Where the Riviera meets the garden on a Santa Barbara hilltop

The approach tells you everything. A winding road climbs through seven acres of lush, terraced gardens before revealing a collection of California Craftsman bungalows scattered across a hillside, each one oriented toward the Pacific and the Channel Islands beyond. El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara has occupied this perch since 1918, and the property carries its century of history with an ease that feels less like preservation and more like second nature. The original architecture has been meticulously restored, its low-slung rooflines, wooden trellises, and vine-covered pergolas blending into the coastal oak and bougainvillea that define the grounds. Arriving here is arriving somewhere that has always known exactly what it is.

The 92 suites and bungalows are spread across the hillside rather than stacked within a single structure, giving the property the feel of a private residential enclave. Many feature private patios or balconies with ocean or garden views, wood-burning fireplaces, and interiors that draw on a palette of soft neutrals and natural materials. The layout encourages a kind of unhurried wandering between accommodations and the property's public spaces, connected by garden pathways lined with jasmine, citrus trees, and heritage roses. An infinity pool sits at the edge of the hillside, its vanishing line dissolving into the coastline below. Nearby, the Lily Pond offers one of the property's quieter gathering points, a scene more reminiscent of a private garden party than a resort amenity.

Dining at The Dining Room and Terrace anchors the culinary experience, with a menu rooted in the Santa Barbara region's produce, seafood, and wine. The outdoor terrace, framed by ocean views and the soft geometry of the gardens, is where most guests choose to eat, particularly at sunset. The Lounge provides a more intimate setting for cocktails and lighter fare, while in-bungalow dining extends the property's sense of privacy. The spa draws on the California coast's wellness traditions, offering treatments in a serene setting that connects to the broader landscape. A fitness center and outdoor activities round out the on-property experience, though many guests find themselves content simply moving between the pool, the gardens, and the terrace.

Santa Barbara's American Riviera character is inseparable from El Encanto's identity. The property sits in the Riviera neighborhood above the city's red-tile downtown, within easy reach of State Street's galleries and restaurants, the Santa Barbara Bowl, and the region's celebrated wine country. Yet the elevation and the gardens create a genuine sense of remove. What stays with you is not any single feature but the continuity of the place, the way morning light filters through the oaks, the way the Pacific holds steady at the edge of every view, the way a property that has existed for more than a century still feels like a discovery.