Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
See why so many travelers make Simpson House Inn their hotel of choice when visiting Santa Barbara. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a luxury setting with an array of amenities designed for travelers like you. Given the close proximity of popular landmarks, such as The Historic La Arcada Courtyard (0.5 mi) and El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park (0.7 mi), guests of Simpson House Inn can easily experience some of Santa Barbara's most well known attractions. Simpson House Inn offers guests an array of room amenities including a flat screen TV, a refrigerator, and air conditioning, and getting online is possible, as free wifi is available. The hotel offers a front desk, a concierge, and room service, to make your visit even more pleasant. The property also features free breakfast. Guests arriving by vehicle have access to free parking. During your visit, be sure to check out one of Santa Barbara's popular shrimp restaurants such as Boathouse at Hendry's Beach, Brophy Bros., and Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, all a short distance from Simpson House Inn. There is no shortage of things to do in the area: explore popular art galleries such as Santa Barbara Art Glass, Italian Pottery Outlet, and 10 West Gallery. At Simpson House Inn, your comfort and satisfaction come first, and they look forward to welcoming you to Santa Barbara.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
My husband and I just returned from a three night stay at the Simpson House. We stayed in the Hayloft and found it to be perfect for us. The room is a nice size with a comfortable king size bed, sofa and flat screen TV. The bathroom has a tiled shower and plenty of countertop space (a must for me). There is a separate closet that opens to a beverage center. In addition to the coffee maker and refrigerator there is also a faucet that delivers filtered water. That was an unexpected amenity that I truly appreciated.
The grounds are beautiful and there is no reason to ever leave. Between the morning breakfast, the afternoon scones, the evening hors d’oeuvres and the nightly cookies, neither my husband nor I felt the need to go out to eat. We did make a few excursions down State Street, but other than that we mainly relaxed and hung around the grounds.
I could go on, but other reviewers have pretty much covered the good food, the hospitality and the helpful staff. I definitely recommend Simpson Inn and hope to visit again.
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Date of stay: October 2024
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I just spent 3 nights here for our babymoon before our first baby in mid-December. What a magical stay! It’s my first experience at a bed and breakfast and I need to say— the hospitality was next level. Every staff member from the breakfast servers to the cleaners made everything feel so personalized and were extremely thoughtful. Luckily at the beginning of our trip there was really nice weather so we got to enjoy the garden during the hors d’oeuvres hour. Also the breakfast felt like a 5 star restaurant experience every morning. If you love a big breakfast this place is a must stay. Our cottage, the Plumstead cottage was amazing to relax with a bath at the end of the night and the cute breakfast nook where we had our in-room breakfast the last morning.
Some other perks: complimentary parking for guests, 1.5 mile walk to Funk Zone and great restaurants, beautiful Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden.
Would definitely recommend this to any friends/family and would 100% stay here again.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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We had the privilege of staying two nights in the delightful Simpson House Inn, located just a few meters from the main street of the splendid Santa Barbara.
We were greeted by Frank with a kindness and thoughtfulness that we rarely saw. The rooms in either the beautiful Victorian house or charming cottages in the garden are all decorated with the utmost care and give off a unique atmosphere. The charming public areas and the splendid garden are a real invitation to relaxation and relaxation.
Frank and his team invite you every morning to enjoy an amazing and delicious Breakfast served on the terrace, always with different homemade proposals. In addition, sweet and savoury breaks are offered throughout the day. Don’t miss an incredible aperitif offered at the end of the day that allows you to discover the wonderful wines of the Santa Barbara region!
We are already looking forward to returning to Simpson House Inn and its unforgettable atmosphere! Thanks again to Frank and his team for a wonderful stay.
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Date of stay: August 2024
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simpson House Inn is special because of the history, gardens and service. The rooms are rustic and well appointed, but you give up good water pressure, air conditioning and modern (comfortable) beds. We’ve overlooked the downside because “the experience” has always been special with past visits. Today, the service was disappointing. We cannot stay for the breakfast and asked to just have pastries (no Eggs Benedict, juice, coffee, fruit, oatmeal)… just pastries. I’ve posted a pic of what they gave me… the communication was indifferent, almost rude. So much for “good service.”
