Palihouse Santa Barbara — Photo by Palihouse Santa Barbara
Palihouse Santa Barbara — Photo by Palihouse Santa Barbara
Palihouse Santa Barbara — Photo by Palihouse Santa Barbara
Palihouse Santa Barbara — Photo by Palihouse Santa Barbara

Los Angeles-based Palisociety has added to its renowned west coast footprint with the debut of Palihouse Santa Barbara, now open in the city's Historic Presidio neighborhood. A 24-room residential-style boutique hotel that was formerly the site of The Santa Barbara School of the Arts from its 1920 inception, the Spanish Colonial-inspired property is a hideaway in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, bringing an intimate, proprietor-driven offering to the market. 

Design

Creatively and carefully reimagined by Brosh and his in-house design team, the two-story hotel has all-new interiors and signature bespoke details and charm throughout with an anti-formulaic aesthetic storyline that blends "vintage preppy" with "American Riviera" for a cool, comfortable setting intended to feel private and intimate.

Hotel guests and locals alike arrive into a Lobby area with fireplace, a small assortment of café style seating and peek-a-boo view of the adjacent Courtyard and its lush landscaping. A reception desk awaits where check-in is handled with the utmost attention to health, safety and the Palisociety COVID-19 safety protocol. To the side, guests are welcomed into the Living Room, a cozy seating area for work, gathering or small bites throughout the day that is flooded with natural light from the Courtyard via wide open, glass French doors. Beyond the Living Room, the Bar shines in an intimate space with a beautifully stocked bar adorned with a stunning pink glass chandelier where libations, daily coffee service and all-day refreshments are available. From there, guests enter the principal outdoor Courtyard, a lush environment where café style and lounge seating is intermixed around a central, babbling water fountain, evoking a European-inspired atmosphere for food, drink, gathering and work. Pale pink vintage-style umbrellas dot the space while Brosh's signature mixed and matched aesthetic is brought to life on floral armchairs ,marble-topped tables, woven dining chairs, and more. Meandering through the property, one is surrounded by beautifully established greenery, bright bougainvillea and climbing vines. The hotel's sparkling pool sits tucked away at the back of the property, offering a relaxed, low-key environment for sunbathing and swimming, and a private Club Room for private dinners, buy outs and events sits alongside a spacious Fitness Center at the property's edge,outfitted with Peloton bicycles, NordicTrack treadmills, and more. 

In the guest rooms, a mix of King and Double Queen accommodations are available in an assortment of room types varying in size from 365 to 820 square feet. Guest room walls are awash in a light blue color that nods to the city's coastal setting and a layered mix of vintage and custom furniture, art and details give each space a comfortable, stylish allure heavily inspired by pied a terre residences. All guest rooms feature a gas fireplace and outdoor space (balcony, patio or Juliette balcony), SMEG refrigerator, Diptyque bath amenities, fine Italian Bellino linens, Marshall Bluetooth speaker, well-stocked mini bar, Nespresso coffee machines, and more. Select rooms also offer a kitchenette with amenities for longer-term stays and/or needs.

Amenities

Palihouse Santa Barbara features a food and beverage menu available to hotel guests and locals alike with daily breakfast, lunch and small bites served from 7am to 3pm. The menu, developed by Palisociety's in-house executive chef, features Palisociety standouts such as the classic American Breakfast and housemade Banana Bread topped with whipped mascarpone and walnuts, the Fisher Sandwich (whitefish patty, American cheese, tartar sauce on brioche roll), House Burger, Palicobb Salad, smoked mussels, warm cookies & milk, and more. A housemade cocktail menu features favorites including the Polo Club (Pimm's #1, Aperol, Ginger Ale, Cucumber, Lemon), the Santa Maria Martini (Vodka, Strawberry, Lemon, Balsamic Vinegar, Black Pepper), the Palisade Sangria (Sauvignon Blanc, Peach Liqueur, Peaches, Grapes) and more, alongside a thoughtful menu of wines and beer. An after-hours Honor Bar, hidden away behind a wall of bougainvillea off the central Courtyard, allows guests to grab snacks, drinks and refreshments on an honor system once the main bar has adjourned for the evening.

Additional hotel amenities included Palisociety's revered Pawlisociety pet-friendly amenities, Linus bicycles available for complimentary use around town, a curated in-room digital neighborhood guide featuring the best local dining, shopping and cultural destinations, and underground self-parking.

Hotel website