The Santa Barbara Riviera neighborhood blankets the approximately two-mile-long Santa Ynez Mountains foothill slope forming the picturesque backdrop to the city of Santa Barbara, and stretching from Mission Santa Barbara on the west, nearly to Montecito on the east.
This area, known by locals as simply “the Riviera,” provides its residents panoramic views of the town below, and beyond to the ocean and islands. Reminiscent of its European namesake, the neighborhood is known for its hilly, winding streets, red tile-roofed homes, and charming public parks. Its sole commercial business is the popular Belmond El Encanto, one of Santa Barbara’s iconic hotels. Built in the 1920s, this romantic destination was recently completely renovated by the same company that owns the world-famous Orient Express.
The history of the Santa Barbara Riviera neighborhood dates to 1913 when a group of investors purchased a large portion of the land and developed a housing tract with strict covenants. The next year, the Santa Barbara State Normal School opened its doors here. It would eventually become the University of California Santa Barbara College and, subsequently, the University of California Santa Barbara, now occupying a sprawling campus in Goleta. In 1916, an ornate Italian villa was built nearby. It later became the private Marymount School, still in use today as Riviera Ridge School.