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Date of stay: November 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here due to being stuck in the storm. Being in a hotel unplanned and being forced to stay in one is not fun, to say the least. However, the hospitality with these employees helped turn a bad time into a good time. Every employee was exceptionally happy and eager to assist you and the manager Hailey was fantastic! So personable, tried to help us out and you know she’s doing her job right because of the level of engagement of the employees, it felt like a family. First night we stayed in the Mary Simpson room, this room has a detached restroom that is across the hall, room is basic with a tv and wash area (sink). We got stuck an additional night and stayed in the Greenwhich room- love this room! It’s a cottage like room with a huge rock fire place (gas lit with wood logs provided) and oversized jetted tubs. This room had skylights in the room and restroom which provided a ton of natural light. Inn serves a great breakfast, we had the best French toast and the next day huevos rancheros, served with fresh juice and coffee or tea, fresh pastry’s and your choice of fruit or oatmeal. They serve refreshments on the afternoon, scones and freshly squeezed lemonade or ice tea and on the evening hors d’oeuvres with wine and fresh cookies in the evening. Lastly the property grounds are beautiful, tons of greenery and the Greenwich room had a cute patio, we just couldn’t enjoy the outside due to the storms.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Haley Boots, Innkeeper at Simpson House Inn
Responded Jan 20, 2023
Thank you for your wonderful review. We are so glad we could be your safe haven to comfort you in a time of need.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed in this hotel on our 20th wedding anniversary trip driving the Pacific Coast Highway. The house is beautiful and the gardens amazing. The cheese and wine evening was delightful. The disappointing aspects were that the shower was almost impossible to use. It was a shower over a bath A notice asked you to draw the curtain around the bath before turning on the shower as the old floorboards could get damaged. This meant you got freezing cold water on you head and there was absolutely nowhere to put shower gel / shampoo etc. The house is old 1874 but I have lived in houses 100 years older and it is possible to update a bathroom! We paid $10 to have our breakfast delivered to our balcony on the first morning. It was stone cold. The toast came with no butter or jam and was very disappointing. The second day we ate in the breakfast room to avoid the same thing happening. As breakfast was included we were astonished to be presented with an invoice to add a gratuity! We got a turn down service on night one but they left all the towels on the floor and we had to ask for more. The full bin wasn’t emptied. We just got a chocolate left on our pillow. The second night there wasn’t a turn down service!! All in all at £350 per night I was disappointed and will avoid in future
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I got married at the Inn last weekend. It was the best wedding weekend we could've asked for. The Inn is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, but you would never know it when you're at the property. It feels like you're in a Hallmark movie the moment you enter the property. When you walk into your room classical music is playing and there are personalized touches to welcome you.
We worked with the general manager, Haley, for over a year while planning our wedding. She and all the staff are absolutely amazing. They're kind and accommodating. The breakfast and snacks they offer are delicious. I especially loved the chocolate chip cookies they put out in the evening.
Our immediate families stayed at the Inn as well and were constantly complimenting the staff, grounds, and it's convenient walking distance to downtown. It was the perfect spot to enjoy our wedding weekend with our family. We can't wait to come back!
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When researching hotels in Santa Barbara, The Simpson House Inn appeared to be the perfect place to stay. Incredible reviews; voted second best hotel in Santa Barbara with a central location. We were very excited for our upcoming stay.
I read a couple of the 0-1star reviews but thought; you always get a few bad reviews!
However, having since finished our 2 night stay, I wish I had taken the bad reviews seriously as I feel that the majority were both fair and accurate.
We felt the Simpson House Inn was a huge disappointment.
First off, I would like to state that the grounds were lovely and lived up to the images and reviews. A small complaint (but something we feel you would expect from a 5 star hotel) the cushions on the loungers and chairs were left out at night, therefore in the morning they were always damp with dew and covered in cobwebs and unusable until they dried.
When we checked in, there is no help with the luggage to take it upstairs. Again small issue but something I feel you would expect from a 5 star rated hotel.
Our room was small, dark and very outdated. Everything creaked and it smelt very damp, it reminded me of an antique centre. The shower in our room was either freezing or boiling. It was clean, however could do with a good dusting.
The location is ok. It’s a 10minute walk to the top of state street. And a 40min walk to the pier and funk zone. But, I would not say it was totally central.
The afternoon wine tasting and afternoon tea were lovely! However, the gourmet breakfast was very basic and the service incredibly lacklustre.
There is no staff on site after 9pm other than a next door caretaker. I personally, found the staff to be unapproachable and cold and not 5 star service. It felt very much that they just wanted to take your money and then to be left alone.
Overall, in my opinion The Simpson House Inn is a B&B and not a 5 star hotel. I’m am incredibly surprised as to why they have such great reviews and are considered a 5 star hotel.
I would not stay again nor recommend The Simpson House Inn.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent 3 marvelous days mid-week as returning guests. We so love staying at this magical and romantic Inn. The property is stunning. All the rooms we have stayed in have been spacious, most with wood burning fireplaces, very comfortable beds. Breakfasts and afternoon hors d’oeuvres are delicious, with a good selection of vegetarian choices in the afternoon. Staff here are amazing. Special thanks to Haley, Frank, David, and Jamie. And a very special THANK YOU to Gabriel, who checked us in only to have us all discover the heat in our original room had failed. Gabriel went above and beyond showing us room options and helping us relocate. And all during the then most recent California deluge/driving hail and thunder storm We give the Simpson House our highest recommendation.
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Everything about The Simpson House Inn is wonderful! I’ve stayed both in the cottages and in the main house. The beds are very comfortable and the rooms are nicely decorated with antiques. The grounds of the Inn are spectacular. You feel like you’re in a secret garden with high hedges that block out the neighbors. The gardens have beautiful flowers and trees with chairs and gurgling fountains. Breakfast is served every morning on pretty china and they rotate the menu each day so we enjoyed something different on the days we were there. Evenings they provide wine and heavy hors d'oeuvres which were delicious! We spent every evening in the garden sipping wine, listening to the birds and watching little bunnies hopping around the grass. It’s a very romantic place to take your significant other! Special shout out to Jamie who made our stay so special! We will definitely be back!
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I did call and they got back to me immediately. They don't have a room with 2 beds for me and my sister sadly. Such a beautiful place though – I would love to visit with my husband!
There are more places to choose from in the Santa Barbara area.
PRICE RANGE
$319 - $456 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
simpson house hotel santa barbara, simpson house inn
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaSanta Barbara
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including any mandatory fees. Taxes not included. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Simpson House Inn
Which popular attractions are close to Simpson House Inn?
Nearby attractions include Santa Barbara County Courthouse (0.5 miles), Old Mission Santa Barbara (0.7 miles), and Santa Barbara Museum of Art (0.5 miles).
