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Overview
Rooms
Location
Policies

9.8

Exceptional

Popular amenities

Air conditioning

Kitchen

Free WiFi

Explore the area

Santa Barbara, CA

Mission Santa Barbara11 min walk
Santa Barbara County Courthouse17 min walk
Santa Barbara Bowl4 min drive
Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal)12 min drive

Most relevant reviews

10/10 Excellent

Very positive experience. Guest house was very clean and well equipped. Mattress extremely comfortable. Large bathroom. ...

Shari G.

Sep 11, 2019

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

About this property

Exceptional Guesthouse With Classic Charm in a Great Location

On a quiet street in The Upper Eastside, Santa Barbara's best downtown residential neighborhood, where you're walking distance to most attractions but away from the hum of the freeway or noise from downtown trains. This charming 1 Bedroom 1Bath guesthouse is in the most perfect location: 4 blocks to State Street where you'll find shops, restaurants, cinemas, museums and 4 blocks to the historic Mission with its lovely Rose Garden. Gorgeous Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden, a Santa Barbara gem, is a 5-minute walk from your door. The beaches, Stearn's Wharf and Harbor are all close by.

Our guesthouse suite suitable for 1 or 2 persons is a classic 1924 California cottage entirely transformed with contemporary amenities yet retaining its authentic original design with wainscoting in all rooms and a beamed ceiling in the bedroom (see detailed description) and bathroom. The private entrance has a deck with a café table and chairs. Relax in the large plant-filled covered porch with access from the bedroom. The bright well-equipped kitchen is a separate room. We invite you to read our reviews and see why this exceptional guesthouse with its location, elegance and serenity is an incomparable best value in Santa Barbara.

PLEASE NOTE:
ONE MONTH minimum to rent.
No smoking or pets please. Not suitable for children.

Keywords: guesthouse

Property manager

Barbara

Languages

English

Amenities

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Pool

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Adults only

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

About the area

Santa Barbara

This guesthouse is located in Upper East, a neighbourhood in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara Zoo is a popular area attraction and if an activity is on the agenda, Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor are worth checking out. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Santa Barbara Bowl or Earl Warren Showgrounds. Jet skiing and kayaking offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and mountain climbing nearby.

Santa Barbara, CA

What's nearby

Mission Santa Barbara - 11 min walk
Santa Barbara County Courthouse - 17 min walk
Santa Barbara Bowl - 4 min drive
Santa Barbara Harbor - 6 min drive
Stearns Wharf - 6 min drive

Getting around

Santa Barbara Station - 11 min drive
Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

‪Starbucks - ‬16 min walk
‪McConnell's Ice Cream - ‬16 min walk
‪IHOP - ‬11 min walk
‪Secret Bao - ‬18 min walk
‪Cajé Coffee - Arlington St - ‬15 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Exceptional Guesthouse With Classic Charm in a Great Location pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Exceptional Guesthouse With Classic Charm in a Great Location?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Exceptional Guesthouse With Classic Charm in a Great Location?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Exceptional Guesthouse With Classic Charm in a Great Location located?

Located in Upper East, this guesthouse is within 1 mi (2 km) of Alice Keck Memorial Garden and Santa Barbara Bowl. Mission Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra are also within 15 minutes.

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Shari G.

11 Sept 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very pleasant stay. Safe neighborhood, easy parking on street, close to everything.

Very positive experience. Guest house was very clean and well equipped. Mattress extremely comfortable. Large bathroom. Air conditioning in bedroom. Hosts were friendly yet non-intrusive.

Stayed 31 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Joe L.

3 Apr 2019

Great location, wonderful hosts!

