Historical hotel built by Charlie Chaplin, located in Montecito. When I arrived, the valet was incredibly kind, and Farrah at the front desk was so warm and welcoming. I stopped by the hotel lounge, and the server there was equally sweet -- we ended up having a really nice conversation. My only critique is the beds. They're not comfortable at all, and I truly wish the hotel would consider upgrading them. It would make the overall experience so much better. read more

My husband and I are driving from San Diego up to Monterey and decided to break up the trip halfway with a visit to Montecito and Santa Barbara. My husband used a third-party to book this site like we usually do and have never had trouble. We arrived in Montecito a little early decided to get some lunch at the honor bar, which was excellent, and then check in. We ended up arriving exactly at 4 o'clock to check in and my husband was informed that because we booked it through a third-party site we would have to pay the tourism fee or something like that for $47 additional bringing the hotel room up to $400. And then we would also have to put a $200 hold on our card for incidentals, but the way it was handled was not necessarily unprofessional, but it was uncomfortable. We got everything worked out and started to head to our room on the second floor. The stairs are a little bit steep in rise probably because they are old. The hotel was built in the 20s I believe by Charlie Chaplin, which you wouldn't know about unless you did your own research. I didn't notice anything in the rooms or downstairs letting us know that. And that's actually something that I would have enjoyed seeing on the walls in the hotel rooms, some portraits of Charlie Chaplin maybe some movie stills? We decided to use the elevator which I think is original to the building of course with some safety upgrades. The room was somewhat small, reminding me of rooms in Italy. And it smelled really musty. Which I'm sure is normal for a building of that age. The hotel did not appear to be booked and so I was disappointed with the room that we received (see our photo of our view.) The bathroom was a tiny with a minuscule bookcase to place your items on. Again, I'm sure there is nothing they can do anything about because of the age of the building, I could not get the shower to fully work. The water came out halfway through the showerhead and halfway through the faucet. The water is very soft so it took forever to rinse my hair. Valet parking is included whether you want it or not. And there are five self parking spots. There are bicycles that I believe you can check out. I'm not sure if there's a fee for them. It seemed like they were offered for free, but I'm not really sure. read more

Montecito Inn - View from our room - Hotels Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

We love the Montecito Inn. It's our staycation spot. The location and elegance cannot be beat, but the whole vibe is why you should book a room here. It's a historic place with a comfort that you won't find elsewhere. Be sure to book the sushi bar before you book so you can have the full experience! The sushi is worth every penny and will be off set by the great room rate. Parking available. We love waking everywhere once parked. read more

Montecito Inn - Hotels Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Had a great weekend getaway with the wife all thanks to this Hotel. Location is PERFECT and there is alot of bars and dining at a walking distance. Hotel staff is incredibly helpful and friendly. There is a complimentary breakfast bar. It is Valet parking but your car is parked a few feet away inside the hotel under covered parking and it is very quick to retrieve thanks to the amazing valet staff. Our King Suite room was very large and more importantly CLEAN! Overall had a fantastic experience and this is the only hotel we will stay in when visiting Santa Barbara. read more

See all

Montecito inn is a classy historic inn right off the freeway in montecito at the very south end of town. It's so close to many, many restaurants, bars, and cafes. It's about a 7 min walk from the beach. My room was smaller but very clean with not much a view over looking the building to the lefts roof. The ac worked well, the bed was pretty comfy, not the most comfort I've ever slept in but not so uncomfortable it messed with my sleep. The bathroom had a shared vent with the room next to it so you could hear the other guests and it seemed like every time a guest on our side of the hotel flushed it messed with the water pressure and temperature. All of which can be considered charming thinking about how this inn is almost 100 years old and was built by Charlie Chaplin. If you are movie buff it's definitely a place to visit! The hotel staff was very friendly and answered all my questions. Valet parking is free just remember to bring cash to tip! They had bikes to use for free and they also had a small pool and jacuzzi. They offered a small breakfasts each morning with pastries and coffee. And they had a decent workout room but opened at 8am so being here for a conference that started at 8am I was never able to use it. Instead I would walk to the beach for some exercise Overall I would stay here again if there was a good sale/discount. It's right next to the freeway and there is construction right now so consider that when booking! read more

