Simpson House Inn — Attraction in Santa Barbara

Just wanted to share how pleased we were staying at the Simpson House Inn in Santa Barbara. We booked our stay for our Anniversary and it did not disappoint! Everything was FANTASTIC right from our arrival! The Simpson House Inn is located in a very nice neighborhood, secluded from the street, with parking. The grounds are immaculate, with lots of trees & shrubbery; there are lawn chairs to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. We were warmly greeted and shown into the main house, which is a magnificent Victorian era home- the living room/dining area was comfy with plenty of books in the study (that you can take to your room if you wish). Water & coffee are available there most times, & they offer guests a "Happy Hour" wine tasting too, with appetizers.

We were then shown to our room, which was the "TACK ROOM" in another small dwelling on the property. There is also another small house which has hot tubs, but we chose the Tack Room. I think at one time it literally was a tack room for horses, but make no mistake, this is a very nice, very large room, with everything you need including a cozy fireplace! The room is an open living room/bedroom, with a separate bathroom with a shower. The room is very comfortable, there's a small couch, living room chair, small dining chair, armoire, small refrigerator & sink. The bed was also extremely comfortable, I had the best uninterrupted sleep (in decades) there. There is a small patio with table & chairs at the entrance if you wish to enjoy tea & crumpets outside. We did use the (gas) fireplace, which kept the room warm & comfortable. Very romantic! The decor is simple and pleasing. The room is well insulated and we could literally have stayed the entire day in there, or a week if there ever was a blizzard in Santa Barbara. The ONLY "problem" we had, because we were in the lower unit (there is also one above), & because the building is very old, the floor creaks slightly now and then. But not enough to keep us from staying again. I am pretty old now & my body creaks too, so don't knock it until you are 100+ years old!

For those of you that want to stay at newer, generic, carbon-copy boring rooms at a hotel, go for it. But you can have so much better at places like this bed & breakfast inn! Speaking of breakfast, it is made to order and not a "Continental" breakfast. We had eggs, toast, pastries, fresh oatmeal (with fixings), fresh fruit, orange juice, and freshly brewed French Press coffee! You can either have the breakfast in the main house, or you can also have it delivered in your room complete with a small vase of roses! What more do you want!

We loved it so much, we really didn't see much of Santa Barbara! We did however eat on the pier at the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company (another highly recommended visit! We went there twice in 2 days for fresh seafood!). It is a nice 45 minute walk there to the ocean, but you can take a Uber or Lyft for about $10 if you don't have a car (we took the train) and they will drop you off right at the end of the pier (which is where the S.B. Shellfish Co. is located). Plenty to do in Santa Barbara, but we just wanted to enjoy our anniversary (mostly) at the wonderful Simpson House Inn! We would do it again in a heartbeat! Thank you to all the staff!!! 5 ⭐ ⭐...

One word to describe the Simpson House Inn: EXCEPTIONAL!!!

I photographed a wedding weekend here in August 2024, and the experience was outstanding from start to finish.

When I arrived on Thursday, Haley (the property manager and event extraordinaire) greeted me warmly, offered me snacks and beverages, and gave me a tour of the beautiful property. The service at this gorgeous inn is top-tier. They will take care of all your needs and make you feel right at home! The couple chose to rent out this property to stay alongside their wedding party; it was also the venue for their rehearsal dinner and wedding ceremony/cocktail hour. There is so much versatility in the grounds that are meticulously well-kept.

On Friday, the Simpson House team hosted the rehearsal dinner for the couple. The food was spectacular, and the atmosphere couldn't have been more beautiful. Lighting at this venue gives you that perfect golden hour glow which is just stunning for pictures. As the sun set, guests gathered on the lawn to enjoy an outdoor movie night complete with snacks underneath the twinkle lights.

Saturday of the wedding weekend arrived, and everything went so smoothly. All the little nooks and crannies and greenery offered us incredible backdrops for pictures and a calm atmosphere for the couple to prepare for their wedding day. After ceremony, guests enjoyed oysters and champagne before transitioning to another venue for reception.

One note about this venue, it is centrally located and allows you to walk anywhere in downtown Santa Barbara. SUCH a wonderful feature of this place!!

I cannot say enough good things about Simpson House and Haley. If you are looking to host a wedding or simply stay at a place that feels like home away from home, this destination is perfect for you. I already can't wait to be back for more events and hopefully also to relax on a...

We stayed for 3 nights in the lovely two story Plumstead Cottage, which was tucked away in the back corner of the property beneath a large tree. It was thoughtfully set up and very cute. The cottage has a/c, a large walk-in shower, and a mini fridge stocked with complementary water bottles and soda, as well as wine for purchase. There was a wood fireplace and a jacuzzi, neither of which we used. The towels were thick and plush, the bedding luxurious. Lots of little touches were appreciated, like extra toiletries, good quality tissues and toilet paper, wonderfully scented bath soaps, and plenty of large mirrors for getting ready.

The heavy hors d’oeuvres, served around 5:30pm every evening, turned out to be a highlight of our stay. We loved the variety and creativity of the dishes. There was also a selection of complementary wine. The hors d’oeuvres were like a light meal, and after a busy day exploring, it was such a relief to not have to go out again to eat dinner.

Housekeeping got our room ready early since we arrived early in the day, and that was much appreciated! The staff was wonderful at every interaction, very friendly and attentive. They offer a turn-down service every evening and daily housekeeping service. We had one problem arise with the noise from the contractor doing repair work on their porch, but the issue was addressed and resolved promptly and satisfactorily.

My favorite part of the inn was the grounds, a beautiful lush oasis with many seating areas, fountains, huge shade trees, and flowers. Everything is manicured to perfection and designed to soothe and relax. We especially enjoyed sitting by the fire pit...