Beachfront hotels in Santa Barbara

Hey! I love staying in a nice beachfront hotel - being able to go straight from your room down to the ocean is a priceless feeling. To help save some time when booking your next vacation I've put together this list of beachfront hotels and resorts in Santa Barbara. I hope you will like it!

• 1 Beachside Inn Santa Barbara, United States

  

  Hotel. Located across the street from the Santa Barbara Harbor and a 5 minutes' walk from the beach, this hotel offers a year-round heated outdoor pool and complimentary parking. Free WiFi is included in all guest rooms and common areas of the hotel. Featuring park, harbor or pool views, each room at the Beachside Inn is equipped with tea and coffee making facilities, as well as a seating area and a refrigerator and cable TV with premium channels. A 24-hour reception is offered at the Beachside Inn. Fax and photocopying services, as well as a business centre, are available for added convenience. University of California Santa Barbara is 10.5 miles from the hotel. Established in 1786, guests can tour the Santa Barbara Mission 3 miles away. Show full description Guest review score 8.4, rooms from around $134.

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• 2 Cabrillo Inn at the Beach Santa Barbara, United States

  

  Hotel. Located directly across from the beach, this Santa Barbara hotel offers a heated outdoor pool and free WiFi. The Zoological Gardens are a short walk away. Featuring cable TV, each en suite room at the Cabrillo Inn at the Beach is equipped with a fridge. Comfortably furnished in a tropical-style decor, most rooms include a seating area. Offering a variety of shops and restaurants, the historic Stearns Wharf is a 3-minute drive from this hotel. Old Mission Santa Barbara, the Botanical Gardens and the History Museum are 5.6 km away. Show full description Guest review score 7.3, rooms from around $111.

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• 3 Harbor View Inn Santa Barbara, United States

  

  Hotel. Offering an outdoor pool and hot tub, this Santa Barbara hotel is less than 5 minutes’ walk from Stearn’s Wharf. Guests can enjoy a full service spa experience at Spa Beaumontia, located on-site. Guest rooms feature free WiFi. The modern rooms at Harbor View Inn include an HDTV with film channels and a minibar. Guest robes, a safety deposit box and a work desk are also provided. A fitness center with elliptical machines and stationary bikes is available for guests of Harbor View Inn. A 24-hour business center and concierge services are featured for maximum convenience. A gift shop is also located at the hotel. East Beach is 5 minutes’ drive from the hotel. Santa Barbara Mission and Arroyo Burro Beach County Park are both 10 minutes’ drive away. Guest review score 8.8, rooms from around $324.

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• 4 Hotel Californian Santa Barbara, United States

  

  Hotel. Located next to the Funk Zone in Santa Barbara, the Hotel Californian is just steps from the beach and features an outdoor pool. Guests can enjoy several on-site dining options and take advantage of the on-site spa. Every air-conditioned guest room is equipped with a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a refrigerator, a coffee machine, free toiletries and a desk. Some rooms also feature a balcony. The hotel has two locations where guests can dine. Goat Tree offers casual dining all day offering fresh local fare including pastries and baked goods, a full breakfast menu, and cold-pressed juices and coffee. Blackbird offers Mediterranean-influenced cuisine with the Pacific Ocean and Funk Zone as a backdrop. The hotel spa, Majorelle, offers a steam room, a salon, and an indoor and outdoor lounge. Kunin Wines is 100 metres from Hotel Californian, while Santa Barbara Wine Collective is 200 metres from the property. The nearest airport is Santa Barbara Airport, 14 km from the hotel. Show full description Guest review score 8.7, rooms from around $887.

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• 5 The Milo Santa Barbara, United States

  

  Hotel. This oceanfront hotel in downtown Santa Barbara is 4 minutes' walk from Stearns Wharf. It offers 2 heated outdoor pools and a modern fitness centre. A flat-screen cable TV is provided in each of the colorful, modern rooms. Each air-conditioned room has an iPod dock, wooden floors and a ceiling fan. A custom coffee machine with coffee is available in each guest room and ocean view rooms are available. There is also a patio dining area with a tropical garden. Guests at Hotel Milo Santa Barbara can relax in the hot tub. Santa Barbara Winery and the Santa Barbara Amtrak are within 10 minutes' walk of this hotel. Show full description Guest review score 8.0, rooms from around $280.

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• 6 Mar Monte Hotel, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt Santa Barbara, United States

  

  Hotel. This Santa Barbara beachfront resort offers an outdoor pool with a poolside lounge. Sterns Wharf and State Street shops’ is 5 minutes’ drive away. Fresh bathrobes and free WiFi are offered in all rooms. Select rooms’ feature an ocean view at Mar Monte Hotel, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. A flat-screen TV, modern dark wood furnishings, white linens and red accents are featured in all rooms. Mar Monte Hotel, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt offers an onsite restaurant and lounge, Costa Kitchen and Bar. Room service is available. Lido Cafe, the property's poolside lounge, features ocean views. A fitness centre, concierge services and valet parking is offered. University of California, Santa Barbara is 12 miles away. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is 5 miles away from Mar Monte Hotel, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Show full description Guest review score 7.8, rooms from around $316.

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• 7 The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, United States

  

  Hotel. Adjacent to the Sandpiper golf course, this Santa Barbara resort features beautiful ocean views, an outdoor pool and on-site dining. All guest rooms include a private patio with a view. At the The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, all rooms with attached bathroom include a TV. Comfortably furnished, all rooms feature a seating area. Bathrobes and slippers are provided. A variety of dining options are available at the The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara. Bistro offers Californian dishes in a casual environment. Signature cocktails are available at the O Bar + Kitchen. Angel Oak is a modern steak and seafood restaurant. Guests can also unwind at the on-site fitness center. There are also tennis courts and hiking trails on-site. The property hosts one of the largest spas on the west coast with added features like an adults-only pool and a rooftop terrace. There is also a meeting area for guests on business. Santa Barbara city center is 13 miles away from the resort. The Santa Barbara Mission is 18 minutes’ drive away. This is a beachfront hotel. Show full description Guest review score 7.9, rooms from around $667.

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• 8 Ala Mar by the Sea Santa Barbara, United States

  

  Motel. This motel is located on Santa Barbara's waterfront, only one block from Stearns Wharf. The inn offers a danish and coffee each morning and views of the ocean and surrounding mountains. Alamar by the Sea Motel features guest rooms with cable TV and free Wi-Fi. A sundeck with ocean and mountain views is offered at the Alamar Sea Motel. A business center is also available. The Museum of Natural History and the Santa Barbara Zoo are minutes from the Alamar Motel by the Sea. The University of California at Santa Barbara is also nearby. This is a beachfront hotel. Show full description Guest review score 6.3, rooms from around $151.

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I try my best to keep this guide up to date and I last refreshed it in December 2025. Did I miss a hotel that should be on this list? Send me an email and let me know!