Hotel Santa Barbara Review: What To REALLY Expect If You Stay (2024)

• Historic hotel with charming interiors and original features like a beautifully tiled staircase
• Central location on State Street allows easy access to restaurantsand shopping
• Pleasant rooms have Keurig machines, flat-screen TVs, andmini-fridges
• Two meeting rooms for up to 30 people
• Free daily continental breakfast
• On-site Starbucks
• Laptops available for loan
• Valet parking (for a fee)
• Freebies include Wi-Fi throughout and fruit, tea, and coffee inthe lobby

• No on-site restaurant, bar, pool, or fitness center
• Fee for parking

Amenities

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Santa Barbara

Scene

Historic hotel from 1926 with classic interiors

This classic hotel dates back to 1926 and has hada long and colorful past, with several incarnations and a string ofdifferent names and owners. As the Saint Barbara, the property indulged in notso saintly activities that included serving liquor during Prohibition and offering gambling in a secretgaming room, while in later years the Barbara Hotel was a getaway for Hollywoodstars. Most recently renovated in 2013, the property stays true to its taglineof “Historic Charm, Contemporary Comfort,” combining original details and OldWorld elements with modern comforts and furnishings. Nostalgic accents andhistoric details such as archways and pillars, old photographs and oil paintings onthe walls, and vintage pieces fill the inviting lobby, which is doused inneutral cream and brown hues accented by fresh bursts of green plants.Skylights illuminate the space, while patterned Orientalrugs cover the tiled floors. Details like a staircase covered in rich decorative tiling is a charming addition that adds character. The property attracts leisure tourists attracted by the central location as well as (some) business travelers who can appreciate the meeting rooms and free Wi-Fi.

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Location

Central Santa Barbara location on State Street close to shopping and dining

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Rooms

Pleasant but small rooms with flat-screen TVs, Keurig machines, andmini-fridges

Clean, classically styled rooms are cloaked in cream and beige shades and have traditional wooden furnishings.The soft, neutral hues include large beige headboards framing beds topped withcrisp, white linens and cream-colored, patterned bed runners. They're a big bland and some are small, but all in all they're perfectly pleasant for the price. All rooms haveflat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, Keurig coffeemakers, work desks with ergonomicchairs, fluffy bathrobes, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are generic and typically a bit tight, but clean and renovated, with shower/tub combos, vanitiesoffering ample storage space, wall-mounted hairdryers, and a small range of toiletries.

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Features

Free breakfast, Starbucks in the building, two meeting rooms, and free Wi-Fithroughout

A free continental breakfast is served in the lobby area andincludes fresh pastries, fruit, cereal, yogurt, waffles, juices coffee,and tea. Fresh fruit, coffee, and tea are also available throughout the day inthe lobby. There’s also a Starbucks in the building, though no full restaurantor bar.The hotel has two meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 30 people.Valet parking is available with a fee and Wi-Fi is free throughout,plus guests can loan laptops from the front desk.

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Related Hotels

Hotel Class:Mid-Range

Hotel Santa Barbara iscentrally located on State Street, known for popular shopping, dining, andnightlife. It's home to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and is a short driveto both the wharf and harbor, where guests will find whale watching andsailing. Santa Barbara is an affluent community in Santa Barbara County, hometo five colleges and universities, as well as a large yachting population.Swaddled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, this charmingtown is known for its Spanish-inspired architecture, surfing, and the nightlifedotting State Street.

• Nine-minutewalk to Santa Barbara Amtrak
• 12-minutewalk to Santa Barbara Museum of Art
• Three-minutedrive or 12-minute walk to Stearn's Wharf
• Four-minutedrive to Condo Express whale watching
• Six-minutedrive to Santa Barbara Sailing Center
• Eight-minutedrive to municipal golf course
• 14-minute drive to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport