Hotel Californian

My wife, her mom and I had a wonderful stay at Hotel Californian. The grounds are very clean and inviting, the rooms are spacious and super-clean and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. The location is superb located just a short walk to the ocean front and plenty of dining venues. Highly Recommend Hotel Californian.

Beautiful hotel in a perfect location. Bed was incredibly comfortable and bathroom had both bath towels and bath sheets. Joe at the bar was great and whipped up an amazing cocktail based on my preferences. My only complaint is that for the upscale price there should be complimentary coffee offered other than from the espresso in the room. Highly recommend!

I had a great stay here with my family. The location was great to walk to nearby restaurants and shopping on state and also easy ocean access. The hotel had nice amenities including a nice rooftop pool, gym, spa, bikes, golf cart transportation and a few options for dining.

Our room was great for our family given the outdoor access and a large open space to place a crib. The room did have a funny set up with the tv on the adjacent wall of the bed but given we were out of the room so often it didn’t bother us too much but for anyone spending time in their room it is importance to note on the Seville room.

My only small disappointment was that the lobby bar closes at 8pm, there are nearby places to grab drinks but for a cool spot we’d hope it was later.

Excellent location. Great staff and very friendly service. Check in was very straightforward and check out was very easy. Valet parking was simple and easy to get car for in and out service.

Great Hotel - great staff - restaurant/bar service could use improvement. Our room was excellent. Billing was a bit confusing - not sure all the AMEX benefits came through, but not a big deal. Overall, we'll be back.

I absolutely loved staying at Hotel Californian. The location is super convenient, everything is within walking distance, from the beach to cafes, restaurants, and the Funk Zone area

What made me fall in love with this hotel the most is the design and atmosphere.
The hotel building and the surrounding area are incredibly beautiful,
with Spanish Colonial and Moroccan-inspired architecture that honestly made me feel like I was somewhere in Greece or Spain.
The white walls, terracotta tones, and charming details everywhere create such a dreamy Mediterranean vibe.

The whole experience felt luxurious, relaxing, and very aesthetic. Definitely one of the prettiest hotels I’ve stayed at Santa Barbara

Wonderful hotel with an amazing view from the roof top pool and spa. The staff were extremely courteous and kind. Loved the balcony porches on each suite. I was there for business and it made the stay feel like a vacation and less like work.

I'm a Virtuoso Travel Advisor that booked this one night stay for my family after a flight cancellation. It is listed as "luxury" and a part of my agency's preferred property program.
It is a lovely, niche property with well appointed and comfortable, quiet rooms.
Location is premium with access to experiences both in town and along the beachfront. Be aware that the hotel is spread amongst multiple buildings for stay, spa, pool and restaurant.
Hence, the problem. Service was S L O W. We waited more than 45 minutes for round 1 of drinks at the rooftop pool after ordering on the hotel food and beverage app. Once delivered, we placed our round 2 order that didn't arrive until I called the front desk staff to ask for service. This continued until a life saver staff member, Tonya, who wasn't even on service, stepped in to assist and save the stay.
Granted, it was a busy pool, play day. Not life altering.
But nonetheless if you're going to offer the service - at a premium price for the stay and the food and beverage - provide it.
Additionally, be prepared for room service to take longer and not be considered a "hot meal" as it also comes from across the street restaurant.
The hotel is a nice option for those without full service luxury expectations.

My husband and I spent four nights at Hotel Californian as a base for our trip to the Santa Barbara area. It is situated right near the pier and the waterfront spread out over several buildings. Although the hotel's materials refer to the area as the "funk zone", things were pretty quiet at night. The room was spacious and clean with a nice balcony. We didn't end up eating a full meal there so we cannot comment on the food, but I enjoyed a swim in the pool with a view of the harbor and the mountains. It is an easy walk to the main downtown area which features many shops and restaurants, and there are also some good ones around the hotel itself. All in all a very pleasant visit and we would stay here again if we were back in the area.

Tabitha and her entire team were absolutely mind-blowing—I truly can’t say enough about them. From start to finish, their service was seamless and exceptional. They were efficient, responsive, and proactive, always one step ahead and ready to assist with anything we needed.

What stood out most was their genuine warmth and professionalism. Every interaction felt welcoming, thoughtful, and personalized. The team was not only highly organized and detail-oriented, but also incredibly courteous, approachable, and attentive.

It’s rare to experience this level of care and consistency. Their dedication, positivity, and commitment to excellence made all the difference. Truly a world-class team—I would return in a heartbeat.

Wonderful property, conveniently located. Loved the pool deck and outdoor spaces. The staff was amazing and helped us plan our days. The dining establishments could have a broader menu, but otherwise enjoyable.

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.