The Upham Hotel
and Garden Cottages
Santa Barbara, California

We began our November 2001 Santa Barbara journey at The Upham Hotel...what a lovely spot for initiating our return to one of our very favorite cities. We had dined at the Upham's wonderful restaurant - Louie's - on a previous visit to SB, so we had an inkling of what awaited us at this Victorian treasure.  The Upham is SB's oldest active hotel, remaining in continuous operation since the first building was constructed in 1871.  The property has been devotedly maintained and restored through the years and offers 50 guest rooms and 5 cottages, all surrounded by an acre of soothing gardens in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara.  There are also facilities for business or social functions, accommodating up to 100 persons.

The Upham is actually a blend of cozy hotel and warm Bed & Breakfast.  Wine and cheese are presented in the afternoon...which we lingered over in the garden.  A deluxe continental breakfast buffet is provided in the mornings...we tucked those treats onto trays and breakfasted in front of our room's fireplace.  Coffee, tea, cookies and fruit are available at other times of the day.

We settled into the Rose Cottage in a room that displayed appealing hints of another era coupled with all the modern amenities...an ideal combination.

One totally charismatic "amenity" is Henry....the latest in a lengthy lineage of Upham felines.  Henry seemed to have a chair on our cottage's porch staked out as his own (as discovered - much to my delight - on our first morning), in addition to several other comfy spots around the property where we found him holding court!

The main building has several charming nooks for relaxing, and the front desk staff is happy to assist with suggestions and reservations for activities within Santa Barbara and the surrounding coastal communities and wine country.  Don't forget Louie's, the excellent restaurant just off the main lobby; I highly recommend the Ahi.  Of course, the Upham's central location is perfect for exploring downtown SB's array of enticements...shopping, dining, museums, galleries, theaters...all within strolling distance along the city's picturesque streets and paseos.

You may visit the Upham's website at http://www.uphamhotel.com/ or call them at 800-727-0876 for more information, rates and reservations.  I have a feeling you'll thoroughly enjoy this Victorian gem in the middle of glorious Santa Barbara....and say hello to Henry for us!

Copyright © 2002 - 2008: Jan Hight
All photos are the property of Jan & John Hight and may not be copied or used in any way without our written permission.

Published -- January 22, 2002
Last Revision -- Sunday, 13-Aug-2006 03:25:34 GMT