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The Sanitarium
Category: Hotels & Travel Hotels & Travel [Edit]
1716 Osos StSan Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 544-4124
9 reviews for The Sanitarium
9 reviews in English
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Review from Leah S.
San Luis Obispo, CA
11/17/2011
If you are in the SLO area and looking for a place to stay, look no further! Better than any hotel you will find!
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Review from Saralee S.
San Luis Obispo, CA
10/13/2011
Mardi Gras madness prevailed, and we rented the front rooms of this otherworldly place for a Mardi Gras music and catered dinner party! It was perfect to set up the dj in the corner, since the first room is a big Victorian music room, including a piano. The kitchen and dining table were perfect for serving the catered dinner, but there wasn't really as much room for seating as there might have been. The owner was cordial but a bit lackadaisical in her let them eat cake and party on attitude. We got to set up the way we wanted to, and the crowd had a great time in this magical timewarp atmosphere. The outdoor side garden could have been enjoyed were it not so neglected.
A trip to a strange land, where you might be comfortable, or you might feel like a stranger. -
Review from Chiquita y.
Emeryville, CA
10/9/2006 5 photos
Dream-like, not for everyone...a fairy castle run by four women artists in a Victorian sanitarium, in a quiet neighborhood a couple of blocks from the SLO rail station. Every room has a zinc Moroccan tub, outdoor deck and a fireplace, and the staff is amazingly friendly. A working artists studio and turtle pond complete the picture.
Look: you can pay $200 for the Ramada in SLO and have a crappy T.V. and telephone, or do without the technology and sleep in this paradise.
These gals are so dreamy that sometimes their website is down. Here is a more-reliable site: http://www.bbonline.co... -
Review from Mark P.
Fremont, CA
5/29/2007
What a waste of money, it was like staying in a stranger's spare room and being charged $200.
The operator barely acknowledged our presence and when she did we felt like we were in her way. The house was used as an open studio one day and strangers were walking in and out of our room until I tracked down the owner and got a key to lock our room.
The house is not locked at night with only sleeping guests in the building. None of the usual B&B amenities.
Only redeeming factor is location and the soaking tub and modern shower. Room had no hangers, no maid service, no offer of clean towels on second day, no coffee or tea in morning before b'fast, no wine or snacks in evening, no local menus and the list goes on. -
Review from Nick M.
San Francisco, CA
2/20/2007
A little slice of heaven. Don't believe me? Read on...
I found this bed and breakfast on Yelp when I was looking for accommodations in San Luis Obispo. I took my girlfriend there for the weekend with the goal of visiting Hearst Castle. The Sanitarium made the visit special in a way we'll never forget.
The Sanitarium is located about a 10 minute walk from downtown SLO, which was perfect for us. The house is beautifully decorated and so relaxing. Each room has character but it's not cheesy like the Madonna Inn could be. There are no TVs or internet, which is a good break from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Breakfast is served about 9am everyday and it is certainly an event not to miss. I was anxious about heading down there on our first morning but it turned out to be a treat. We met people from LA and other neighboring towns. The conversation was fun and breakfast was great. The second morning was equally interesting even though the guests around the table were completely different.
Have you ever been on a vacation where you left dreaming about staying there for ever? Well, I left dreaming about opening up my own bed and breakfast just like the Sanitarium. I know that we'll be back again. The question is not when but how often.
Now you know why it's a little slice of heaven. -
Review from Laura Y.
Los Angeles, CA
2/16/2010
Over the weekend I got ROTD, which was super sweet. This makes it all the more disappointing to follow my glory with such a shitcan review, but as you will see, it had to be done.
For Valentine's Day, the BF and I decided to travel with another couple; our friends had been to the Sanitarium before and had a magical mystical experience there, so we decided to take advantage of the 3-day weekend in SLO. When we booked, our friends requested the Tranquilibrium room, where they had stayed before and loved, and we booked the Hydrolucinogen, because it shares a balcony with the Tranq and we wanted to be together.
