Entire home

Escape to the American Riviera in our Charming Santa Barbara Bungalow

Photo gallery for Escape to the American Riviera in our Charming Santa Barbara Bungalow

Exterior
Property grounds
Living area
Living area
Living area
Reviews
10

Exceptional

3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 6125.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Outdoor space
    Outdoor spaceOutdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Santa Barbara, CA
  • Popular LocationMission Santa Barbara18 min walk
  • Popular LocationSanta Barbara County Courthouse3 min drive
  • Popular LocationSanta Barbara Bowl6 min drive
  • AirportHawthorne, CA (HHR-Hawthorne Municipal)119 min drive

Most relevant reviews

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

2nd Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

3rd bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Main bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Powder room

Toilet

Spaces

About this property

Escape to the American Riviera in our Charming Santa Barbara Bungalow

Our quintessential craftsman beach bungalow is ideally located close enough to downtown State Street in Santa Barbara to take in all it has to offer, but far enough removed to enjoy the local flavor of the 'American Riviera' without all the tourist trappings that tend to go along with it.

Originally built in 1930, the property maintains its old world charm with its white picket fence and quaint, single story appearance, but was updated in 2013 with a modern kitchen, refinished oak hardwood floors and beautiful double pane windows throughout. The home has been decorated to complement the look and feel of the home and area. The neutral shades work well with our natural and vintage beach decor. Each piece was carefully selected to make this home cozy and comfortable so guests could enjoy their vacation in a tranquil setting.

The family room is open and comfortable with a new Sofa-U-Love sofa sleeper and 46' HD flat screen TV with a whole house media serving up hundreds of movies and TV shows. The kitchen is completely remodeled and updated with all new stainless steel appliances and is fully stocked with everything you need to prepare your meals. Great natural lighting and counter with bar stools allow family and friends to gather where the action is. Spacious dining room with service for six is just off the kitchen. The two bathrooms were completely remodeled in 2013 with all new, modern fixtures. The master has plenty of closet space with a new Cal King cushion topped Serta mattress and the other 2 bedrooms have the same brand new bed in a queen size. Those 2 rooms also have access to back porch/yard from the bedroom through french doors. All bedrooms are flat panel TV equipped with access to the whole house media server.

The backyard was landscaped in June 2013 with a new 400 square foot flagstone patio, lush palms and Santa Barbara native foliage. An 8'x10' pergola provides ample shade for our patio table that comfortably seats six. A second patio table with market umbrella seats another four guests who can challenge one another to a friendly game of ping pong with provided paddles and balls. A new grilling 'station', complete with overhead market umbrella and four burner gas grill with side burner lets you BBQ in style. The setting is completed with a propane space heater (for those cool Santa Barbara evenings), couple of comfortable lounge chairs, bistro table, Bluetooth enabled sound system and a cascading water fountain.

The detached garage has been converted into a game room straight from your youth (if you're a child of the '80's, that is) with over a half dozen original, full size classic arcade games including Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Centipede (no quarters necessary!) A front loading washer/dryer is also available to clean up after your jaunts to the beach. If you'd like to use our Electra cruisers to get around town they are available for rent. The front porch is a great place to hang out and if you prefer more privacy, the back yard is very private and peaceful.

Downtown Santa Barbara is an easy 4-5 blocks away. State Street is know for it's shopping and dining so you have everything you need. The Daily Grind is just around the corner so you don't have to go far for your espresso coffee. During the day, drive 5 minutes up to the historic Mission, or 5 minutes down to the beach. Or even better, just bike straight down 2 miles to the ocean. The Santa Barbara Bowl, within walking distance, is a beautiful place to enjoy concerts under the stars. Parks for the kids and all the best Santa Barbara has to offer is within easy reach of the property. For an excursion, enjoy a 30 minute drive to the Santa Ynez wine country or venture further to the lovely towns of Solvang, Pismo Beach, or San Luis Obisbo.

Please be our guest at our Santa Barbara Escape!