"Charming Stay with Exceptional Service" I had the best time here with my family! It's a small, historic hotel, so you do hear some creaks and noises at night, but nothing disruptive. The rooms are on the smaller side -- part of the charm that comes with its age and history. The beds were incredibly comfortable. Everything was spotless and very well maintained. The heated pool was a huge hit with my son! What really stood out was the outstanding customer service -- truly some of the best I've experienced at any hotel. Just a friendly reminder: this is an inn, not a big chain resort, and that's exactly what makes it special. Some people complain about the smallest things, but to me, this place easily deserves a four-star rating. Highly recommend staying here -- we can't wait to come back read more

See all

This hotel was an overall bad experience. When making the reservation by phone, the person was curt and rude. The room was dark and dingy and smelled musty. But the worst thing was the bathroom. The handles on the sink barely moved, the drains were stuck in position. As we rushed to shower for a wedding, the shower head trickled water and was clearly broken. A phone call to the front desk took over an hour for a response. The entire shower head had to be replaced, making us late for a wedding event. We asked to speak to a manager about these things. We were told he/she would follow up before we left. It's been two weeks and we are still waiting for that call. I have never posted about a hotel experience before but wanted to let others know: If you want to enjoy your stay in Santa Barbara/Montecito, choose one of the many other establishments that might have functioning plumbing. read more

Unfortunately, I was unable to make it to our family vacation because my father had to undergo emergency surgery. I notified the hotel and even offered to provide documentation, including hospital bills. While they did refund me $350, it was only a partial refund, and they were unwilling to work with me further, despite the circumstances. I completely understand that hotels have policies, but life happens, and a little compassion can go a long way. The way this was handled felt cold and unaccommodating, especially for a situation clearly outside of my control. Next time, I'll be staying at the Rosewood instead. It's a much better hotle with a reputation for both service and empathy, something this place clearly lacks. read more

This hotel has a lot of charm -- it was built in 1928, after all -- and with that comes all the character of a building that's nearly 100 years old. I actually grew up in a house that was over 100 years old, so I've come to expect and even appreciate the quirks that come with age. The architecture here is beautiful. The tile color on the wall in our bathroom wasn't my favorite, but it looks to be original, and there's something kind of special about that. Yes, the furnishings show wear -- and that's true -- but I also think a lot of guests just don't treat things the way they would at home. Despite that, our room was exceptionally clean. The contemporary furniture gives a subtle nod to the Art Deco movement of the time. The staff has been friendly -- truly kind and welcoming. The continental breakfast was good. I'd personally love to see a lighter roast option for the coffee, but I know most people love dark roast. That said, the orange juice was terrific, and the tea selection was also good. As far as noise: yes, the walls are thin -- again, it's an older building -- but we didn't have any issues. The guests around us were respectful, and we had zero problems. You could hear people going to their rooms, but that was about it. We also had a corner room by the freeway. The freeway noise was noticeable, but with the window shut, it was OK. Not silent, but not a dealbreaker either. We haven't tried the pool or hot tub yet, but we're planning to take the beach cruisers out and peek into the gym. And yes, there is a bit of a musty smell, but you're by the ocean, and again, this building is almost a century old. I have a very sensitive nose -- we don't use any scented products at home -- and I still wasn't bothered by it. The location is wonderful. I've always loved Montecito -- I'd honestly rather be here than on State Street in Santa Barbara listening to people partying. It's truly a gem, and we will definitely be back. Almost forgot -- the jazz band in the lounge on Wednesday night was fabulous. They had the sound dialed in and played perfectly. A lovely way to end the evening. read more

