Riviera guides

Guides from our Santa Barbara shop

Straight answers from The Riviera Towel Company on Turkish towels, blankets, beach style, Santa Barbara gifts and custom towels. Written by the people who stock the shelves at 17 W. Gutierrez St.

Custom & corporate

Guest in a waffle robe with breakfast on a sunny ocean-view terrace Towels and Throws for Hotels and Vacation Rentals: What Guests Notice Guests notice towels and throws more than almost anything else in a hotel room or vacation rental: whether they look fresh, feel good, dry quickly and... Read the guide → Woman in a white waffle Turkish cotton robe by a sunny window Personalized Bridesmaid and Wedding Party Gifts: Turkish Towels and Robes Personalized Turkish towels and lightweight cotton robes are some of the best bridesmaid gifts because they are used on the wedding morning and long after, at... Read the guide → Close-up of a blue and white Turkish cotton weave Custom Embroidered Turkish Towels: Logos, Names and Monograms Custom embroidered Turkish towels are flat-woven Turkish cotton towels stitched with a logo, name, monogram or date, and they make one of the most useful personalized... Read the guide → Santa Barbara harbor at dusk with boats and the mountains behind Corporate Gifts in Santa Barbara: Custom Towels, Blankets and Gift Sets The best corporate gifts from Santa Barbara are useful, coastal and easy to share: Turkish towels, cotton throws, robes and local goods that people keep using... Read the guide →

Beach & style

Woman placing a mustard and white diamond-pattern pillow on a wooden lounge chair draped in a coral Turkish towel, beside a straw basket Coastal Color Palettes for Your Home: Throws, Pillows and Towels by Color A coastal color palette pairs a calm base of white, sand or soft grey with one or two colors borrowed from the shore: ocean blue and... Read the guide → Two women walking under palm trees in Santa Barbara wearing bikinis with pink and white and charcoal and white striped Turkish towels wrapped as sarongs The Beach Towel Color Guide: Match Your Towel to Your Swimsuit, Tote and Mood The best beach towel color is one that either matches your swimsuit or plays against it on purpose: navy and white for a classic look, teal... Read the guide → Pink, yellow and orange houses stacked on a cliff above a blue Mediterranean cove, with magenta bougainvillea in the foreground How to Shop by Color with Riviera's Colorful Search To shop by color at Riviera Towel Co., open Colorful Search on the rivieratowel.com homepage, tap one or more color swatches, and you will see every... Read the guide → Woman in a red swimsuit carrying a striped Riviera beach tote on a seaside terrace What to Pack in a Beach Bag: The Santa Barbara Checklist The beach bag essentials are a quick-drying towel, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, water and snacks, a cover-up, a warm layer for later and a bag... Read the guide → Two women on the beach wrapped in blue and yellow striped Turkish towels Beach Cover-Ups: How to Choose a Wrap, Sarong or Turkish Towel The best beach cover-up is one that is light, quick to dry and easy to throw on over a wet swimsuit. A sarong or scarf wrap... Read the guide → Woman in a red and white striped rugby top and denim shorts What to Wear in Santa Barbara: A Local's Coastal Style Guide In Santa Barbara, wear relaxed, breathable layers: a soft tee or easy dress for sunny afternoons, plus a sweater, light jacket or wrap for foggy mornings... Read the guide → Woman with a striped towel beside a blue lifeguard tower on a Santa Barbara beach Santa Barbara Beaches: A Local's Guide (and What to Bring) The best beaches in Santa Barbara for most visitors are East Beach for space and people-watching, Leadbetter for families and paddling, Arroyo Burro (Hendry's) for a... Read the guide → Two women lounging in beach chairs with colorful Turkish towels draped over them How to Use a Turkish Towel: 10 Ways to Style It A Turkish towel is a flat-woven cotton towel that you can use far beyond the bath: wear it as a sarong or scarf, spread it out... Read the guide → Woman in a white dress on a tiled Santa Barbara staircase with a striped towel and woven bag The Coastal Jewelry Guide: How to Style Beach Jewelry from Sand to Supper Coastal jewelry is light, warm-toned and easy to wear: think layered gold necklaces, playful earrings, stacked bracelets and simple rings that look just as good with... Read the guide →

