if you are looking for a unique experience than The Sanitarium is a must stay! Greeted by our warm Innkeeper, we at once felt 'at home'. the rooms and the tubs are large and comfortable, and having visited in January, the wood burning stove was a welcoming site as it warmed our cozy room. The vintage touches everywhere make this inn a very charming, homey feel, truly we didn't want to leave. see you all soon... r & e

The Sanitarium seems to elicit some very different emotional responses. Rather than follow my first inclination and simply declare, "I was very unhappy there!", I will try listing observations objectively beginning with...

The Bright Side: The bed was clean and comfortable, the bath was clean.
Simple, but good breakfast with something for everyone.. bacon, toasted bagels, fresh organic vegetables, a variety of nice cheeses.
Some pretty and imaginative decorative touches throughout.

Cons: I haven't heard other reactions to this, and I know it is supposed to be fun and quirky, but we did not experience the undertone of a medical institution as a pleasing atmosphere. The place actually was at one time a sanitarium, and this feeling lives on both inherently in the actual architectural structure of the building and is also encouraged through some of the current decor. There is a "nurse's station" on the 2nd floor (guest room area), the shampoo and conditioner are pre-dispensed in small plastic pill cups, in our room the main light bulb hung bare from a long cord in the ceiling, etc. Even my husband who is negatively affected by... hmm, just about nothing!.. thought it was a little creepy.

The daytime "open door" policy left us feeling unprotected... when we arrived in the afternoon, the main front door was literally open, not just unlocked. (We were greeted by a note with a phone number.) Even the office area by by the kitchen was open to anyone who came in off the street, and later made us wonder if guests' credit card info was kept well guarded. (This front door is locked at night.)

The inn is located in an urban area near the railroad and among some fraternity houses.. the openness and flow of foot trafic here lent a kind of youth hostel feeling, rather than that of a pricey inn.

Though high on a certain decor, not a cozy, comfortable place to stay. Spartan furnishings.. low on creature comforts.

Noisy. Inside.. without larger rugs, wooden floors throughout creaked even with self-conscious, tip-toed footsteps. Outside.. it is amazing how much noise can be generated at a small intersection.. many breaking trucks (from our front room).

Overpriced for the basics that the inn does deliver. The higher price may be for the theme/decor, which one may or may not like.

While bounding out the front door to leave in the morning, my husband stopped me to introduce another guest couple with whom we shared a friendly breakfast, and for the first time I felt at ease. Perhaps if we had met other guests or had even a small orientation with the owners/ innkeepers (who seemed like nice people) on our day of arrival, I would have felt more at ease through the night. Though, even the warmth of human contact would not have induced me to like this place.

Is your mind desperate for a break? Does your body whimper at the mere mention of a Moroccan soaking tub? It is possible you have been driven crazy and don't even know it.

Sometimes solutions are stumbled upon. Or fallen into. Or collapsed upon.

I arrived at The Sanitarium, having no idea what expect. I had assumed I would check-in, be briefed, and then head back out for a sultry evening on the salty streets of San Luis Obispo, CA.

Upon entering my room I was stunned by its simple beauty. It was full of art. What to touch first? The cold basin of the deep hammered tub standing unfettered in the corner? The bumpy, crazy colored, lovingly worn patchwork quilt and fluffy pillows? The cool tiles of the bathroom floor. I lingered over every item - all seemingly selected to seduce me.

I succumbed. Silently disrobing, I lay prone, gazing up and out to the swaying tree tops.

After months of constantly moving, making, minding, and musings, my mind and body came to a complete stop. A stillness not acquired in months. When I awoke it was dark and cool. Faint music and laughter floated up the stairs and slipped under my door. I lay quietly for awhile hoping I might fall off to sleep again. But curiosity moved me up and on. I freshened up–determined to still do something in San Luis Obispo other than sleep.

Tiptoeing downstairs I found the innkeeper in the front studio puttering and muttering. He was surrounded by multiple painted canvases of all sizes and styles, several 20 gallon tin buckets filled with hundreds of squeezed tubes of paint, and dozens of jelly jars with brushes standing at attention.

"Here, you can paint too" he offered. Really? Maybe, but first I should go out. I spent the rest of the evening in a used bookstore downtown, huddled in the arts section. I discovered a Sotheby's auction catalog devoted to Latin American art. I felt like it was waiting for me to discover it.

I returned to The Sanitarium eager to completely submit to its care. An hour long private steam shower loosened the last twist in my mental and physical spine, delivering a state of utter submission. I weaved dreams so vivid and clear at the time - all lost to me now.

In the morning, all plans for seeing the sights were silenced. Instead I flirted with the innkeeper amid his artwork, moved by his insights and sensitivities. I settled on the parlor sofa and fingered through several neatly stacked four foot piles of art books clearly lovingly collected over many years.

I would paint. I could paint. Please may I paint?! I am so pleased at the notion of painting.

Two hours of page turning flies by. Still stumped. What to paint? Okay. Focus. What am I feeling? Cleansed. Naked. Beautiful.

Starting with a simple lead pencil I generated an outline nude form. Assured, my fingers reached for a brush and a tube of paint and I began. Colors layering, light and shadows building, a self portrait emerged. Uninterrupted for several hours I sang through my fingers. I remember me.

Nearly finished–it was time for check-out. I felt transformed. Loosened. Lighter.

So simply made happy in 24 hours. What a gift to my solo self. Thank you. Thank me.

Stay here as soon as you can.

The Sanitarium Spa
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San Luis Obispo, CA

Seven intimate rooms with private baths. Original art in every room. Sun drenched private decks. Darling breakfast pantry. Garden. Art studio. Grand piano. Walking distance to downtown. Massage room. Visit the website for full details.
But call – the owner Suzy hates email and computers.
805-544-4124

This review first appeared on TangoDiva.com

We stayed there for 2 nights. It was nice and unque but way overpriced. It is in a good location which is a plus but you pay for it. The hosts were great, didn't eat breakfast there but everything was clean and nice.