See all properties
Entire home

Architectural Gem In The Heart Of Downtown Santa Barbara.

Photo gallery for Architectural Gem In The Heart Of Downtown Santa Barbara.

Spacious vaulted living room, with fireplace and access to the private courtyard
Vaulted ceiling living room
Staircase leading to living room
Second bathroom
Bathroom

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4111.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Spa pool
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View map
Santa Barbara, CA
  • Place, Presidio Santa Barbara
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Santa Barbara County Courthouse
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Santa Barbara Bowl
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Airport, Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal)
    ‪18 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Architectural Gem In The Heart Of Downtown Santa Barbara.

This unique rental is located in the Historical district, in the heart of downtown, on a private lane that was once called 'The Greenwich Village of Santa Barbara'. Three blocks from State Street and a five minute walk from this residence brings you to coffeehouses , restaurants, theaters and shopping. Continuing for another ten minutes towards the ocean, you will pass through the famous “funkzone”, and arrive at the Santa Barbara Pier and the East Beach of the California Riviera.

Nearly fifty years ago this one of a kind home, an example of Spanish Colonial Mission architecture was designed and built by hand, by one man, as a lasting tribute to Las Trampas mission church. Recently, under the creative design eye of the artist and home owner, the twelve hundred square foot, vaulted ceiling, two level property has been brought into the twenty first century.

The upper level includes the striking kitchen which features tiles designed by local architect and artist Jeff Shelton and is fully equipped with stove, farm sink, refrigerator and dishwasher. A few steps away, the master bedroom, includes a king four poster bed, a talavera tiled bathroom, a gas kiva fireplace, sitting area and private balcony.
The second bedroom is light filled, the queen sized bed features a crewel work headboard from the old Biltmore Hotel, and a window that looks out onto an ivy covered wall.

White washed art covered walls join the two levels. A hand carved reclaimed red wood beam leads into the downstairs living area. The twenty foot ceilings and the kiva fireplace are enhanced with a view through double french doors that lead out to a private dining patio. The intimate garden is surrounded by ten foot adobe walls and a gate to the street.

You can enjoy the eclectic art and quiet before you step out and walk to all that Santa Barbara has to offer. Saturday morning farmers market, the Historic Presidio, the Mission and lower Riviera, music at the Santa Barbara Bowl, movies, the ocean, Santa Barbara courthouse and sunken garden, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, State Street shopping and restaurants.

This is not someone’s home, but a destination dedicated by it’s owners to the notion that others should enjoy the full experience of our special residence and this magnificent city.

Add dates for prices

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Ocean views from the Balcony.
Panorama - Ocean Views on Santa Barbara’s Shoreline
  • Ocean view
  • Spa pool
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
6.0 out of 10, (1 review)
Panorama - Ocean Views on Santa Barbara’s Shoreline

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 35
Check out before 12:00 PM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 13–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Acceptance of this booking is based on both parties agreeing to the terms of the rental agreement. See attached rental agreement.
No pets, no smoking, no exceptions.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Santa Barbara

Located in Laguna, a neighbourhood in Santa Barbara, this holiday home is near theme parks. Rafael Gonzalez House and El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Santa Barbara Channel and Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center. Santa Barbara Natural History Museum and Santa Barbara Zoo are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
View more Holiday homes in Santa BarbaraOpens in a new window
Map
Santa Barbara, CA

What's nearby

  • El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Presidio Santa Barbara - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Lobero Theater - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Santa Barbara County Courthouse - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Santa Barbara Bowl - 18 min walk - 1.6 km

Getting around

  • Santa Barbara Station - 7 min drive
  • Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal) - 17 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Press Room - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Handlebar Coffee - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Mother Dough Bagels - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Arnoldi's Cafe - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪The Blue Owl - ‬7 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Architectural Gem In The Heart Of Downtown Santa Barbara. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Architectural Gem In The Heart Of Downtown Santa Barbara.?

