Name: Simpson House Inn
Address: 121 East Arrellaga Street, Upper East, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, US
Price range: $343–$579 per night
Rating: 9.45

What guests think

Travellers praise Simpson House Inn for its serene historic grounds, welcoming staff, and thoughtful extras like gourmet breakfasts, afternoon treats, and an evening wine hour, creating a peaceful, high-touch bed-and-breakfast experience close to downtown Santa Barbara.

Rooms are charming and comfortable, with unique cottages and fireplaces, though a few guests mention smaller sizes, older bathrooms, or soft beds. The location is walkable to State Street yet quiet, offering a restful base that feels tucked away. Expect a tranquil, service-forward stay.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Guests highlight the lush gardens, historic house, and relaxing spaces, plus daily wine hour, afternoon snacks, cookies/tea, and fireplaces; several appreciate on-site parking and private cottages.

Related guest reviews

10

Julie

Jul 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Amazing stay at this beautiful property. Incredible service and hospitality—from afternoon lemonade and iced tea with pastries to happy hour Hors d'oeuvres and wine, to evening cookies and tea to a deliciously cooked gourmet breakfast—we loved it all. Loved the wood burning fireplace in our cottage!

10

Eric

Nov 2, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Our stay at The Simpson House was wonderful. It has an upscale feel, but it’s warm and inviting. We enjoyed wandering the beautiful grounds, sitting in front of the fireplace, the delicious breakfasts on the porch, the appetizers and wine at night and the smiling faces of the staff. It’s truly an oasis in Santa Barbara. Five stars!!

10

Matthew

Apr 30, 2024

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Stayed 1 night

Gorgious property with an English garden. Breakfast included beginning at 8:30; wine and orderves at 5:30 pm. Had a garden room. Which we loved. A find.

10

Ingrid

Jul 4, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Simply the best place to stay at in Santa Barbara. If you’re looking for a relaxing place with friendly staff and conveniently located near the main sightseeing and shopping spots, this is it. There’s parking on the property and there’s also plenty of street parking. A beautiful park is half a block away and you could even walk to the pier. I appreciate the sounds of the water fountains, which there are multiple on the grounds, so you don’t hear people from your room. And it’s very quiet at night. The snacks are plentiful and offered throughout the day, fresh baked! Breakfast is generous, the wine hour is great. The room I stayed in was clean, with decor fitting for a house built in the late 1800’s. There’s a lot of charm and attention to detail that I appreciate. This is not a party house or a place you’ll hear kids running up and down the halls at. Peace and quiet is what you’ll get. :o)

10

Ying

Mar 25, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Can't not say stunning enough. Hotel ground is beautifully designed with trees, flowers and fountains. Jasmine fragrance permeates the air and greets guests upon arrival. Breakfast is served in style with a different entrée each day. Guests are pampered by very attentive servers (Dana is absolutely fabulous). Happy hour everyday with wine and delicious hor'doeuvres from 530 to 630pm.

10

Lisa

Apr 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful historic home and grounds. We stayed in the Pendle Cottage, the largest of the small cottages around the property. Very private and cozy, high quality. If you like B and B's, this place is for you!

10

mary ellen

Apr 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Was very nice property with serene grounds. Offerings of complementary wine and hors d’oeuvres in the pm was enjoyable. Attention of all staff was critical to a fine stay. Pendle cottage was nice and free sodas was appreciated. Only slight ding was the shower was a bit slow to heat up and on the narrow side. Breakfast was excellent. A very pleasant stay!

10

Philippe

Mar 16, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Lovely 19th century house in a beautiful neighborhood, with all you need to spend a wonderful and peaceful moment. Breakfast was extraordinary along with tea and wine&cheese time! The gardens are pristine and beautiful, for a nap time!

10

paimanjot

Jul 6, 2023

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Stayed 2 nights

Amazing attention to detail, beautiful garden. Wine and hors d’oeuvres hour was lovely. Wonderful stay!

10

Edward

Jul 18, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

Simpson House Inn is a unique property. We stayed in the Garden Room which was private and comfortable. The Gardens are wonderful and very relaxing. Fresh baked afternoon scones and later appetisers were delicious and unexpected. Home cooked breakfast was also excellent and the staff very pleasant and accommodating. Safe parking on site. We will return.

