A river with rocks, palm trees, and mountains in the background.

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Check prices for these dates

This weekend
11 Sep - 13 Sep
Next weekend
18 Sep - 20 Sep

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Our top choices for Waterfront hotels

A covered outdoor seating area with tables and chairs, overlooking a runway and palm trees.

1. Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
4.0 star property
East Beach, 0.5 km from Waterfront
7.8 out of 10, Good, (461 reviews)
"Amazing beach loved it here"
United States
McKenna
The price is ฿7,574
฿10,137 total
includes taxes & fees
21 Sept - 22 Sept
Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
A marina with boats docked, palm trees, and a building labeled "Sea Landing."

2. West Beach Inn, a Coast Hotel

West Beach Inn, a Coast Hotel
3.0 star property
West Beach, 1.3 km from Waterfront
9.4 out of 10, Exceptional, (1,110 reviews)
"Amazing place to stay!"
United States
Amanda
The price is ฿7,557
฿8,615 total
includes taxes & fees
12 Oct - 13 Oct
West Beach Inn, a Coast Hotel
A sunlit balcony with a curved sofa, a small round table, and a potted plant. The balcony features arched windows with a view of palm trees and the sea.

3. Santa Barbara Inn

Santa Barbara Inn
4.0 star property
East Beach, 0.9 km from Waterfront
9.4 out of 10, Exceptional, (1,002 reviews)
"Nice room, convenient to the Connivo restaurant downstairs (ate there twice), great location across the street from the beach"
United States
Joanne
The price is ฿12,394
฿14,157 total
includes taxes & fees
17 Sept - 18 Sept
Santa Barbara Inn
A modern living room with two grey sofas, a small woven stool, and a large wall clock.

4. Beachside Inn

Beachside Inn
3.0 star property
West Beach, 1.3 km from Waterfront
9.0 out of 10, Wonderful, (1,273 reviews)
"Great location, free parking on site was great, nice staff, nice rooms, and amazing breakfast!!"
United States
Rebecca
The price is ฿6,106
฿6,973 total
includes taxes & fees
13 Sept - 14 Sept
Beachside Inn
Two Adirondack chairs facing a small table on a balcony with a view of the ocean and palm trees.

5. Motel 6 Santa Barbara, CA - Beach

Motel 6 Santa Barbara, CA - Beach
2.0 star property
East Beach, 1 km from Waterfront
9.0 out of 10, Wonderful, (1,479 reviews)
"Great location. The room was small, clean and simple and the staff was friendly."
United States
David S
The price is ฿4,759
฿5,434 total
includes taxes & fees
7 Oct - 8 Oct
Motel 6 Santa Barbara, CA - Beach
A resort with a swimming pool surrounded by palm trees, a beach view, and a well-maintained lawn.

6. Harbor View Inn

Harbor View Inn
3.5 star property
West Beach, 0.9 km from Waterfront
9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, (1,000 reviews)
"A great stay in the most perfect location in Santa Barbara."
United States
Gabriel
The price is ฿9,419
฿10,738 total
includes taxes & fees
12 Oct - 13 Oct
Harbor View Inn
A hotel room with a large bed, a sofa, a desk, and a nightstand.

7. Avania Inn of Santa Barbara

Avania Inn of Santa Barbara
2.5 star property
West Beach, 1.4 km from Waterfront
9.0 out of 10, Wonderful, (2,383 reviews)
"Great comfortable stay and nice breakfast"
Canada
Julia
The price is ฿5,919
฿7,007 total
includes taxes & fees
13 Sept - 14 Sept
Avania Inn of Santa Barbara
A multi-story hotel with a sign reading "LA PLAYA INN Santa Barbara, California".

8. La Playa Inn

La Playa Inn
2.5 star property
West Beach, 1.4 km from Waterfront
9.6 out of 10, Exceptional, (1,003 reviews)
"Perfect location! Great room. Great continental breakfast."
United States
Greer
The price is ฿8,119
฿9,255 total
includes taxes & fees
12 Oct - 13 Oct
La Playa Inn
A white building with a sign reading "Mason Beach Inn" and a balcony with a railing.

9. Mason Beach Inn

Mason Beach Inn
3.0 star property
West Beach, 1.3 km from Waterfront
9.4 out of 10, Exceptional, (1,003 reviews)
"Great hotel and location!"
United States
Rachita
The price is ฿8,155
฿9,511 total
includes taxes & fees
13 Sept - 14 Sept
Mason Beach Inn
A spacious interior with high ceilings, wooden beams, and a central column.

10. Hotel Santa Barbara

Hotel Santa Barbara
4.0 star property
Lower State, 1.5 km from Waterfront
9.4 out of 10, Exceptional, (1,497 reviews)
"Great location, friendly staff and great rooms."
United States
Veronica
The price is ฿7,509
฿8,732 total
includes taxes & fees
27 Sept - 28 Sept
Hotel Santa Barbara
A large, two-story building with a tiled roof, surrounded by palm trees and a well-maintained garden.

11. Inn By The Harbor

Inn By The Harbor
3.5 star property
West Beach, 1.6 km from Waterfront
9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, (1,936 reviews)
"Staff was very helpful and hotel was quiet."
United States
Amanda
The price is ฿7,559
฿8,632 total
includes taxes & fees
30 Sept - 1 Oct
Inn By The Harbor
An outdoor patio area with stone flooring, wooden chairs, and tables. There are palm trees and a decorative stone wall with a statue.

12. The Franciscan Hotel

The Franciscan Hotel
2.5 star property
West Beach, 1.3 km from Waterfront
9.4 out of 10, Exceptional, (1,280 reviews)
"Quiet. Friendly staff, great location, terrific breakfast."
United States
Bob
The price is ฿6,871
฿7,833 total
includes taxes & fees
29 Sept - 30 Sept
The Franciscan Hotel
A multi-story building with a curved entrance, palm trees, and a staircase leading to the entrance.

13. Brisas del Mar, Inn at the Beach

Brisas del Mar, Inn at the Beach
3.5 star property
West Beach, 1.5 km from Waterfront
9.4 out of 10, Exceptional, (1,439 reviews)
"Great location Very nice staff"
United States
Liad
The price is ฿8,161
฿9,319 total
includes taxes & fees
29 Sept - 30 Sept
Brisas del Mar, Inn at the Beach
A sunny outdoor seating area with tables and chairs, surrounded by lush tropical plants and flowers.

14. Marina Beach Hotel

Marina Beach Hotel
3.0 star property
West Beach, 1.3 km from Waterfront
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (1,174 reviews)
"Great place to stay!"
United States
Amy
The price is ฿7,102
฿8,096 total
includes taxes & fees
5 Oct - 6 Oct
Marina Beach Hotel
A reception area with a counter, potted plants, a coffee station, and a view through large glass doors.

15. The Inn at East Beach

The Inn at East Beach
2.5 star property
East Beach, 1.1 km from Waterfront
8.2 out of 10, Very good, (1,006 reviews)
"Close to beach."
United States
Shubh
The price is ฿4,536
฿5,171 total
includes taxes & fees
11 Oct - 12 Oct
The Inn at East Beach
A bright kitchen with a large island, white cabinetry, and a view through glass doors to an outdoor patio.

16. Lavender Inn by the Sea

Lavender Inn by the Sea
3.5 star property
West Beach, 1.4 km from Waterfront
9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, (1,337 reviews)
"Great stay! Would book again"
United States
Omar
The price is ฿7,659
฿8,747 total
includes taxes & fees
28 Sept - 29 Sept
Lavender Inn by the Sea
An outdoor patio with tables and chairs, palm trees, and a view of buildings in the background.

17. Hotel Californian

Hotel Californian
5.0 star property
The Funk Zone, 0.8 km from Waterfront
9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, (1,001 reviews)
"It was such an amazing hotel!! They really do everything right. I can’t wait to go back."
United States
Tricia
The price is ฿19,136
฿24,306 total
includes taxes & fees
12 Oct - 13 Oct
Hotel Californian
A hotel entrance with a large glass ceiling, multiple chandeliers, and palm trees.

