Press

"Interiors guru Martyn Lawerence Bullard used more than one million tiles in 27 different designs, transporting all the color and texture of Marrakech to the Cali Coast"

- Condé Nast Traveler, 2018 Hot List

 "With its Spanish Mission architecture and Moorish- and Moroccan-inspired interiors by AD100 designer Martyn Lawerence Bullard, the Hotel Californian strikes a decidedly upscale note - goosing traditional Santa Barbara style with a shot of Bullardian glamour and élan."

- Architectural Digest, 2018

"Whereas other beach hotels might feature a swell of rattan pieces, sea-blue art, and white linens, Hotel Californian favors graphic wallpapers, gold snake sconces, and emerald green club chairs."

- ELLE Decor, 2018

"After the inevtiable wine- and cheese-heavy night in the Funk Zone, a few hours in the Majorelle Spa - essentially a Californian interpretaiton of a Moroccan hammam - with its steamy chambers, hot and cold circulation-boosting treatments, and skin-polishing, aromatic scrubs."

- Goop Style, 2018

"The opening event for the giant Santa Barbara property drew in the likes of Michael Keaton, Nicollette Sheridan, Jane Lynch, Bo Derek and John Corbett, who came out to dance, imbibe and enjoy an hourlong acoustic set from John Mayer."

- The Hollywood Reporter, 2018

"Unlike most properties, the Hotel Californian is not hidden behind walls or a formidable facade, but is a one-of-a-kind presence that anchors three of the four corners at Mason & State Streets and allows guests to engage with the beauty and vitality of Santa Barbara."

- LA Confidential, 2018

"The 121-room hotel is an oh-so-Santa-Barbara kind of place, with beautiful facades and decor, cushy rooms, sweeping views and fine restaurants..."

- Los Angeles Times, 2018

"Martyn Bullard's talents - whose attention to detail elevates it from mere hotel to bespoke luxury residence, copmlete with an exclusive rooftop infinity pool - is behind the first true five-star to open in Santa Barbara for some time."

- Modern Luxury Interiors, 2018

"The exterior of the hotel honors Santa Barbara with timeless Spanish architecture, however, a plethora of eye-catching Moroccan tiles, lavish modern seating, and vibrant colors illuminate the interior - think Gatsby with a Turkish twist."

- Santa Barbara Life & Style Magazine, July/August 2018

"The lobby alone is a graphic international experience with Moroccan tiles, Indian screens, and tables from Spain and Portugal."

- Santa Barbara Magazine, Special Issue

"Celebrity designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard leaned into the property's Mediterranean ethos, creating a dream world of intricate wood screens, midcentury Italian furnishings, and a black and white palette punctuated by saffron and Turkish red."

- Sunset Magazine, 2018 Summer Guide

"Forgo the beach for a swim in the rooftop pool - that is, if you can pull yourself away from the countless photo ops. There is not a bad angle in this place."

- Sunset Magazine, 2018 Travel Awards

"Santa Barbara's revived Hotel Californian is every bit bold and beautiful." "And the Funk Zone's Hotel Californian recently unveiled Djinn, its Morrocan-inspired library bar and hideaway lounge serving up craft cocktails and evening entertainment."

-C Magazine

"Mixing the glamour and the nostalgia, referencing the Moroccan, Spanish and Californian traditions, the hotel respects the past of the original Hotel Californian and opens up a new chapter with help from the design of Martyn Lawerence Bullard." 

-Architectural Digest Mexico, February 2019

"Exit the hotel, and the best of the city is within walking distance."

-Afar Magazine, January 2019 Edtion

“Learn how to achieve the perfect pan sear on a piece of fish or make elevated hummus using a couple of unexpected ingredients via Tuesdays with Travis, a weekly culinary demonstration on Instagram offered by Santa Barbara’s Hotel Californian.”

-805 Living, July 2020

“In Santa Barbara, the Hotel Californian is a refreshing hideaway right on the coast, with ocean views, a great on-site restaurant (Blackbird), and a Moroccan spa.”

-Conde Nast Traveler, August 2020

“Sophisticated, classic, and totally refined are all the right adjectives to use to describe the Hotel Californian. With its superb location near the town’s train station, it makes for an easy getaway from Los Angeles.”

-Travel + Leisure, September 2020

“The hotel’s stylish interior décor was designed by elite, A-list designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, embracing Santa Barbara style with impeccable, unexpected details and thought-provoking art at every turn.”

-Forbes Online, September 2020

“The rooms are stylishly appointed and the spa is bedecked in Moroccan blue tile, but the location, just steps from the walkable Funk Zone with its galleries, shops, and 50 bars and restaurants, sets it apart from so many other beachside getaways in town.”

-Sunset Magazine, September 2020

“A stay at the Martyn Lawrence Bullard-designed Hotel Californian is a fabulous respite at the end of a busy day that also offers a can't-miss Mediterranean-style brunch.”

-VERANDA, October 2020

"Situated just moments from Santa Barbara's West Beach, Hotel Claifornian effortlessly blends the laidback Californian way of life with glitzy Hollywood hospitality."

-Elite Traveler, October 2020

Preferred Hotels & Resorts is proud to revognize Hotel Californian as "Hotel of the Year - United States & Canada"

“I loved the hotel interiors that blended Moroccan decor with 1920s Hollywood glamour. My room, called Sestina King, was spacious, with a king bed and partial ocean view from the balcony. After months of being stuck at home, it was nice to feel spoiled.”

-LA Times Online, November 2020