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Cleanliness

Reviews frequently note spotless rooms and well-kept, beautifully maintained grounds, though a few mention worn areas or a stuffy, old-room smell.

Related guest reviews

8

Amir

Jul 10, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful grounds, attentive staff, delicious food. Really enjoyed the stay. The room was a bit stuffy - had a bit of a dusty / old smell to it unfortunately but otherwise it was great.

10

Saypin

Sep 17, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

I love this place. This is my 2nd times, clean , staff friendly

10

Tracy

Jul 8, 2024

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This is a wonderful gem that's perfect for a quiet getaway. The staff is fantastic and the grounds are immaculate. 10/10.

8

Peter

Jan 24, 2024

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Stayed 3 nights

Excellent service and staff were very helpful. Hotel is a charm but a bit worn

8

Thomas

May 13, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

The property is definitely beautiful. The rooms are very clean. The hors d’oeuvres were lacking. Seemed like they were all premade frozen and they warmed them up. Also, for room service you had to pay $10 for them to walk across the yard.

10

LUCIEANN

Oct 7, 2024

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Stayed 2 nights

It’s always a treat to stay at the Simpson House, though I am a-bit concerned if the new investor’s(original owners sold about 2 years ago) will put the money needed to keep the property up? I did see some some areas both on the outside and inside of property that need attention🥹I love this place and would be very sad if it’s not kept up like it deserves❣️

10

ESMAEIL

Mar 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This property was beautiful and clean, and I can go on and on! The staff were amazing, friendly, and just sweet people. We will go back again!

10

sarah

Sep 14, 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

The rooms were clean and comfortable. The grounds were well kept and quiet. The breakfast and afternoon snacks were always great! Would recommend to anyone who wants access to state street but also a quiet stay.

10

Joe

Nov 3, 2023

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Stayed 1 night

The grounds and the house are beautifully maintained. It’s quiet and cozy. A hidden gem.

10

Tiffany-Lynn

Aug 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

There was absolutely nothing about this property that wasn’t a 10!! The staff contacted me the day before I arrived They greeted us at the car as we pulled in Everything in the room was spotless and clean The grounds are beautiful The check-in process was flawless Thank you, Olivia, Frank and Keydra. And all the other stuff I didn’t get their names. We will definitely be back. Thank you so much.

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Rooms

Rooms and cottages are cozy and characterful, often with fireplaces and private outdoor spaces; some are small or have older bathrooms, soft beds, or tight showers.

Related guest reviews

8

Lea

Jun 1, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The grounds were beautiful, so lovely and quiet. Breakfast and happy hour were also wonderful, great homemade food. I did not know when I booked my room that I had booked a "specific queen" room w/the bathroom outside of the room. The Mary Simpson room. Each room has a specific identity. We were staying w/2 other couples for a wedding at the hotel. I think we all felt it was a little overpriced given the 450.00 plus for the rooms. The rooms were pretty small. If you want to stay in a historical old house instead of a hotel this is a good place, check out your room to make sure its what you want.

10

Julie

Jul 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Amazing stay at this beautiful property. Incredible service and hospitality—from afternoon lemonade and iced tea with pastries to happy hour Hors d'oeuvres and wine, to evening cookies and tea to a deliciously cooked gourmet breakfast—we loved it all. Loved the wood burning fireplace in our cottage!

10

Angela

Jul 9, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

A superb place to stay. Staff are all super friendly and helpful and provide excellent service. Our room the Robert & Julia Simpson room was spacious and comfortable with an amazing outdoor space. Loved the blend of the old and new as despite being decorated in an historic style there were USB chargers beside the bed. Good variety of food and the quality was outstanding. Great location near to some good neighbourhood restaurants. Gardens are beautiful and great to return to peace and tranquility after a day out.

10

Lisa

Jun 19, 2024

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Stayed 1 night

Sadly we only had one night here! From the moment we arrived it was just wonderful. A real lovely welcome to a charming little country house hotel, a real hidden gem. Complementary wine and nibbles were great as was breakfast. The only slight downside was that our bed was far too soft for us and so we didn’t get a good rest. We would love to visit again but would discuss other room options with the property. A really great place, highly recommended.

