Review: Simpson House Inn, Santa Barbara, California, USA

Tucked within a secluded acre of manicured gardens in Santa Barbara, Simpson House Inn has long set the benchmark for American hospitality. Built in 1874 for Scotsman Robert Simpson, this Eastlake-style Victorian manor made history in 1997 as the first bed and breakfast in North America to earn AAA’s coveted Five Diamond rating — a title it held exclusively for years.

While modern AAA criteria have since shifted to favour sprawling, mega-resort amenities like 24-hour room service and digital concierges, Simpson House Inn’s current Four Diamond status is anything but a step down. If anything, it demonstrates a refusal to trade intimate, hand-crafted hospitality for standardised corporate luxury, as a stay here quickly proves.

It was our first time in California and we arrived via a scenic coastal drive from LAX, with stops for a brief stroll on Malibu Beach and a relaxing brunch en route. The warm hospitality at Simpson House Inn began the moment we pulled in. Rather than having to find a front desk, we were personally greeted at our car and guided through an effortless, informal check-in. The tone was instantly set for a very welcoming and relaxing stay, and was just what we needed to shake off a little jet lag.

At Simpson House Inn, there are guest rooms in the inn itself, as well as in The Carriage House and three free-standing cottages, all of which are set in secluded grounds to the rear of the main property. We were assigned two rooms for our family: The Tack Room in The Carriage House, and the delightful Plumstead Cottage tucked away in the corner of the grounds.

The Tack Room

Discreetly blending into the lush, manicured grounds of this historic Santa Barbara estate, The Tack Room offers 352 square feet of ground floor space within the Carriage House.

Originally part of the property’s 1878 horse barn, this wooden structure trades its equine origins for an atmosphere for occasional artefacts and absolute privacy..

We entered through French doors that opened directly into a thoughtfully-designed (and air-conditioned) space where a king-sized bed draped in crisp white linen took centre stage. Louvre shuttered windows offered privacy and helped keep the Summer heat at bay, whilst comfortable seating near the wood-burning fireplace assures guests of a cosy stay during the cooler months of the year.

Whitewashed wooden panelling and polished timber floors kept everything feeling fresh and airy, whilst sumptuous furnishings and carefully curated antiques made this a place where you want to simply kick off your shoes and unwind.

A tiny kitchenette and a spacious en suite bathroom with a tiled, glass-enclosed shower also formed part of the internal accommodation.

Outside, the room came with its own wrap-around porch where you can relax, enjoy the manicured English gardens and soak up the sun’s rays.

Plumstead Cottage

Hidden in one corner of the inn’s lush acre of gardens, Plumstead Cottage is the ultimate romantic sanctuary. It can be found beneath a canopy of mature trees, including an imposing oak that pre-dates the main house – apparently one of just two historic oak trees in Santa Barbara.

Unlike The Tack Room, Plumstead Cottage is on two levels. What immediately catches the eye as you enter is the corner bath in the living area. Bold, floral-patterned seating, table and chairs, a fireplace, kitchenette and a concealed TV in one of the cupboards, make this an immediately inviting home from home.

Upstairs, a large bed draped in plush, pristine linens promises an undisturbed night’s sleep. The room pairs modern comforts with suitable nods to the estate’s history.

The en suite bathroom has mosaic style tiling on the floor and a walk-in shower, perfect for a quick refresh after a day spent exploring Santa Barbara.

Toiletries in the bathrooms throughout Simpson House Inn are from Public Goods which takes an eco-friendly approach by packaging their products in plant-based, sugar-cane bottles and avoiding the use of harsh sulfates and parabens.

Beyond the privacy of the guest rooms, the shared spaces at Simpson House Inn are fitted out with period furniture and an array of books, with everything in keeping with the property’s history.

The historic main house also has its own shaded verandah overlooking the lawns. It’s where breakfast is served – a lovely setting since the morning light filters through the garden canopy. Breakfast choices are made online the day before, with options including fruit, freshly baked pastries, and hot dishes such as smashed avocado and scrambled egg.

The gardens, which have been recognised with a prestigious Santa Barbara Beautiful award, form a special part of the Simpson House Inn estate. High hedges, winding stone pathways, manicured lawns and the sound of birds and water fountains form a botanical sanctuary that makes you forget you’re in the middle of a bustling town.