My husband and I stayed at this lovely little guesthouse for four months so we could enjoy Santa Barbara, work, and spend time with nearby relatives. Our hosts, Barbara and Russell, were absolutely terrific! They answered tons of questions before we arrived and really cared about us and how we were enjoying their place. They brought us homemade guacamole; had fruit and Pelligrino for us when we arrived; and delivered champagne to us for the New Year. We even had a happy hour at their house. It was fun staying here and we would come here again. This house is on East Islay and is walking distance to beautiful parks less than 1/2 mile away. You can easily walk to State Street, too, where there are tons of restaurants, shopping, museums, theaters, and more. For four months, we parked directly outside our front door except for a few times. There is plentiful street parking. However, street cleaning requires you to move your car on Tuesdays, which is easy to do by parking literally around the corner. The guesthouse’s master bedroom has beautiful craftsmanship and large windows that open to a wraparound deck where you can lounge around and enjoy your hosts’ plants. During our stay, Santa Barbara experienced exceptionally wet and cold temperatures in January-February and lots of downpours. But we never had any problems inside the house from the weather. During our stay we used our hosts’ washer and dryer whenever we needed it and that was greatly appreciated. The kitchen has everything you need to cook - knives, pans, cutting boards, utensils, big bowls, strainers, and more. We cooked lots of meals here. However, there’s no oven so you need to use the gas stovetop. One issue for us was the WiFi, which was a little spotty and would stop working and then come back on. We told our hosts and they said they would fix it. They are extremely handy and we saw Russell take meticulous care of their plants and their entire house. Overall, we loved staying here, we always felt safe, enjoyed being part of this quiet neighborhood, and we’ll miss our hosts, their hospitality, and spectacular Santa Barbara.

Stayed 120 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Jennie T., San Francisco

5 Oct 2018

So much to love

I spent the month of August 2018 at this heavenly cottage in a wonderfully quiet corner of central Santa Barbara. The cottage is immaculately cared for, and Barbara and Russell were incredibly gracious hosts, who made sure that I had everything I needed during my stay while ensuring that I had all the space and privacy I needed. I loved the absolute quiet and ability to see stars at night at this location, my morning coffees on the sunlit private patio, walks to beautiful Alice Keck Park, as well as my proximity to the heart of town and, most importantly, the complete comfort of the cottage for spending a few lazy days at home. This was the perfect spot for this solo female traveler to feel at home in Santa Barbara for a few weeks of relaxation and Central Coast exploration and I look forward to returning here when I next have the opportunity.

Stayed 30 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Joe A.

3 Aug 2018

Great four weeks in Santa Barbara

Very relaxing, no stress vacation. Russ and Barbara were just fantastic owners and beautiful people. Made our stay very comfortable. Everything you need and more. Thank you both for inviting us into your home. Hope to do it again. Loved your beautiful dog Lulu. Nice quiet place and convenient for everything you want to do in Santa Barbara. Joe and Susan

Stayed 30 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Joanne P.

11 July 2018

Charming cottage in a great location

We just completed another stay at Barbara and Russell’s charming guest house. They are lovely hosts and we have enjoyed getting to know them. The cozy cottage is in a great location and a safe neighborhood. Easy walk to the Mission, to parks and not far from downtown. The bed is very comfortable and the apartment is more than adequate for two people. We recommend it. Joanne and Rafael

Stayed 30 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Barbara G.

11 June 2018

Perfect!

Spotlessly clean and well appointed guesthouse. We could walk everywhere as the location was perfect for restaurants nearby. Lovely residential street in a beautiful city. Our hosts were very accommodating. Will definitely return and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Santa Barbara.

Stayed 21 nights in May 2018

10/10 Excellent

Martina N.

10 May 2018

Lovely Stay in Paradise

I had a wonderful stay here and Barbara and Russell couldn't have been more gracious hosts! The guesthouse is warm and cozy and spacious enough for 2. The location is perfect and located on a beautiful, quiet street and only a 15 minute walk to downtown State Street. You are close to many restaurants, wineries and the beach and truly couldn't ask for more! *****5 STARS FOR THIS GUESTHOUSE*****

Stayed 35 nights in Apr 2018

10/10 Excellent

Paul C.

1 Apr 2018

Cozy cottage in a very nice neighborhood of a wonderful CA town/city.