10

Shawna

May 16, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We stayed one night at the Simpson House. Beautiful property and in the perfect Santa Barbara location just blocks off the promenade. The service was great. Loved the afternoon snacks. We stayed in the garden room and it was nice, although bathroom is outdated and bed was not very comfortable. My biggest complaint was the breakfast- coffee was bad and my scrambled eggs were really bad. Definitely expected better food for a 5 star place (and for the price we paid). Also a maintenance person was sweeping or doing something on our private patio very early in the morning. Didn’t love that.

10

Lisa

Apr 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful historic home and grounds. We stayed in the Pendle Cottage, the largest of the small cottages around the property. Very private and cozy, high quality. If you like B and B's, this place is for you!

10

mary ellen

Apr 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Was very nice property with serene grounds. Offerings of complementary wine and hors d’oeuvres in the pm was enjoyable. Attention of all staff was critical to a fine stay. Pendle cottage was nice and free sodas was appreciated. Only slight ding was the shower was a bit slow to heat up and on the narrow side. Breakfast was excellent. A very pleasant stay!

10

IRINA

Sep 7, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I really liked the charm of the property and the delicious breakfasts on the veranda. The room was small but lovely. Staff are friendly. Overall good impression.

10

Tyler

May 9, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The Simpson house was great!! Room was clean, the cottage we stayed in was not attached to another room. The morning breakfast was perfect. Can not say enough good things about this place

10

Edward

Jul 18, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Simpson House Inn is a unique property. We stayed in the Garden Room which was private and comfortable. The Gardens are wonderful and very relaxing. Fresh baked afternoon scones and later appetisers were delicious and unexpected. Home cooked breakfast was also excellent and the staff very pleasant and accommodating. Safe parking on site. We will return.

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Service

Service is consistently warm, attentive, and personalized, with staff proactively welcoming guests, offering helpful guidance, and accommodating special requests and early check-ins.

Related guest reviews

10

Robert

Aug 25, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Had a great stay at The Simpson Inn and can't wait to return. Was greeted on our arrival and given a tour of the entire property ending up at our lodging, the Tack Room. Outstanding space on the downstairs portion of the building with our own porch. Happy Hour with Hors d'oeuvres was very nice with a good selection of local wines and very tasty food. Breakfast was also great and David took excellent care of us for both mornings. Small complaint regarding that is it doesn't start until 8:30am. For those who like to rise earlier than that could be problem if you had a busy day planned ahead of you. Overall fantastic accommodations and very relaxing.

10

KELLY

Oct 17, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Such a wonderful place to stay. So thoughtful and so many personalized touches. I cannot wait to come back.

10

Katherine

May 11, 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

The charm and beauty of the grounds, the friendly interaction with the staff, the deliciously satisfying breakfasts and heavy Hors d’Oeuvres and wine hours make your stay truly unique and relaxing. A stay at Simpson House Inn is a great escape from the daily grind. From the moment you walk up, you are enveloped in peace and tranquillity. Would love to come back.

10

Nicholas

Oct 18, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Relaxing and calming property. The staff was friendly and prompt.

10

Ernest

Mar 15, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Some of the most friendly and excellent staff of anywhere I’ve ever stayed and an absolutely beautiful place with all sorts of tasteful amenities. Will definitely come back

10

Beiyu

Apr 1, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Exceptional service!

10

Daniel

Aug 28, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The Simpson House Inn is a wonderfully maintained oasis near downtown Santa Barbara. This is not a Five Star HOTEL but a superb B&B the likes of which we have previously enjoyed living in new and old England. The staff are excellent ... David has a wonderfully dry wit. Evening Happy Hour in the salon is generous. Plumstead Cottage is charming with a quirky plan (do note that the bed and bath are on the second floor). In all a fabulous base for Santa Barbara and beyond.

10

Steve

Jan 31, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Simpson House staff was amazing!! Thank you so much for making our visit so special. We needed to get into our room a little earlier to change for an afternoon event, and they were super accommodating. The charm of this place is second to none, and we were very fortunate our daughter and son-in-law recommended it! Thank you!

