Framed by the Pacific Ocean on one side and majestic Santa Ynez Mountains on the other, the beautiful city of Santa Barbara along central California’s coast might be a favorite haunt for Angelenos, but it makes a great weekend road-trip from San Francisco and San Diego too. Whether visiting for the Annual Film Festival or to soak up the sun during summer, maximize time on the American Riviera and plan a stay at the boutique Kimpton Canary.
THE VIBE
In keeping with Santa Barbara’s late-18th-century mission, Spanish Colonial meets contemporary California at Kimpton Canary. Nestled in the heart of downtown, character and service are top-notch at this boutique hotel which exudes Old World charm thanks to unique décor accents––from the Moorish hand-painted fountain and wrought iron, to Saltillo tiled floors. With spectacular views that span from the Pacific Ocean across town to the Santa Ynez Mountains, the hotel's rooftop pool is Instagram gold. On warmer days, guests can swim, soak in the adjacent hot tub or enjoy drinks from the rooftop lounge bar.
THE SUITE LIFE
From deluxe kings to suites, all 97 guest rooms at the Canary feature hardwood floors, four-poster canopy beds and sumptuous pillowtop mattresses finished with the finest European linens. Suites include extra touches, including Nespresso machines, handy writing desks and variously sized balconies. Guests will find continental style robes by luxury Italian brand Frette 1860 and lavish bathrooms complete with separate soaking tubs and Atelier Bloem products, whose fragrance lines are inspired by Amsterdam's famous floating flower market, Bloemenmarkt. Situated in a prime location on the fifth floor, The Canary Suite comprises a wraparound balcony with ocean and downtown views, a cozy living room, plus a dining area for up to eight people.
PET 101
Kimpton has to be one of the country’s most pet-friendly hotel groups. There are dog treats in the lobby (re-stocked daily) while thoughtful extras, including food and water bowls, plush dog beds and a tasty welcome snack, can be arranged and placed in rooms or suites prior to arrival. Pups are even welcome at the nightly social hour. Look out for Canary concierges, Maggie – a Jack Russell Terrier - and German Shepherd, Wiley, who often work the front desk with their humans.
THE EXTRAS
The Canary takes self-care seriously––each room comes with private yoga mats (there’s a rooftop yoga class every Saturday) and all guests can enjoy complimentary access to the local branch of Gold’s Gym. Massages, facials, and body ritual services can be booked with FLOAT Luxury Spa and can be enjoyed either in-room or at the spa itself, which is just a short walk from the hotel. For the sartorially minded, local boutique DIANI (which stocks labels like IRO, Isabel Marant Etoile and Loeffler Randall) can curate a personalized, in-suite shopping and styling experience with selected clothes, shoes and accessories from their current collection.
EATS + DRINKS
Chef Peter Chan’s New American menu at in-house restaurant, Finch & Fork, showcases the best of local produce from land, sea, and artisan makers. Handsomely decked out with leather banquette seating, here, breakfast, lunch, happy hour and dinner fare are served. There’s an extensive wine list showcasing some of regions finest and a solid cocktail program––the sugar pink foam-topped Barbie’s Bath Bomb is a current bestseller. Dish standouts include the West Coast oysters, rainbow trout with toasted hazelnut brown butter, and the half Jidori chicken with date jus. The s’more pot de crème makes for a decadent dessert.
THE SEE
Around town, local boutiques and high street favorites will keep shoppers happy while art lovers can head to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and rainbow-colored public art installation, Chromatic Gate, near East Beach. Two great options for exploring outdoors include cruising the coast on a 41-foot sailing yacht with Sunset Kidd and a 90-minute trolley tour, which circles out through Montecito and past the storied Biltmore Hotel before heading back into town. The hop-on-hop-off excursion also takes in the Old Mission Santa Barbara (where’s there’s a scheduled 15-minute stop) and culminates at one of the city’s most picturesque public and Spanish Colonial Revival style buildings, the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.
THE DO
Packed with eclectic galleries and urban tasting rooms, The Funk Zone is a great place to wander (RiverBench and&nbs