Gifts

Red tile rooftops and palm trees of downtown Santa Barbara with the mountains and the Pacific Ocean under a clear blue sky Last-Minute Gifts in Santa Barbara: Shop Local Downtown For a last-minute gift in Santa Barbara, skip the shipping stress and shop local downtown. The Riviera Towel Company at 17 W. Gutierrez St., just off... Read the guide → Ocean bluffs above the Pacific in Santa Barbara, a classic wedding backdrop Santa Barbara Wedding Welcome Bags: What to Put Inside A great Santa Barbara wedding welcome bag holds a few useful, local-feeling pieces guests will actually take home: a tote to carry it all, a Turkish... Read the guide → Smiling woman wrapped in a cream fringed throw, sitting on a rug by a lit fireplace with a magazine and a woven basket Gifts for People Who Have Everything (That They'll Actually Use) The best gift for someone who has everything is a better version of something they use every day: a lighter towel, a softer throw, a robe... Read the guide → Two women laughing over coffee at an outdoor table covered with a pink striped Turkish towel, set with orange flowers, pastries and a bowl of oranges Hostess and Housewarming Gifts from Santa Barbara The best hostess gifts are small, pretty and useful the very next morning: a set of tea towels, a candle, cork coasters or a Turkish towel... Read the guide → Smiling woman wrapped in a blue and cream plaid throw, holding a mug on a rug in front of a lit fireplace Coastal Stocking Stuffers Under $25 The best stocking stuffers for beach lovers are small, useful and a little bit salty: a Turkish towel, a Santa Barbara tea towel, cork coasters, a... Read the guide → Two friends wrapped in throw blankets by the fireplace playing chess The Coastal Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts from Santa Barbara for Everyone The best coastal Christmas gifts bring a little beach feeling into winter: a cozy Turkish cotton throw for the sofa, a lightweight robe, a Santa Barbara... Read the guide → Woman with a striped towel on a tiled Spanish staircase in downtown Santa Barbara Where to Find Unique Gifts in Downtown Santa Barbara For unique gifts in downtown Santa Barbara, head to The Riviera Towel Company at 17 W. Gutierrez St., a Turkish towel and coastal gift shop just... Read the guide → Woman on the beach carrying a pink and white striped Riviera beach tote Santa Barbara Gift Baskets: How to Build One Locals Love (Ideas by Budget) The best Santa Barbara gift basket is one you build yourself from things the recipient will actually use: a Turkish towel, a Santa Barbara candle, an... Read the guide → Two friends picnicking on a Turkish towel in the grass under a beach umbrella The Turkish Towel Gift Guide: Ideas for Everyone on Your List A Turkish towel makes a great gift because it is beautiful, useful every day, and works for almost anyone, from a weekend host to a newlywed... Read the guide → Woman holding up a LOVE from Santa Barbara Turkish towel under a seaside colonnade Santa Barbara Gifts: What to Bring Home from the American Riviera The best gifts from Santa Barbara are the ones you'll actually use and that still feel like this place every time you do: a Turkish beach... Read the guide →

Santa Barbara

Stearns Wharf stretching across calm blue water with palm trees and the Santa Barbara foothills behind The Ocean Groups Your Riviera Towel Supports (Our 5% for the Ocean) Every year, The Riviera Towel Company gives 5% of its net profits to eight ocean conservation charities: Sea Turtle Conservancy, Coral Restoration Foundation, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper,... Read the guide → Couple picnicking on a blue patterned blanket above the ocean with a basket and snacks The Best Picnic Blankets for the Beach and Park The best picnic blanket is big enough for everyone, light enough to carry, and easy to shake clean and wash afterward. For the beach, a flat-woven... Read the guide → Woman picking up a plastic bottle on the beach Eco-Friendly Beach Towels and Our Promise to the Ocean Every year, The Riviera Towel Company gives 5% of its net profits to organizations that heal and protect the ocean, and we've donated $76,439.30 so far.... Read the guide → Woman in sunglasses on the sand, wrapped in a navy-striped Turkish towel The Best Beach Towels for Santa Barbara (and Every Beach in Between) The best beach towels are the ones that shake off sand, dry quickly, and fold small enough to fit in your tote, and that is exactly... Read the guide →

