Dog Friendly Vacation at the Kimpton Canary Hotel

Coastal Chic Nancy Meyers Vacation at the KIMPTON Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara

DOUG AND I TOOK A QUICK LITTLE ROAD TRIP TO THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF SANTA BARBARA RECENTLY. WE ENCOUNTERED ONE OF THE ONLY RAINY WEEKENDS IN THE NORMALLY SUNNY CALIFORNIA BEACH TOWN, BUT WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO STAY COZY AND WARM AT THE BEAUTIFUL KIMPTON CANARY HOTEL!

WE CHANNELED DIANE KEATON AND LIVED OUR COASTAL GRANDMA CHIC AESTHETIC DREAMS. THINK: A LARGE BOWL OF FRESH PASTA, OUR NESPRESSO BREWING, A CANOPY BED, OVERSIZED TURTLENECKS, LINEN CURTAINS & A DOG WEARING A SWEATER IN THE RAIN.

Erin Perry & Doug the Dog at Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara

Holiday decorations at the Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara

KIMPTON CANARY HOTEL DETAILS

THE KIMPTON CANARY HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN SANTA BARBARA IS JUST A BLOCK AWAY FROM STATE STREET, ONE OF MY FAVORITE OUTDOOR SHOPPING & RESTAURANT AREAS.

THE HOTEL IS A MEMBER OF THE KIMPTON BRAND. KIMPTON HOTELS ARE PART OF IHG, BUT WHAT MAKES THEM SPECIAL IS THEIR FOCUS ON A “LOCALIZED HOTEL EXPERIENCE”. I REMEMBER STAYING AT ANOTHER KIMPTON HOTEL YEARS AGO AND LEARNING THAT KIMPTON CREATED THE BOUTIQUE HOTEL INDUSTRY IN AMERICA. AND IT SHOWS IN THE INTEGRATION OF LOCAL DESIGN, FOOD AND BEVERAGE AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

Erin Perry & Doug the Dog at Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara drinking coffee in bed

WHEN WE GOT TO THE HOTEL (BY WE, I MEAN DOUG AND I), WE WERE RUNNING A FEW HOURS LATE BECAUSE IT WAS SO STORMY. THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS THE FRIENDLY SERVICE. THE VALET WAS TALKING TO A COUPLE WHO WAS GRABBING DRINKS AT THE HOTEL BAR & I COULD TELL THEY WERE “REGULARS”. SOMETHING I REALIZED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS WAS THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF REGULAR HOTEL GUESTS AND THE BAR/RESTAURANT WAS A POPULAR NEIGHBORHOOD HANG OUT.

I HONESTLY CAN SAY THE CANARY IS ONE OF THE MOST COMFORTABLE, COZY, FRIENDLY LUXURY HOTELS I’VE EVER VISITED. IT DOESN’T FEEL STUFFY, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL TOUCHES AND AMENITIES, YOU ALMOST FEEL LIKE YOU’VE BEEN TRANSPORTED TO A BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN EUROPE.

Erin Perry & Doug the Dog at Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara - breakfast in bed

GETTING TO SANTA BARBARA

SANTA BARBARA IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO STOP ON A CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP. I REGULARLY DRIVE FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TO VISIT FAMILY. SANTA BARBARA IS THE PERFECT “HALF WAY” POINT TO BREAK UP THE DRIVE, BUT ALSO RELAX AND RECHARGE.

WHEREVER YOU LIVE IN CALIFORNIA, IT’S AN EASY DRIVE FOR A WEEKEND GETAWAY. AND IF YOU’RE NOT A CALIFORNIA LOCAL, YOU CAN FLY INTO THE SANTA BARBARA AIRPORT – THE HOTEL IS ONLY ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY.

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE CANARY IS LOCATED IN ONE OF MY FAVORITE AREAS. IT’S A BLOCK AWAY FROM AMAZING SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS ON STATE STREET. I LOVE THAT IT’S SO WALKABLE, ONCE YOU’RE AT THE HOTEL YOU CAN STEP OUTSIDE AND FIND SO MUCH TO DO, SEE & EAT!

