306 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, California, United States | (618) 248-8274
Across the street from the beach, close to shopping and dining
Contemporary guest rooms with work tables, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers
Thoughtful extras, including chocolates at turndown
Some units have views of the harbor
Outdoor heated pool and hot tub
Wine and cheese happy hour
Free continental breakfast
Free bike and paddle board rentals (limited)
Free on-site parking
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Guest room decor is slightly dated
No full restaurant or bar
No fitness center
The three-pearl West Beach Inn is about as close as you can get to the harbor and the beach in Santa Barbara, and rates here are at a premium as a result. Its 46 contemporary guest rooms have work tables, and some upgraded rooms have private balconies with harbor views. They'll all well-equipped, with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, robes, and free Wi-Fi, though decor overall is a touch dated. Also, there's a slight lack of privacy due to the motel-style exterior entries, but the grounds are pleasant and sheltered from the busy street. Highlights include an outdoor pool and hot tub, and freebies like continental breakfast and bike rentals, but there's no full-service restaurant. Rates tend to be cheaper down the street at Hotel Milo Santa Barbara, which has more guest rooms and adds a fitness center.
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Scene
Mid-range hotel with a Mediterranean look and harbor views
This small hotel occupies the same amount of property as its neighbors on the block, but the West Beach Inn feels larger, with a second building facing the ocean (housing its Premium rooms). The terra-cotta rooftops and a central courtyard, which opens to a sundeck around a pie-shaped pool, give it a Mediterranean look and a relaxed atmosphere. The lobby is both a reception area and a breakfast room, with a pretty, black-and-white tile floor. The front desk, updated in a reclaimed wood-style, occupies one wall, with tables and bench seats lining the others under black window dressings. Couples and some families tend to be frequent guests here.
Location
Directly across from the beach and harbor, on a busy street corner
The West Beach Inn is located on busy West Cabrillo Boulevard, right across from the Santa Barbara Harbor and beach. Guests can reach either the marina or the sand in a minutes' walk. Pershing Park, with its baseball diamonds and tennis courts, is a three-minute walk around the corner. Several restaurants are within easy walking distance along the waterfront and the popular Stearns Wharf, lined with candy stores and cafes, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center is about a 10-minute walk away. Trolley stops along the boulevard can take guests to State Street, which offers more shopping, restaurants, and nightlife, in a just over 40 minutes. Santa Barbara Airport is less than 20 minutes away by car.
Rooms
Contemporary decor that's slightly dated, but well-equipped with microwaves and mini-fridges
Most of the inn's 46 guest rooms face the interior garden courtyard, which does a lot to minimize noise and privacy issues with the exterior entry, though some have more typical doors off of exterior walkways that face a parking lot. Standard rooms are 260 square feet, with dark carpeting, contemporary furniture, and artwork in faded beachy hues, and while spaces are pleasant and comfortable, the decor has a slightly dated look. Potted plants, coffeemakers, and flat-screen TVs adorn wooden cabinets and dressers, which also house mini-fridges and robes. Units facing the courtyard have seating areas outside their doors (either on the courtyard patio, or the shared walkways above), with cushioned, white wicker chairs. Larger upgraded rooms have king beds or two queens, and furnished balconies. There's also a three-bedroom suite with a 600-square-foot balcony. The bathrooms are also a touch dated, with aging shower/tub combos, but they're tidy and come with a decent stock of upmarket toiletries. Free Wi-Fi and nightly turndown service with chocolates is included.
Features
Outdoor pool and hot tub, evening wine and cheese, plus free breakfast, but no gym
This property has well-maintained grounds and facilities, and it offers some nice extra perks. The heated outdoor pool is set in a sundeck with white loungers and a few tables under black umbrellas. There's also a hot tub under a pavilion. Facilities here are otherwise slim; there's no fitness center, bar, or restaurant, but free continental breakfast is served in the lobby breakfast room. In the evenings, there's a poolside wine and cheese happy hour. The hotel also provides free two-hour bike rentals and one-hour paddle board sessions with nearby third party companies. Wi-Fi throughout and on-site parking are free.