Property manager

Drew Rudman
Premier Host
Premier Host

Amenities

Outdoor space

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 28
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
When using 'Request to Book', please review suppli

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
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Santa Barbara

This holiday home is located in Oak Park, a neighbourhood in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara Zoo is a popular area attraction and if an activity is on the agenda, Santa Barbara Harbor and Stearns Wharf 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. Fishing offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails nearby.
Map
Santa Barbara, CA

What's nearby

  • Mission Santa Barbara - 18 min walk
  • Upper State Street - 3 min drive
  • Santa Barbara County Courthouse - 3 min drive
  • Santa Barbara Harbor - 4 min drive
  • Santa Barbara Bowl - 6 min drive

Getting around

  • Santa Barbara Station - 7 min drive
  • Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal) - 10 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Super Cucas Meat Mar - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Revolver - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Yellow Belly - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪McConnell's Ice Cream - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪IHOP - ‬12 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Escape to the American Riviera in our Charming Santa Barbara Bungalow pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Escape to the American Riviera in our Charming Santa Barbara Bungalow?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Escape to the American Riviera in our Charming Santa Barbara Bungalow?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Escape to the American Riviera in our Charming Santa Barbara Bungalow located?

Located in Oak Park, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Upper State Street. Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra and Arlington Theater are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 57 out of 60 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 60 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 60 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 60 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 60 reviews" "

Reviews

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

10/10 Excellent

Laura W.

Perfect in every way!
Being an UCSB alum, I was excited to head to SB to show my family my old stomping grounds. Landing at this rental made the trip even more perfect than I had hoped. The amenities and care for which the owners provide the home are outstanding. Drew was responsive with any questions and thoughtful to remind us of anything that needed attending to during our visit like trash collection. We walked for breakfast every day to Daily Grind, walked to State Street and everything else was a quick car ride away with easy parking waiting for us back at home. Will absolutely be back!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

eileen s.

Very cute great location
House was adorable, Drew was a pleasure to work with. Highly recommend this property
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Cathy B.

Quaint, quiet and peaceful
My family stayed here for a week. The house is well appointed. We had 7 people in here comfortably. The decor and layout of the house are tasteful and well done. My kids loved the video games. We used the boogie boards and beach chairs many times during our stay. The bikes are nice. The house is in a good location. The neighborhood is calm and quiet, there is only noise from street traffic which varies throughout the day. I'd recommend this property to friends!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

mary z., Huntington Beach, California

Excellent home, great location, everything you need.
Everthing you need is found in this charming home in a great Santa Barbara location. I appreciated the owners attention to detail and responsiveness throughout the process. We had a wonderful weekend celebrating graduation, birthday and Father's Day. A nice find in SB; we hope to return.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jessica C.

Perfect vacation stay!
The home was wonderful and charming. Great location and very comfortable stay!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jocelyn C., Westerville

Perfect Santa Barbara getaway!
Our extended family - two adult sons, daughter-in-laws and two small grandchildren - really enjoyed staying in this home. Clean and well appointed, the home suited our needs well. We LOVED the private patio and game room. The place was perfectly decorated and the owner took special care to ensure we had the information we need to be comfortable. There is easy access to commerce within a five minute walk. The beach area is just a couple of miles, away, accessible through convenient bus stops if you don't want to drive. Do try out the local ice cream parlor - delicious! We highly recommend this home to anyone considering a Santa Barbara visit.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kerry O.

Even bettered than pictured!
Such a great home with everything we needed for a great Santa Barbara weekend! The house was spacious and the outdoor areas were so fun. We loved our weekend here and hope to return again. Thank you so much for helping to make our weekend so special.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Daniel C.

Beautiful House in Quiet Section of Santa Barbara
The house had everything we needed plus more. This beautiful house was tucked back in a quiet section of Santa Barbara but close enough to the heart of the city with all of the shops and restaurants. Drew and his family did a great job preparing everything in our preparation and providing more than enough information for first time visitors to the great city of Santa Barbara. The property is spacious and had all amenities we needed. The backyard was a great area to relax at towards the end of the night. There were even local places within a block or two to get something to eat or have coffee without having to walk to the downtown area.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Michele z., Saint Louis

Great house and location
We had a great time in SB. Drew did a great job in educating us prior to arrival on the details of the home. Love the outside and outdoor heater. Great coffee shop and ice cream stop in walking distance.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Nicole S., Santa Monica, CA

All-Around Great!
The house was perfect in every sense of the word: location, amenities, cleanliness. The bungalow has such charm and the back patio and arcade were great bonuses to this already beautiful house. Being around the corner from McConnell's was also great. We hope to stay here again in the future and we would rent the bikes the next time as well.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Ashley H.