As of 25 March 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Architectural Gem In The Heart Of Downtown Santa Barbara. on 20 June 2026 start from NZ$428, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Architectural Gem In The Heart Of Downtown Santa Barbara.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Architectural Gem In The Heart Of Downtown Santa Barbara.?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Architectural Gem In The Heart Of Downtown Santa Barbara.?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Architectural Gem In The Heart Of Downtown Santa Barbara. located?

Located in Laguna, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Rafael Gonzalez House and Santa Barbara Bowl. El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park and Presidio Santa Barbara are also within 5 minutes. Santa Barbara Station is 21 minutes by foot.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 27 out of 28 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 28 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 28 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 28 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 28 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Philip C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Designer decorated and comfortable in Santa Barbara

Every thing was easy, beautifully decorated and clean.
Stayed 90 nights in Jan 2025
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Marisa W.

Beautifully decorated mission house!

I stayed at Sally's house with some friends of mine for the weekend, and I'm so happy we did. Her place is BEAUTIFUL and really made Santa Barbara feel special! Aside from her amazing home, she was very responsive and accommodating. Highly recommend staying here if you're looking for a relaxing getaway!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2016
Archival

8/10 Good

Leslie B.

Family Vacation

Great visit to Santa Barbara. Accommodations were as expected.....very comfortable and well stocked house. The location was excellent for walking to restaurants and the beach. Sally was available upon arrival and to answer any questions during our stay. We would definitely choose to stay sgain as a family. It would also be a great girl's weekend get away.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Dan E.

This is an awesome downtown property that is walking distance to many great restaurants, etc.

The experience was more than we expected. Sally was there to meet us and to show us everything we needed to know about the home. We did plenty of walking downtown, and never needed to pull the Jeep out of the driveway. The home is decorated beautifully and fits Santa Barbara to a T! We will definitely be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2016
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Sarah G.

Perfectly Located Santa Barbara Gem

This lovely and colorful home was the perfect base for our stay in Santa Barbara. Clean, wonderfully furnished and perfectly appointed with anything you need, comfortable beds and multiple spaces to hang out and relax. There is parking for two cars and the home is located within two blocks of State street with a wide array of restaurants, shopping and entertainment. But if you feel like cooking in the kitchen has everything you need (including the nice touch of two water filter carafes - much needed in Santa Barbara as the tap water is awful to drink otherwise). I would highly recommend this home for a perfect base for exploring Santa Barbara.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic experience

Sally was a great host, and the property was truly special. We had plenty of space, and the location was really convenient, highly recommended!
Stayed 36 nights in Sep 2019
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Chris A.

Quintessential Santa Barbara home

Had a wonderful stay - excellent location, walking distance to everything. Sally was the perfect hostess. We truly felt we had the perfect Santa Barbara experience and this beautiful home made our stay even better!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Brett V.

Excellent Place in the heart of Santa Barbara

Great gem in the heart of Santa Barbara. Close to everything; including all the restaurants and Santa Barbara bowl. Owner was extremely good with communication. Checking in, parking, information - everything was a breeze. Would definitely recommend to all. Excellent.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2016
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Trudy C.

Wonderful stay in a charming house

Recently, my 2 children, their spouses, and I spent 5 days in Santa Barbara. We enjoyed our stay very much. This precious, unique home can accommodate 6 adults comfortably. It is very conveniently located and within walking distance (3, 4 blocks) from downtown. The house was spotless and Sally was very easy to work with. I was astonished to see how well the kitchen was equipped: from flashlight to bottle openers and much more. Coming from Alabama, we were concerned that there was no ac, but it was not needed. What a nice break from our long, hot summers! Thank you, Sally, for making our stay so pleasant.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2016
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Jose N.

Great home near State Street

The well equipped townhouse has all you need for a comfortable stay. Sally was very nice, accommodating, and helpful. Although it is close to State Street, the house feels like a remote retreat. It's light and airy, with a good breeze when you open the windows. I want to come back in the winter and try out the fireplaces.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2016
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Roger K.

Location, Comfort, and Charm.

