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Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels

3.5 star property
Hotel in Santa Barbara with a coffee shop and a bar

Choose dates to view prices

Located in Historic Downtown Santa Barbara, Drift is a convenient base for exploration. Start your day at the on-site cafe, unwind with drinks at the bar, or rent bikes to explore Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor. Helpful staff and express check-in ensure a hassle-free stay.

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast available
  • Bar
  • Parking available
  • Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 8 of 8 rooms

View all photos for Room, City View (Cozy)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

Room, City View (Cozy)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Premium bedding
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Premium Tree House (State Street View)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

Premium Tree House (State Street View)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Premium bedding
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Room (Cozy)

City view

Room (Cozy)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(4 reviews)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Premium bedding
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Premium Room, Mountain View

Mountain view

Premium Room, Mountain View

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Premium bedding
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Premium Penthouse (Drift)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

Premium Penthouse (Drift)

Highlights

Furnished balcony or patio
Separate sitting area
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Premium bedding
  • City view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 King Beds

View all photos for Penthouse (Drift)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

Penthouse (Drift)

Highlights

Furnished balcony or patio
Separate sitting area
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Premium bedding
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Room (Bunk Room)

Premium bedding, in-room safe, individually decorated

Room (Bunk Room)

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Premium bedding
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
  • 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

Highlights

Balcony
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Heating
Smart TV
Premium bedding
Hair dryer
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

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About the neighborhood

Map
524 State St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101

What's nearby

  • Paseo Nuevo Mall - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Presidio Santa Barbara - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Santa Barbara County Courthouse - 13 min walk - 0.7 miles
  • Santa Barbara City College - 13 min walk - 0.7 miles
  • Santa Barbara Harbor - 15 min walk - 0.8 miles

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Santa Barbara Craft Ramen - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Dune Coffee Roasters - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Joe's Cafe - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪The Cruisery - ‬2 min walk

About this property

Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels

Hotel near Santa Barbara Zoo
Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels provides amenities like a coffee shop/cafe and a bar. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.
You'll also find perks like:
  • Breakfast (surcharge), bike rentals, and self parking (surcharge)
  • Express check-out, express check-in, and luggage storage
  • Smoke-free premises, concierge services, and an elevator
  • Guest reviews say great things about the helpful staff and proximity to shopping
Room features
All guestrooms are individually furnished, and offer comforts such as premium bedding and air conditioning, in addition to perks like free WiFi and safes. Guest reviews speak positively of the clean rooms at the property.
Extra conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Showers, free toiletries, and hair dryers
  • 43-inch Smart TVs with Netflix, Hulu, and streaming services
  • Digital channels, heating, and housekeeping

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Hotel Santa Barbara
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  • Free WiFi
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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

  • 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
There is no front desk at this property
Guests will receive an email within 48 hours before arrival with check-in instructions and an access code; your host will greet you
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, host will greet you

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

Frequently asked questions

Is Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is available for USD 18 per day.

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.

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

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels located?

Located in Downtown Santa Barbara, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Paseo Nuevo Mall, El Capitan Lake, and Cabrillo Bikeway. Casa de la Guerra and De la Guerra Plaza are also within 10 minutes. Santa Barbara Station is 8 minutes by foot.

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Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 237 out of 398 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 58 out of 398 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 46 out of 398 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 32 out of 398 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 25 out of 398 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.2/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany

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

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic room, very clean and a comfortable bed. Nice staff and the bar, Dusk, was a lot of fun as well.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

nicholas

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

10/10 Excellent

Daoud

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

Alina

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

Norita

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Excellent Choice of Hotel

Perfect location right on State Street near restaurants, shops and other places.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 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

2/10 Terrible

george

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
One of the worst experiences I had, very rude staff don't respect handicap guests. The rooms don't look nothing like the pictures, they didn't state the square footage of the room on the description. Never go to this hotel, save your money and your time
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia

Mom and Daughter getaway

Great location to restaurants and the beach.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Youjin

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Drift Hotel was so amazing! It was the perfect location to walk around State St, and explore around Santa Barbara
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 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

8/10 Good

Whit

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic location. No car needed!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kristy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Overall great experience, great location and the hospitality was amazing
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Geneviève

Liked: Cleanliness
Super friendly, easy check in and out and beautiful deco
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mytsou

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Jacky

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

Robert

Great place and location
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Claudia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Kimberly

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
perfect spot to stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Justin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautifully designed and located in a fun area.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Eleanor

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Room felt European in size
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

hazel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
What is so special about the Drift are the people. Everyone from folks at the coffee shop, check in team, to the GM Jacqueline are so lovely and provide excellent customer service! So completely above and beyond to make my stay wonderful! I love the streamline design of the rooms, the yoga mat in every room, and the coffee every morning at Dawn! There are bikes and surf boards to borrow and enjoy in SB. Make sure you check out the yoga studio too! Also, the location is perfect for exploring, especially all of the vintage shops and The Funk Zone! I highly recommend staying at The Drift, and hope to check out their other properties.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Claudia E

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Excellent location and great environment. Totally recommended!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gerardo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great hotel, easy and reliable.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

2/10 Terrible

Trasalia

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Very loud sexual noises every night, rooms were smaller than it appeared online.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
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Policies

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