There are 97 rooms and suites in total, all with four poster beds, hardwood floors and city views. Speaking of views get even better from the roof top pool deck, with the mountains behind and the ocean stretching away to the front.

If you can drag yourself away from the view, the hotel at large is worth exploration, with designer Michael Smith's colonial Spanish and Moorish themes throughout in the garden fountains and tiled terraces.

The hotel's Finch and Fork restaurant is one of the finest in Santa Barbara and showcases the region's bountiful produce, from seafood to cheeses and delicious wines. The fish tacos come particularly highly recommended and for wine aficionados, the head sommelier has a tasting of California's finest every evening.

For guest's who want some pampering after that tiring lying by the pool and gourmet cuisine, the hotel goes one better than a spa - sending the expert therapists from the local luxury spa Float to your room instead. Now that's service.