Apartment

Iconic, Unique Home in the Heart of Downtown SB!

Photo gallery for Iconic, Unique Home in the Heart of Downtown SB!

A Santa Barbara landmark!
Gated entrance leads to front door
All in the details
Plenty of living space to lounge in and enjoy!
Crisp, contemporary main bedroom

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 494 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
Santa Barbara, CA
  • Santa Barbara County Courthouse
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Santa Barbara Bowl
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Stearns Wharf
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal)
    ‪13 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Master bedroom- comfortable queen!

1 Queen Bed

Queen bed w/ twin bunks!

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

1 bathroom

Spacious bathroom!

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Iconic, Unique Home in the Heart of Downtown SB!

El Jardin Pequeno

Enter the wild and wacky world of Jeff Shelton!

Vacation Rentals of Santa Barbara is proud to manage a home built by this world-renowned, Santa Barbara local architect, with a one-of-a-kind way of looking at the world. His ingenious fusion of whimsical artistry and vibrant function culminate in some of the most well-recognized buildings and happy homes in downtown Santa Barbara.

El Jardin Pequeno is the two bedroom one bathroom home located on the second level of a 4-story building known as “El Jardin,” in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. From street level, ascend the colorful steps that lead to a memorable retreat with plenty of personality. Morrocan tile, bright use of hand tooled glass, and custom wrought iron in varying shapes, are just the beginning of the signature style that makes staying at a Shelton-designed home a lively and fun experience for each and every guest.

Cozy up on the blue velvet couch for movie night in front of a large flat screen tv. Whip up a yummy meal in the super-efficient KITCHENETTE with dual burner induction cooktop, microwave, and raised bar, please note there is no oven. One of the most stunning features is the unique suspended dining table with a smooth piano finish, and an irregular whimsical shape that makes game night or mealtime amusing. Hidden away is a full-capacity front-loading washer and dryer, perfect for extended stays or to keep towels ready for the next oceanfront outing.

A sunny bedroom with a queen-size bed has the added sleeping convenience of a twin bunk bed to sleep four guests comfortably. In a second bedroom, enjoy a restful night's sleep, or a well-deserved breakfast in bed, in the comfortable queen-size bed. From either room, enjoy mountain views over Santa Barbara's red tile roofs, or awake to sunrise casting a warm glow over the city. A shared hall bathroom completes the offerings of this cool city apartment-style retreat.

Head out the front door to explore all that Santa Barbara has to offer. Take a self-guided tour of the other Shelton-designed homes, gather organic ingredients for dinner at the local Farmer's Market, sip tasty wines in the Funk Zone, or simply stroll over to nearby State Street, alive with energy and world-class shopping, eateries, galleries, theater and more.

Treat yourself to a memorable stay at El Jardin Pequeno, for the fun of it!

Additionally available upon special request is a third bedroom suite at ground level that can accommodate two more guests. A king-size bed, television, bathroom with walk-in shower, and ample size closet appoint this private suite nicely. [Additional rates may apply]

Property manager

Vacation Rentals of Santa Barbara
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Guests are required to submit their signed contract and initial payment to Vacation Rentals of Santa Barbara no later than 24 hours after booking.
Reserving guests will be required to complete a secure ID verification during the booking process. Failure to do so will result in void reservation.

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
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

About the area

Santa Barbara

Located in Santa Barbara, this apartment is in the city centre. Santa Barbara County Courthouse is a notable landmark, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor. Check out an event or a game at Santa Barbara Bowl, and consider making time for Santa Barbara Zoo, a top attraction not to be missed. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and mountain climbing.
Map
Santa Barbara, CA

What's nearby

  • Santa Barbara County Courthouse - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Santa Barbara Harbor - 3 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Santa Barbara Bowl - 3 min drive - 1.5 km
  • Santa Barbara Zoo - 3 min drive - 3.3 km
  • Stearns Wharf - 3 min drive - 2.2 km

Getting around

  • Santa Barbara Station - 19 min walk
  • Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Dargan's Irish Pub & Restaurant - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪McConnell's Fine Ice Creams - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Cajé Coffee Roasters - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Blenders In The Grass - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Handlebar Coffee Roasters - ‬3 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Iconic, Unique Home in the Heart of Downtown SB! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Iconic, Unique Home in the Heart of Downtown SB!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Iconic, Unique Home in the Heart of Downtown SB!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Iconic, Unique Home in the Heart of Downtown SB! located?

Located in Laguna, this apartment building is within a 10-minute walk of El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park and Santa Barbara County Courthouse. Rafael Gonzalez House and Santa Barbara Historical Museum are just steps away. Santa Barbara Station is 19 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. 30 out of 33 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 33 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 33 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 33 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 33 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan K.

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

Great stay near downtown SB

My family and I enjoyed our stay at the apartment. The building architecture was interesting and the location was great. The apartment itself was spacious and a comfortable layout for my family. Would definitely stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gary T.

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

Great location - clean and comfortable

The place was just what we wanted: easy and close by, clean and spacious enough for the three of us. One highlight is the large dining table because we are board gamers and had a great spot to play! The one bathroom (as advertized) was big and easy to share.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kyle K.

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

Great location, beautiful property

Loved everything about our stay. They place was clean, comfortable and the location was perfect!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

J M.

