El Encanto, Santa Barbara
Built in 1910 as a private mansion, El Encanto was restored and reimagined as a luxury hotel while preserving its Spanish Colonial architecture and hillside gardens overlooking the Pacific.
El Encanto, Santa Barbara is a hotel destination wedding venue in CA, United States, hosting 200 at dinner, where a wedding for 80 guests costs about US$73,000 (our estimate), reached from Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), 20 minutes.
About El Encanto, Santa Barbara
Built in 1910 as a private mansion, El Encanto was restored and reimagined as a luxury hotel while preserving its Spanish Colonial architecture and hillside gardens overlooking the Pacific.
Perched on 6 acres in the foothills above Santa Barbara, this historic property offers couples a sophisticated venue with century-old character and modern hospitality.
The estate's terraced grounds, original stonework, and coastal vistas create an elegant backdrop for ceremonies and receptions.
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morgan stone · read the whole review on Google →Capacity, rooms and facilities
Capacity
- Seated dinner
- 200 guests
- Standing reception
- 200 guests
Staying over
- Rooms
- 90 rooms
- Sleeps
- 184 guests
- Room types
- 30 listed
- Whole property to yourselves
- Yes
- Whole property must be taken with the wedding
- No
The ceremony
- Outdoor ceremony
- Yes
Money
- A wedding for 80 guests
- About US$73,000, rooms extraAisle estimate
- Price
- US$250 to US$450 per headAisle estimate
- Minimum spend
- US$45,000
House rules
- Music until
- 9pm
- Pets
- Yes
Getting there
- Nearest airport
- SBA, 15 min by car
- Step-free access
- Yes
- Guest transport
- Yes
The spaces
- Event spaces
- Banquet room
- Reception indoors
- Yes
- Reception outdoors
- Yes
- Space for dancing
- Yes
The place
- Swimming pool
- Yes
- Sea view
- Yes
- Gardens
- Yes
- Mountain view
- Yes
- Historic building
- Yes
Food and drink
- In-house catering
- Yes
- Bar on site
- Yes
Venue highlights
- Originally constructed in 1910 and meticulously restored to preserve Spanish Colonial design elements
- 6-acre private estate with panoramic views of the Santa Barbara coastline and Channel Islands
- On-site accommodations with 92 rooms and suites available for guests
- Multiple ceremony and reception spaces including garden pavilions and indoor ballrooms
A sample wedding weekend
See the day-by-day outline+
Use this as a starting point and adapt it to your bookings and guests.
- 3:00 PMGuest arrival and check-in at hotel; welcome reception in garden courtyard
- 6:00 PMRehearsal and dinner for wedding party and family
- 2:00 PMGuest arrival and appetizer hour
- 3:30 PMCeremony in garden pavilion
- 4:30 PMCocktail hour with passed hors d'oeuvres
- 5:30 PMReception dinner and dancing in ballroom
- 8:00 AMFarewell brunch (optional) before guest departures
Costs and booking details
- Getting there
- SBA · about 15 min by carVenue website
Guests fly into Santa Barbara Airport.
- Direct line
- (805) 845-5800
Answered by the venue in local hours.
Questions about the venue
What is the guest capacity at El Encanto?+
The venue accommodates 20 to 150 guests depending on the specific spaces and layout selected for your celebration.
Are accommodations included with the venue rental?+
Guest rooms are available on-site at separate rates. Many couples book the hotel's 92 rooms to house wedding guests, offering convenience and continuity throughout the celebration.
What outdoor spaces are available?+
The property features terraced gardens, fountain courtyards, and manicured lawns across its 6-acre grounds, with multiple scenic locations for ceremonies and cocktail hours.
Does El Encanto provide catering and event planning?+
Yes. In-house catering and a dedicated events team manage all aspects of your wedding, from menu curation to timeline coordination.
What is the best time of year to marry at El Encanto?+
Santa Barbara enjoys mild weather year-round. Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) offer cooler temperatures and clear skies, though the venue is beautiful any season.
Could this be your venue?
Ask about pricing and availability for the month you have in mind. You do not need a fixed date.
Still deciding? Elena is Aisle’s AI wedding planner. Give her a month and a guest count and she will forecast the budget, work out how your guests would travel, and put a first plan on paper. No account needed.
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Sources and booking notes
Confirm your dates, guest numbers, room arrangements and inclusions with the venue before booking. An enquiry does not reserve a date. Figures labelled Aisle estimate are modelled from regional rates and public sources; they are not venue quotes.
Sources for individual venue facts
Seated dinner: 200 guests
“Banquet seats 200 people”
Read the source for seated dinnerStanding reception: 200 guests
“Standing 200 people”
Read the source for standing receptionRooms: 90 rooms
“Originally opened in 1918, El Encanto is a 90-room luxury retreat perched in the Santa Barbara hills, offering sweeping views of the Pacific and unmatched historical charm.”
Read the source for roomsSleeps: 184 guests
“Max. overnight capacity: 184 guests”
Read the source for sleepsRoom types: 30 listed
“Premier King Room”
Read the source for room typesWhole property to yourselves: Yes
“Takeover our 90-room estate for weddings, parties, meetings or incentives and our team will help you to customize every aspect of your stay.”
Read the source for whole property to yourselvesWhole property must be taken with the wedding: No
“Join us for lavish wedding parties or smaller, intimate occasions.”
Read the source for whole property must be taken with the weddingOutdoor ceremony: Yes
“The ceremony is held near the Arbor and Lily Pond.”
Read the source for outdoor ceremonyIn-house catering: Yes
“El Encanto provides in-house food and beverage service.”
Read the source for in-house cateringBar on site: Yes
“There are two signature bars with an emphasis on local wines and herbaceous cocktails; they made me a variety of interesting mocktails that featured the same level of care and attention as the regular alcoholic drinks on the menu.”
Read the source for bar on siteMinimum spend: US$45,000
“A $45,000 Food & Beverage minimum applies — ideal for couples planning a refined, full-service celebration.”
Read the source for minimum spendMusic until: 9pm
“Events must end by 9pm.”
Read the source for music untilPets: Yes
“Pet-friendly, ADA accessible, and minutes from downtown Santa Barbara, El Encanto remains a serene and storied escape for both visitors and locals.”
Read the source for petsNearest airport: SBA, 15 min by car
“SBA”
Read the source for nearest airportStep-free access: Yes
“Pet-friendly, ADA accessible, and minutes from downtown Santa Barbara, El Encanto remains a serene and storied escape for both visitors and locals.”
Read the source for step-free accessGuest transport: Yes
“Courtesy shuttle to sites within a 5-mile radius including downtown, beach, cultural and historical attractions.”
Read the source for guest transportEvent spaces: Banquet room
“Meeting/banquet facilities”
Read the source for event spacesReception indoors: Yes
“The Riviera Ballroom is the main indoor reception space.”
Read the source for reception indoorsReception outdoors: Yes
“Host a micro-wedding by the wishing well, a reception beside wisteria-lined ponds or plan a lavish party in our grand ballroom.”
Read the source for reception outdoorsSpace for dancing: Yes
“Dinner, speeches, cake, and dancing take place in the Riviera Ballroom and adjoining patio.”
Read the source for space for dancingSwimming pool: Yes
“Zero-edge outdoor pool with views overlooking the city to the Channel Islands.”
Read the source for swimming poolSea view: Yes
“Zero-edge swimming pool with panoramic ocean views, full-service spa with seven treatment rooms and a fully equipped Fitness Studio with complimentary fitness classes during weekends.”
Read the source for sea viewGardens: Yes
“The hotel is surrounded by lush terraced gardens and historic trees reminiscent of the Mediterranean.”
Read the source for gardensMountain view: Yes
“Nestled above the Pacific Ocean in the foothills of the majestic Santa Ynez Mountains, El Encanto is a legendary Santa Barbara retreat.”
Read the source for mountain viewHistoric building: Yes
“Set in the hills above downtown, the property combines ocean views, historic architecture, gardens, private bungalows, and a quiet resort atmosphere.”
Read the source for historic building