Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

Santa Barbara, California

Virgin rating

The hotel

Oozing seaside charm, Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort puts you just a flip flop stroll from the sands and ocean. Check out the casual coastal menu of its restaurants, and the Central Coast vintages in its Fess Parker Wine Tasting Room. And if that's not enough of the seaside vibes for you then check out the styling in your room for even more of a beachy feel (and ocean veiws if you opt for them)!. When you’re not making the most of your beachfront setting you can relax by the heated outdoor pool and whirlpool, enjoy some lawn games in the palm-dotted grounds or pop to the sanctuary of the Spa del Mar for one of the wonderful treatments.

Amenities

  • Kayaking
  • Tennis
  • Yoga
  • Families
  • Bar
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Internet Access
  • Restaurant
  • Room Service
  • Safety Deposit Box
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool

Where is it

Located just across from East Beach, on 24-acres in Santa Barbara, one mile from the Funk Zone District. Within a 10 minute walk of the pier and a 15-minute walk of downtown Santa Barbara.

Hotel information

360 rooms and suites, with a light and airy beachfront-style theme. All have either a balcony or patio, air-conditioning, WiFi access, HDTV, mini-fridge, coffee maker, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, and safe. 

Standard Rooms have either 1 king-size bed and a sofa bed, or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 people.

Resort View rooms offer pool or garden views, with either 1 king-size bed and a sofa bed, or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 people.

Partial Ocean View rooms with either 1 king-size bed and a sofa bed, or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 people.

Ocean View rooms with either 1 king-size bed and a sofa bed, or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 people.

Junior Suites feature a spacious living area with sofa bed, larger bathroom with dual rain shower heads, bathrobes and upraded amenities, and 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 4 people.

One Bedroom Resort View Suites feature a separate living room with sofa bed, larger bathroom with dual rain shower heads, bathrobes and upraded amenities, and master bedroom with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 4 people.

Ocean View One Bedroom Suites are the same as above, but with sea views from the balcony.

Complimentary shuttle service to Santa Barbara regional airport, and to the downtown Santa Barbara AMTRAK station (reservations require 24 hours in advance). Self-parking $40 plus tax per night, and Valet parking $50 plus tax per night (payable locally, fee subject to change).

The Roundhouse (open for breakfast, with buffet and a la carte options). The Set (serving bistro-style classic dishes, open for dinner, drinks and weekend brunch). Java del Mar (located in the lobby, serving breakfast sandwiches, Starbucks coffee, and other snacks). Fess Parker Wine Tasting Room (open seasonally). Terraza del Mar (poolside bar serving drinks and light bites - open seasonally). 

Outdoor swimming pool. Fitness centre. Spa del Mar*. Salon del Mar*. Cinema under the stars. Lawn games including croquet, giant checkers, giant chess, cornhole and bocce ball. Table tennis. Shuffleboard. Tennis*. Beachfront yoga classes*. Bicylce rental*. Kayak* and paddle board* rentals. 

WiFi access*. Concierge. Room service*.

This hotel has resort fees that are included in the room rate (subject to change)

Resort fee includes: - Internet access for up to 2 devices - 2-hour bicycle rental for up to 2 people - 2 glass of select house wine – 2 bottles of water daily (available from reception) – 2 beach chair - 20% discount on spa treatments and tennis clinics – Unlimited local phone calls - Electric vehicle charging - Local activity discounts. Resort fee, tax and inclusions are subject to change - please see hotel check-in for current inclusions available to you upon arrival.

*Denotes local charge.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (1574)
  • Very good (1245)
  • Average (826)
  • Poor (454)
  • Terrible (294)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Beautiful Hotel in a great locvation.

Mar 24, 2024 matelajolla La Jolla

Beautiful hotel in a great location right across the street from the paths and nice white sands of East Beach. Also close to the bird refuge, Montecito and State Street. Ocean view rooms have a super view, the are large with a oversized balcony. Haver been coming here for years and always happy we did.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great sea front hotel in Santa Barbara

Mar 14, 2024 bhatay Frisco, Texas

We had a great stay. Ty Frantz was especially helpful and professional. We appreciated his help and he went out of his way to make sure we had a great vacation here in Santa Barbara. We enjoyed the sea view, and the complimentary wine in the evening👏👏Breakfast was also good.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Poor service, overpriced for what you get.

Mar 13, 2024 Caitlin C

Terrible service. We sat in our room for hours waiting for a comb and toothbrush so that we could go out. The staff didn’t care and were rude about it. Super overpriced for what you get. Outdated rooms. You can do better. This is why people stay at airbnb
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Do NOT stay here

Mar 6, 2024 Lyle G

Terrible experience, the hotel is painfully understaffed. We had a number of issues while at the resort such as the room key not working, the inability for their system to process a mobile key-card, the pool towel machine did not work, it took 45 minutes to get breakfast when there were only 4 other guests in the restaurant. The views are… Read more
Terrible experience, the hotel is painfully understaffed. We had a number of issues while at the resort such as the room key not working, the inability for their system to process a mobile key-card, the pool towel machine did not work, it took 45 minutes to get breakfast when there were only 4 other guests in the restaurant. The views are beautiful but the rooms are dated. After my stay they over charged me and it took several hours on the phone to have the issue resolved. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Disappointing

Feb 3, 2024 bj861

This looks like it was a really nice property at one point, but it was really disappointing. Everything is quite dated. In the first room we were in, the floor near the slider was all soaked. They changed our room, which was nice, but the next one had ants in the bathroom (didn't see till the morning when showering). The bathroom in both rooms had… Read more
This looks like it was a really nice property at one point, but it was really disappointing. Everything is quite dated. In the first room we were in, the floor near the slider was all soaked. They changed our room, which was nice, but the next one had ants in the bathroom (didn't see till the morning when showering). The bathroom in both rooms had paint peeling on the ceiling. You also don't expect to show up and have to pay an additional $40 just to park. They gave us "vouchers" for 2 water bottles, which you have to ask the front desk for, but if you drank the water bottles that were already in the room, you'd be charged $7 each. The free water bottles were both different brands, the kind where you buy a pack of 24 bottles at Costco or something...Just seems so cheap for a Hilton. We also go a voucher for a free glass of wine in the restaurant, where there was only one server running around trying to serve everyone in the place. Just bad service all around. When we told reception about the ants they were apologetic and said they could offer us some food, but we were leaving town, I asked if they could comp the parking and of course they were like, "oh we can't do that, but thanks for letting us know about the ants." I used to consider "Hilton" as some kind of measure of quality and service, but it seems like a scam - reel you in with the name and then the place is run like a Super 8. Do not waste your money here!! Read less