The Secret Garden Inn and Cottages is one of my favorite places to stay anywhere, not just in Santa Barbara. The garden, which is the center of the property and provides opportunity for outdoor dining, is lush, diverse, and secluded (as the name suggests). The breakfasts are divine - authentically French croissants and quiche along with fresh fruit and fresh-squeezed orange juice, The cottages are loaded with character - antique furnishings and homey decor. And the location, close to downtown Santa Barbara, in walking distance to local eateries, but also in a quite residential neighborhood, is ideal.

It is true what they say about the breakfast that Dominique prepares for you. It is very delicious. She also went out of her way to provide us with important information regarding the city of SB. I would highly recommend staying there.

6-4-2026 We stayed in Mockingbird. Wonderful place. Quiet and pretty convenient to most of Santa Barbara.

Beautiful stay

If you're thinking about it, just do it. Its peaceful and beautiful. Just went there for a weekend with my girlfriend. Will definitely go back to the secret garden when im in Santa Barbara

We have stayed at the Secret Garden Inn & Cottages several times over the last 25+ years. Consistently, it has provided us with a relaxing and wonderful stay. Plus, Dominique is an excellent cook! The quiche & croissants are delicious. We will return again when time permits.

We spent three nights at this lovely property and truly enjoyed the hospitality. The breakfasts were a highlight—delicious and unique each morning. The innkeeper was exceptionally friendly, providing a warm welcome and a helpful tour of our room upon arrival. While the property has 'solid bones' and a beautiful atmosphere, it would benefit from some maintenance attention. We noticed a few small issues, such as toppled pots and broken lights in the garden, and a noisy hot tub that required unplugging. In our room, loose faucets and missing electrical faceplates were minor distractions. With just a bit of upkeep, this wonderful inn could easily reach the next level.

The Secret Garden is a wonderful hidden retreat in the heart of Santa Barbara. It has a "French Country" feel with small pocket gardens filled with colorful flowers and fruit tree and bistro tables. The rustic cottages are quaint and charming; the private hot tubs are a treat. Dominique provides delicious homemade breakfasts of quiche, fresh fruit, croissants and jams. McConnell's Ice Cream is a half block walk away and well worth the visit. We have enjoyed our stays at the Secret Garden very much and always look forward to coming back.

So whimsical and cute. Feels like staying at your old grandma‘s cottage. I would recommend this over staying at a regular hotel! Peanut is the second cutest kitty in the world and will greet you when you check in.

This place is very cute and just a little funky - a little slice of charming hospitality. The breakfast is hearty and delicious, delivered right to your room. The hot tub was great, a the room was quiet during our stay. We enjoyed a walk to the downtown farmers market on Saturday morning.

Sweet cottage with a hot tub and amazing home cooked breakfast. We were so spoiled.

Our 3-night stay at Secret Garden Inn & Cottages was very pleasant. There is an "Old World" charm to this place that immediately puts one at ease and in relaxation mode. The big surprise was that we had not verified that breakfast was included. It was, and that was the highlight of our stay, with Dominique preparing a home-made breakfast each morning. Omlette, Claffoutis, Sausages, Croissant, Preserves, Coffee, Tea, etc. So abundant and delicious that we could skip lunch! The rooms have ample space and beds are comfortable. Bathroom had plenty of hot water, linens, towels, etc. I will say that the bathroom could use upgrading, or at least a rejuvenation of grout and caulking. One other thing was that several rooms have hot tubs, which also need upgrading and noise reduction. The location is walking distance from downtown and some restaurants and close enough to get on to the 101 quickly. For a young couple, a small family on a budget, or people seeking a European feel and personal connection to the owner/operator, this place is ideal!

The Secret Garden Inn is a welcoming, beautiful oasis within walking distance of downtown Santa Barbara. The owner and host, Dominique, is welcoming, friendly and full of helpful suggestions. She shared her knowledge of Santa Barbara and provided an extremely helpful list of restaurants and bakeries! I truly enjoyed my breakfast out on the porch amidst the roses and birds. My cottage contained everything I needed for my three-day visit. I will definitely stay here again when I am in Santa Barbara. It's a gem!!

We were very pleased with our one night stay. Our space was cozy and comfortable, quiet and peaceful. Breakfast was awesome…a really nice feature of our stay. We tried a Japanese restaurant, suggested by our hosts and we were very pleased. We will definitely consider staying with you again in our travels.

Great spot for a staycation...own hot tub is nice too!

This is a very charming comfortable in with gardens and hot tubs. The breakfast were fabulous made by the owner. Definitely a wonderful place to stay.

We have enjoyed staying at the Secret Garden for a number of years. The rooms and hospitality are excellent. A very quiet and pleasant visit each time!!! We just celebrated our 56th Anniversary as it was great as usual!! We highly recommend staying here!