18. Mar Monte Hotel, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

Mar Monte Hotel, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
4.0 star property
East Beach, 1.1 km from Waterfront
8.0 out of 10, Very good, (1,000 reviews)
"Great stay."
United States
Adolfo
The price is ฿9,254
฿11,886 total
includes taxes & fees
12 Oct - 13 Oct
Mar Monte Hotel, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

19. The Eagle Inn

The Eagle Inn
3.0 star property
West Beach, 1.3 km from Waterfront
9.4 out of 10, Exceptional, (1,001 reviews)
"Very conveniently located and clean"
United States
Julian
The price is ฿9,518
฿10,851 total
includes taxes & fees
13 Sept - 14 Sept
The Eagle Inn
A hotel room with two beds, a desk, and a view of the outdoors.

20. Riviera Beach House

Riviera Beach House
3.5 star property
The Funk Zone, 0.9 km from Waterfront
8.4 out of 10, Very good, (1,003 reviews)
"Room was clean and staff was excellent!"
United States
Karilyn
The price is ฿5,996
฿6,847 total
includes taxes & fees
6 Oct - 7 Oct
Riviera Beach House
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
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Where to stay in Waterfront

Find the best Waterfront areas for the activities you enjoy most.
A coastal town with a pier extending into the ocean, a beach, and a mix of residential and commercial buildings.

Santa Barbara Beach

Santa Barbara Beach is known for its stunning beaches, and you can see some sights area like Stearns Wharf and West Beach.

A coastal beach with palm trees, a sandy shore, and a clear blue sky.

Montecito

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Montecito. A stop by Miramar Beach or Butterfly Beach might round out your trip.

A coastal cityscape with a prominent white building with red-tiled roofs, surrounded by lush greenery and palm trees.
Photo by David Simmington
Open Photo by David Simmington

Downtown Santa Barbara

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Downtown Santa Barbara. A stop by Lobero Theater or Presidio Santa Barbara might round out your trip.

A marina filled with sailboats at sunset.
Photo by robb image
Open Photo by robb image

West Beach

If you're spending some time in West Beach, Santa Barbara Harbor and West Beach are top sights worth seeing.

A beach with palm trees, a pier, and the ocean at sunset.

East Beach

East Beach is beloved for its stunning beaches. Take some time to explore sights in the area like East Beach and Santa Barbara Zoo.

Top Waterfront Hotel Reviews

Lemon Tree Inn

Lemon Tree Inn

10/10 Excellent
"The room was a double, it was very spacious. Clean. The sheets smelled wonderful. The pool was great. All kinds of sitting around it. The parking would be the only thing, but even that was ok. The elevator was across the place from our room, and the disabled parking was limited. My sister who was with me isn't very mobile, but she managed. I would definitely stay here again!"
Kelly 3-night trip
Posted 2 hours ago
Lemon Tree Inn

Frequently asked questions

What is Waterfront like?
Travellers to the Waterfront neighbourhood in Santa Barbara will be sure to enjoy their stay. Make sure that you visit West Beach and East Beach as part of your Waterfront travel plans.
If I need to cancel my hotel reservation in Waterfront, will I receive a refund?
Yes! The majority of hotel reservations are fully refundable as long as you cancel before the accommodation's cancellation deadline, which is often 24 or 48 hours before your check-in date. If you booked a non-refundable reservation, it may still be possible to cancel it and get a refund within a 24-hour period of your booking. Put your dates in and click on "Search", then you can filter by "fully refundable" to view top deals in Waterfront.
What is there to do around this Santa Barbara neighbourhood?
West Beach, East Beach and Leadbetter Beach are great spots if you want to spend some time by the water during your stay in Waterfront. You could also plan a visit to Santa Barbara Harbor or Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center while you're in the neighbourhood. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Art Foundry are just a few of the places to visit in and around Waterfront. MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation and Reagan Ranch Center are also worth a visit when you're out sightseeing in Santa Barbara.