Montecito’s Luxury Renaissance: New Hotels, Celebrity Chefs & Coastal Glamour in 2026
- Joey Amato
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Once a winter refuge for East Coast elites arriving by rail in the late 19th century, Montecito is once again reclaiming its place as California’s most quietly glamorous coastal enclave. As 2025 turns to 2026, this storied seaside retreat is experiencing a refined renaissance—one defined by high-profile hotel revivals, chef-driven dining debuts, and a renewed sense of cultural and culinary relevance. From landmark properties preparing for long-anticipated reopenings to a wave of buzzy new restaurants, luxury retail, and thoughtful resort reinventions, Montecito’s latest chapter blends old-world prestige with contemporary indulgence, making it one of the West Coast’s most compelling destinations for discerning LGBTQ+ travelers seeking elegance without excess.
In 2025 and 2026, the enclave is in the spotlight again with myriad high-profile openings and exciting arrivals. More than a dozen new restaurants and bars have been opening, including Little Mountain, Ospi Montecito, Clark’s Oyster Bar, Lion’s Tale, Alma Fonda Fina, plus a to-be-named Thomas Keller restaurant at the Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club. On the hotel front, Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara (c. 1927), owned by Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts, is slated to reopen in 2026 following a renovation, with a new Nobu and Bouchon Bakery. Montecito Inn, once owned by silent screen star Charlie Chaplin, is also undergoing a major renovation of its rooms, aiming for completion in early 2026. New luxury shopping complex The Post Montecito from Runyon Group has opened on the outskirts of Montecito.
Santa Barbara Area Resorts:
In time for its 25th anniversary in fall 2025, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara has revitalized the 78-acre seaside resort. Renovations include new finishes and furnishings in all 358 guest rooms and suites, lobby and restaurant enhancements and an upgraded pool area with new cabanas. The design draws inspiration from the local coastal landscape as well as the Chumash people, the land’s original stewards. A new signature restaurant inspired by the Amalfi Coast, Marisella, opened in June 2025, under Chef Danny Grant. Chef/partner of Chicago-based Maple Hospitality Group (Maple & Ash), Grant previously earned two Michelin stars at RIA. Casual eatery Lulio (Latin/Greek for “July,” in tribute to Santa Barbara’s endless summer) and a new Mission Market cafe featuring house-made pastries also opened in 2025.
El Encanto (c. 1918), long a favorite luxury resort of the celebrity set, in Santa Barbara’s Riviera neighborhood, was purchased in 2025. While the property isn’t undergoing visible renovations, new James Beard-nominated executive chef Joel Viehland (Gramercy Tavern, Herbsaint, Emeril’s, Community Table in Connecticut) will introduce a new menu and culinary program in 2026 sure to draw attention. His cooking emphasizes seasonality, preservation, and bold yet nourishing flavors, creating dishes rooted in the land and sea of the Central Coast. Chef Viehland was one of the first American stagières at world-renowned Noma.
Ritz Carlton Photo Courtesy of Ritz Carlton Bacara/Visit Santa Barbara
Clarks Oyster Bar photo by Justin Cook, Courtesy Clarks/Visit Santa Barbara
