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Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels

3.5 star property

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

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

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Breakfast available
  • Parking available
  • Bar
  • 24/7 front desk
$297
$260 nightly
$297 total
Total with taxes and fees
Apr 13 - Apr 14

Explore the area

View in a map
524 State St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101
  • Place, Moreton Bay Fig Tree
    ‪7 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)
    ‪17 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

View all photos for State Street Premium View Room

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

State Street Premium View Room

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

View all photos for Ground floor (Cozy)

City view

Ground floor (Cozy)

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Premium Room, Mountain View

Mountain view

Premium Room, Mountain View

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

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

View all photos for Penthouse (Drift)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

Penthouse (Drift)

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

View all photos for Room (Bunk Room)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

Room (Bunk Room)

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Double Beds

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

Similar properties

Reception
Hotel Santa Barbara
  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Gym
4.6 out of 5, Wonderful, 1,274 reviews
$259 nightly
The price is $295
Apr 5 - Apr 6
Total with taxes and fees
Hotel Santa Barbara

About the neighborhood

Santa Barbara

With a stay at Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels in Santa Barbara (Downtown Santa Barbara), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Santa Barbara County Courthouse and Santa Barbara Harbor. .This hotel is 10.2 mi (16.5 km) from University of California, Santa Barbara and 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Antioch University.

What's nearby

  • Paseo Nuevo Mall - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Moreton Bay Fig Tree - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Santa Barbara County Courthouse - 13 min walk - 0.7 miles
  • Santa Barbara Harbor - 15 min walk - 0.8 miles
  • Stearns Wharf - 16 min walk - 0.9 miles

Getting around

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

Restaurants

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

About this property

Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels

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.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Make yourself at home in one of the 46 air-conditioned rooms featuring Smart televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and digital programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms feature showers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. Conveniences include safes and complimentary bottled water, and housekeeping is provided on request.
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as bicycles to rent, or other amenities including complimentary wireless internet access and concierge services.
Satisfy your appetite at the hotel's coffee shop/cafe. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge. To-go breakfasts are available daily from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM for a fee.
Featured amenities include express check-in, express check-out, and a 24-hour front desk. Self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.
To-go breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

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

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Housekeeping (on request)

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

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

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

Entertainment

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

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

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

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

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

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

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

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

Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 248 out of 424 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 63 out of 424 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 53 out of 424 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 34 out of 424 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 26 out of 424 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.2/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Shahid, IRVINE

Traveled 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

Traveled 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

Traveled 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

Traveled 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

Traveled 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

Traveled 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 traveler
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

10/10 Excellent

Jordan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Quick weekend getaway at Drift and in Santa Barbara and we had a blast. Fantastic hotel in the heart of downtown that exceeded expectations in every way!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

santo, wheaton

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Clean But too small
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Amy

Location was fantastic. Room was nice. Staff was completely unresponsive. Asked 5 times to fix broken shade (said they would come and never did), asked 4 times for towels (ended up just asking from cleaning staff), asked for iron (never sent). Never had an experience like that before.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

nicholas

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing hotel with even better staff! Would stay here every time I’m in Santa Barbara.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Chris

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Shows great online but looks were deceiving… overall, great location & aesthetic but small rooms felt like a hostel right off the State Street bar. Paying nearly $500 / night for a closet-sized room, which hotel doesn’t have photos online, felt misrepresented. PROS: great location, clean & modern vibe, friendly staff. CONS: absolutely tiniest rooms on first floor, felt like a closet (bathroom / shower / sitting “area” / sink / bed all within 10ft room). First floor room right off public State Street bar, can hear loud party noise throughout the night. limited to no staff, single person (very friendly and accommodating) manning a concierge booth outside the coffee shop attached to first floor.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Alexis

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
My wife and I got married here in September and couldn’t have been happier with the Drift! Cristina, Michael, Alecia and the whole team were so incredibly accommodating and wonderful to work with. The hotel is super stylish, with a modern, earthy, Mediterranean vibe, the rooms are cozy and the bar downstairs, Dusk, is dynamite. We’re looking forward to coming back again and again and can’t recommend it enough to others!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ahmed

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very nice and clean hotel, excellent staff they go for and beyond helping you in addressing any question or concerns, very thoughtful and considerate. I like to mention Joe, who she addressed every request that I had. Amazing location, plenty of dining options couple of blocks from the beach. I’m glad that I chose this hotel, a different recommended difference and Family
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Macey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Akash

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Everything was great but we got a room that faced State st hoping to open the nice windows they have but they were blocked off. I totally understand the safety issues that come with windows that open like that but the pictures made it seem like we could and it would have been nice to be able to open them (even a little) and be able to hear the street noise and stuff outside. Other then that it was great and I would definitely stay again
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Weiqi

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nayiri

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Jacky

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness
Quirky hotel with digital check in with reception desk on the street & use PIN code instead of a key to get in room. Made the most of a small room by including a fridge & glass surround shower in middle of room, however the bed only had one way of getting in & out so not easy for couples who may have to climb over their sleeping partner. Lighting very bad for doing makeup as me & my two friends found out who were in other rooms. Friendly staff and ideal location for walking to the beach, going out for dinner and shopping.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Javier

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