FOUR SEASONS REVITALIZED AFTER SANTA BARBARA FIRES

Call it deep spring cleaning, or maybe an unscheduled face-lift: After winter mudslides swept through Montecito and the nearby Four Seasons in Santa Barbara, the latter closed for nearly five months for restoration and repairs. The iconic hotel that debuted in 1927 as the Biltmore reopened June 1 with its Spanish Colonial charm intact — and a fresh glow for summer.

Setting: Twenty-two garden acres overlooking Butterfly Beach, one of the few sunsetfacing strands in the area; it’s about 5 miles west of State Street.

The appeal: Luxe life on the American Riviera. Outside, enjoy two pools, three tennis courts, the beach and bicycle rentals; inside, the vibe may be hacienda retro, but the tech is au courant, with multiple in-wall USB outlets, 65-inch Smart HDTVs and Nespresso machines. Plush custom mattresses and deep soaking tubs lead to indulgent indolence after drinks or dining at several pricey but exquisite venues.

Insider’s tips: General manager Karen Earp recommends the charcuterie at the resort’s Bella Vista, the only restaurant in Santa Barbara (and one of 12 in the state) licensed to cure its own meats; also try the pan-seared scallops with baby summer squash salad and burrata cheese. Off property, sample California-French cuisine at Stella Mare’s Bistro, in a quaint Victorian overlooking the Andree Clark Bird Refuge.

Good to know: Rates dip midweek. Most of the lodgings are in the two-story main buildings, but 12 bungalows (two to four rooms apiece) hide within the Jungle Gardens. The new 2,000-squarefoot (indoor and outdoor) ocean-view Anacapa Suite, which opens in July, offers a 15-by-17-foot plunge pool, plus access to the next-door, members-only Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club (and its Olympic pool).

Details: 1260 Channel Drive, Santa Barbara. 805-9692261, www.fourseasons.com/ santabarbara. Weekdays from $595, weekends from $945, excluding taxes and fees.

Photos by Barbara Kraft / Four Seasons