10

Tiffany-Lynn

Aug 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

There was absolutely nothing about this property that wasn’t a 10!! The staff contacted me the day before I arrived They greeted us at the car as we pulled in Everything in the room was spotless and clean The grounds are beautiful The check-in process was flawless Thank you, Olivia, Frank and Keydra. And all the other stuff I didn’t get their names. We will definitely be back. Thank you so much.

10

Marsha

Sep 6, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Absolutely beautiful property! The staff was very attentive and helpful. I would highly recommend Simpson House!

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Location

Close to downtown and State Street with easy walking access, yet quiet and residential; a few note it’s a short drive or a little out of the way.

Related guest reviews

10

ilene

Nov 1, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

A little out of the way from town, but lovely, quaint and in all ways special.

10

Ken

Oct 16, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent food and service. Really enjoyed the location and the walk ability to restaurants in downtown.

10

calvin

Nov 3, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

This is a unique property. Very close to town and restaurants and walkable. And yet you seem away from all of the hustle and bustle when you are on the property. Staff are very personable and helpful. I would recommend this property to anyone wanting a comfortable getaway

10

Caroline

Jul 18, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful bed and breakfast 10 minutes away from Downtown Santa Barbara.

10

Angela

Jul 9, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

A superb place to stay. Staff are all super friendly and helpful and provide excellent service. Our room the Robert & Julia Simpson room was spacious and comfortable with an amazing outdoor space. Loved the blend of the old and new as despite being decorated in an historic style there were USB chargers beside the bed. Good variety of food and the quality was outstanding. Great location near to some good neighbourhood restaurants. Gardens are beautiful and great to return to peace and tranquility after a day out.

10

Ingrid

Jul 4, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Simply the best place to stay at in Santa Barbara. If you’re looking for a relaxing place with friendly staff and conveniently located near the main sightseeing and shopping spots, this is it. There’s parking on the property and there’s also plenty of street parking. A beautiful park is half a block away and you could even walk to the pier. I appreciate the sounds of the water fountains, which there are multiple on the grounds, so you don’t hear people from your room. And it’s very quiet at night. The snacks are plentiful and offered throughout the day, fresh baked! Breakfast is generous, the wine hour is great. The room I stayed in was clean, with decor fitting for a house built in the late 1800’s. There’s a lot of charm and attention to detail that I appreciate. This is not a party house or a place you’ll hear kids running up and down the halls at. Peace and quiet is what you’ll get. :o)

10

sarah

Sep 14, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The rooms were clean and comfortable. The grounds were well kept and quiet. The breakfast and afternoon snacks were always great! Would recommend to anyone who wants access to state street but also a quiet stay.

10

Jacob

Feb 29, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Such a quiet, calm place to stay. Short drive downtown. Staff is amazing.

10

Francis

Dec 1, 2022

·

Stayed 19,322 nights

This is a cozy Bed and Breakfast nestled right in the city of Santa Barbara and only a few blocks from all that is State Street. The staff are always helpful and pleasant - even provided us with a list of Wine Tasting that would be open on Thanksgiving Day!

10

Steve

Aug 17, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very nice and full service B&B. Great service, nice rooms, great location

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Dining

Breakfast and the evening wine and hors d'oeuvres are widely praised, with snacks available throughout the day; a few guests found portions or quality inconsistent, citing lighter offerings or disappointing coffee and eggs.

Related guest reviews

10

Maria

Jul 21, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The BEST wine reception we’ve ever had! Great staff. Lovely place. Worth your time and money.

10

Marco

Apr 21, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great breakfast included; snacks available throughout the day and exceptional happy hour wine and hors d'oeuvres. Will definitely go back if in the area.

10

Julie

Jul 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Amazing stay at this beautiful property. Incredible service and hospitality—from afternoon lemonade and iced tea with pastries to happy hour Hors d'oeuvres and wine, to evening cookies and tea to a deliciously cooked gourmet breakfast—we loved it all. Loved the wood burning fireplace in our cottage!

