Glen Tavern Inn — Hotel in Santa Paula

I recently stayed at the Glen Tavern Inn for a special three-night trip with my 8-year-old son, and our experience was nothing short of delightful.||From the moment we pulled up at night, the hotel’s exterior charmed us with its warm lighting and unique blend of Tudor and Craftsman architecture. The historic character of the building is apparent in all the best ways—you truly feel transported to another time. Inside, the lobby is rich with beautifully preserved woodwork, coffered ceilings, and antiques that reflect the hotel's storied past. The decor is colorful, inviting, and brimming with personality—not the sterile white-on-white you find in so many newer hotels. As my son put it, “It is very beautiful and isn’t all white like most hotels. It is very colorful. I like all the decorations.”||One of the things that makes Glen Tavern Inn special is its historic nature. Originally built in 1911, this is not a modern cookie-cutter hotel—and that’s part of its magic. There’s no elevator, and the bathrooms, which were added decades later, are thoughtfully integrated into the rooms but are a step up—literally. These are the kinds of quirks that come with staying in a designated historic landmark, and in our case, they only added to the charm. Despite the old bones of the building, the hotel was incredibly comfortable and had everything we needed to feel safe and well taken care of. It’s clear that the owners have worked hard to maintain the building’s integrity while providing modern comforts in a way that feels seamless and respectful to its legacy.||Our room was spotlessly clean, cozy, and thoughtfully furnished. Two gorgeous antique armoires served as both clothing storage and clever hiding places for the flat-screen TV, perfectly marrying form and function.||On two of our three nights, we dined at the hotel’s on-site Italian restaurant, Enzo’s—and we might’ve gone all three if we’d had one more night! The newly updated menu was a hit with locals and travelers alike, and for good reason. The house-made focaccia was so good my son polished off two baskets before his spaghetti pomodoro arrived. I worried he might ruin his appetite, but as he proudly declared: “The puh-sgetti is the best thing I’ve ever had.” He cleaned his plate. The service at Enzo’s was just as memorable—friendly, efficient, and warm.||The hotel staff, as well as the restaurant team, were absolutely lovely and made both of us feel welcome and cared for. This is clearly a place that values its guests, whether you're a couple looking for a romantic weekend or a parent traveling with a curious, energetic child.||Located in the heart of downtown Santa Paula, the Glen Tavern Inn is steps away from charming shops, cafes, and small-town friendliness. We started every morning at Rabalais, a café just a block away, where the coffee was strong and the pastries even better. It’s the kind of place where you can slow down and enjoy your time—and we did just that.||The Glen Tavern Inn also has a fun twist—its haunted history. While we didn’t encounter any spirits, the folklore added an extra sense of intrigue and excitement to our stay. My son loved the idea of it and wandered the halls wide-eyed with imagination.||Santa Paula itself is a hidden gem—blessed with amazing weather, close proximity to LA, wine country, and the coast, but without the crowds or chaos. The whole experience felt like discovering a well-kept secret.||In my son’s words: “10 billion out of 10 stars… It is a very creative hotel.” I...

I recently stayed at the Glen Tavern Inn for a special three-night trip with my 8-year-old son, and our experience was nothing short of delightful.

From the moment we pulled up at night, the hotel’s exterior charmed us with its warm lighting and unique blend of Tudor and Craftsman architecture. The historic character of the building is apparent in all the best ways—you truly feel transported to another time. Inside, the lobby is rich with beautifully preserved woodwork, coffered ceilings, and antiques that reflect the hotel's storied past. The decor is colorful, inviting, and brimming with personality—not the sterile white-on-white you find in so many newer hotels. As my son put it, “It is very beautiful and isn’t all white like most hotels. It is very colorful. I like all the decorations.”

One of the things that makes Glen Tavern Inn special is its historic nature. Originally built in 1911, this is not a modern cookie-cutter hotel—and that’s part of its magic. There’s no elevator, and the bathrooms, which were added decades later, are thoughtfully integrated into the rooms but are a step up—literally. These are the kinds of quirks that come with staying in a designated historic landmark, and in our case, they only added to the charm. Despite the old bones of the building, the hotel was incredibly comfortable and had everything we needed to feel safe and well taken care of. It’s clear that the owners have worked hard to maintain the building’s integrity while providing modern comforts in a way that feels seamless and respectful to its legacy.

