Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels

Hotels
Design Hotels
7.9 (338 reviews)
524 State Street , Santa Barbara , us

Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Heating
Terrace
Family rooms
Lift / Elevator
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Helpful staff
Cons:
Small room size
Noise issues

Categories

Cleanliness
7.15
Some rooms reported to have noise issues and one review indicated a very small space.
Service
8.65
Staff described as friendly, helpful, and accommodating.
Location
9.15
Perfect location, central and convenient access to local attractions.
Room Quality
6.65
Some complaints about room size and misleading photos on booking.
Amenities
8.15
Amenities appreciated, particularly the bar and coffee shop.
Value for Money
7.65
Some guests feel the price was not justified based on room size and quality.
Food and Beverage
7.65
Issues with food service at the cafe, but good drinks at the bar.
Overall Experience
8.15
Overall positive experiences, but noted drawbacks in room and noise.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-13 18:17

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodations
Drift Santa Barbara offers elegant 4-star accommodations with modern amenities. Each unit features a flat-screen TV, and select rooms include a fully equipped kitchen for added convenience.

Convenient Location
Situated just 1.3 km from the city centre and less than 1 km from East Beach, this hotel provides easy access to popular attractions such as West Beach, Antioch College, and Amtrak Station Santa Barbara.

Exceptional Services
Enjoy complimentary WiFi, a concierge service, and access to free bikes during your stay. Indulge in delicious cuisine at the on-site restaurant and unwind with a drink at the bar.

Experience luxury and convenience at Drift Santa Barbara. Book your stay now for an unforgettable getaway.

Important information:

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

7.9
Based on 338 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.15
Service: 8.65
Location: 9.15
Room Quality: 6.65
Amenities: 8.15
Value for Money: 7.65
Food and Beverage: 7.65
Overall Experience: 8.15
J
Jacqui solo_traveller gb
4
Disappointed, and the area was in need of repair, mice running around and a lot of homelessness
Pros:

Some of the bar staff were rude

Cons:

Room was very compact and there was no way of opening the window. Music from the bars were very loud until 2am. The hotel offered ear plugs, disappointing

2026-08-26 via Nuitee
M
Matteo couple ch
1
N’Y ALLEZ PAS
Cons:

La chambre d’hôtel est minuscule, l’hygiène est douteuse, le bruit est omniprésent.
Lorsque que l’on remonte tous ces points à l’hôtel, absolument rien n’est pris en considération et on argumente dans le sens on va devrait être acceptable.
Le rapport qualité prix est exorbitant. À fuir.

2026-08-19 via Nuitee
A
Azul couple es
9
2026-08-18 via Nuitee
C
Cristiana couple us
4
2026-08-17 via Nuitee
J
Jackie couple us
6
It was convenient to Downtown SB and the Staff was very friendly and helpful.
Pros:

The staff was very friendly. They were responsive when we had a question or needed any additional services. They very very helpful and truly liked working there.

Cons:

The room was very dark. There wasn't sufficient light to be able to shave or put on make-up. It could easily be rectified with lights around the mirror or a mirror in the bathroom area. Also, the music from the bars were loud and it was hard to fall asleep.

2026-08-16 via Nuitee
J
Julie family_with_children us
9
The Drift is in a fabulous, convenient location with beautiful décor, & responsive staff
Pros:

The location is fabulous and very close to stores, the harbor and much more. We loved the decor and atmosphere. The area around the Drift felt safe. Most communication was with the Staff is via text and they responded very quickly. Bikes were available for free. The Staff was very nice and helpful.

Cons:

I didn't love that you had to text a request for room service 24 hours in advance but the process was easy. The room was called the "Cozy Room" which it was extremely cozy. Not a lot of space for large suitcases and the bathroom sink is in the main room.

2026-07-25 via Nuitee
C
Chris couple us
10
We will be back :)
Pros:

Staff was fantastic and the hotel and rooms were really cleaned. We had a wonderful time there. Thank you!