My wife and I stayed here for a month and a half--mid Feb thru March. The cottage was exactly as described and pictured. It is totally serviceable for two people, clean and well-appointed. We spent most of our time away during the days--walking almost everywhere around town. The cottage was all we needed--a quiet, comfortable place to sleep and get ready for the day ahead. We didn't prepare any meals other than light breakfasts so the apartment sized refrigerator was fine for us. While the closet is not huge, it is adequate, especially given the other places for unpacking and settling in around the cottage. The best thing about our stay was the convenience to the main part of town and the comfort of walking in a very safe and secure neighborhood. Oh, and of course as everyone else has commented, Barbara and Russell are in the adjacent home, close by and ready to help with any issues (we had none) or questions about things to see and do in town. They give you a nice list of their favorite restaurants (they have great tastes) as well as some of the highlights of the area. They also have books in the cottage that offer suggestions on dining, hiking and sightseeing. Santa Barbara is a jewel to see and experience and staying here makes everything possible. Cost-wise--this cottage--given its location and overall livability--is a real value for Santa Barbara.

Stayed 42 nights in Feb 2018

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Calvin C., Neptune Beach

16 Oct 2017

The best host you could wish for!

Barbara and Russell are excellent host! They are a warm and welcoming couple. My wife and I really enjoyed our stay. The place is within walking distance of the Old Mission Santa Barbara, a beautiful park and State street. It's in a lovely neighborhood, on a quite street. The place is well stocked with everything you need to feel right at home. I can't recommend it enough.

Stayed 31 nights in Aug 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Matthew A., USA

20 Aug 2017

A wonderful, and a peaceful place to stay!

The guesthouse is a delightful place to stay in Santa Barbara. I lived there for 11 weeks in the summer while I completed an internship, and I looked forward to coming home each night to the quiet rumble of the water garden outside my window. The guesthouse was very clean and comfy for two. The neighborhood is quiet, and Barbara, who takes care of the property was an extremely helpful landlady. I especially enjoyed how close the house is to Downtown Santa Barbara and a short trolley ride to the ocean front, grocery store, and anything you could want. It is also literally two and a half blocks away from the historic Mission and rose garden, a Santa Barbara landmark I frequently walked around in the cool evenings. The guesthouse is a perfect place for a short vacation, or exceptional for an extended stay as I had. 10/10 would recommend to anyone. Thank you for your generous hospitality and making my stay such a pleasure!

Stayed 79 nights in Jun 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Daniel K., Palm Springs

11 May 2017

Wonderful 3 Month Stay!

My SO and I decided to spend our 3 month sabbatical in one of our favorite towns - Santa Barbara. We had previously stayed at Barbara and Russell's guest house several times for our one-week summer vacations, which we greatly enjoyed. We lucked out and booked the guest house for our extended stay; initially I was concerned it may be too small for us to share for the 3 months, but it worked great! With the combination of comfortable indoor space and two very private outdoor spaces (one covered) we felt very much at home. Parking was a breeze, and of course the location is great - a close walk to all of Santa Barbara's amenities and attractions.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Donna B.

12 Jan 2017

Cozy stay in Santa Barbara

Everything was lovely, nice, clean and comfortable bed.

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Dan R.

31 Dec 2016

Everything We Needed

We love to get up early, have a cup of coffee, eat breakfast - and hike and explore until sunset. Then, return to a clean, quiet, comfortable, cozy place with our own entrance - relax, cook our own meals, and get a great night's sleep. And, this lovely guesthouse fit the bill to a T! This was our first visit to Santa Barbara and fell in love with everything about it. It isn't an over-built resort town - and it was great to be in a 'neighborhood'. The locals are proud of their paradise, and so friendly and willing to share it - which is especially true of our hosts! Everything is well-appointed - including a great bed and linens, and a roomy bathroom with thick towels. Evenings were chilly, but the place had very nice heat. Details like that are what make a rental stand out! We definitely hope to be back to the Santa Barbara area, and would stay here again if possible.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Dee M.

5 Dec 2016

A grateful writer

Although this lovely guesthouse will please anyone who stays there, I'm taking this opportunity to recommend it as the perfect place to work on a writing project, enjoy a solitary retreat, read, think, feel restored. The neighborhood is very quiet. Barbara and Russell are warm, helpful, and very conscious of their guests' privacy. You don't need a car. (There is a good little market six blocks away, a metro bus stop nearby, as well as a regular shuttle down to the waterfront.) The Mission bells ring in the distance. It's lovely.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

jeff l.

30 Oct 2016

Great place, we wished we could have stayed longer!!

