Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara Blog

2013 California Wine Festival in Santa Barbara, CA

With Santa Barbara’s sunny climate, palm-fringed seaside parks, local vineyards, thriving arts scene and delicious restaurants; it is hard to imagine a better location for a summer wine festival. Get ready for the California Wine Festival - the perfect mix of sun, sea, music, food and of course – a great selection of California wines. Come visit Santa Barbara July 18, 19, and 20^th to experience the very best of California.

Now in its 10^th year, this annual festival is a great way to experience the Santa Barbara food & drink scene. The festival entails three days of live music, daily events, the best of Californian wines, and food demonstrations from some of the region’s most renowned chefs. Events range from the upscale “Old Spanish Nights”, which brings together the culture and tastes of Spain and California; to a sunny afternoon in a palm-lined seaside park. Events are ticketed and can sell out quickly, so be sure to get your tickets in advance! You can buy a Multi-Event pass in advance from $189 to $119 or from $310 to $160 at the gate. Day of event tickets prices range from $69 to $110 in advance or $80 to $140 at the gate.

Here at the Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara, we’re just minutes from Chase Palm Park - the site of many of the festivities. Come stay with us for the fun! Can’t make it to the festival? Don’t worry! We’ve got other California wine-themed hotel packages too!

“A Handful of Dust” Rises Through the Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum

With only a few weeks left in the CAF’s critically acclaimed exhibition “A Handful of Dust”, we feel compelled to get the word out to our art-loving visitors about this unique opportunity to see some thought-provoking work in a local gallery.

For those who don’t know, the Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum (CAF) is a pillar of our local art community and one of the leading contemporary art galleries in central California. CAF’s free-admission gallery exhibits a rotating selection of art in various mediums that represent a broad spectrum of attitudes and approaches. The Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara is proud to be a creative partner of the CAF, providing space for their satellite gallery right here in our hotel.

The “Handful of Dust” exhibition currently on display at the CAF’s main location in Paso Nuevo Mall brings together the sculptural work of seven artists who engage the intersection between modern and primitive with archaic and spare installations.

"No Age" by Jay Heikes

In addition to “A Handful of Dust”, the gallery is currently featuring the latest installment in its Bloom Projects series. Entitled “Root”, this project by Molly Smith is envisioned as an expression of her experiences when visiting Santa Barbara. Found objects scoured from unlikely corners of the city are incorporated into collages and sculptures that reflect the spirit, landscape and culture of Santa Barbara.

"Sure" by Molly Smith

Visit the Santa Barbara CAF website for more information on this and other upcoming exhibitions.

Anchor Woodfire Kitchen and Bar at the Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara

While Santa Barbara is home to a lot of tasty restaurants, the newest and most highly anticipated one is now open in our very own hotel! Successful Restaurateur and Chef Jason Tuley has unveiled Anchor Woodfire Kitchen & Bar at 119 State Street in Santa Barbara's thriving artistic and cultural beachfront community known as the Funk Zone. Chef Tuley's lifelong friend, Chef de Cuisine Charles Fredericks joins him in this new gourmet offering.

Chef Tuley in the Kitchen

Anchor Woodfire Kitchen and Bar is a rustic, yet elegant restaurant with a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere that serves up finely crafted wood fire dishes for the most refined palettes.

Freshly In-House Made Pasta

The restaurant will be open six days a week from 7 am to close with Sunday Brunch from 9 am to 3 pm and Dinner 5 pm to close. As a special treat, guests at the Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara may order room service or food to the rented Boardroom from the restaurant.

Lobster with Squid Ink Pasta

Santa Barbara native, Chef Tuley grew up cooking with red oak, which inspired Anchor Woodfire Kitchen. Chef Fredericks and Tuley's relationship with local puveys allows for daily changing menus and fresh, high-quality ingredients such as organic meats, house made cured meats, fresh sustainable seafood, in-house made pastas, breads, and pastries.

