Mark your calendars. The March 18 opening date of El Encanto is fast approaching and we can barely contain our excitement. The legendary hotel—a favorite hideaway for celebrities—has been given a new lease on life thanks to a big renovation by Orient-Express. You’ll find 92 California-style bungalows surrounded by lushly landscaped gardens on a hilltop overlooking Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean beyond. You couldn’t ask for a more romantic setting.
Managed by Laura McIver, El Encanto will have a seven-room spa, a gorgeous outdoor swimming pool, a ballroom with private terrace (we hear wedding bells), and a destination restaurant serving up contemporary California-coastal cuisine (organic and locally sourced ingredients, of course) and a Santa Barbara dedicated wine list. For more information, visit www.elencanto.com
Photo via Facebook.com/ElEncantoHotel