Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara
The Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara is easily the best luxury hotel in Santa Barbara. It’s no wonder as the hotel is owned by billionaire Ty Warner who has put millions into updating the resort but at the same time keeping intact the beauty of the Spanish mission architecture. Just across the street Mr. Warner has reopened Coral Casino Beach Club. That amenity gives guests of the Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara two new restaurants, a beachfront pool and an impressive gym. The grounds are even more beautiful which is hard to believe as they have always been pretty special. Set on 22 acres of impeccably landscaped specimen gardens, seasoned gardeners will be beyond awed and may never want to go inside.
Located just south of the Santa Barbara border in tony Montecito the Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara can be reached by car from Los Angeles in just under two hours. This restored and expanded historic retreat is holding up well and, in fact, keeps getting better. For the traveler who considers themselves a traditionalist there is no better place to be in the area.
Guests are greeted by a team of valets, bellmen and even the occasional doorman. Inside, the lobby at Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara is a refined hall with arches overhead and warm terra-cotta tiles underfoot. Wrought iron, carved stone lentils, coffered ceilings, hand-painted beams, potted plants and exquisite floral arrangements lend luster to all the public areas. All arriving guests receive deferential treatment, and typical Four Seasons training keeps the standards high.
Steps drop down to a spacious lounge, where each evening a pianist entertains guests who settle into deep-upholstered sofas and armchairs amid early California paintings and historical art. The bartender puts on a good show starting in the late afternoon and continuing into the evening.
Another small period lounge separates the reception area from the restaurant. Set under a retractable conservatory roof and fitted with two double-sided terra-cotta fireplaces, the dining room is modern in feel, and its ocean views are expansive. Meals are served here and at night, candles add a touch of romance. The menu describes California fare, and local vintages are featured at lunch and dinner.
The adjoining terrace provides a spot for alfresco dining, and the Sunday brunch is legendary. Light meal and drink service is available poolside. The two dining options in the Coral Casino, across the quiet road, include a lovely poolside cafe with attentive poolside service. Upstairs, overlooking the ocean, a Mediterranean venue provides dinner only Tuesday-Saturday.
The pool adjacent to the main building is set in small landscaped courtyard. Its residential-size is an asset for guests at Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara who prefer its solitude over the bustling near Olympic-size pool at the Coral Casino.
The spa at Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara is a refuge of pampering. It has 11 elaborate treatment rooms, four of which benefit from sea views. The long list of health and beauty treatments entertains sybarites for at least a week.
The three complimentary lighted tennis courts, putting green, croquet, excellent gym, sauna and steam room fulfill the expectations of loyal Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara guests. Seasonal children's activities free up time for busy parents. Arrangements can be made for sailing, fishing, sightseeing and more challenging golf (Mr. Warner has also purchased an area golf course).
Barrel-vaulted hallways, furnished with antiques, mirror the engaging guest rooms at Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara that blend period and contemporary design. Soft cream walls hung with original art provide an elegant backdrop for the custom-made leather and hardwood appointments. The beds come with feather pillows, triple sheeting, duvets and pillow-top mattresses. Carpeting or rugs over plank floors, potted plants, large desks, roomy sitting areas and furnished balconies or patios are standard.
Amenities cover both business and leisure needs, with flat-screen TVs with video games and pay movies, CD players, dual-line speaker phones with data ports and voice mail, high-speed Internet access (for a fee), minibars, safes, and irons and ironing boards. Closets hold extra bedding, robes and slippers, and oversized umbrellas.
The stunning baths are fitted with the Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara’s infamous tile. They come with large vanities with expensive fixtures, separate stall showers and soaking tubs, magnifying mirrors, imported French toiletries, piles of plush towels and hair dryers.
All rooms at Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara are spacious. Poolside rooms have whimsical rivers that run through their overgrown patios, and the lovely cottages scattered about the gardens are well-suited for families and those requiring more space. Room service never stops. Among the deluxe added perks are turndown, bath, ice and twice-daily maid services. The staff goes out of its way to provide guests with memorable service.
The Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara bucolic mission-style masterpiece is on a par with the best urban hotels around, and the recent reopening of the Coral Casino puts it on the global resort map.
Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara is a member of exclusive Virtuoso travel network. Book online or contact our Virtuoso Travel Advisor [email protected] for more details.
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