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

Great location and unique property

We liked the location and unique look of the property. Would stay there again.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jereb C.

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

Great location

Loved this place! Walking distance to state st and all the food!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Caroline G.

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

Beautiful property!

Great property and fabulous location.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tessa H.

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

Great location, fabulous house.

Wonderful time on this beautiful home.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sara M.

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

Perfect getaway

This was a wondeful property for a quick family getaway. Beautiful architecture, very clean, responsive property manager, walking distance to restaurants and beach. Will stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sadick

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

Great location

We had a blast in this cool pad in the heart of downtown S.B.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brooke B.

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

Great property!

Wonderful location, beautiful architecture and furnishings. Efficiency kitchen for the basics with lots of great restaurants to eat at within a couple of blocks!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Julie B.

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

Unique Experience

Such a beautiful building inside and out!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joy B.

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

Pequino-beautiful & close to everything

Two adults, 18 days.The apartment is as described. We found the unique and handmade elements throughout to be delightful.The rooms are large, though the kitchen is tiny. But who cares?--with so many good restaurants and bakeries within a few minutes walking distance.Though only one bathroom, it is large.The hot water in the bathroom sink is warm, but the shower has plenty of hot water. The washing machine and dryer worked fine.The property management agency is absolutely the BEST I've ever dealt with. Prompt and satisfactory responses were provided to every question or problem.Onstreet parking was not difficult in February, so we did not use the designated parking place.The long stairs up to this first floor apartment are steep and narrow, a bit difficult to negotiate with big suitcases.Don't miss the nearby farmers market on Tuesday and Saturday.Overall, we loved the unit, the excellent service and downtown location.
Stayed 17 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

James F.

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

Nice stay, easy walking distance

Property was very clean and an quick walk to restaurants and shopping. We rented the third bedroom almost solely for the extra bathroom. Would recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Phillip M., Salt Lake City

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

Quick toR

Great location. Beautiful building. Super quiet and comfortable
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Paul B.

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

Wonderful apartment

Wonderful apartment in an historic and artistic building in Santa Barbara. Very clean and tidy, with nice furnishings. We loved the place, as it was within easy walking distance of downtown, and was very quiet at night. 100% would return!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deborah M.

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

SB escape

Roomy, eclectic environment. Loved the design and decor. Great location for restaurants, bars, shopping and the SB Bowl, but in a residential area.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Wonderful downtown apartment.

Fantastic downtown location. We (2 couples) were very comfortable, even though we stayed during an unusual Santa Barbara hear wave. Short walk to every Santa Barbara attraction. Well-appointed apartment with plenty of space. Overall, a great place to stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gerald Y.

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

Great flat near state street

Clean unit well designed and neat State street and restaurants, coffee shops, retail. High walking score!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

barbara o.

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

Fabulous find in SB

Very unique architecture wherein evefy detail was asthetically pleasing to the senses. It was truly appreciated and we enjoyede ery mo.ent of our glorious stay. The apartment was appointedwith luxufiousitems and immacate. A great location that enabled us to walk around and not bother with the car. Thanks for a a perfect girls weekend
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laura H.

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

SBCC home Football Game!

The property is not only architecturally, stimulating and exciting. It is spacious and lovely on the inside! The property manager was very responsive and quick to reply. With the few questions we had during our stay check-in was a breeze. The location is it 10! Walking distance from all of the local attractions, restaurants, and shopping.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Donna A.

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

Great location, comfortable bed, sofa and nice television location.

The general feeling is somewhat dated. The single bathroom for a 2 bedroom was disappointing. Very small wicker table was the only place to put bathroom necessities, literally 12 x 12 inches in a pretty large space. Electrical outlets were complex— sometime worked sometimes didn’t— very frustrating. Otherwise decent furnishings and great location.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patti M.

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

Patti

Absolutely loved the property and location. At first I thought we were far from everything. But found a delcicous coffee shop, Handlebar, a fabulous breakfast and pastry shop, Alessia’s and a great Mexican restaurant La Playa Azul all within 600 feet. And State Street is just a little further!! Would absolutely stay here again! Michele’s communication is fantastic!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Reetu C.

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

Great location for short stay

This unit was in a great location with a short walk downtown and short drive to the beach. It was clean and easily accommodated our family of four during our short two night stay. It has a small kitchen and cooktop perfect for a light breakfast before heading out but probably not condusive to cooking full meals. We also had trouble accessing the washer/dryer, which wasn't a big deal for our short stay. I would recommend this as a unique and comfortable place to stay if you plan to have most meals out on the town, which you totally should because the food and atmosphere is great!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert T.

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

Santa Barbara

The place was roomy for a two bedroom place. The media had Apple TV and Roku and Netflix devices. The shower water pressure was just enough. It would be nice if it was stronger. But this is not a big deal. The bathroom door needs the lock fixed as it wasn't able to be locked. Again not a show stopper but it would be nice if the house was checked first here and there just to keep the quality from going down. But overall we were happy.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

Accurate description on VRBO. Great location for walking to downtown. Comfortable beds and great towels. Kitchen is small but well stocked.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

About the host

Hosted by Vacation Rentals of Santa Barbara

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests