Cheshire Cat Inn

The inn is made up of seven buildings. Much of the activity is in the main house, a cream-colored Queen Anne Victorian built in 1884, and the adjacent Eberle House, built in 1890. A third building -- constructed by the current owners in 1991 -- was designed to match the original architecture, and four additional private cottages date back to the 1940s. There is elegant, Victorian-style decor throughout the common spaces, which include a dining room and cozy sitting area with a gas fireplace. A tranquil garden shaded by a large oak tree, with a gazebo, fountain, and wooden benches, sits at the center of the property. 

The Cheshire Cat sits in a walkable residential area off State Street, Santa Barbara’s main drag, which becomes busier a little farther southeast of the inn with restaurants, bars, and shops. There are several places to eat within walking distance, and it’s a 40-minute walk or a 10- to 15-minute drive to Stearns Wharf and the beach. (Guests can also hop on the State Street shuttle; there's a stop every block and it runs every 10 minutes from morning until early evening.) It’s also about a 10-minute drive to Santa Barbara’s Amtrak station and the well-regarded Santa Barbara Zoo. The Santa Barbara Airport is a 15-minute drive away.  

The rooms are named for "Alice in Wonderland" characters, and there are subtle references to the theme, including some cat-themed knickknacks and artwork. The rooms are decorated in an English country style, with floral patterns in light blues, greens, reds, and creams plus vases with fresh flowers. A few rooms -- such as the Caterpillar and the White Rabbit -- have private balconies, and some others come with fireplaces and jetted tubs. All rooms come with large flat-screen TVs, DVD players, robes, and Molton Brown toiletries, and guests are welcomed with a baked treat on fine china, accompanied by a handwritten note.  

The inn has 18 units, including six rooms in the main house and six in the Eberle House, all with private bathrooms. The Coach House has two suites: one is a large studio and the other has two bedrooms. There are also four two-bedroom cottages across the street named for villages in Cheshire; each has a full kitchen and a separate living room with a fireplace. Children are only allowed to stay in the cottages and the Coach House. Some rooms in the main and Eberle houses are on the smaller side and can get cramped if guests bring large pieces luggage. The Cheshire Cat Room, which sits on the ground floor, can get noise from the nearby kitchen during breakfast prep. 

Breakfast is served in the main house and includes a hot dish and access to a small continental-style buffet with hardboiled eggs, English muffins, cheese, and cold cuts. Breakfast room service is also available. In the evening, guests gather in the main house for a free wine hour with light hors d'oeuvres. Baked goods are set out at night, and coffee, tea, and an ice machine are available in the Eberle House, which also has a computer and printer for guests to use. There's no spa, but massages and facials can be provided in the guest rooms for an additional fee. Parking is free in the inn’s lot and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.