Location: Our family recently stayed at the “Architectural Gem” property for a week to prepare for, attend, and celebrate our son’s wedding. We originally selected this property because it was within easy walking distance to the wedding site: Potek Winery (http://www.potek.com/), in the nearby Santa Barbara “Funkzone.” We happily discovered that this property was also within walking distance to almost everything else: downtown, restaurants, coffee shops, beaches, parks, etc. Except for forays into the countryside to visit flower farms, our car mostly stayed parked (in the covered carport provided.) Comfort: We found this property to be exceptionally comfortable, remarkably quiet for a downtown location (those thick stucco walls?), and very well (and generously) stocked with all the essentials needed for a week-long family gathering. Charm: We especially admired and enjoyed the creative way Sally decorated her property: an eclectic and colorful collection of artwork of all types: photos, paintings, tile work, statuary, etc. Every room had little “surprises” to be discovered and appreciated. The “charm” adjective can also be applied to our host, Sally, who we found to be exceptionally friendly, gracious, and helpful. We can easily and happily recommend the “Architectural Gem” to others… Roger and Karen
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Colette F.

Quintessential charming Santa Barbara home

Great for a girls getaway! The home is beautiful, cheerful, clean, well-stocked and bright. Located in a safe and central area (no problem walking at night from State Street). Comfortable beds for a good night sleep. Very close to excellent coffee and an easy walk to State Street. Very convenient car port, right outside the door. Owner is very friendly and responsive. Will stay there again on next trip to Santa Barbara.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Robin E.

Beautiful home

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Santa Barbara, and it couldn't have been better than in this quintessential Spanish home. The decorations were beautiful, home comfortable, neighborhood quiet and an easy walk to the downtown area. I would recommend this home to anyone wanting to experience the Santa Barbara life.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2016
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Landon Bassett B.

The perfect mission style stay

This was one of the most cosy and well appointed rental properties we have ever seen. The host, Sally, was very helpful and she obviously takes great care of her place. There are many places in short walking distance, and we would recommend this as a fun weekend getaway.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2016
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Leslye G.

Smile-Maker

The lovely architecture of the townhouse lends light-filled, spacious rooms, full of colorful and interesting artifacts , that provide a great backdrop for the comfortable furnishings, from the linens to the well-stocked kitchen. A sure bet that allowed for quiet time and spaces in the midst of its convenient downtown location. Our hosts were great in all respects and made sure that we were well settled in with all that we needed. Highly recommended!!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Mike P.

Charming house, great location

We spent two months at Sally and Jay's and we couldn't be more pleased. They were the best. Their motto is, "We like our clients to be happy". The house was very clean, everything worked perfectly, the beds are very comfy and high quality. We would highly recommend staying there.
Stayed 59 nights in Feb 2016
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Lisa P.

A Gem Indeed!

We enjoyed everything about our experience from start to finish. The property met all of our expectations and then some. The photos don't actually do it justice as it is even more charming & inviting in person. The owner's pride in the property is evident from the fine linens to the well equipped kitchen, the tasteful decor & unique artifacts, all of which were spotlessly clean and well maintained. It's in a quiet neighborhood but centrally located, making it ideal for walking. You could easily park your car for the entire stay and not need to drive at all. Just a few blocks away, you will find a number of excellent dining options. We especially enjoyed Zaytoon for lunch or dinner and C'est Cheese for breakfast . Lastly, Sally was a pleasure to work with. She responded to all inquiries promptly and even went above & beyond by shipping a forgotten item home to us. We would whole heartedly recommend this property and would most definitely stay here again while visiting Santa Barbara.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2015
Archival

10/10 Excellent

EDWARD P.

Perfect getaway!

Every year we travel to SB to celebrate our wedding anniversary. After looking at a number of properties we made our choice. We were more than satisfied with the location, a few blocks to State Street and the property, a split level two bedroom hose with a great front patio. We highly recommend this property for those looking for access to shopping, the beach, and all SB has to offer!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Mark S.

Second Home

We stayed a month. Very comfortable for longer stays. Owner was quite responsive to any questions or Guidance / recommendations. Excellent location in the middle of town for walking access to most everything. The pictures for this listing do not do it justice. The property is in excellent condition, and well provisioned with the desired comforts of home. We have no need to look further for our futures stays in the American Riviera.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Rachel T.

