El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara's Most Enchanting Hideaway in the Glistening Hills of the American Riviera
Perched high in the Santa Barbara hills, this iconic hideaway offers the best views of the American Riviera. Spread across seven acres of secluded gardens, El Encanto, a Belmond Hotel opened in 1918 and has been part of Santa Barbara’s social scene ever since. A Forbes Five Star resort, this enchanting escape features 92 bungalow-style suites and guest rooms with sweeping views over Santa Barbara and the Pacific Coast. The resort is gleaming and glamorous, yet relaxed and low-key – the kind of place that invites you to recline poolside, breathe in the ocean air, and sip a glass of crisp local wine.
Hotel Tip
If you are traveling with a small group, perhaps a family reunion or intimate wedding, you can spread out in the Oak Tree Suite, with its large terrace and multiple rooms.Virtuoso Preferred Supplier Since 15 May 2013
Virtuoso Amenities
For 2024:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily Breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom
- $100 USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
- Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
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Sustainability
Our Commitment
The hotel uses eco-friendly cleaning products, bathroom products and light bulbs. Many herbs and vegetables come from the on-site garden and the menu features locally sourced meat, fish and produce. Our Dining Room has passed all of the mandatory requirements to receive the Ocean Friendly Restaurant certification.
We have an onsite Sustainability team and each team member participates in a 4 hour Art of Sustainability training. We compost and recycle, including even donating old towels to the humane society.
We are planning several activations on property through 2023-2024 including Kelpful and our Zero Waste initative, an achievement not reached by any other Santa Barbara hotel. We replaced disposable items with earth-friendly, compostable ones. We incorporated compostable food waste, increased our recycling and decreased our regular trash. As of November 2019, we accomplished our goal of ZERO WASTE, WHICH IS 90% LANDFILL DIVERSION!
We've planted shrubs and trees for the areas devastated by the Thomas Fire, we spent Earth Day doing habitat restoration work at the SB Botanic Garden, we hosted a beach cleanup for Kids to Parks Day, and we made multiple trips to Channel Islands National Park to help repair their natural ecosystem.