Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels
Hotel in Santa Barbara, CA
3-Star Hotel
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Includes essentialsAir conditioner, Internet / Wifi, TV and more
Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental
About this hotel
Santa Barbara hotel in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara with a coffee shop and a bar
Along with a bar/lounge, this smoke-free hotel has a coffee shop/cafe and self parking. WiFi in public areas is free. Additionally, concierge services, express check-in, and express check-out are onsite.
Housekeeping is available on request.
Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels offers 46 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and bathrobes. Each accommodation is individually furnished and decorated. Beds feature premium bedding. 43-inch Smart televisions come with digital channels and Netflix.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Along with a bar/lounge, this smoke-free hotel has a coffee shop/cafe and self parking. WiFi in public areas is free. Additionally, concierge services, express check-in, and express check-out are onsite.
Housekeeping is available on request.
Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels offers 46 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and bathrobes. Each accommodation is individually furnished and decorated. Beds feature premium bedding. 43-inch Smart televisions come with digital channels and Netflix.
Bathrooms include showers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. This Santa Barbara hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is provided on request.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Amenities
Air conditioner
Internet / Wifi
TV
Map of Santa Barbara, CA
Available Rooms
Room, City View (Cozy)
1 Queen
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
Premium Tree House, View (State Street View)
1 King
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
Room (Cozy)
1 Queen
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
Premium Room, Mountain View
1 Queen
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
Premium Penthouse (Drift)
2 King
Sleeps 4
You'll be directed to Expedia.com for availability & pricing
$$$$
Ratings and reviews
6.0 / 10.0
Great location; staff was very nice and accomodating. The room was small, dimly lit with little space for hanging clothes and luggage. The bed was very comfortable but hard to get in and out of since it was up against a wall.
4.0 / 10.0
Centrally located that a the good point , otherwise Room small and badly arranged, noisy (one understands why ds earplugs provided) awakes at 6h by the dustbin truck...no employees except in line thus not really friendly...sorry for the report...otherwise Santa Barbara is splendid!
6.0 / 10.0
Internet kept cutting out and the surrounding area was noisy - even after 12am.
10.0 / 10.0
Great hotel, easy and reliable.
10.0 / 10.0
My stay at the drift hotel was great.
Very easy check in/out, the room was great, clean and good looking.
The bar and coffee shop downstairs were very good.
Definitely a place to stay at again.
I loved it.
5.0 / 10.0
I stayed at Drift for my best friend’s wedding weekend and I had the best stay! The staff is very quick to answer any questions you may have through their texting service and the location is perfect for downtown SB!
2.0 / 10.0
This hotel has a great location, with easy walk to the beach, the Funk Zone and State Street restaurants and shops. But there is no front desk, or true hotel staff, you just get an access code to the hotel and room and overnight parking is a block away, But the biggest shock is the tiny, I mean tiny size of the room. There is no room to put your luggage. There is a separate toilet and shower, but no real bathroom with a counter and a sink. There is a standalone sink but it is right next to the bed. And the bed is not only small but up against a wall so you are climbing over your partner to get up at night. Big pass on this place,
3.0 / 10.0
Overall, Drift had some pros and cons. Location is very good, walkable to a ton and right on state st. The vibe of the hotel is way different than the pictures represent. The biggest shock was how small the rooms are vs. the images on the booking site. If you don’t read the fine print, you wouldn’t know there is no where to store your clothes, assuming you booked a more economical option. Even the larger rooms don’t have much of a closet. On top of being so much smaller than expected, many of the bottom floor rooms are super dark and give off a cold atmosphere. There is so much noise on the bottom floor, they provide ear plugs in every room. The bar and coffee shop within the bottom floor have great food, drinks and staff. If you’re traveling light, and like a black / cement feel, this is the hotel for you. The service level is minimal as they provide you a key code to get in the building and your room so there is no front desk but a help line you can text for any issues or needs.
10.0 / 10.0
Beautiful modern rooms. Perfect for two people. Location is absolutely wonderful. The Coffee shop and bar in the hotel are perfect. Will definitely be staying here again.
10.0 / 10.0
The Drift is located perfectly downtown. Literally walking distance to the Main Street with multiple restaurants and bars. The bar (Dusk) is so good and make some of the best drinks I’ve ever had.
10.0 / 10.0
t service!
5.0 / 10.0
Location is perfect! It's a newer hotel so it's clean and modern. There is no traditional front desk so everything is done via email and text (including check-in with entry keypad codes) but we loved it. It all couldn't be easier and this is definitely our go-to hotel whenever we go to Santa Barbara.
10.0 / 10.0
The room was very aesthetic and clean. Will definitely stay again.
10.0 / 10.0
The rooms are very well-designed and makes great use of the space available. The staff is extremely kind and helpful. Cozy and calm ambiance throughout.
8.0 / 10.0
The check-in and text communication process was very convenient. I used to live in Santa Barbara and was pleasantly surprised to find out this property had been renovated. Also, a good stretch of State Street has been converted into a walking street, and this hotel is conveniently right in the middle of that section. True to the reviews, the room was very small, But, in a town where I would be spending most of my time outdoors, this was perfect. I always feel it’s such a waste to have a large room only to sleep and shower in it for one night. The staff were all extremely courteous and friendly, and text responses to questions and room requests were immediate. I would stay here again.
10.0 / 10.0
Great location and very clean
10.0 / 10.0
We enjoyed Drift Santa Barbara very much. Our unit wasn't large by any means, but efficiently and modernly designed with high quality. The downstairs coffee shop and bar establishments are excellent. The convenience is great and the staff checks in periodically on text to ensure your stay is going well. Thank you Drift Santa Barbara!
8.0 / 10.0
We upgraded to a premium room (which is just a normal size room) and it was great! I had some friends stay at the same hotel who did not realize how small the standard room is and they were quite disappointed.
Overall happy with the room but they need to make it more clear just how small the rooms are.
10.0 / 10.0
Great place
8.0 / 10.0
Very cool vibe. Not sure I liked no front desk and all communication via text. Felt impersonal. The bed in our room was pushed up against a wall, so it was difficult for the person sleeping on that side to get in or out of bed. Probably would opt for someplace more traditional next time.
6.0 / 10.0
Rooms incredibly small and literally everything is digital- no staff
10.0 / 10.0
Our recent stay at the Drift Hotel in Santa Barbara was nothing short of spectacular! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm smiles and exceptional service. The ambiance of the hotel is modern yet cozy, with beautifully designed interiors that reflect the laid-back yet sophisticated vibe of Santa Barbara.
The room was immaculate and very my husband and I'd aesthetic. The bed was incredibly comfortable, ensuring a restful night's sleep, and the amenities provided were top-notch. We especially loved the luxurious bath products and body lotion!
The hotel's location is perfect, close to some of the best dining and shopping spots in the area. We enjoyed exploring the charming neighborhoods and scenic coastline.
One of the highlights of our stay was the delightful dawn cafe and dusk bar. The staff was attentive and went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed via text which is what they do and the staff onsite was amazing! It’s clear that the Drift Hotel cares about both their guests.
Overall, my husband and I's experience at the Drift Hotel was unforgettable. The combination of excellent service, beautiful accommodations, and prime location makes it the perfect place to stay in Santa Barbara. We can't wait to return and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exceptional hotel experience!
5.0 / 10.0
Perfect location, nice and quiet even on the street. Dawn and dusk amazing too - best coffee in town!
10.0 / 10.0
Great Stay! Awesome Bar!!!!!!!!!
10.0 / 10.0
very cute aesthetic! kind staff
10.0 / 10.0
Property was located in a great area walking distance to many things
10.0 / 10.0
This hotel is gorgeous!!! Super comfy beds, can’t beat the location right on the part of state street that is closed to thru traffic. We had a bunk room, the only drawback was that the window is small and frosted but we were only in the room at night so it was fine. Super friendly staff. The only thing that we think could be changed was the runs of the ladder to the top bunk- they hurt your feet and you had to wear shoes
4.0 / 10.0
Michael, the GM, is a great leader in handling situation happened unexpectedly. I am comfortable to recommend Drift knowing Michael is always there trying to provide the best experience to his visitors.
4.0 / 10.0
The location was great but the room is small for the price paid. There were little ametities offered by the hotel, no space to put down your luggage. The view we paid for was not visible. There was no pressure in the shower. Although aestetically pleasing, I would not return.
1.0 / 10.0
The room was awkward and smaller than expected especially for the price. The room we stayed in had an awkwardly placed AC unit that would blow air straight into your face all night. But the biggest issue was the noise. While the hotel can’t control the surrounding businesses, the proximity to bars that will blast music until 2am every night make this hotel miserable to stay at.
10.0 / 10.0
Location was prime, was able to walk to go shopping, pier, etc. room was small but clean.
8.0 / 10.0
Its very important to know the rooms are extremely small, not housekeeping services, no desk,charis in room, closet, and you cannot walk around the bed. They moved us to a slight larger room, very accommodating on site help, very polite, but homeless outside also polite but! Great bar downstairs and wonderful cold brew coffee at Dawn
10.0 / 10.0
Amazing! Definitely will stay if we go back to Santa Barbara! Ideal location for food, drinks and walkable entertainment
10.0 / 10.0
Beautiful hotel, great service!
6.0 / 10.0
It was meh for the price
4.0 / 10.0
There was absolutely no service at this property. Everything was done by texting, it’s very impersonal. My room in particular was a dungeon like with a very small window close to the ceiling and the sink was near the bed away from the toilet. The light was dim, and had no place to put a suitcase. One pendant light was hung so low that I keep hitting it. The room picture that is shown on Expedia site doesn’t represent the actual room.
5.0 / 10.0
Small minimal and comfy.
10.0 / 10.0
Very comfortable and nice bedroom
10.0 / 10.0
Love our stay! Fun, hip, clean, & the location was amazing!
8.0 / 10.0
the room was quite nice, clean, comfortable, and quiet.
it lacked a space for a medium sized suitcase to be conveniently placed out of the way, given the room's relatively small size. the area around the hotel is looking pretty rough...to many vagrants and homeless near the entrances of the hotel, made us feel uncomfortable. Parking situation was good at lot on E. Haley street.
FAQs
How much does this hotel cost compared to others in Santa Barbara?
The average price for a rental in Santa Barbara is $462 per night. This rental is $58 less expensive than the average.
Is parking included with this hotel?
Parking is not specified as an available amenity at Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this hotel?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this hotel. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this hotel is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels?
We found 3 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, internet / wifi, and tv.
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