Hotel Californian

A fantastic stay at Hotel Californian. The location is absolutely perfect right by the beach and the Funk Zone which made exploring Santa Barbara on foot incredibly easy. The design of the hotel is beautiful and feels really special without being formal or stuffy.

Our room was styling, comfortable and the whole place has a relaxed luxury feel. The rooftop pool and bar are a highlight with gorgeous views and a great drink / snacks menu. There are plenty of sun loungers and parasols and there is a waiter to take orders.

Our travel agent had mentioned it was our anniversary so we were treated to an upgrade and some fizz and chocolate covered strawberries which was a lovely surprise.

Service throughout was warm, friendly and professional. We'd happily return and would recommend it to anyone looking to stay in Santa Barbara.

We regularly travel to Santa Barbara for staycations. It’s a beautiful drive from Pasadena especially with the coastline views. We have been staying at the El Encanto for decades but with the new owners there, waiting for things to settle in. Meanwhile, we decided to try out The Californian for late anniversary and early birthday celebrations.

The hotel staff are wonderful but need to be more knowledgeable about the Amex Platinum benefits and room types booked. We booked a Sessina room with ocean view but discovered our room was in the old building across the street — a bit tired with a partial view only when standing on the balcony and overlooking another building rooftop. After we called reception, they offered two rooms, one a very nice large suite with a city view and the other the same room type we booked but with a much better ocean view. We chose the latter and were very pleased. The decor in the room itself is monochromatic and some of the furniture is worn and in need of repair and refinishing. A few bright colors might be more enticing. The brass fixtures were not polished and looked dirty with a green patina. Poor choice for a seaside hotel.

Breakfast is not on-property but across the street with a limited menu. We will try that shortly. Blackbird, the dinner house was closed so we could not try it. Same for the interior bar.

The best part of the stay so far has been the welcome reception at Society, the wine bar on the corner of the hotel. There, we signed up for the wine club while initially waiting for our room on arrival. Justin, the manager, was exceptionally knowledgeable, welcoming, and engaging. He’s a pro and we enjoyed the terrific wine flights. The hotel owner has assembled an impressive stable of wine brands over the years. Try the Two Sisters Reserve Pinot. Exceptional.

This is our first time staying in the Funk Zone but we have tried many of the restaurants over the years. The hotel offers a shuttle cart for local transport. Unlike El Encanto though, it cannot take you to Montecito where many of the best restaurants and shopping are located. Unfortunately, “downtown” Santa Barbara is still struggling from Covid times when the city choose to shut down auto traffic and transformed a large section of State Street into a promenade. This has become rather seedy over the past five years, and most of the large shops like Nordstrom and Saks closed with Paseo losing other upscale retailers. There is talk about opening it back up to traffic in an attempt to revitalize the area. I hope they do this.

All in will all, we are enjoying our stay. Will we come back? Not sure.

Do not stay here. Hotel has sham resort fee. Doesn’t deliver on promised Amex benefits. Restaurant was closed. Wine bar didn’t serve food. Cafe was unstaffed. Staff was the least bit interested in helping. Shower was dirty. Hotel is horribly overpriced for what is included. Do not stay here.

Hotel molto bello e pulito. Come le camere.

My wife and I just ended a three night stay at the hotel California as part of a conference. So very nice. The hotel actually takes up three separate blocks of Santa Barbara off of State Street about a block from the beach. The hotel facilities are beautiful and spotless. The hotel has several restaurants and cafés as part of its property and there are many many other restaurants within walking distance. The room was fantastic. The valet service was wonderful! They have an amazing rooftop pool and many other amenities. I didn’t even get to see everything. Could not recommend more highlight. My wife andI loved it.

We spent three nights at Hotel Californian and really enjoyed it. We booked through Amex and appreciated the staff’s efforts to ensure we received all of our possible perks, including room upgrade, early check-in and late check-out.

The room was spacious and cozy, the bed and linens were very comfy, as were the in-room seating options. The generously-sized double vanity and good water pressure were also appreciated!

The highlights included a wonderful staff, especially Audrey at check-in and Dave (and the crew) at valet — we felt welcomed and cared for at every turn.

Our first night, we had some noisy neighbors, and we really appreciated the front desk’s care, clear communication about options, as well as good humor. (They remedied the issue quickly — wish I could remember the gentleman’s name who took our call at the front desk!)

I got the best massage of my life by Quinn at Marjorelle spa (and, similarly, all staff I encountered at the spa were great). I really appreciated the care in ensuring I had the right robe size and everything else I needed. Highly recommend!

While we didn’t dine at any of the restaurants on site, we took advantage of in-room dining for breakfast. Like most hotels, very expensive for what you get — but the food was good, and it arrived fast and hot!

We would definitely recommend Hotel Californian and would absolutely stay again next time we’re in town!

The hotel is beautiful, centrally located and accessible to the beach. It is the best hotel from a location perspective. However, the service is unexplainably slow in the hotel and at GoatTree. A Coffee order takes 15-20 minutes, with the standard explanation that they are busy. However, i saw less than 40% patrons.