Barbara & Russel have created a beautiful environment. The guest house has both indoor and out door spaces and thoughtfully placed furnishings and embellishments, creating a very calming place. We loved having breakfast outside. It is wonderful California Arts & Crafts home and the neighbourhood is great for walking. Thank you so much for our lovely stay! Trinita & Jeff

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Becky Q.

30 Oct 2016

Thanks for the hospitality

We enjoyed the Guesthouse and Barbara's gracious hospitality for a week in Santa Barbara. It was our first trip to this wonderful place and there was plenty of useful info provided to guide us, including a great listing of our host's favorite places....always good to go where the locals go! At Barbara's suggestion, we visited the Farmer's Market on Saturday and enjoyed a lovely fresh local tomato and goat cheese salad on our porch the next day...delightful. Also enjoyed the Symphony and a trip to nearby Los Olivos, enjoying the scenic vista along the way. A memorable stay and trip to the Central Coast.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Andreas O.

29 Oct 2016

Wenig Platz im Aussenbereich

Barbara und Russel sind sehr freundlich und zuvorkommend. Wir hatten uns einen geräumigen Platz im Aussenbereich erhofft, dies wurde leider nicht erfüllt. Nicht geeignet für Besucher die im Objekt die Sonne geniessen wollen. Gut geeignet als Ausgangspunkt für sämtliche Unternehmungen. Alles sauber und ordentlich

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Sue and Evan F.

3 Sept 2016

Wonderful in every way

We loved the guesthouse at 424 East Islay St. It was pure delight. The aesthetics were pleasing to the senses. The decor was lovely, and all the touches conveyed comfort and convenience. The rooms were full of natural light but also screened for privacy. The living space was surrounded by a deck with many beautiful plants. The well equipped kitchen, thick bath towels, and plethora of local information all attest to the hosts thoughtful care of their guests. Hosts Barbara and Russell could not have been nicer. I immediately liked the tone of Barbara's responses to my initial inquiry. We were greeted by a warm welcome in person and continued care about our comfort. Finally, the location is just right in a quiet neighborhood accessible to Santa Barbara's many attractions. We could imagine spending a lot longer than these two weeks there. Thank you, Barbara and Russell!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

27 July 2016

Wonderful Charming Guesthouse

This was our third stay at this charming guesthouse and once again our time spent was fantastic in every way. Beautiful accommodations, great outdoor spaces, excellent QUIET location, gracious hosts and of course that wonderful Santa Bsrbara weather! Wish we could have stayed longer!

Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Gayle B.

15 July 2016

Our beach home away from home

We have been renting this lovely apartment for the past 10 years and continue to enjoy its delightful hosts, Barbara and Russell, their dog Lulu, and the attractive, beautifully furnished apartment and plantings on the porch. It is in a very quiet and lovely neighborhood within walking distance of the downtown area as well as the historic mission and a beautiful memorial garden which is always interesting. This year the kapok trees were in bloom and putting on a grand display. The kitchen is well stocked, there is tasteful art on the walls, and a fine selection of reading material. This might be the one and only trip where I did not read one of the selections on the bookshelf, since I came armed with a book that I needed to finish. My favorite "activity" while staying here is lying on the couch on the porch reading, listening to music, and doing crossword puzzles as Russell's burbling container with water hyacinth provides delightful background noise. (Listening to It is a very soothing way to go to sleep each night.) We always return home very relaxed and happy.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Doreen W.