10

Eric

Nov 2, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Our stay at The Simpson House was wonderful. It has an upscale feel, but it’s warm and inviting. We enjoyed wandering the beautiful grounds, sitting in front of the fireplace, the delicious breakfasts on the porch, the appetizers and wine at night and the smiling faces of the staff. It’s truly an oasis in Santa Barbara. Five stars!!

10

Shawna

May 16, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We stayed one night at the Simpson House. Beautiful property and in the perfect Santa Barbara location just blocks off the promenade. The service was great. Loved the afternoon snacks. We stayed in the garden room and it was nice, although bathroom is outdated and bed was not very comfortable. My biggest complaint was the breakfast- coffee was bad and my scrambled eggs were really bad. Definitely expected better food for a 5 star place (and for the price we paid). Also a maintenance person was sweeping or doing something on our private patio very early in the morning. Didn’t love that.

8

Thomas

May 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The property is definitely beautiful. The rooms are very clean. The hors d’oeuvres were lacking. Seemed like they were all premade frozen and they warmed them up. Also, for room service you had to pay $10 for them to walk across the yard.

10

Kathy

Aug 17, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We came to The Simpson House Inn to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. Everything was perfect!! The Victorian Inn and the beautiful gardens were spectacular! The happy hour appetizers were great as was the breakfast. They also serve refreshments in the afternoon should you need something to hold you over until happy hour. The service was exceptional in all areas! I recommended this for anyone wanting a special place to stay in Santa Barbara!

6

Manuel

Jul 26, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We have been to the Simpson House Bed & Breakfast before. The staff is always superb and attentive. The grounds are always beautiful, the location is perfect, closed to the SB Bowl and downtown. The only disappointment this time was the breakfast, it tasted great but compare to our last visits, it sure suffered from ‘shrinkflation’….

10

mary ellen

Apr 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Was very nice property with serene grounds. Offerings of complementary wine and hors d’oeuvres in the pm was enjoyable. Attention of all staff was critical to a fine stay. Pendle cottage was nice and free sodas was appreciated. Only slight ding was the shower was a bit slow to heat up and on the narrow side. Breakfast was excellent. A very pleasant stay!

10

Don

Jul 15, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

Absolutely gorgeous property and lovely staff. Food was good, not great, but the experience was fantastic.

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Month	Average price
January	$326
February	$353
March	$424
April	$427
May	$412
June	$433
July	$444
August	$431
September	$390
October	$401
November	$375
December	$342

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $463	2	3
4 $463	5 $422	6 $428	7 $388	8 $453	9	10
11 $481	12 $428	13 $435	14 $441	15 $571	16	17
18 $439	19 $493	20 $559	21 $458	22 $510	23 $579	24
25	26 $457	27 $481	28 $480	29 $438	30	31

Simpson House Inn

Prices for Simpson House Inn

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Signature Room, Accessible, Jetted Tub, Fireplace (Carriage Room)

Superior Room, 1 King Bed, Fireplace (Parlor)

Superior Room, 1 Queen Bed, Balcony, Garden View (Sun Room)

Superior Room, 1 King Bed, Patio, Fireplace (Tack Room)

Loft, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Fireplace, Garden View (Hayloft)

Superior Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Garden View (Robert and Julia Simpson)

Luxury Bungalow, 1 Queen Bed, Patio, Garden Area (The Garden Room)

Superior Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Fireplace, Garden View (Weathervane)

Standard Room, 1 King Bed (Mary Simpson Room)

Luxury Cottage, 1 Queen Bed, Jetted Tub, Fireplace (Abbeywood Cottage)

Traditional Suite, 1 King Bed, Kitchen, Fireplace (Pendle Cottage)

Superior Room, 1 Queen Bed (Margaret Simpson)

Luxury Cottage, 1 Queen Bed, Jetted Tub, Fireplace (Greenwich Cottage)

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed (Katharine Mccormick)

Luxury Cottage, 1 Queen Bed, Jetted Tub, Fireplace (Plumstead Cottage)

Guest reviews of Simpson House Inn

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

FAQs about Simpson House Inn

Prices for upcoming dates

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20 $343	21 $382	22 $370	23 $443	24 $446	25	26
27 $418	28 $462	29 $481	30 $426