Of all the times and accommodations I've had in Santa Barbara, this hotel is now at the top of my list. The hotel and amenities are gorgeous and really bridge the outdoors with the indoors seamlessly, which is what you want out of a Santa Barbara vacation. I can't imagine a more optimal location to enjoy Santa Barbara to the fullest.

Very nice hotel experience, friendly service, good beds (one of the best we have experienced in any hotel), overall very relaxed feeling!
Only couple of things to know when planning for stay:
- avoid going to breakfast around 10am, it is extremely busy that time and wait times are long
- EV charging, even though they have capability for charging they don't have yet system to ensure whether your car can get charged or not so prepare for possible surprise (and possible additional time for charging your car if needed)

Spent one night here while in town for a wedding. Our only regret is that we didn’t stay linger. Every single staff member was pleasant, friendly and helpful without sounding fake or forced. I don’t know where they find these people but we don’t have them back east. Shout out to Marisa, our server with a smile and a great attitude in the Goat Tree for breakfast this morning and the awesome valet team for your quick service with a smile. Oh and the room was spotless and beautifully decorated with a very comfortable bed. If we make it back to Santa Barbara, we will definitely stay here again.

Pros: The location was a convenient and central to stores and shops. The valet was always on time and provided great service.
Cons: The room smelled moist and musty on arrival, which we told the front desk when we left, but she seemed unconcerned. The night scene made it loud in the room, which I suppose could be the trade off of being in a good location. Checkout wasn't as seamless as we'd like. The property is spread out between different buildings and leaving our building and checking out in another took more time than we'd like. Also, I normally book on Amex Travel, but this time, I booked through their website. It was difficult to make any adjustments to the reservation once it was made. I called a couple days before to see if I can book a larger room, but reservations said I would have to call the hotel directly to make the adjustment and sent me through a series of phone numbers, none of which made it worthwhile.

Hotel Californian is the ONLY place I want to stay in Santa. Barbara. Lovely luxe accommodations in every way. Special thanks to Lorenzo at front desk and Amy in reservations for SUPERB customer service! Thank you!

The location couldn’t be better, centered perfectly in Santa Barbara. Atmosphere was friendly, rooms were very clean and wonderful but closet space was too small. Great value, noise level was very low, service and amenities were off the chart.

We had a nice 2 night stay with special thanks to Ben, David, and Audrey at the front desk and Gabrielle at concierge. The bell staff and parking attendants were also helpful. Comfy room with good bedding and great shower pressure. The wine bar next door is a nice feature and the hotel is in a great location.

Our two-night stay at Hotel Californian to celebrate our 50th anniversary was truly extraordinary---easily one of the most exceptional hospitality experiences we have ever had. From the moment we arrived, we were treated like honored guests. The Manager went far above and beyond, personally selecting a stunning ocean-view room for us that took our breath away. Walking into the room to find a beautiful bottle of champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries waiting for us was such an elegant and thoughtful welcome...the perfect way to begin our celebration. What amazed us even more was that the exceptional service didn't end at checkout. The Manager thoughtfully arranged for complimentary wine tastings in the Santa Ynez Valley even after we left the property. Every member of the team contributed to a flawless stay. The front desk staff provided a warm, heartfelt welcome that immediately made us feel at home. The valet team was incredible helping to coordinate transportation so we could easily enjoy all that the area had to offer. And every restaurant on property delivered remarkable food, service and atmosphere. Each meal felt like part of the celebration. The Californian didn't just provide a place to stay, they created memories we will treasure forever. If you are looking for a place that truly understands hospitality at the highest level, this is it? We arrived excited to celebrate 50 years of marriage and left feeling celebrated ourselves. We cannot wait to return!

The best location in Santa Barbara is at Hotel Californian. The Tan Tan pool gives a 360 view of all that is the best of Santa Barbara, overlooking the beach and mountains, truly amazing. Also, we took the train from home and the hotel is across the street from the train station, so no need for a Uber. When we got to our room, they had a birthday note, delicious chocolate treat and a bottle of champagne waiting for us to celebrate. It is that kind of customer service and attention to detail that really makes for a great experience. Well done! We were only visiting for a night but we packed a lot in Spa Majorelle for a facial, The Society for wine and Blackbird for dinner we enjoyed every minute. Thank you.

A gorgeous spot for a couples’ getaway! The hotel architecture is stunning. And with the lush choices of materials and fabric - the aesthetics felt luxurious. Our room, the courtyard spaces, reception…

From the moment we arrived, from the valet service to the front desk, wait staff and maid service were all attentive and helpful. Not only did we feel pampered in the surroundings, but the staff made our stay extra special. Don’t miss the fabulous rooftop pool and the view from there of both the town and the ocean.

I attended a conference here in Jan, the property, staff and location is fantastic. The rooms were very comfortable and roomy.