Entire home

Perfect luxury getaway two blocks from Oldtown State Street!

Photo gallery for Perfect luxury getaway two blocks from Oldtown State Street!

Terrace/patio
Property grounds
Front yard. The (very) small, but sometimes needed, parking space to the left.
New front yard Secret Garden (work in progress). OK, not SO secret...
The Salon. Small but comfortable for reading, lounging, playing games, dining.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 4680 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Hot tub
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
Santa Barbara, CA
  • Santa Barbara County Courthouse
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Stearns Wharf
    ‪17 min walk‬
  • Santa Barbara Harbor
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal)
    ‪13 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

TV Room

1 Double Futon

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Perfect luxury getaway two blocks from Oldtown State Street!

Charming and cozy little house in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara built in 1915. The rooms are small (Think Parisian Hotel for a size comparison) but well-appointed and quaint. You'll find a place to hang your hat, charge your phone, rest your fee, set your glass and simply relax.

Great for guests who want to experience a genuine downtown local experience. One block from the Saturday Farmer's Market. Two blocks east of State Street and Joe's Cafe (highly recommended), French Press Coffee, theaters, shopping...
The back yard is the sanctuary and my favorite place to take afternoon naps under the wisteria.

My travels around the world have taken me to some incredible hotels and I owned and operated a yacht charter business for 12 years (as Chef, Steward, First Mate and Cruise Director), taking guests to the from the Channel Islands in five star luxury so attention to comfort is of upmost importance to me. The house is equipped with a full kitchen, quality linens, towels, comfortable rugs and furnishings, and if you've forgotten your toothbrush, razor, sunscreen, hair dryer, or shaving cream, you don't have to walk the (one block) down the street to the store.

There are bicycles (and helmuts/locks) for your use, a BBQ for backyard entertaining, a Bose portable music system that connects to your music library so you can have your music in any room, a game table for an impromptu chess, backgammon, or card game, and a new TV with Netflix and Wi Fi.

A few times per year, my neighbor has a party in his backyard. I never know when it's going to happen. Although they have generally been good about abiding by the noise curfew of 10 pm, I cannot guarantee that there would be some noise coming from the backyard at some point throughout the year. If that happens, a call to me and me stopping by to speak to them generally brings the noise level down! They are very respectful. They just like to have fun sometimes.

Property manager

Dawn Sherry
Premier Host

Languages

English, French, Italian, Spanish
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Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 20
Check out before 12:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
The house is too small for events unfortunately.
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
Additional cleaning fee if you leave a mess/hair
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking allowed only in the backyard
Please clean up after your pet to avoid additional cleaning charges. My cleaning crew charges me more to clean dirt, fur and other pet-related messes.
Please keep noise levels down due to next door neighbors. City ordinance is very strict about the 10 pm noise cut off.
Please keep bicycles locked and covered in the backyard and gate closed and latched.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: The house is too small for events unfortunately.
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Santa Barbara

Located by the sea, this holiday home is in Lower State, a neighbourhood in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara Zoo is a popular area attraction and if an activity is on the agenda, Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor are worth checking out. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Santa Barbara Bowl or Earl Warren Showgrounds. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Santa Barbara, CA

What's nearby

  • Santa Barbara County Courthouse - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Stearns Wharf - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Santa Barbara Zoo - 4 min drive - 3.0 km
  • Santa Barbara Bowl - 4 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Santa Barbara Harbor - 5 min drive - 3.4 km

Getting around

  • Santa Barbara Station - 11 min walk
  • Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Joe's Cafe - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Dune Coffee Roasters - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪EOS Lounge - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Sandbar - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Craft Ramen Santa Barbra - ‬5 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Perfect luxury getaway two blocks from Oldtown State Street! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Perfect luxury getaway two blocks from Oldtown State Street!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Perfect luxury getaway two blocks from Oldtown State Street!?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Perfect luxury getaway two blocks from Oldtown State Street! located?

Located in Lower State, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Antioch University, Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor. El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park and Santa Barbara Historical Museum are also within 10 minutes. Santa Barbara Station is 11 minutes by foot.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 214 out of 229 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 14 out of 229 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 229 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 229 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 229 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Audrey F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A perfect stopover whist touring California

A small house which had everything for a short break. The outside space was a perfect retreat. The beds were extremely comfortable with lovely linens. We used the bbq outside, and loved sitting around the fire pit as the evenings cooled. Dawn was very helpful and I had excellent communication with her.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Matthew M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Santa Barbara Experience

We had a brilliant time in this great house. It’s a beautiful space and lovingly put together, and the garden is great for relaxing. Location is perfect and walking distance from the main sights. Can’t recommend highly enough!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Helen M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful little home

Great house small but perfectly formed, near the funk zone. Such thoughtfully planned interiors. Worked great for our family.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sarah C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful cottage

This small but perfectly formed cottage in SB was everything we hoped for and more. Great location with short walks to shops, beach and sights. The owners attention to detail in the property made us feel so welcome. The use of 4 bikes, the outside area with BBQ and fire pit were highlights. Can’t recommend this place enough. Thank you just wish we were staying longer!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Ian W., Tadcaster

Great Place, very quirky

We really enjoyed our stay in Santa Barbara at Dawn's little house. It literally had everything you needed including Coffee, Teas, Olive Oil, basic spices, salt, pepper, condiments etc. It is a quirky little place. We kept fining little hidden drawers or pull out shelves that all made sense in the small but adequate space. The back garden was great. The evening temperature when we were there was low, but the fire pit and blankets made it a wonderful place to sit, chat and share a bottle of wine. (or play Uno! Hopefully we didn't make too much noise). The bikes were great to get down to the Harbourside and back, although they may be due a service. The off road parking was a squeeze, but I did get our Chevy Equinox in the space. You probably wouldn't get anything bigger in though. Dawn has her office, just up the street and she popped down to say hi. Communication was excellent. Overall we would recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019

8/10 Good

Kirsty G.