Great SB location!
We had a great stay. The owner was responsive and friendly. They are very strict with their rules for the property but it shows with the cleanliness and quality of the property. The only negative is the sofa sleeper isn't sleepable :) but the beds in the three rooms are very comfortable and clean! Walked to state street and coffee shop around the corner.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay C.

Very pleasant stay in Santa Barbara
Five of us stayed at Drew's Santa Barbara Escape for a few nights at the end of January. We came to Southern California seeking some sun and we got it! We came with our road bikes and got in some great riding. This home is located in a great part of town and it was really easy to learn how to get around the neighborhood. Everything in the home was very simple and straight forward - whether it was the coffee machine, television or bluetooth enabled outdoor sound system. Parking is available in the driveway but there always seemed to be an empty spot on the street. We had a very enjoyable time in Santa Barbara and really enjoyed staying here.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kevin M.

Cozy, Clean, and Comfortable Home - Great Location
We were very happy here. Listing description was accurate. Located in a convenient location close to both downtown and freeway, the home is clean and well maintained with nice amenities, including off street parking. The owner provided great pre-arrival information about the property so there were no surprises when we arrived and their process for checkin/checkout works well. Fast, friendly, professional response to all our communication via phone, text, and email, prior to and during our stay. We would recommend this property. We made breakfast at the house so the full size fridge was essential. We got groceries nearby at Trader Joes and further away at Sprouts. There's also a nice Whole Foods nearby. Walking state street in downtown was a fun time; especially the shops in the Paseo Nuevo. We got some great juice at Pressed Juicery across the Cinemas. We checked out the views from Shoreline drive and had healthy lunches at ah juice and Natural Cafe. The dinner at Mesa Verde restaurant was so good we had to go back a second night to try the other menu items, wow! We had a great time despite all the rain!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Sharon C.

Winter Santa Barbara Get Away Perfect for a Family
The house was everything advertised and then some. We were there between Christmas and New Year with one of our sons and his family. The vintage video games in the garage were a huge hit with our 4 and 6 year old grandsons, my son and husband. Owner is very easy and reasonable to work with. We fell in love with Santa Barbara and found plenty of great things to do even with it being winter. The location is close to so many things, very central including a short walk to a terrific coffee place. We would definitely consider going back and doing it all again.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Stacy M.

Loved this quaint home! Fit our needs perfectly.
The owners were very attentive and responsive. We will definitely look at staying here again.
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Alexandre N.

muito bom
Excelente lugar, tudo muito limpo e aconchegante. Adoramos. Recomendo
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Marit B.

Comfortable, clean and cozy
We enjoyed staying at this cozy house. Although not very big its well planned and has a great location close to Downtown. We stayed for 6 nights visiting our daughter who is studying in Santa Barbara for a year. The house was clean and well stocked. We felt straight away at home. A little minus is that there is only one bathroom with shower but it worked out ok for us. The beds are very comfortable and the kitchen with its granite counters is just beautiful. We would definitely rent this house again in the future should we return to Santa Barbara and can warmly recommend it.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

JEANETTE N.

Great house. Great location. They have stocked the house with everything you need.
Great house. Great location. They have stocked the house with everything you need. We will definitely be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Selena B.

Home away from home
We were in Santa Barbara for our daughter's wedding. Rather than a couple of hotel rooms, we chose this VRBO to enjoy a comfortable, relaxing week having our family all together. Our expectations were exceeded! Drew was great to deal with, and everything was very organized. The house and yard were beautiful and we would highly recommend this property to anyone visiting Santa Barbara!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Super cute Santa Barbara house
This house is totally updated, with beautiful wood floors and granite in the kitchen, but it retains some of its original details to make it very charming. Though it's not a large house, the layout is excellent. Our family of four had plenty of room. The '80s arcade games in the garage are a blast and I'm sure if we had been there longer we would have used the barbecue and backyard furniture. The Daily Grind, one block away, is an awesome coffee house. And the ice cream place, also a block away, seems like one of a kind. We went to a concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl and it was about a 5 minute Uber ride away. If you're there on a Tuesday night, make sure you don't park on the street like we did. Street cleaners come on Wed. morning and the sign saying this is obscured by a tree branch. So we got a ticket. Otherwise, everything was great and we're happy we stayed there!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Carol K., San Jose, CA

