Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels

3.5 star property

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your current months are February, 2025 and March, 2025.
February 2025
March 2025

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

Premium bedding, minibar, individually decorated, individually furnished
Coffee shop
Private kitchen
Premium bedding, minibar, individually decorated, individually furnished
Coffee shop

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
524 State St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101
  • Lobero Theater
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Santa Barbara Historical Museum
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Presidio Santa Barbara
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Santa Barbara, CA (SBA-Santa Barbara Municipal)
    ‪12 min drive‬

Room options

Room, City View (Cozy)

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Premium Tree House, View (State Street View)

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Room (Cozy)

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Premium Room, Mountain View

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Premium Penthouse (Drift)

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 King Beds

Penthouse (Drift)

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Room (Bunk Room)

  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Double Beds

Premium Room, Balcony, City View

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

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About this property

Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels

Hotel with a coffee shop, near Stearns Wharf
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.
Our customers tell us they can't get enough of Drift Santa Barbara, a Member of Design Hotels's great location. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Antioch University. You'll find features like free WiFi in public areas, plus a bar and a coffee shop/cafe.
  • Free WiFi
  • Grab something to eat at the coffee shop/cafe or stop for a drink at the bar/lounge
  • To-go breakfast served daily for a fee
  • Self parking available for a fee
  • Services include a concierge and luggage storage
  • Onsite recreation includes bike rentals
  • Guests have great things to say about the helpful staff and the clean accommodations
  • 14 minutes by foot from Stearns Wharf and a 5-minute drive from Santa Barbara Zoo
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.

For a fee, guests can enjoy to-go breakfast daily from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Languages

English, Spanish

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and public transport

  • Uncovered self parking on site (USD 25 per day)

Food and drink

  • To-go breakfast available for a fee daily 8:00 AM–1:00 PM: USD 5-15 per person
  • 1 coffee shop/cafe
  • 1 bar

Things to do

  • Bike rentals

Conveniences

  • Lift

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Luggage storage

Accessibility

  • If you have any requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Lift
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible public bathroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant

More

  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Air conditioning
  • Bed sheets
  • Heating
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Bathrobes
  • Free toiletries
  • Hairdryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels

Entertainment

  • 43-inch smart TV
  • Digital channels
  • Hulu
  • Netflix
  • Streaming services

Food and drink

  • Minibar

More

  • Connecting rooms available
  • Individually decorated
  • Individually furnished

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 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

Access methods

Access code, host will greet you

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.

Payment types at the property

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 25 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

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
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 fire extinguisher, a security system, a first aid kit, and window guards
This property does not have a front desk. Prior to arrival, guests must complete online registration with the property via a secure link. Guests will receive an email 48 hours before arrival with check-in information and an access code. The host will greet guests on arrival. An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking.

We should mention

  • Connecting/adjoining rooms are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property at the number on your booking confirmation.

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. 194 out of 325 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 48 out of 325 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 38 out of 325 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 25 out of 325 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 20 out of 325 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.2/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Justin

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

8/10 Good

Evelyn

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nina

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property is pretty new, since 2022! I loved the style and design of the property. It smelled fresh the minute you stepped into the hallways going up towards your room. I liked that they had a cafe and bar downstairs that was picturesque. It’s right in State St. so everything from the Pier to the shopping centers were a few feet away. Check in was very easy, I did everything virtual. When we got there there was a staff to assist with things in case we needed it but we were able to get our key code and walk in without room keys. I wish all hotels were this easy! Incidentals cost $100 for 2 nights. Probably $50 a night. I would totally go back! If I had to say one thing I would’ve wanted improved… it would probably be the dust. I wish they dusted parts of the room better, especially the wood on the walls. The windows picked up dust easily. I was sneezing away a lot but other than that… the room itself was nice and “cozy”.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Mary

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Madilyn

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

marleen, Santa Clarita

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

2/10 Terrible

Kathleen A

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Tyler

Business traveller, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We didn’t like that there wasn’t a bathroom door
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Flavia

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
WE LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR STAY
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Caridad

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

4/10 Poor

Jaclynne

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The lack of dedicated lobby was disappointing. This was a VERY expensive hotel to be treated by the staff like we were bothersome. There should be vending for water and access to things without having to ask a bartender or barista. It was a disappointing experience.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Art

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The uniqueness of this property is a model of how the future hotels will evolve into. It is a modern hot spot with well trained staff.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

6/10 Okay

Harry

Travelled with partner
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

4/10 Poor

Nicolas

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
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!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Malaya

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Donn

Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Li-Ann

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Internet kept cutting out and the surrounding area was noisy - even after 12am.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gerardo

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

10/10 Excellent

Matthew

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Alexandria

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Manuel

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Triana

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Best stay!
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!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

2/10 Terrible

John

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service
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,
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Room comfort
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.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024