Kimpton Canary Coastal Chic Decor in Santa Barbara

THE HOTEL

OUR SUITE WAS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY MESSAGES I GOT FROM PEOPLE COMMENTING ON THE DECOR & STYLING OF THE ROOM IN MY INSTAGRAM STORIES. THE MODERN MEDITERRANEAN AESTHETIC IS WHAT I WOULD CALL “ELEVATED COMFORT”. MEANING IT FEELS SUPER LUXE, BUT RELAXED. IT FEELS UPSCALE WITHOUT BEING STIFF OR UNCOMFORTABLE.

WE HAD A “JULIET SUITE”, WITH THE CUTEST BALCONY THAT LOOKED OUT OVER THE COURTYARD. A FEW OF MY FAVORITE SUITE HIGHLIGHTS:

FOUR POSTER CANOPY BED & MOST AMAZING PILLOW TOP MATTRESS
CHIC ARTWORK & SITTING AREA THAT FELT LIKE A SCENE FROM A NANCY MEYERS MOVIE
SEPARATE POWDER ROOM AND CLOSET AREA – DEFINITELY MADE THE ROOM FEEL MORE LIKE HOME
BATH TRAY INCLUDED IN THE BATH TUB SETUP FOR IN ROOM SPA VIBES
MOST AMAZING WELCOME CHARCUTERIE BOARD
DOG FRIENDLY! THEY EVEN GAVE DOUG A WELCOME GIFT (ASSORTMENT OF TREATS)
NESPRESSO MACHINE
ATELIER BLOEM TOILETRIES
COZY BATHROBE & SLIPPERS
HANDS DOWN THE BEST ROOM SERVICE I’VE EVER HAD FROM FINCH & FORK

AT FIRST, I WAS A LITTLE SAD OUR TRIP GOT RAINED OUT. BUT IT ACTUALLY MADE ME ENJOY THE HOTEL EVEN MORE. NORMALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS NICE, I ALMOST FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO JAM PACK MY DAY WITH ACTIVITIES AND DON’T END UP ENJOYING MY HOTEL ROOM AS MUCH. IT ENDED UP TURNING INTO THE ULTIMATE, COZY IN BED VACATION FILLED WITH MOVIES, ROOM SERVICE, FACE MASKS & OCCASIONAL RAINY WALKS OUTSIDE WITH DOUG. TRULY FITTING OF THE NANCY MEYERS MOVIE AESTHETIC!

Erin Perry & Doug the Dog travel to the Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara

WE DIDN’T GET TO NECESSARILY “ENJOY” THE ROOFTOP POOL AREA BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING, BUT I DID CHECK IT OUT AND BROUGHT MY COFFEE UP TO TAKE IN THE VIEW. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW RELAXING IT WOULD BE ON A SUNNY DAY!

WHEN I CHECKED IN, THERE WAS A HOSTED EVENING WINE HOUR – GUESTS WERE DRINKING WINE BY THE CHRISTMAS TREE, SO CHIC. THEY ALSO HOST A COMPLIMENTARY COFFEE BAR IN THE MORNING. I DON’T KNOW WHY I WAS SO OBSESSED WITH IT – BUT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I’D SEEN A HOTEL LOBBY WITH FREE ICED COFFEE AND HOT COFFEE, PLUS AN ASSORTMENT OF MILKS AND SYRUPS. AS A COFFEE LOVER, THIS DIDN’T GO UNNOTICED.

I ALSO LOVED THAT THEY HAD A FULL MINI BAR SHOPPING AREA IN THE LOBBY. RATHER THAN HAVING ITEMS IN THE ROOM, YOU COULD JUST GO DOWN TO THE LOBBY AND “SHOP” FOR DRINKS, SNACKS & SWEETS.

Kimpton Canary Santa Barbara Rooftop Restaurant

Kimpton Canary Hotel Rooftop Pool in Santa Barbara

THE FOOD

AS I MENTIONED – MY ROOM SERVICE WAS ON ANOTHER LEVEL. IT WAS SO GOOD THE FIRST NIGHT THAT I ATE BRUNCH AT FINCH & FORK THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND OPTED FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF ROOM SERVICE THAT NIGHT.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND VISITING FINCH & FORK IF YOU’RE IN TOWN OR LOCAL – REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU’RE STAYING. THEY HAVE THE MOST AMAZING FOOD AND DRINKS!