Our room was spotlessly clean, cozy, and thoughtfully furnished. Two gorgeous antique armoires served as both clothing storage and clever hiding places for the flat-screen TV, perfectly marrying form and function.

On two of our three nights, we dined at the hotel’s on-site Italian restaurant, Enzo’s—and we might’ve gone all three if we’d had one more night! The newly updated menu was a hit with locals and travelers alike, and for good reason. The house-made focaccia was so good my son polished off two baskets before his spaghetti pomodoro arrived. I worried he might ruin his appetite, but as he proudly declared: “The puh-sgetti is the best thing I’ve ever had.” He cleaned his plate. The service at Enzo’s was just as memorable—friendly, efficient, and warm.

The hotel staff, as well as the restaurant team, were absolutely lovely and made both of us feel welcome and cared for. This is clearly a place that values its guests, whether you're a couple looking for a romantic weekend or a parent traveling with a curious, energetic child.

Located in the heart of downtown Santa Paula, the Glen Tavern Inn is steps away from charming shops, cafes, and small-town friendliness. We started every morning at Rabalais, a café just a block away, where the coffee was strong and the pastries even better. It’s the kind of place where you can slow down and enjoy your time—and we did just that.

The Glen Tavern Inn also has a fun twist—its haunted history. While we didn’t encounter any spirits, the folklore added an extra sense of intrigue and excitement to our stay. My son loved the idea of it and wandered the halls wide-eyed with imagination.

Santa Paula itself is a hidden gem—blessed with amazing weather, close proximity to LA, wine country, and the coast, but without the crowds or chaos. The whole experience felt like discovering a well-kept secret.

In my son’s words: “10 billion out of 10 stars… It is a very creative hotel.” I...

A beautifully restored and maintained piece of local history - with some seriously creepy vibes!! If you like to take your chances with ghost encounters, this is the place to do it lol!! I stayed in room 101 and didn’t have any issues so if you’re a chicken like me, the staff assured me that room has had ZERO reports of paranormal activity haha! ||This gorgeous 35-room inn was built back in 1911 and has hosted some serious star power back when Santa Paula was a Hollywood hotspot - such as John Wayne, Charlie Chaplin, and even Houdini!! The walls of the halls are positively covered in old movie posters and antiques abound in every corner - it’s so fun to peruse the grounds - it’s like a museum! ||But people don’t come for that - they come to see ghosts! This inn is so famous for its paranormal activity that it’s been featured on Ghost Adventures, The Dead Files, and in books and blog posts etc. Your best chances of an otherworldly encounter are in rooms 307 or 308.||The 3rd floor used to be a gambling parlor, speakeasy, and house of ill repute back in the old oil boom days apparently. Room 307 was where an unfortunate cowboy got murdered during a card game and room 308 was where a “lady of the night” named Rose was murdered after a business transaction in the brothel :-o||Their website provides more detail about their murders - but they’re pretty gruesome so I’ll let you read them at your own risk lol! ||I did muster up the courage to wander up to the third floor after dark and it’s definitely super creepy! As you reach the top of the stairs, you’re greeted with a chair full of antique dolls - I don’t scare terribly easy but these dolls gave me the chills lol. The staff told me that they placed only one of the dolls up there and have no idea where the others keep coming from - yikes??!!! ||The hallways are long and dark and it’s dead quiet (no pun intended LOL). ||My room - 101 - was very spacious and cozy though and a welcome retreat lol. The bed was super comfy and it had a couch, fridge, microwave, and automatic drip coffee maker. The coffee wasn’t too bad for a hotel coffee. But the huge touch was there was a FAN!! I’m a fan sleeper and they had one in the room and I slept SO GOOD!! Such a nice touch and one you don’t see too often.||They have a popular Italian restaurant onsite and a Yelp check in offer of free martinis. They have a handicap accessible ramp in the back parking lot entrance - but this inn is very old and I only saw stairs for access to the upper floors - so if you have mobility issues, I recommend a first floor room. ||All the staff were wonderful to me - and their prices were surprisingly very decent. The only thing I didn’t like was that they don’t have staff onsite at night until 8am. I checked out early and they just have you leave your keys on the desk - anyone could enter your room - it’s not secure. So I made a checkout video just in case. ||All in all I had a very fun and interesting stay - it’s a great location in Santa Paula’s historic district and I’d consider...