When we arrived, our friends had been moved to a different room. After asking some questions, we found out there was a long-term boarder in the Tranq, which was puzzling since the dude apparently had been there since the end of the year, and our friends had called to confirm their reservation and had been told that they could expect their requested room. Our friends got on the phone with the innkeeper, who wasn't on the property, and she did initially offer them a free nights' stay but when asked why the room change had not been communicated to them, she became surprisingly obstinate. Our friends were accused of being hostile, hormonal (as the female counterpart of the couple is expecting), and were told to just take a bath and calm down.
Later that evening, after dinner, we were in the common area, and I spotted a small office area in the kitchen-- the light was on and the door was open, and there were reservation papers in plain view. I saw our friend's reservation, with their original room selection crossed out, and their new room reservation written in. That was all the proof we needed that we had, in fact, been lied to, in addition to being disrespected and dismissed, and we immediately made plans to leave first thing in the morning, as we did not feel comfortable or safe in such an establishment where the management would be so unscrupulous-- indeed, to leave customer's personal and credit card information accessible to anyone walking around, was inexcusable.
In the morning, the innkeeper, Suzan, arrived to start breakfast and that conversation went about as well as the one the day before-- again, no acknowledgment on her part that a mistake had been made, no explanation for why they had neglected to be transparent about the room placement, no apologies, and got angry with us when we asked for copies of our invoices, and flat-out refused to provide them. "I will do whatever it takes to get you and your negative energy out of here, because this is a place for happy people," she said to us, scowling.
It's a damn shame. All of us are artists and the Sanitarium could be-- and is, taking into consideration the other reviews written about the place-- such a lovely haven for the creative. However, as we are all artists, we are all businesspeople as well, and we were all shocked at being treated so terribly-- there is definitely the level of customer service where you are being treated like cattle, which can be irritating, but having someone who is supposedly in the business of being hospitable, behave in such a petulant, passive-aggressive manner, was beyond our comprehension. Also, half of our party teach high school students in the public district, so if that isn't indication of our collective patience, diplomacy, flexibility, and a sense of humor when things don't go our way, I don't know what is.
Objectively, it does have to be said that one of our rooms didn't have toilet paper when we arrived, and also the place is next to a fraternity house, so there is quite a bit of dudebro noise into the wee hours.
So there you have it. I also recommend going over to http://tripAdvisor.com and reading the reviews for this place over there, as the opinions are a little more balanced. I fully realize that the Sanitarium must keep afloat due to repeat customers, and obviously it is possible to have a wonderful visit there but given the attitude of the management, I can only suggest that if you stay there, you'd better like how they do things, or else too bad for you. -
Review from Flora H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/24/2010
The Sanitarium was recommended to me by a SLO local -- I'm so glad I had a chance to visit! This bed and breakfast has beautiful rooms that are spacious, clean, and tastefully decorated and a kind, friendly, helpful innkeeper. The Sanitarium is a very special space. Before it was a bed and breakfast, it was actually a sanitarium!! I learned during my visit that a SanitArium is different than a SanitOrium. Sanitariums are for healing from minor illness (or tuberculosis back in the day I guess). Sanitoriums are for the mentally ill. :) I love learning new things.
Try to book your visit to include a Thursday evening so you can experience the amazing Farmer's Market, which is downtown -- conveniently within walking distance of the Sanitarium. -
Review from taliny c.
Los Angeles, CA
12/30/2010 4 photos
Love, love, loooooove this place. Its peaceful, serene, relaxing.. the perfect couples getaway ;) We stayed for 2 nights and had the best time! We are forever devoted guests. Added major plus: Chef Suzanne Lindell makes the yummiest foodie lovin breakfasts. Its crazy good. See photo.
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Review from Cory G.
Culver City, CA
2/21/2007
Different...in a very good way. If you're looking for an alternative to the traditional musty b&b you could do no better than this place. Went up with my wife for a romantic weekend and we had a truly wonderful time. The vibe, rooms and general atmosphere is very peaceful and creative. They even offer blank canvases if you're so inclined to paint. The location is dynamite and the service is a dream. Highly recommended. Warm and welcoming. Fun in spirit.