Comfortable, clean, nicely decorated!
The house had everything we needed for our two night stay. And the gaming machines in the garage were enjoyed by all ! Thanks again. Carol and Graham
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Amazing way to end the summer!
I don't usually leave reviews,,, I don't recall ever leaving a review anywhere actually. I was totally skeptical about this place when I found it online but I was immediately relieved of any doubt when I arrived and checked the place out. Everything was literally perfect for us: the two yards - one with a grill; the homey bedrooms with the comfy mattresses; the large 'fridge; the arcades and the ping pong table!; and the beach chairs, boogie boards and umbrella... I've been feeling bad talking about my trip with co-workers 'cause everyone is giving me jealous eyes. What a great find in a beautiful city. I will certainly keep this place on my list of go-back-to-spots.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Patty P.

Great location!
We enjoyed staying at this cozy house centrally located near downtown Santa Barbara. There were 8 of us in our family group and having just one shower caused a few delays, but the rest of the house was comfortable. Everything we needed was available in the house with enough bedding and towels for all. When we arrived I had a few questions for the owner and he responded promptly. Within a block there was a place to get coffee and sweets for breakfast and an ice cream store that was a real hit with our 3 and 4 year olds! I would definitely rent this house again and recommend it to a friend.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Cindy D.

Cozy and comfortable gem!
This is a sweet little house in a great location. Each of the three bedrooms was very comfortable with roomy closets. The kitchen is nicely updated and is stocked with pretty much everything you could need. My favorite spot was the backyard. There is plenty of seating and we enjoyed most of our meals outside. The neighborhood is quiet and we had no problems parking on the street. Downtown shopping and restaurants are a bit of a hike away, but definitely walkable. My daughter and I made the hike twice. Closer to the house is a great coffee shop and McConnell Ice Cream--our regular morning and after dinner stop each day. Other things I appreciated: quality linens and towels, very clean home, beautiful outdoor space, great communication with Drew, the owner. We had five people in the home, with my college student son stopping by a few times to hang out. The home was the perfect size for us, and we will definitely be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

B E.

Cute home in a great location!
We enjoyed our short stay in this cute and cozy home. It was very easy to find, and situated in a great location. State street is just a few blocks away, and the beach is a short drive. I'm not sure who enjoyed the video games more--my kids, or me! The house has everything you will need to feel right at home. I found everything I needed to make a big breakfast the first morning we were there. We enjoyed some delicious nearby restaurants for our other meals. There is plenty of sitting room, and the driveway parking was a bonus, as it can be difficult to find street parking in front of the house. The house was clean upon our arrival, and I'm OCD about cleanliness! I would recommend this home to anyone looking to visit Santa Barbara.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2016

About the host

Hosted by Drew Rudman

Host profile image
Having a small family of four that loves the comforts of home when we travel, we have been enamored with vacation rentals for almost two decades and now own three vacation properties, each with something unique to offer our guests. It all started with our mountain property in the Lake Tahoe area which we have been offering since 2000 and hosted hundreds of guests. We added our charming beach bungalow in Santa Barbara in 2013 and that has been such a big hit, we are replicating the effort with a beach area property on the border of North Pacific Beach and La Jolla.

Why they chose this property

We spent 3 years looking for a beach property to complement the mountain property that we had been offering as a vacation rental for over a decade. We began our search in the Newport Beach area, mainly because we had family not too far away, but after 2+ years of searching and dozens of offers we lost out on, we realized it wasn't in the cards. We switched gears and focused on the Santa Barbara area, which we were visiting at least once a year, and while not super close to family and friends, made up for it with its lower congestion and charming appeal. We found our gem (which was actually already under contract, but in a bit of trouble) within two weeks. The home and area has exceeded every expectation and we sometimes wonder why Santa Barbara wasn't first on our list.

What makes this property unique

The home was a complete dump when it was purchased by the 'flippers' who bought the property before us, but they did a pretty amazing job of transforming it from ugly ducking into prince charming. They took care of the inside of the house and we had the vision to transform the backyard into a vacation paradise. The location is perfect -- just far enough away from downtown to give you a unique 'Santa Barbara' locals experience, but close enough to walk to if you really want to take in the full Santa Barbara tourist experience.

Premier Host

Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

More Holiday Rentals ideas

People also search for