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.

The Best Hotels in Waterfront, Santa Barbara - 2026 Updated Prices

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

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Our top choices for Waterfront hotels

1. West Beach Inn, a Coast Hotel

West Beach, 1.3 km from Waterfront

Joanna

฿9,279 total

includes taxes & fees

27 Aug - 28 Aug

2. Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

East Beach, 0.5 km from Waterfront

McKenna

฿10,638 total

includes taxes & fees

3 Sept - 4 Sept

Luxury Suite, 1 Bedroom, Ocean View (Anacapa) | Beach/ocean view

3. Santa Barbara Inn

East Beach, 0.9 km from Waterfront

Emma

฿10,791 total

includes taxes & fees

30 Aug - 31 Aug

4. La Playa Inn

West Beach, 1.4 km from Waterfront

Greer

฿9,154 total

includes taxes & fees

30 Aug - 31 Aug

Deluxe Room, Multiple Beds (Deluxe Queen Suite) | Desk, laptop workspace, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board

5. Avania Inn of Santa Barbara

West Beach, 1.4 km from Waterfront

Julia

฿6,259 total

includes taxes & fees

30 Aug - 31 Aug

6. Motel 6 Santa Barbara, CA - Beach

East Beach, 1 km from Waterfront

David S

฿5,345 total

includes taxes & fees

7 Sept - 8 Sept

7. Harbor View Inn

West Beach, 0.9 km from Waterfront

Danielle

฿11,925 total

includes taxes & fees

8 Sept - 9 Sept

8. Hotel Santa Barbara

Lower State, 1.5 km from Waterfront

Marilyn

฿9,212 total

includes taxes & fees

9 Sept - 10 Sept

9. Mason Beach Inn

West Beach, 1.3 km from Waterfront

Rachita

฿9,241 total

includes taxes & fees

27 Aug - 28 Aug

10. Beachside Inn

West Beach, 1.3 km from Waterfront

Liam

฿6,719 total

includes taxes & fees

31 Aug - 1 Sept

11. Inn By The Harbor

West Beach, 1.6 km from Waterfront

JILL

฿9,838 total

includes taxes & fees

21 Sept - 22 Sept

12. Lavender Inn by the Sea

West Beach, 1.4 km from Waterfront

Suzanne

฿8,661 total

includes taxes & fees

30 Aug - 31 Aug

13. Brisas del Mar, Inn at the Beach

West Beach, 1.5 km from Waterfront

Liad

฿9,381 total

includes taxes & fees

31 Aug - 1 Sept

Premium bedding, pillow-top beds, in-room safe, desk

14. Riviera Beach House

The Funk Zone, 0.9 km from Waterfront

wendy

฿7,900 total

includes taxes & fees

30 Aug - 31 Aug

15. The Inn at East Beach

East Beach, 1.1 km from Waterfront

Shubh

฿6,243 total

includes taxes & fees

1 Sept - 2 Sept

16. The Milo

West Beach, 1.1 km from Waterfront

Shane

฿10,070 total

includes taxes & fees

31 Aug - 1 Sept

17. Marina Beach Hotel

West Beach, 1.3 km from Waterfront

Amy

฿8,871 total

includes taxes & fees

2 Sept - 3 Sept

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

East Beach, 1.1 km from Waterfront

Adolfo

฿10,786 total

includes taxes & fees

2 Sept - 3 Sept

19. Hotel Virginia Santa Barbara, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Lower State, 1.4 km from Waterfront

Cayley

฿9,581 total

includes taxes & fees

30 Aug - 31 Aug

20. The Franciscan Hotel

West Beach, 1.3 km from Waterfront

Naomi

฿7,780 total

includes taxes & fees

24 Sept - 25 Sept

View all properties

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 MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation.

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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.

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A coastal town with a prominent white building with a red roof, palm trees, and mountains in the background.

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 Arlington Theater or Lobero Theater might round out your trip.

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A marina with multiple boats docked, calm water, and a clear sky.

West Beach

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

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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.

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Top Waterfront Hotel Reviews

Brisas del Mar, Inn at the Beach

10/10 Excellent

"Everything was perfect so clean and organized. Staff was friendly. Got a little VIP champagne. Great location with a swimming pool for the young ones recommended highly"

The Franciscan Hotel

10/10 Excellent

"Only stayed here for one night, but after coming here we wished we stayed much longer. The rooms were wonderful in how they were set up. They seemed much larger and more spacious than a typical hotel room. Even the bathrooms were much bigger than a typical hotel. And everything felt very clean. Not sure if all rooms are set up the same but we were very happy with the actual room. The front desk staff was very good and accomidating. The breakfast in the morning was also very nice. It allows you to get up and going quickly without having to go somewhere else to eat. The beach was a pretty quick walk. It's a good locaiton. Just overall a great place to stay. If we ever come back to the west coast, we will frequent this place again."

Search Hotels in Waterfront, Santa Barbara

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Treat yourself

Be picky

Check prices for these dates

Filter by

Star rating

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Our top choices for Waterfront hotels

1. West Beach Inn, a Coast Hotel

2. Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

3. Santa Barbara Inn

4. La Playa Inn

5. Avania Inn of Santa Barbara

6. Motel 6 Santa Barbara, CA - Beach

7. Harbor View Inn

8. Hotel Santa Barbara

9. Mason Beach Inn

10. Beachside Inn

11. Inn By The Harbor

12. Lavender Inn by the Sea

13. Brisas del Mar, Inn at the Beach

14. Riviera Beach House

15. The Inn at East Beach

16. The Milo

17. Marina Beach Hotel

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

19. Hotel Virginia Santa Barbara, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

20. The Franciscan Hotel

Where to stay in Waterfront

Santa Barbara Beach

Montecito

Downtown Santa Barbara

West Beach

East Beach

Top Waterfront Hotel Reviews

Brisas del Mar, Inn at the Beach

Frequently asked questions

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