There isn’t an on-site restaurant at Simpson House Inn, but Bistro Amasa – led by the same team that’s behind Santa Barbara’s acclaimed, Michelin-recognised Barbareño – is just a short stroll away.

At Amasa, Chef Julian Martinez’s menu brings old-world French bistro techniques to life using local Californian ingredients. Such is the Summer climate that we were able to dine al fresco on the expansive verandah.

From the starters we enjoyed roasted baby carrots with a brown butter miso, sherry, parsnip purée, raisin and hazelnut, and the rather indulgent ‘gnocchi n cheese’ which consisted of aged cheddar, taleggio, comte, parmigiano reggiano, garlic bread crumbs and chives.

For my main, I had the excellent roast chicken with vadouvan labneh, chilli crunch and cucumber mint-salad, which I think generated a little food envy from others.

That said, the hot smoked salmon with everything bagel cream, dill-caper gremolata, crispy shallots, farro and tomato water – and the cheeseburger with jasper hill cheddar, caramelised onion, pickle, seeded bun, tomato garum and garlic herb fries – both looked equally good.

Impressively framed by the terracotta-hued backdrop of the Santa Ynez Mountains, and with a sun-drenched coastal atmosphere, Santa Barbara is often cited as the “American Riviera”. It’s a town where palm-lined avenues and whitewashed Spanish-colonial facades are embraced by high-end living that happily coexists with a barefoot beach lifestyle.

To enjoy a little of this beach culture during our stay, we took to the water to do some paddleboarding. Guided by James, our friendly instructor from the Paddle Sports Center based at the harbour, we explored the sheltered waters of the marina, mingling between sleek yachts and fishing trawlers whilst we admired the wildlife (pelicans, cormorants and a solitary seal) – a highly recommended activity if you find yourself in Santa Barbara, and a remarkably peaceful, invigorating way to soak up a small piece of the Californian coast.

If paddleboarding showed us the calm side of the coastline, a family surfing lesson with Surf Happens at nearby Carpinteria State Beach showed us something altogether different. It was clearly the place to learn since Prince Archie, son to Harry and Meghan, was wrapping up with his own surf camp session when we arrived.

Our lesson was led by a young man named Salar, a fascinating character who famously made history as the very first competitor to represent Iran at a major international surfing competition (the ISA World Surf Games). Whilst he may have missed out on qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, his infectious enthusiasm for the sport – and his outlook on life in general – was there for all to see, and he couldn’t have been more generous with his time and encouragement.

A number of smaller details showed that extra thought went in to making every stay at Simpson House Inn memorable. A personalised welcome note next to a vase of vibrant fresh flowers and some chocolate-coated strawberries set the tone on arrival.

Other details did not go unnoticed – slippers you could take home with you as a memento of your stay, an in-room mini-fridge with complimentary sodas refreshed daily, and tea and coffee and freshly-baked treats laid out in the guest lounge each afternoon. These may have been small gestures but they made the estate feel less like a hotel and more like a welcoming private home.

Standard rooms at Simpson House Inn start at around $310 to $400 during mid-week or off-peak periods.
Premium options such as Plumstead Cottage or private garden suites are usually circa $500 to $800 per night, especially on weekend nights or during high season.
Rates include daily breakfast and guest parking.

Aside from being such a lovely place to stay, the best part about Simpson House Inn is its total seclusion, despite its proximity to downtown Santa Barbara. It really is quite magical how the estate feels like a private world of its own with its premium accommodation and lush, peaceful gardens, yet Santa Barbara’s vibrant streets are just a short stroll away.

Nowadays it seems increasingly rare to stumble upon luxury that feels genuinely personal and unhurried. But by preserving the quiet elegance of its Victorian heritage and surrounding it with an utterly peaceful botanical haven, Simpson House Inn somehow manages to do exactly that. It feels worlds away from the standard high-end hotel experience, but I say that as a positive thing.

The rating on paper may have changed over the decades, but the soul of the experience remains untouched, and families or couples seeking an authentic taste of Santa Barbara need look no further.

Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by Simpson House Inn.