanto restaurant for lunch. The host seated us outside where the waiter handed us their extensive wine list.
While dining on crisp Caesar salad hearts topped with moist Scottish salmon, we overlooked Santa Barbara. We lingered and sipped wine. The scenery and delicious food tempted us to stay longer, but we left planning to return to sample other menu items.
In addition to terrace dining, The Dining Room, inside, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and also provides a children’s menu. On Sunday, brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and another dining option is light fare that is available in their lounge.
BELMOND EL ENCANTO FITNESS STUDIO
The small fitness studio includes exercise bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, and weight training machines. Furthermore, the studio provides personal training and fitness classes.
BELMOND EL ENCANTO FIVE STAR RATING
Most of all, the hotel’s gardens combined with the spectacular view places Belmond El Encanto in a unique category. Finally, the restaurants served excellent food including fresh seafood and perfectly spiced and prepared steaks along with freshly-picked herb-seasoned heirloom tomatoes.
In conclusion, the dining experience combined with the staff’s attention to detail, and the backdrop, put Belmond El Encanto at the top of my luxury hotel list.
Hence, we left reluctantly, and as we headed to the airport, we felt restored and refreshed. I suspect that was their plan, and it worked.
Have you ever been impressed with a hotel? Please let me know.
I’ve been researching Santa Barbara lately and this is beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Though Belmond was a short distance from town, the view and service were amazing.
Oh wow! Gorgeous place! I was in California over the summer, but I think this place might be a little out of my price range! haha! Still, a girl can dream, right?
Thank you for your comment, Belmond El Encanto is an amazing place.
What a gorgeous place to stay! One of those places where you never want to leave. The gardens and views are amazing!
Thanks for your comment, honestly, it was difficult to leave.
What a lovely place! Seems like you really enjoyed your stay and didn’t want to leave!
Thanks for reading, we loved it!
What a gorgeous property. I am hoping to visit Santa Barbara next year as I have friends near by. I will be sure to check out Belmond El Encanto!
It looks so lush and tropical. Love the pool!
It’s the perfect getaway, thanks for reading my post.
Looks amazing!
It truly was, thanks for reading.
I really love Santa Barbara – it’s so low key and relaxing. This hotel sounds like the perfect retreat. The view from the pool is absolutely lovely and I appreciate that it’s further away from the downtown area.
Nice looking! I’ve never been to Santa Barbara. The only association I have is the tv soap many, many years ago 🙂 #wanderfulwednesday
Wow, a seven year renovation?? It looks beautiful, I can only imagine the effort that went into getting it to the standard it is. Freestanding bungalows sound great, and the gardens are just beautiful. I’d definitely stay if I had the chance!
This place is phenomenal! I visit Santa Barbara a lot but tend to stay in the Santa Ynez Valley or Carpinteria (since it is more affordable). However, I know I need to give a try to the hotel in Santa Barbara. The city is changing a lot and I would like to stay within walking distance from the center. #WanderfulWednesday
What a spot! I feel relaxed just looking at these photos 🙂
Thank you for your comment, the Belmond El Encanto is the perfect venue for a quiet getaway.
I’d love to stay in more luxury hotels. This one is super beautiful! My family lived in Santa Barbara for years before I was born, and we’ve gone back for a few visits, but next time we go I think I will look into here!
Sarah, thank you for your commment, Belmond El Encanto is definitely worth checking out especially for the view.