Very beautiful little hotel in the heart of Montecito! Only probalem was that the air conditioning wouldn't go to a low enough temperature for me and they only had sheets rather than blankets. I personally need it to get super cold and then I need to snuggle up with a big warm comforter to get a good nights sleep which would unfortunately be impossible here. Although everything else was a delight. The room service menu was delicious and they had cable tv stations such a HBO so that there were thankfully no commercials! I think it's a bit expensive but if you're staying in Montecito than I think it's assumed that you have the money to spring for a night or two here! read more

We woke up to a very loud buzzing noise, that appeared to come from the building next door. It was really loud and very annoying. Also, when we woke up, our room smelled terrible! Maybe we were by a vent or something? It sort of smelled like sewage or burnt food. The hotel was charming, but the room experience made it so we will probably not be staying again or recommending the hotel. The staff, however, were all very friendly. If we were staying more than one night, we would have complained but as it was a quick overnight we didn't mention it. We did have a nice breakfast in the adjoining restaurant. read more

See all

I drove here today from Phoenix for 10 hours. I was exhausted when I arrived. I walked into the lobby and said hello to Connor and Jessica and neither one of them said anything. I then waited at the desk and the two words out of her mouth were "ID and credit card". I asked them why they don't greet their guests and they didn't have an answer. I asked them if they were a five star hotel. Connor said they were a four star hotel. Then Connor turned the iPad around to have me sign something. I closed the window so I could see what I was signing and while I was reading it, he spun the iPad around and asked me if there was an issue. I told them that I'm not spending $500 a night to be treated like this. Neither of them had an answer. They were dead silent. There were no apologies. I usually Stay here every time I come to Montecito. I won't be staying here again. It's going to be a long four days. Totally unacceptable. Ive gotten better service at the motel six down the street. If I was their manager, I would fire them on the spot. The front desk employees should always be courteous and polite and greet their guests when they arrive. It's the least they can do. I still just can't believe it. I'm appalled. I wish I could change my reservation, but I already paid for the weekend. You would think that the service would be better in a nice hotel in a beautiful city. read more

It only took me 22 years, but I finally did it! I first laid eyes on the Montecito Inn while going to college in Santa Barbara back in 2001. I was 17 years old at the time and in addition to going to school, I had a part time job at an Italian restaurant just a few blocks from this hotel which sadly the restaurant is no longer around. I remember passing by the Montecito Inn all the time thinking to myself, "one day, I'm gonna stay here." Well on March 21st, 2023... Those small dreams became a reality. My wife and I took a night away for ourselves and enjoyed this quaint boutique hotel and of course all of the magic that being in Montecito has to offer. Our room was cozy, clean & simple and was just what we needed to relax during our 1 night getaway. From the Valet upon our arrival and the gentleman who checked us in, to our awesome bartender at Coast & Olive (the restaurant at the hotel), our stay was top notch and was everything that you'd expect from a boutique hotel in a prestigious town like Montecito. Located in the heart of the city, the Montecito Inn is centrally located to everything you'd want to do while staying in Santa Barbara Proper. Within walking distance to several quaint restaurants, a short drive to the beach, and just an exit from Santa Barbara, the Montecito Inn IS and HAS been in a prime location since it's inception back in 1928. Yes, you heard me right!! Nineteen Twenty-Eight!!!! 95 years ago the Montecito Inn was born and it was THE PLACE to stay. Built by a group of investors including Actor, Filmmaker Charlie Chaplin; the Montecito Inn was built to be an upscale getaway between Los Angeles and San Francisco coined the "cream of the coast". In it's hay day, Montecito was the "Hollywood" of the times where celebrities lived and played, but even to this day that tradition continues and Montecito is still called home to the Rich and Famous in todays times. So... Come treat yourself to a small part of Montecito's history and see why ninety-five years later, this beautiful part of California is still considered to be the: Cream of the Coast. read more

Montecito Inn - Welcome to the Montecito Inn!!! - Hotels Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

It's a nice place to stay neat and clean people is nice good customer service the only thing is the reception is a little to far away because they own a big land so be ready to walk a little if you need to go back to reception, they right by the beach so that great read more