Creme Fraiche Panna Cotta with Blackberries and Vanilla

On top of the excellent food, there is a full bar located in the restaurant with hand crafted seasonal cocktails, dynamic beer, and a sophisticated wine list to compliment the food for a well-rounded dining experience.

For more information about Anchor woodfire Kitchen, please visit AnchorWoodfireKitchen.com and for reservations, contact the restaurant directly at 805.845.0989

Photo Credit: Aron Ives

Top 10 Buzzworthy Hotels of 2012!

Since opening our doors on February 14th of this year, we are so pleased to announce that our boutique hotel is officially on the list of TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Buzzworthy Hotels of 2012! We are extremely excited and honored to be included on this list with other fabulous hotels all around America.

Thank you to all our wonderful guests who have written such fantastic reviews on TripAdvisor, as well as other sites such as Yelp. We strive to provide the best possible experience for all of our guests, from beautiful, vibrant rooms to friendly, welcoming staff members. It is our mission to provide the best service possible and to ensure that all guests have memorable trips to our beautiful city of Santa Barbara.

For more information visit the link here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/InfoCenter-a_ctr.buzzhotels

Work Hard, Play Hard

When taking a break from an endless summer to work, why not do it in style? In Santa Barbara you can experience a paradise full of sandy beaches, gourmet restaurants, and exciting nightclubs as well as get down to business at the Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara’s Boardroom. Located a mere block and a half from the beach, we offer a sleek and modern Boardroom, able to seat up to 8 individuals comfortably. Our conference room features a state of the art 46" HD LCD flat screen television for presentations, complimentary coffee and tea from 8 am until noon, and contemporary artwork by local artists. While you can bring in your own food and beverages, upon request our front desk can receive and place catered lunches into the Boardroom for you and our Grab-n-Go case is available all day with snacks for purchase. Let our $100 per day Boardroom provide a convenient meeting space or private office away from home. With a 7-day cancellation policy, our conference room provides the flexibility you need when planning a business trip or meeting.

When renting the Boardroom, you may also use our complimentary Business Center, which features two workstations complete with touchscreen computer screens, keyboards, and printers with fax and scanning capabilities. Our business center also features a colorful and vibrant mural by Elizabeth Harper.

Beyond the Boardroom, we invite you to take a break or relax after a meeting on our upstairs outdoor lounges, complete with comfortable sofas and chairs and blooming orange trees. These wonderful, open air, wind down spots are the perfect end to a productive day.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Hotel Indigo's new blog on which you will get an inside peek into the Santa Barbara lifestyle, as well as events at our hotel and throughout the city. Known as the "American Riviera," Santa Barbara is the perfect combination of beach paradise and trendy metropolis. From the art walk on Sundays to the Farmer's Market on Tuesdays, Santa Barbarans believe that a healthy lifestyle with plenty of relaxation, culture, and fun in the sun is the best way to enjoy life. During the summer months, no day is complete without a trip to the beach and up along State Street, stopping by our fashionable boutiques hidden amongst our brand name stores. Boasting of the freshest seafood and unique dining experiences, Santa Barbara offers cuisine from all over the world. The Urban Wine Trail is located just steps away from the hotel and is complete with locals at each wine tasting room.

From the minute you step into our chic, modern lobby, our multilingual staff is ready to greet you and ensure your stay is as pleasant as possible. On the way to your room, you'll encounter a thought-provoking art exhibition, curated by the Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum, that includes site-specific, commissioned installations by local artists.

Once in your room, you can kick your feet up and relax on a comfortable, plush bed, complete with hypo-allergenic linens, while watching DirectTv channels on a flat-screen HD LCD TV. Take a revitalizing shower using Aveda bath products in European-style showers. Our rooms are pet friendly and we will be ready with a treat to greet your Fido!

We invite you to leaf through books in our art library and bask in the sun or enjoy the cool,evening breezes on our upstairs, outdoor lounges.

Come enjoy Santa Barbara and when you do, think of Hotel Indigo as your home away from home!