We decided to go east of Santa Barbara County, toward the seaside community of Montecito, for a staycation at our favorite SoCal hotel—the Rosewood Miramar Beach Hotel.
The Rosewood has become one of Southern California’s top secluded hot spots for Celebrities. It is quiet, tucked away, and very luxurious. We love the privacy in this place, and my little girls enjoyed running around the manicured lawns in front of the Manor House. At night, Kenton taught them how to do S’mores after lighting up a bonfire near one of the bungalow clusters.
Family Theme Is in the Resort’s Roots
The history of this 16-acre property goes way back to the late 1800s. Its original owners—Josiah and Emmeline Doulton—built small cottages in the 1870s for their visiting relatives and friends. The couple later welcomed outsiders and adopted the name Miramar Hotel. The Doultons sold the estate in 1939 during the Great Depression.
Miramar By the Sea Hotel, as it was later called, continued operating until 1998 before shutting down in 2000. Its new owner then abandoned renovation plans due to the economic slump. In 2007, mall developer Rick Caruso (also famous for The Grove outdoor Mall in Los Angeles, CA) bought the site. He worked with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to redevelop the area until it was finally opened in 2019.
Manor House Suite
We chose to stay at one of the suites at The Manor House, the main building, this time around. The specific room we were in was called the Miramar Suite. This one-bedroom 1,340-square-foot suite has two bathrooms, a dining room, living room, and it features a spacious and furnished terrace with a view of the pool area.
In our previous visit here, we booked one of the garden bungalows, which is quite far off the beachfront.
Other Accommodations
The Beach House
Of the resort’s 124 rooms and 36 suites, 22 rooms and studios are located at the two-level Beach House Building, which sits right on Miramar Beach. The place also houses four suites.
Bungalows
The resort has two types of bungalows: the larger ones have semi-private courtyards and can accommodate up to four guests. Meanwhile, the smaller garden bungalows can fit up to three people. There’s also the Grand Bungalow, which has its own kitchen, parlor with fireplace, and furnished outdoor terrace.
The Lanai House
There are more rooms and suites at the two-story Lanai House buildings. Both accommodations have furnished patios. Its suites feature a living room with a fireplace and a dining area.
Amenities
Rooms and suites
The guest rooms and suites have Wi-Fi, a thermostat, LED TV sets, Nespresso machines, bathrobes, slippers, hairdryers, and free-standing bathtubs.
The mobility or hearing accessible units feature Braille and tactile signages, as well as a layout and furnishings that suit the needs of those with disabilities. There are also roll-in showers with hand-held showerheads, TV sets with closed captioning, and outlets for text telephones for the deaf.
Gym and spa
The resort’s fitness studio has an indoor area for aerobics, Pilates, and yoga. Meanwhile, its outdoor area features Woodway and Peloton treadmills. Private fitness classes are available.
If you need some pampering, you can get a facial, body scrub, massage, manicure, or pedicure at the Rosewood Miramar Spa.
Pools
The family-friendly Manor Pool, which gently slopes from 3.5 to 5 feet, is surrounded by seven cabanas. It features the Scoop Shop, which serves ice cream and burgers. Meanwhile, there are 19 cabanas around the zero-edge, adult Cabana Pool. You can purchase Cocktails at the nearby Cabana Bar within the Adult area pool.
Car service
The resort’s concierge can arrange a car rental or taxi and limousine services for your convenience. They also have an in-house car (Lincoln Navigator) service that will take you anywhere within a 5-mile radius of the rosewood hotel Miramar.
Restaurants
Besides the Scoop Shop and Cabana Bar, the resort’s other restaurants include:
Caruso’s
The waterfront Rosewood Miramar restaurant was added to the Michelin Guide this year. It’s helmed by Italian chef Massimo Falsini, who’s passionate about seafood and other ingredients from Santa Barbara’s food markets.
Miramar Beach Bar
Designed to resemble the deck of a ship, this bar—found just above Caruso’s—serves cocktails, sushi, poke bowls, and other snacks.
The Manor Bar
You can retreat into this candlelit room with wood-paneled walls and leather chairs to try hand-crafted cocktails named after classic titles such as A Clockwork Orange, Mornings in Mexico, and Old Man and the Sea.
The Revere Room
This all-day eatery is named after California renowned architect, the late Paul Revere Williams. Locally harvested and grown ingredients are used for its health-conscious menu.
Shops
Brunello Cucinelli, Gwyneth Paltrow’s goop, James Perse’s The Gatehouse, and The Webster have outlets within the Rosewood Miramar Resort.
More About Montecito
Montecito, which is 122 miles away from Orange County, is famous for its A-list celebrity residents. But it’s also known for many other attractions within and around it:
Beaches
Besides Miramar, East Beach and West Beach draw the most tourists. There’s also the kid-friendly Arroyo Burro County Beach Park (also called Hendry’s) and two surfer favorites—Butterfly Beach and Leadbetter Beach.
Museums
For educational adventures, head to State Street and visit MOXI, a contemporary art and science museum. There’s also the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum on Harbor Way and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in Mission Canyon behind the Santa Barbara Mission.
Food and drinks
You can try Cava or Los Arroyos if you’re craving for sit-down Mexican meals, Lucky’s for steaks, or Oliver’s for some vegan fare.
Successful Summer Welcome at Montecito
I’d recommend Rosewood Miramar Beach as a family getaway. The staff’s excellent customer service supports the relaxing environment that the resort and community provide.
If you have already been there or you are planning to visit soon, Let me know how your experience was!
Check out our YouTube video below for an inside look into the hotel and our Santa Barbara, Montecito, CA vacation:
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