Review: Simpson House Inn, Santa Barbara, California, USA

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 wh...