3 July 2016

wonderful place in great location - with great land lords

We just completed a 3-month long stay in Santa Barbara and couldn't have been happier with our choice to stay at Barbara and Russell's' place! It's about half way between the Old Mission and the Keck Park, with easy walking (thru a very nice neighborhood) to all the restaurants, etc. on State St. (as a measure, if you walk from the place to the tip of the Wharf pier, you walked about 2.5 miles, but of course many State St. attractions are much closer). The place will very tidy and clean, with a neat kitchen (w 2 gas burners and microwave, fridge, and sufficient kitchen ware, and storage space for your own groceries), a bedroom with a very comfy bed, two armchairs, plenty of shelf space, and a flat screen TV. The bed room opens to a tranquil veranda with a nice couch, and the veranda wraps around the front, to the main entrance, where you have a table and chairs for outside breakfasts or dinners. The bathroom has plenty of storage and countertop space, and a full bath tub w shower. Natural light (and plenty of it) can be had in each room, but you can also close blinds. During our stay, the temperatures were mostly typical Santa Barbara, and opening the front door (which you can do with virtually no loss of privacy - it's a very quiet, peaceful and safe neighborhood) and the screened bed room doors (to the veranda), you get a nice evening breeze-thru. If it really get's warm, there are table top air vents, and a more powerful (but quite small and portable) floor unit you can use (we only turned it on twice in 98 days). For longer stays, the only addition that would add some convenience would be a small washer/dryer combo (check with the owners: they said they'd likely add one, soon), but there are good self-service laundries in Santa Barbara. The kitchen has a side table to seat two. The closet has good storage space for clothes. Aside from the place itself, the land lords Barbara and Russell are fantastic - they give you all the privacy you want, but are also very happy to help and providers re: the Santa Barbara region, if you need/want it. In addition, everything 'transactional' was very smooth. Given the length of our stay, Barbara arranged for us to have some very reasonably priced -and perfectly done- biweekly cleaning service. For our next visit to SB, we will definitely try to stay at this place again! Very, very highly recommended! Enjoy your stay in Santa Barbara!

Stayed 98 nights in Mar 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Tracie M., Santa Cruz, CA

13 Dec 2015

Very nice stay

My husband and I just returned earlier this week from a 5 day stay at his unit. The hosts, Barbara and her husband were very friendly and helpful, but not in an overbearing way. There if you have a question...not there if not needed. The unit itself is well equipped, and clean, in a nice and safe feeling neighborhood, close to most things you may need like groceries or restaurants. Check in and out was easy. We really have no major complaints, and would definitely stay again if in SB. The only suggestion I would offer is that there are no laundry facilities onsite, and for anyone active, and staying more than a few days, that is an inconvenience. They were kind enough to let us know where the Laundry facilities were in town, but I didn't have time for running down to even drop any off, and when you're on a break from real life, who really wants to do that? But as I said, that is only thing I'd improve on. Otherwise, really nice place to rent. We had a lovely stay.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Justin L.

12 Sept 2015

Amazing guesthouse

What an amazing guesthouse! My girlfriend and I were in town for a wedding and this was the best place we could have stayed. Cheaper than the hotels and 100 times better. We made breakfast in the lovely kitchen and enjoyed it on the secluded patio. Barbara greater us along with her lovely labradoodle. We commented on all of the awesome succulents and she told us about Lotus Land. This was a great recommendation and if you have time check it out! We will definitely try to book here again if we come back to Santa Barbara.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

23 Aug 2015

Another Fantastic Stay!

This was our second stay at this wonderful SB cottage. Once again, everything was perfect - very clean, comfortable, and quiet. We loved the outdoor space -- one day we had a light rain, and it was delightful to sit on the covered porch and sip our morning coffee! The patio is very cute, and the perfect size for two to sit and enjoy coffee, a meal, or afternoon wine! The location is fantastic - walking distance to all of the gems of Santa Barbara. Yes, we have already booked our next visit!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Barbara G.

5 Aug 2015

What a find!

Believe the other reviews. This is an extraordinary VRBO with wonderful hosts. Very comfortable, fully equipped kitchen, nice outdoor space, very private. If we returned to Santa Barbara, we wouldn't even bother looking at other alternatives. One of Barbara's suggestions was that we attend a free master class at the nearby music center in Montecito. It was a new experience for us, and we loved it. If you want to stay here, book WAY ahead.

About the host

Hosted by Barbara

Resident of Santa Barbara for 25 years and have been a host on vrbo for over 13 years.

Why they chose this property

Location, location, location. Shops, theaters and restaurants all within walking distance while you can return to your peaceful, beautiful guesthouse in the best Santa Barbara downtown neighborhood.

What makes this property unique

Enjoy your morning coffee on the sunny deck right outside your kitchen door. Have a glass of wine on the plant-filled veranda. Walk 3 blocks to Santa Barbara's most beautiful park- Alice Keck Memorial Gardens... or take a 4 block walk to the famous Santa Barbara Mission with its extraordinary rose garden.