2026-07-22 via Nuitee
E
Eileen couple us
8
Had a lovely comfortable stay and the text messaging option with the staff was super efficient and easy to get anything
Pros:

Lovely design, modern and although the space was small, they did a really good job with design features that maximize the space for storage and places to put belongings. Great location if you want to be in the heart of State Street.

Cons:

Didn’t love that there is no valet or Bell service for the price, however, the overnight parking in the public lot directly adjacent to the hotel ended up being some of the least expensive parking I’ve paid at a hotel. If you’re looking for absolute peace and serenity, this may not be the spot as there is pretty active nightlife right below the hotel so things really won’t quiet down until about 2 AM.

2026-07-20 via Nuitee
N
Noelle couple us
9
Perfect spot to relax, enjoy, play
Pros:

Location, service, vibe

Cons:

May not be suitable for some guests

2026-07-09 via Nuitee
J
Jenny solo_traveller us
9
Small but stylish studio rooms. Don’t have to check in person, everything is done via text & code!
Cons:

Lack of amenities, tissue boxes, towels, drinks

2026-07-07 via Nuitee
M
marco couple ch
9
2026-07-06 via Nuitee
A
Ariana couple pa
10
Excelente ubicación y atención
Pros:

Excelente ubicación, buenisima atención me encantó el lugar y lo recomendaría 1000%

2026-07-02 via Nuitee
V
vincent couple us
1
A scam and they rip people of with their photos for the worst room and open from the bar entry to the rooms hallways. $5
Pros:

Don't stay here they make it seem like the photos of the hotel is what you will get but that is just if you pay for the penthouse house like 1,000$+ a night they use this main photos to get you they scam us and gave us the smallest "room" you could imagine. On the photos you can see next to the entry is the small shower and toilet, the bed is to right to the furniture that your feet will touch it. They do not refund you your money after you tell them if not what they advertise. Also there a bar and the hallway to the rooms is open to the public anybody can go on hallways! Horrible!

Cons:

All about this hotel is a scam the images shown for the reservations are for a penthouse. I reserved a room for a night thinking that it was the one on the images since it was $500 a night. Instead when we open the door it was the smallest room, extremely low quality for the price that the bed is built in the wall with the furniture that your feet can touch it. also the shower and toilet are basically next to the entry since is so so small! Is outrageous how a hotel can sell this as 500$ a night, they now what they're doing. Do not book here they will also not refund you your money when you make the complain on is not what it shown. Booking will also not back you up and not give you the money. We talk to Darcy from front desk and we explain why we were not staying and she said she understand, you could tell on her face this is not the first time she's heard this.

2026-07-01 via Nuitee
A
Abbs couple us
5
2026-06-28 via Nuitee
N
Nesbitt solo_traveller us
3
Absolutely awful.
Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

Noisy, dirty, tiny room, unstaffed.

2026-06-23 via Nuitee
P
Parsifal couple us
9
Great! Really cute place, great vibes
Pros:

Location was perfect. The staff at the drift was fantastic

Cons:

Funky smell in the hallway

2026-06-17 via Nuitee
J
Janis couple us
2
Not recommended
Pros:

Trendy

Cons:

The rooms are super small. I could not fit 1 large suitcase!! The bed is pushed against the wall so you need to jump over the other person if you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night- the hotel puts sandalwood scent in the cleaning solution so the bedroom has a very strong odor which I was very sensitive to. I had a headache and could not sleep. Although the hotel said they were trying to do “everything they could” I checked out after 1 night and went somewhere else. Now trying to get my money back!! My recommendation- don’t book here there are too many other great hotels.

2026-06-14 via Nuitee
S
sabrina solo_traveller ca
9
2026-06-01 via Nuitee
J
Jennifer couple us
4
2026-05-30 via Nuitee
A
Augustin couple fr
4
Pros:

Personnel a la reception tres sympa

Cons:

Chambre extremement petite
Chambre au Groud Floor a une fenetre au plafond qui donne un sentiment d'enfermement

2026-05-21 via Nuitee