You’ll feel relaxed as soon as you walk through the door of the Harbor View Inn, Santa Barbara. Once the friendly staff have welcomed you to their Spanish villa-style retreat, it’s time to really chill out. Head to the oceanfront heated pool where you can relax with a cocktail, or the beach is just over the road if you prefer the ocean waves. Speaking of just over the road, Stearns Wharf is there, which is the oldest working wood wharf in California, and it offers restaurants, shops and even a small aquarium!
Amenities
Families
Bar
Fitness Centre/Gym
Hot tub
Restaurant
Room Service
Safety Deposit Box
Swimming Pool
Close to Beach
Where is it
Centrally located across from West Beach and Stearns Wharf, in Santa Barbara. In easy walking distance of local shops and restaurants.
Hotel information
149 rooms and suites on 3 floors in 3 buildings. All with balcony/terrace, air-conditioning, complimentary WiFi, flat-screen TV, Keurig coffee maker, mini-bar*, safe, iron and ironing board, bathrobes and hairdryer.
Resort/City View Rooms are located in the south or west wings, with either 1 king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults.
North Wing City Rooms with either 1 king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 2 adults.
Ocean View Rooms are located in the south or west wings of the hotel, with either 1 king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 2 adults.
Pool bar (serving drinks and light bites, seasonal hours).
Outdoor oceanfront swimming pol and jacuzzi. Fitness centre.
Complimentary WiFi access. 24-hour reception. Gift shop/convenience store. Self-parking $32 plus tax per night (payable locally, fee subject to change - parking limited to one space per room).
*Denotes local charge.
Based on 1861 reviews
Rating summary
Location
Sleep Quality
Rooms
Service
Value
Cleanliness
Traveller rating
Excellent (991)
Very good (582)
Average (146)
Poor (63)
Terrible (79)
Gem by the Ocean
Mar 7, 2026Gregory B
We had a wonderful time with our grandchildren on a weekend getaway to Santa Barbara. It was our first time at the Harbor View Inn. The setting, directly across from the ocean, is stunning and the grounds are beautiful and meticulously maintained. The room was large and had a great view of the ocean from our patio. The pool was heated to a very…
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We had a wonderful time with our grandchildren on a weekend getaway to Santa Barbara. It was our first time at the Harbor View Inn. The setting, directly across from the ocean, is stunning and the grounds are beautiful and meticulously maintained. The room was large and had a great view of the ocean from our patio. The pool was heated to a very comfortable level to swim in March. The location is convenient to restaurants, stores, and walks along the ocean. The staff at the front desk, Jason and Hope, were very helpful and had a warm welcoming attitude throughout our stay. We will definitely be back!
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Fantastic location and property! Book it!
Feb 24, 2026eric t
Just got back from staying at the Harbor View Inn. Fantastic. There may be other hotels that are as good, but none surpasses the Harbor View Inn for the peaceful and beautiful setting. Maybe we were lucky, but there were NO KIDS anywhere on the property, making things really relaxing.
The staff was very attentive and informative.
I'm…
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Just got back from staying at the Harbor View Inn. Fantastic. There may be other hotels that are as good, but none surpasses the Harbor View Inn for the peaceful and beautiful setting. Maybe we were lucky, but there were NO KIDS anywhere on the property, making things really relaxing.
The staff was very attentive and informative.
I'm already planning my next visit to this stunning hotel.
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Best Hotel in Santa Barbara
Jan 24, 2026j0hnturnbullLondon, United Kingdom
We are from the UK and have stayed many times at the Harbor View Inn. We really wouldn't want to stay anywhere else in Santa Barbara. The location is perfect and the staff are all very friendly and helpful especially Daisy and Kaitlyn on reception. Just a shame we can't visit more often but looking forward to next time. Highly recommend.
Great Customer Support. Daisy was very helpful and accommodating.
Jan 7, 2026Ari G
I had a lovely stay at Harbor View Inn with my friends. Everything about the property was beautiful, from the rooms to the overall atmosphere—it really made our trip feel special and relaxing. A huge shoutout to Daisy at the front desk, who was incredibly helpful, friendly, and patient with us. She was so sweet and genuinely made our stay even…
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I had a lovely stay at Harbor View Inn with my friends. Everything about the property was beautiful, from the rooms to the overall atmosphere—it really made our trip feel special and relaxing. A huge shoutout to Daisy at the front desk, who was incredibly helpful, friendly, and patient with us. She was so sweet and genuinely made our stay even better with her kindness and willingness to help. I would definitely recommend this hotel and would happily stay here again!
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An Amazing Stay with Outstanding Service
Jan 7, 2026Ethan P
My parter and I had an absolutely amazing stay here at the Harbor View Inn. From the moment we arrived, everything exceeded our expectations! The room was beautiful, clean, and incredibly comfortable, and the location is perfect with stunning views and easy access to everything. What truly made our stay exceptional though, was the outstanding…
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My parter and I had an absolutely amazing stay here at the Harbor View Inn. From the moment we arrived, everything exceeded our expectations! The room was beautiful, clean, and incredibly comfortable, and the location is perfect with stunning views and easy access to everything. What truly made our stay exceptional though, was the outstanding service. Daisy at the front desk was absolutely amazing! She gave us great recommendations for restaurants/activities and made us feel genuinely welcomed and cared for throughout our stay. We couldn't have asked for a better way to kick off our new year and will definitely be returning.
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Gem by the Ocean