Home & cozy

Beige woven throw blanket with fringed edges draped over a cream upholstered armchair How to Wash Turkish Cotton Blankets, Throws and Robes (and Keep Them Soft) To wash a Turkish cotton blanket, throw or robe, machine wash it cold with like colors on a gentle cycle, then tumble dry low or line... Read the guide → Striped Turkish hand towel on a kitchen counter with fresh bread Turkish Hand Towels and Tea Towels: Why They Work Better Turkish hand towels and flat-weave tea towels work better than thick terry because they absorb well, dry quickly between uses, and are far less likely to... Read the guide → Woman wrapped in a cream throw blanket in a bright coastal bedroom Coastal Home Decor Without the Cliches: Throws, Pillows and Linens The easiest way to get coastal home decor right is to focus on texture, light and natural materials rather than nautical props. Swap the anchors and... Read the guide → Woman in a navy striped Turkish cotton robe at a bathroom vanity Lightweight Turkish Cotton Bathrobes: A Buyer's Guide A lightweight Turkish cotton bathrobe is a breathable robe that absorbs water, dries quickly and does not feel heavy or hot, which makes it easy to... Read the guide → Woman wrapped in a charcoal Turkish bath towel in a tiled bathroom How to Make Your Bathroom Feel Like a Spa with Turkish Towels To make your bathroom feel like a spa, start with the textiles: lightweight Turkish cotton bath towels, a waffle or flat-weave hand towel, and a soft... Read the guide → Woman wrapped in a soft beige throw blanket on a cream sofa The Best Throw Blankets for a Coastal Home The best throw blanket for a coastal home is one you can actually use most of the year: a breathable woven cotton throw for mild days... Read the guide →

Turkish towels

Close-up of an artisan's hands twisting and knotting the cotton fringe on a cream Turkish towel How Turkish Towels Are Made: From Cotton Yarn to Hand-Knotted Fringe Turkish towels are made in five steps: the design is chosen, long-staple Turkish cotton is spun into yarn, the yarn is woven into a flat cloth... Read the guide → Two friends relaxing on a large lavender Turkish towel under a striped umbrella Turkish Towel Sizes and Weights Explained: Which One Should You Buy? A typical Turkish beach or bath towel is about 36 to 40 inches wide and around 70 inches long, which makes it larger than most standard... Read the guide → Woman by a tiled pool holding striped Turkish towels Why a Turkish Towel Is the Best Travel Towel For most trips, the best travel towel is a flat-woven Turkish cotton towel, also called a peshtemal. It folds down small, dries quickly between uses, and... Read the guide → Woman sitting on a Santa Barbara beach wrapped in a navy-and-white striped Turkish towel What Is a Turkish Towel? The Complete Guide to the Peshtemal A Turkish towel is a flat-woven cotton towel, traditionally called a peshtemal, that was first used in the bathhouses (hammams) of the Ottoman Empire. Instead of... Read the guide → Couple shaking out a striped Turkish towel on a Santa Barbara beach How to Wash Turkish Towels (and Make Them Softer Every Time) To wash Turkish towels, machine wash them in cool or warm water on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent, skip the fabric softener, and line... Read the guide → Woman Reading Book on the Beach while laying on her Turkish Towel Why Turkish Towels Beat Terry Towels (2025 Guide) Why Are Turkish Towels Better Than Traditional Terry Towels? Turkish towels—also called Peshtemal or Foutas—outperform traditional terry towels because their long‑staple Turkish cotton weave is lighter, faster‑drying,... Read the guide →