The hotel is lovely, but the room sizes are not at all accurate. We booked a 245 sq ft king room with a mountain view. After speaking to the front desk they confirmed we're in the correct room, however, there is no version this 11x17 room (that includes the bathroom and closet) can be fudged as 245 sq ft. In fact, anyone who can do math knows that 11x17 ft is 187 sq ft. It's a cute, historic hotel, but the room sizes are not at all accurate, and if I was staying for more than 1 night I'd be very unhappy. read more

Montecito Inn - Angle of the bedroom. - Hotels Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Great location, super reasonable pricing, clean, and quaint. I recommend staying here and I will be back.

This review is tricky. The service was beyond excellent, as is the location. Kudos to HR for recruiting and training. The staff was absolutely wonderful, thoughtful, kind, responsive, professional The hotel is in dire need of an overall. They need to replace carpets and bathroom fixtures, the musty smell is super intense. We had to change rooms and the second room had it as well but not quite so bad. We were there during rainy season, but still. The pillows were awful, enormous, with the consistency of a balloon blown so hard and full that your head bounces off it. I ended up using a rolled up towel at 3 am--- and we both had a neck-ache, so bring your favorite pillow. That said, it is adorable and during a warmer season, equipped with my own pillow and a fragrant candle, I would be happy to stay again. read more

Good service from staff , hotel is a little dated , smaller rooms and very lack luster tiny bathrooms location is really nice

Building was old a lot of noisy.. and staff was not as good specially at the front desk.. .

Very tidy rooms. Was not much room but we made it work . Great location and walking distance to other restaurants

I've stayed here multiple times. Love it absolutely charming, great service excellent restaurant.

Spilled hot coffee on myself trying to get into their antiquated elevator. The front desk clerk did not ask if i was okay or Offered to get someone to help. When I said something she simply replied " it's OK ." She was more worried about the spill than me. Totally uncaring and not helpful Also doing Major construction on roof and plaster falling into our room with the drilling. Not a good experience. read more

Unfortunately my mother didn't read the reviews before booking and had a good experience here years ago. In addition to the comments left by others I got bitten by BED BUGS. I know there is currently a bed bug epidemic and i actually waited to post this review to see how the hotel would respond. Rather than being apologetic and responsive, the woman my mother spoke to accused her of LYING. Don't stay here. It's not that nice and now I'm BITTEN up. read more

See all

Terrible! Avoid at all costs! Don't be fooled by their pretty website photos because in real life it doesn't come close! The room smelled strongly of mildew and it was impossible to air out with the window open and fan running. It's an old, poorly maintained hotel and I suspect there is an unseen mold problem. Jim Copus, the operations manager was an unapologetic snob who lacked even the most basic hospitality skills. We ended up leaving and not spending the night because it was extremely uncomfortable. We have a baby and did not want to risk exposure to whatever is growing behind those walls. I will have to contact my bank for a charge back since the management is still planning on charging us for the stay we did not go through with. I wish I would have seen these Yelp reviews before booking because several of them mention visible water damage and smell. read more

I gave the Montecito Inn my review they requested, pointing out my disappointment in the dated, worn, room they gave me along with photos of the obvious damaged furniture and carpet and the lack of weatherstripping around the door allowing the noise of the main road that the exterior door faced. I stayed there once in the 1990's and believe that this room hadn't been updated since. It felt so neglected that I woke up in the night thinking there were bedbugs and started scratching. They replied thanking me for my review, saying that they would use it to improve, and and that they look forward to my return I in turn replied that obviously they hadn't read my review to think I would actually be returning Hoping to post the photos here but not seeing the option read more