Ideal Santa Barbara vacation

Excellent location - close to downtown's restaurants and shopping; a pleasant walk to the Mission and easy access to freeway. The property is in great and clean condition, with pleasant decor. The host is very friendly and responsive with lots of wonderful information to explore SB and restaurants etc. We'd definitely stay there again and highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a perfect SB vacation.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Mark R.

Five Star + Accommodations and Location

Absolutely perfect for our Santa Barbara vacation. Close to everything in downtown Santa Barbara - easy to walk from. The old adobe architecture was enhanced by the owner's thoughtful selection of decor elements. One of the few places we have rented on VRBO that was even better than the images online. Very comfortable bedrooms and well stocked kitchen. The owners were helpful and friendly - we now want to move to Santa Barbara!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Sherry M.

This property is truly an Architectural Gem in the heart of SantaBarbara! Easy to walk to shops

This property exceeded my expectations! This is a quaint and unique home in walking distance to many of the best sights and restaurants in SB. This 2 Bedroom home is perfect for a girls weekend or a family get-away. The home is warm and inviting from the moment you walk in the front door. The beautiful rustic Santa Barbara home offers all the necessary amenities with the bonus of being architectural and artistically stunning!!! It's warm and cozy, truly a Gem! We will definitely come back and recommend this location to our friends. Our host was wonderful and very helpful, answering texts and emails in a timely fashion. The best Downtown stay ever!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie L.

Great place to stay in Santa Barbara

This is a very special accommodation! My husband and I spent a wonderful week in this clean, light-filled, tastefully decorated house. When we had weekend guests we all appreciated the privacy of our own bed and bathrooms. The flat is well located for restaurants, shopping, museums, and the beautiful Santa Barbara beach. Very comfortable beds, spacious rooms, well-equipped kitchen, outdoor patio, good internet connection, 2 parking spaces. The friendly and considerate owner Sally communicated promptly and accommodated our late night arrival. We loved our stay and look forward to returning.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

linda m.

Adobe jewel

We met some friends in Santa Barbara for the Easter weekend, and we rented this home so we could all stay together and enjoy each others company, rather than staying in a hotel. The house is very well maintained, beautifully and eclectically decorated and is very comfortable. The living room opens out to a cute patio, and it was nice to be able to keep the doors to the patio open to enjoy the morning sunshine. We had the added bonus of a visit from the owner's (we think!) very pretty calico cat, who stopped in to say hello. We had planned on eating out for most meals, but we ended up eating in more than dining out, because it was just so nice to be able to visit with each other and hang out in this very adorable adobe house. The bedrooms were comfortable and spacious, although you'd better like a lot of light first thing in the morning if you sleep in the guest bedroom, as there is a skylight located rather close to the bed. The kitchen is well appointed, and everything was spotless. It is also located very close to the heart of downtown Santa Barbara and to the wharf area, so you can't beat the location. We would definitely stay here again.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Ai B.

Gorgeous home/perfect location

Absolutely loved this home. Beautifully decorated, perfectly located, comfortable beds and gracious hosts. Cannot say enough about how clean, well stocked and well cared for this home was. We stayed for 3 nights with two teen girls and two 12 year old boys. I loved the gorgeous master suite with the huge bed, private bath, sunny sitting area and adorable balcony. The girls loved having their own private bedroom, the boys dominated the converted sofas in the living room. Because of the split level layout, the living room area was semi-private and worked well for them. Our kids were old enough to be careful with all the beautiful art, and not fall down the stairs - it may not be a good fit for families with younger (or rowdier) kids. Walking distance to fantastic restaurants, shops and the courthouse. Would love to stay there again.

About the host

Hosted by Sally

Host profile image
It is our pleasure to meet our guests, who after repeated stays, become our friends.

Why they chose this property

To view this one of a kind property from the outside, will only make you want to enter to see what will be waiting on the inside.

What makes this property unique

This special hand built home will captivate you with its details. Every room has something unexpected and special. The eclectic decor and unique art work will make you smile the minute you walk through the doorway.

Languages:

English
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback