Tucked within a secluded acre of manicured gardens in Santa Barbara, Simpson House Inn has long set the benchmark for American hospitality. Built in 1874 for Scotsman Robert Simpson, this Eastlake-style Victorian manor made history in 1997 as the first bed and breakfast in North America to earn AAA’s coveted Five Diamond rating — a title it held exclusively for years.

While modern AAA criteria have since shifted to favour sprawling, mega-resort amenities like 24-hour room service and digital concierges, Simpson House Inn’s current Four Diamond status is anything but a step down. If anything, it demonstrates a refusal to trade intimate, hand-crafted hospitality for standardised corporate luxury, as a stay here quickly proves.

The welcome

It was our first time in California and we arrived via a scenic coastal drive from LAX, with stops for a brief stroll on Malibu Beach and a relaxing brunch en route. The warm hospitality at Simpson House Inn began the moment we pulled in. Rather than having to find a front desk, we were personally greeted at our car and guided through an effortless, informal check-in. The tone was instantly set for a very welcoming and relaxing stay, and was just what we needed to shake off a little jet lag.

The room

At Simpson House Inn, there are guest rooms in the inn itself, as well as in The Carriage House and three free-standing cottages, all of which are set in secluded grounds to the rear of the main property. We were assigned two rooms for our family: The Tack Room in The Carriage House, and the delightful Plumstead Cottage tucked away in the corner of the grounds.

The Tack Room

Discreetly blending…

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