Sorry, Charlie. These aren't even basic standards, let alone luxury. I'm writing this review from the very room itself. I'm thinking of the hours worked to afford it and wondering what else I could have purchased for nearly $1k for 2 nights. Ok Montecito Inn, as if being met with a strong antiseptic smell wasn't bad enough,upon closer inspection, this has me wondering if the decor was an homage to Chaplin's The Tramp character. DO BETTER. OR invest in a neon monument sign that says Clean(ish) sheets and basic cable (that actually doesn't work as of the next night). I shudder to think what we don't see if this is what they are ok with presenting to the public. PS: No coffee in the room. Barbaric. read more

See all

Location is very good, but the rooms are barely larger than a closet. The bathrooms are even worse. I could barely turn around in the shower (no tub). Booked a King Room for $350/night and was stunned. Curtains were threadbare and torn. To make it worse, the elevator was out of service and our room was on the third floor. When I asked to move to a larger room I was told no. The front desk said no manager was available on the weekend. Lousy customer service. If my choice was staying at this hotel and trying to find a scary van down by the river, I'd take my chances on the van. I can't (won't) recommend this place to anyone I care about. It sucks! read more

This is the worst hotel I've ever stayed in, especially for the price and bs "amenity and meal" fees. The rooms are the size of a shoe box, do not let their social media fool you. I grew up in SB and always wanted to visit this hotel and I'm so disappointed. The walls are also paper thin and housekeeping was literally talking at the top of their lungs at 8AM this morning. Blood stains and water damage in room also. Neverrrr again. read more

See all

Hotel is beautiful from the outside and the lobby area is really nice. Front desk staff are ok. Valets are friendly. No toiletries in room due to Covid so you need to call to have shampoo, shower gel brought up to room (That's a good thing). Also called for coffee to be brought up in the morning. The room was average at best and super tiny! Very clean but small and outdated. Asked for feather pillows and was told they were in the room ready for our stay but they were not. Wifi is terrible and unable to connect for most of the time. Bed was comfy. The room was warm and tring to keep the window open was a challenge. The bathroom also was so small and outdated. The walls are also thin as well as pounding footsteps above. read more

Hidden gem! This hotel is such a great place to stay. The only thing missing is pool service. Yes, someone from the bar will take orders and deliver them to you but you have to call. There is no real "pool service." We still enjoyed the day at the pool with delicious drinks and the waiter was great. The pool is small but amazing and warm. Our room was clean and the bed was so comfortable. The hotel is in a great location with a restaurant downstairs. We didn't eat there but did enjoy a glass of wine one day. There are several restaurants around to walk to and a great bakery a block away for the morning. Staff was friendly and covered parking is easy and convenient. This is one of our favorite spots to get away to and just enjoy life. read more

Montecito Inn - Hotels Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Very quaint inn at a great location. I stayed here for one night recently and largely enjoyed my experience. The inn's location is perfect and there's a lot that you can walk to. The staff was great and very friendly. The restaurant was also nice - I enjoyed a solid appetizer and drinks one night. The only downsides that I experienced were the smaller rooms and the noise levels between rooms. I was able to hear, word-for-word, an entire conversation of another room through the bathroom vent and it was quite intrusive. Glad that the group went to bed early but it was a little awkward how much I could hear while getting ready for bed/waiting for them to fall asleep. Overall, a nice stay! read more

Perfect location, restaurants, beach, weather. We love Montecito, and a couple of nights at The Montecito Inn is ideal. Unfortunately, our most recent stay was interrupted by construction. But I do understand that the roof must be maintained. And so does Jason Copus (Director of Sales and Marketing). Jason made a generous correction to our bill for our inconvenience, which assured our return to Montecito and the Montecito Inn. read more

Really, really nice location. They hotel is older but rooms are very nice and clean. Staff was great. They have the old school elevator here. Go out back and you will found the pool and hot tub. All valet parking here. Parking is cheap compared to what I just paid in LA. Coffee and tea all day. read more