Small but great character

The property is small but very well designed and has a lovely deck area out the back. It was great to have the bikes to get around and the property is within easy walking distance of shops and restaurants as well as the beach. We had a problem with one of the bikes which the owner responded to very quickly and had it fixed the same day. Parking can be a bit tricky if you have a large car because it won't fit in the driveway beside the house. You can park on the road for a limited time and all day parking is available on some streets nearby. This was absolutely no problem for us but worth noting if you aren't able to walk very far.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Katherine F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely place / wonderful host

The location is terrific. The house is charming. Dawn is an amazing host. Couldn’t imagine a better Mother’s Day weekend.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gretchen S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Heather K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Couldn’t Wait to Come Back!

We love staying here - it’s close to everything and the thoughtfulness that’s been put into every square inch of this charming house is apparent. Feels like a warm hug with everything you need. The backyard is great at night - make time for it!!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

stephanie g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

pretty little house in the heart of santa barbara

Very small but very nice house with outdoor patio. Dawn was lovely and very responsive to any questions.
Stayed 10 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gene T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lots to do in Santa Barbara

Hiked the 7 Falls, visited the Monastery, walked the West Beach, Marina and Stern's Ward, all close to the rental property. Property was cozy and clean.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laura V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sunny getaway!

We had a great week in Santa Barbara. We’re from the Seattle area and needed some sunshine. The house is in a wonderful location…so much nearby…the beach, State Street, the Funk Zone, etc. Even though the house is small, it had everything we needed and many spaces to relax. Dawn is incredible and was quick to respond to our questions and requests. We would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laura T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute Cottage

Everything was perfect and Dawn was a dream host.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Eva G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

excellent

excellent host location absolutely superbsweet little place
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great little bungalow

Really close to State Street restaurants and shopping. Dawn has really made an oasis in the space allotted. We had 2 adults, a 5 year old, and a dog. There was plenty of space for all!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Maria J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quaint and Cozy

We stayed for two nights, and it was lovely. The back yard is a highlight. Great sitting/reading area. Lovely nooks and efficient layout. Perfect for my boyfriend and two friends. We walked to the SB Bowl for Sofi Tukker and it was perfect.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jose S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location to explore Santa Barbara Downtown

Listing is as described. This is a small, cozy house that was perfect for what we needed. Host was great and super communicative. Would stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

thomasina K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ah-mazing!

I think I'm spoiled, this was my first ever VRBO. Seriously, this place is so great! From the second you go in, you are just so happy and at home. It is in a perfect location to feel like a local. The outdoor patio area is to die for! Dawn was super attentive and very helpful. What a special treat it was for us to stay in this gem!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Clare T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just what we needed

After 3 days at the Lemon Tree Hotel we desperately needed a homey comfortable place to stay. Cute interior, really nicely decorated. Good location , close to State St and my favorite park ( Alice Keck) Loved the backyard! Dawn was a great host and very attentive.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Natasha F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Had a wonderful stay!

Loved this little cottage! I would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Trish O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

VRBO SB

A wonderful place to stay and Dawn was very helpful.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Angela B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute and cozy

Location was great. House had everything we needed. Backyard seating was comfortable and inviting. Only concern was there were bugs on kitchen counter that scurried away when turned on lights. Appeared to be cockroaches.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Nancy A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable cottage

We loved sitting out back. Wish bedroom windows had screens. We liked having different sitting areas so we could have separate time. Cottage had everything we needed. Would do again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sebastian B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tolles kleines Ferienhaus in zentraler Lage

Perfekte Organisation von der Buchung bis zur Abreise. Top Lage. Wir haben unseren Aufenthalt sehr genossen.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stefan D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay in Santa Barbara

Perfect location with marvellous patio
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

About the host

Hosted by Dawn Sherry

Host profile image
I am an Architect and own and operate my small firm on the same block as the Petite Maison. I have lived on my boat, Aurora, a classic wooden Grand Banks Pilothouse Trawler, in the Santa Barbara Harbor for 18 years. I am lucky enough to be able to walk to my office with my big white dog, Brigitte, who is lucky enough to lay in the bay window all day watching the world go by while I carry on, working tirelessly to support her passion for marrow bones. In my next life I want to be Brigitte. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. Sometimes, though, sitting in a bay window eating marrow bones sounds really cool.
When I'm not working, you might find me behind my keyboard playing in a local bar with my all girl rock band, Midnight Mynx.

Why they chose this property

I fell in love with this little house in 2007 and had wanted to own a house in Santa Barbara since I moved here in 1989. I had been looking for a property centrally-located and one that I could also use as my architectural office. I ended up liking this particular block of downtown so much I purchased another house up the block and converted it to my office. The house is perfect as a hotel use, being in the heart of downtown.

What makes this property unique

I have traveled all over the world collecting books and unique and interesting artifacts but it is Africa that has stolen my heart and because the house is Victorian, I've chosen to bring in the African Colonial influence into the decor so that I am reminded of my safari bush trips every day. An African Safari is probably the most remote vacation you could imagine and because I wanted guests to have a true "get away" experience, you'll see this influence in all of the rooms including Masai Shukas scattered about. Everything in the house has a story and a special meaning to me so if you're up for some good stories, I can tell you some!

Languages:

English, French, Italian, Spanish

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests