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Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels

3.5 star property
3.5-star hotel near Santa Barbara County Courthouse

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Photo gallery for Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels

View from room
Interior
Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated
Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated
Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Breakfast available
  • Parking available
  • Bar
  • 24/7 front desk

Explore the area

View in a map
524 State St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101
  • Place, Paseo Nuevo Mall
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Santa Barbara County Courthouse
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, Santa Barbara Harbor
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Airport, Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal)
    ‪16 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Room (Cozy)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

Room (Cozy)

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for State Street Premium View Room

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

State Street Premium View Room

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Ground floor (Cozy)

City view

Ground floor (Cozy)

7.4 out of 10
Good
(6 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Premium Room, Mountain View

Mountain view

Premium Room, Mountain View

  • Mountain view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Premium Penthouse (Drift)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

Premium Penthouse (Drift)

  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Queen Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Penthouse (Drift)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

Penthouse (Drift)

  • City view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Room (Bunk Room)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

Room (Bunk Room)

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Double Beds
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Premium Room, Balcony, City View

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

Premium Room, Balcony, City View

  • Mountain view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • Free WiFi

About the area

Santa Barbara

Downtown Santa Barbara stay.A stay at this Downtown Santa Barbara hotel places you steps from Antioch University and within a 5-minute walk of Paseo Nuevo Mall. De la Guerra Plaza and Reagan Ranch Center are also within half a mile (1 km).

What's nearby

  • Paseo Nuevo Mall - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Santa Barbara County Courthouse - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Santa Barbara Harbor - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Stearns Wharf - 16 min walk - 1.4 km

Getting around

  • Santa Barbara Station - 8 min walk
  • Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) - 12 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Casa Agria Specialty Ales - Santa Barbara Taproom - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪M. Special Brewing Company - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Dune Coffee Roasters - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Santa Barbara Craft Ramen - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Shaker Mill - ‬3 min walk

About this property

Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels

3.5-star hotel near Santa Barbara County Courthouse
There's a coffee shop/cafe on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. WiFi is free in public spaces. Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels also features concierge services, express check-in, and express check-out. Parking is available for a fee.

This 3.5-star Santa Barbara hotel is smoke free.

  • 46 guestrooms or units
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Express check-in
  • Express check-out
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Concierge
  • Elevator
  • No smoking on site
  • Bar or lounge
  • Coffee shop
Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels offers 46 air-conditioned accommodations with safes and complimentary bottled water. Each accommodation is individually furnished and decorated. Beds feature premium bedding. 43-inch Smart televisions come with digital channels and Netflix.

Bathrooms include showers, bathrobes, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. This Santa Barbara hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is provided on request.

Similar properties

Reception
Hotel Santa Barbara
Downtown Santa Barbara
  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Gym
4.6 out of 5, Wonderful, 1,367 reviews
The price is CA $333
CA $387 total
includes taxes & fees
May 20 - May 21
Hotel Santa Barbara

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Uncovered self parking on site (USD 18 per day)

Food and drink

  • Daily on-the-go breakfast available 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM for a fee: USD 5 to 15 per person
  • A bar/lounge
  • A coffee shop/cafe

Things to do

  • Bicycle rentals

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Elevator
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible public washroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • 43-inch smart TV with digital channels
  • Hulu
  • Netflix
  • Streaming services

Bedroom

  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Bathrobes
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Contactless check-in available
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
Guests will receive an email within 48 hours before arrival with check-in instructions and an access code; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Prior to arrival, you must complete online registration via a secure link
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Access code, staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed, but service animals are welcome

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for to-go breakfast: approximately USD 5 to 15 per person
  • Uncovered self parking fee: USD 18 per day

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, a first aid kit, and window guards
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Cash is not accepted. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, a first aid kit, and window guards in each accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

Property is also known as

Drift Santa Barbara
Drift Santa Barbara a Member of Design Hotels
Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels Hotel
Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels Santa Barbara

Frequently asked questions

How close is Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels to the airport?

Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels is 10.3 mi (12-min drive) away from the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels?

As of May 19, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels on Jun 8, 2026 start from CA $382, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels.

How close is Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels to the beach?

This hotel is a short 11-minute walk from West Beach and 1.2 mi (7-min drive) from East Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels offer free breakfast?

Free breakfast isn’t provided at Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels, but to-go breakfast is offered for a fee of between USD 5 and 15 per person. It's available every day from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Is there a casino at Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels?

No, there is no casino at this hotel.

What time is check-in at Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels?

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime.

Is there free parking at Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels?

Free parking is not available at this hotel. Self parking is available for USD 18 per day.

Does Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels have a pool?

Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels does not have a pool.

Does Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hotel.

How close is Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels to downtown Santa Barbara?

Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels is 0.6 mi away from Santa Barbara.

Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 258 out of 439 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 66 out of 439 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 54 out of 439 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 34 out of 439 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 27 out of 439 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.2/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Grace

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location - cute rooms- great attentive service
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Front desk service was so accommodating - both day team and night team. Hotel was clean and so cute. The coffee shop and bar attached to the hotel was a perfect addition.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026

2/10 Terrible

Kelly

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026

8/10 Good

Mitchell

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hotel side of things was all pretty good. I saw some other rooms that housekeeping was in and some of these rooms a scary small. I'm glad I opted for a more expensive room so we had the extra room space. The view was great, room styling and decor was awesome. Location is about the best for the area also. I recommend a room overlooking state st or the penthouse is out of this world. My one let down was Dusk & Dawn. They are nice but I was under the impression that they were larger and that Dusk would have a good menu for dinner. It's just drinks and snacks. Not necessarily a bad thing but something to mention. There's a lot of food places in the area and the hotel alone is worth the stay. The staff were all great and very friendly. Facilities were also clean and well kept.
Should've photographed before sleeping in the bed, great room!
Loved the large windows and ambient lighting.
Beautiful building and tons of green on state st.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Amanda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Lovely little hotel, friendly staff. Very modern and clean. Positioned directly on the main road near lots of shops and nightlife so you don’t have to travel far for entertainment. I would stay here again for sure and would recommend.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

6/10 Okay

Mary

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

6/10 Okay

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
The hotel is in a great location but all the odd number rooms face a loud venue with music going until 2am. Terrible for anyone who can’t sleep with music coming through the walls.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

2/10 Terrible

Daniel

Bed had hairs on it. General manager was rude and condescending. The “Mountain View” rooms are actually parking lot and trash dumpsters views. Wouldn’t recommend
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

6/10 Okay

Nienchu Kimberly

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
The human-less check in system never works. Other than that the hotel is nice.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Thompson

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Wesley

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

monica

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026

6/10 Okay

Camelia

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Zidan

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Natalia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very clean, comfortable room. Cozy, quiet. And coffee in the morning was delicious.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

6/10 Okay

Shahid, IRVINE

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We were given room on the first floor and it was very noisy due to the bar in the same hallway. I asked for a quieter room and they gave me a room on the third floor but charged an extra $65/night, which I was not happy about
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

juan

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Great location and service
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daoud

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Joe from the concierge was awesome! She was helpful and just the best! She made us feel so comfortable.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Yvette

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Our staff was fantastic. We loved the bunk beds! Everything was amazing. Would stay there again!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Elias

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

Jamie, Raleigh

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Had the DRIFT Penthouse room. Aesthetically it was awesome. Could be better designed. PROs: - large rooms, nice layout - beautiful deck - as many towels as needed - coffee/espresso maker, microwave and fridge - 2 bathrooms - location close to a lot of restaurants and other sights - easy access with door codes - liked both DAWN and DUSK downstairs CONs: - master bath had 6" gap between door and glass - zero privacy - no place to put luggage or clothes except on couch (can stuff shoes or unused luggage under bed) - can't reach some curtains without standing on couch - no place to sit and work on computer or write anything (need to stand at kitchen island - no chairs - or sit with computer on lap) - bathroom mirrors only have lights on 1 side - very trendy but impractical (put up a makeup mirror or add lights!) - only 1 side of bed had bedside table - kept running into hanging lamp on 1 side of bed (hang it higher) -outdoor furniture is fixed/modular and faces the building wall - not the view. Put 2 chairs out there that can be moved. Along with a small table. - music across the street is VERY loud all evening - should be clearer how and when you get door codes and/or say there is a person there to check you in (we scrambled to get them while driving since none auto- arrived as they had said) - very expensive for all the CONs
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carter

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The staff was nice and the hotel was comfy
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alina

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was very nice and clean! It was close to everything!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennice

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Wonderful place. The hotels of the future. Easy in and out. No formal lobby structure and GREAT lobby welcome. Jo was fabulous. Thoughtful, Helpful and super nice. I can only hope all check-in folks are like her!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025