See all

I was VERY disappointed by this hotel. I booked a weekend getaway for my husband and based off pictures and locations thought that Montecito Inn would be perfect. First off - the room was TINY and the bathroom was very small. The pictures look way better than what they are in reality. Our AC was extremely loud and noisy so we tried opening up the windows instead - between drunk people yelling/walking around and trucks making deliveries in the early morning we could not sleep with the windows open. Second - they don't tell you ahead of time when you book but they add on additional fees to your stay! We were charged $70 for "amenities" for two nights. Their "amenities" were: valet parking (we literally Uber'd everywhere and did not move our car once!!), the pool (which is small and the jacuzzi jets button was broken), the gym (which we did not use and is also small), and a 24 hour coffee bar (which is literally just a coffee machine that you can use). What the heck! The other fee we were charged was a $50 dining credit ($25 each night) for the restaurant that partners with the hotel. We did not go to the restaurant on Friday when we checked in so that $25 was wasted and not credited back to my credit card. We went to brunch on Saturday morning and used the other $25 credit. Overall this place is way overpriced for what it is and I do not enjoy being nickel and dime with fees that are not necessary. Will never stay here again and we will be taking our money elsewhere next time we go to Santa Barbara! read more

Old tired worn out. From the moment you are greeted by the unhappy, untrained, unprofessional clerk it's downhill from there. Rooms are horrible for price. Rooms need gutted and start over. 5 x 7 bathroom mirror so easy to use ....what a joke x read more

We just spent our honeymoon here at the Montecito Inn. First off the entire staff is absolutely wonderful especially Steve the valet guy what a great attitude he has. From the time we checked in until we left the staff was excellent. Now we choose this place for its history and it didn't let us down especially the old style elevator. The bed was very comfortable and with the windows close you can't hear any street noise. The only thing that we would say is a slight negative are the bathroom are small but with that being said we would stay there again. read more

Montecito Inn - Lobby - Hotels Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Motel 6 would be better . This place is dingy, overpriced and small . The rooms are in serious dire need of an upgrade . The head board to the bed is dirty, the base box on the bed is worn and dirty, the paint is chipping off the tv stand and chairs in the room. The tiles in the bathroom are broken with slabs of grouting smeared over them obviously not done by a tiler .Unbelievably overpriced for what you get , the exterior is nice, the pics on the website look good but they do not match the reality of the actual facility. How does this place get away with shotty, worn out, chipped, scratched and dirty in room furniture and amenities?? Where is the manager/owner??? Your hard earned money would be best spent elsewhere. The owners need a serious review of this place and invest money into the basic of things to bring this up to par with the surroundings it is set in. read more

Montecito Inn is a recently refurbished inn with nice decor and an (almost) great location at the end of a super lux Street - but sadly right next to the on ramp for the 101 freeway. There is onsite parking and two restaurants on property. After staying here for a couple nights, i would certainly come back. Gripes are few but we did not get the extra towels/bathroom amenities we requested from front desk after being placed on hold for a significant period. There was no complimentary bottles of water in the room - front desk said they'd be happy to send some up for a fee when pretty much every other hotel they give you a couple on the house. Also the pool is a bit undersized for the hotel. Rooms were decent sized and comfortable. Amenities included air condition a tv/cable and super fast WiFi. We had a standard double queen which sadly didn't have much of a view but did have two identical bathrooms. Biggest gripe was there was a "garbage" smell that occasionally wafted into the pool area - and indeed there is an restaurant that's garbage containers are adjacent to the pool. A shame - the inn needs to get that under control. Recommended. read more

Small rooms which smell of bug spray. Unaccommodating front desk staff. Train and freeway noise. This hotel is neither an extravagance nor romantic, just overpriced. One star for location. read more

We stayed in room 302. The rooms are tiny. The bathroom is notably small. In our case, with the AC was set with the fan on high and the temp set low, our room was still very warm. We called the front desk and asked for a fan. The gentleman that answered said they would send one up for the next night. We never saw a fan so we asked the front desk and the lady working informed us they do not have fans. Why not just tell us that in the first place? These rooms are not cheap. At a minimum I expect AC to be able to keep the room comfortable and get a good nights sleep. Would not stay here again. At the end of the day, it's expensive and its not comfortable. read more