Harbor House Inn

I chose this hotel based on the reviews. So I did not expect this place to be so disappointing. Let me clarify this. The staff is beyond excellent. I think this is the greatest quality of this hotel. They go their extra mile to please the customers. However, the facilities are very old and nothing seems to have been updated/​remodeled. We stayed in Santa Barbara for one night (weekday) and we were coming back from Solvang where we paid the same amount of $ 215 for a room in one of the nicest, newest, and hipsters hotels in the Santa Ynes Valley. The décor of the Harbor House Inn was awful (if there was any décor – it is very tacky). It felt like we were in grandma’s old bedroom. The printed comforters seemed old and because of their color, they seemed dirty. The room was very dark. The bathtub was clogged. We did not know this until we took a shower and the water stayed there. It was very disgusting. I mentioned this to the manager when I checked out and he said I should have reported it in the moment, but well, by that time I had finished my shower and we were on our way out (after washing my feet in the bathroom sink!). Perhaps some of the rooms are less cluttered and dark but ours definitely did not look at all like the pictures. I actually found the pictures deceiving. I think if the hotel will continue charging as a 3 – 4 star hotel at least they should invest the money on the facilities and remodel. I have to admit that there is a good perk perhaps for people traveling with kids. The room has a small kitchenette. We did not get to receive the free breakfast that the other guests got because we only stayed one night (this is such a cheap thinking!), but overall, I left Santa Barbara feeling that I had stayed in a bad motel.

Clean, well-​appointed rooms, friendly and courteous staff and great location close to the beach. Love the detail of freshly ground coffee and creamer in the fridge.
Clint checked us in and he was super welcoming. Smelled like freshly baked cake in the office too; that’s never a bad thing!
Highly recommend and would stay here again in a heartbeat!

This unassuming inn is just a couple blocks from the water and you might just drive by it. But I’d have to say you’d be missing out. My boyfriend took care of the accommodations and didn’t tell me any details so I was a little unsure at first. Of course I never should have doubted the man because everything was perfect. We arrived early for my birthday weekend and couldn’t check in yet, but we parked and the front desk offered us waters and pointed us in the right direction for some on foot exploring.
When we returned, we checked in and were blown away by our bungalow suite. Upon walking up, it’s like a converted house so we had our own private walk up and another separate entry from the kitchen. Our room really was a, luxury condo with full size kitchen, walk in closet and nice high ceilings. Oh and how could I forget?! The amazing smell we were greeted with… freshly baked banana bread and a welcome basket full of snacks, fruit, juices and bottled water.
So staying here is not all fancy schmancy like the Ritz but you’re also not paying that. I think Harbor House Inn offers all your creature comforts of home plus some at good value. I loved the garage full of beach cruisers, chairs and towels guests could help them selves to.
We walked every where from our weekend get away home and when we needed a break or to go just a little further Über and Lyft were easily accessible. For us, no more than $ 5-​$ 10.
The staff was EXCEPTIONAL which made our stay even more enjoyable. We definitely will be back!

What a unexpected surprise to find this gem. Absolutely charming, clean, well appointed and in a great location. The service at check in was top notch, and Clint was a real pleasure to speak with. The room even has a fire place, and a stocked kitchen. The bed was so comfortable. My girlfriend can not stop complimenting this property and the room. Two big thumbs up!

EXCEPTIONAL!!! One of my favorite visits to Santa Barbara thanks to this hotel. From a VERY last minute getaway to SB for my son’s school project, I checked a few itineraries on trivago and did some comparisons on rates. It wasn’t until I was cross referencing their reviews on hotels to Unilocal that I tripped across Harbor House and I am SO glad I did! I learned that while those sites will give you a decent range of options of places to stay, sometimes they don’t always provide a diverse enough range of places so now I’ve turned to Unilocal for planning getaways. Thanks, fellow Unilocalers!!!
Now, on to Harbor House, from the initial phone call and speaking to Allison, to our late 10 PM check-​in with (can’t recall his name, but just as nice), our experience felt so welcoming and warm! Amazing customer service just based on the conversation alerting us to a rate drop due to maintenance work on their AC the following day, recommending Seeing Spot’s Farm (closed at 3pm so we missed it) since I mentioned we were visiting Solvang as well with my sonl. Our studio at HH felt cozy and perfect for our one night stay. To be honest, I may not have chosen HH had it not been for their rate drop because we did have a budget for this trip. In their room, though, it did show information to rates as low as about $ 110/​night on a weeknight so I absolutely would still consider revisitng HH for a future stay. Our one night in a studio one bedroom with one queen and living room had a pull out twin, was $ 259 due to the maintenance work and usually $ 300/​weekend night.(I stayed at another big-​name hotel last time and it cost about $ 500/​night and I thought Harbor House is WAAAAY more accomodating and comfortable than that more expensive hotel.) PLUS Harbor House is a SHORT walk to the beach AND my new favorite place to eat, Sambo’s!!! (Best Crabcake Eggs Benedict)
FYI my photos do NOT do this place justice for how charming it is, they’re early am cell phone pix and late night cell phone pix
HH let’s guests rent bikes, beach towels and chaise/​chairs also at no additional charge. Can’t beat it! Our room had a full kitchen with all the amenities I could ever need to cook, store perishables, an array of coffee, cocoa, and teas. So comfy!!! Our bedroom even had a cute little patio. Kitchen table, tv’s in each sleeping space, free wifi, all made for a stay that I really enjoyed with my son. Bathroom is shabby chic. Every inch of space is meticulously tidy and so charming! Look forward to returning to Harbor House again! Thank you to your amazing staff for such a wonderful stay.

Travel all the time and this place is great. Charming, clean attentive service, great location the list goes on. Stay here and you will enjoy yourself.

Cleanest place we’ve ever stayed in Santa Barbara, killer location, friendly staff, great price. Check-​in was super welcoming with the smell of freshly baked banana bread. When we got to our room they had a complimentary basket of goodies including a freshly baked loaf of banana bread which fed my boyfriend and me for two days. Heated it up in the in suite oven — amazing. Coffee– amazing. Walking distance to everything, though still a quiet stay since you’re tucked away just off Cabrillo. Bed was super comfortable, we both slept like rocks. They had complimentary bikes that we used, staff was super helpful with giving us suggestions on bike paths etc. Will definitely be back.

I often travel and I haven’t experienced service like this in years!
A++ for the service, venue and room itself.
It was the mini villa half house we rented for the weekend. Couldn’t be happier to post this, we had a GREAT time.
HIGHLY reccomended

I don’t even know where to start in regards to how pleased I am that I chose The Harbor House Inn for my wedding night stay. This place was beautiful. The room we got was great and the jet spa tub was perfect for two and very relaxing. Free parking right in front of the room was excellent! The part of Santa Barbara this place is located in is chill and perfect for a romantic getaway. Me and my wife stayed here for are wedding night and it was perfect! The staff was great and Paul was very inviting and welcomed us with a free basket of healthy snacks and drinks. I highly recommend this place! And to top it off, my wife forgot her wedding flowers and they kept it just in case so we were able to go back the next day and pick them up! A+++++

This place is amazing, my first time staying here and I really like the staff everybody is really cool, and I would definitely recommend this place and I will be returning For sure

Our first visit. Our expectations were understated. This place is fantastic! This is a vintage motor court that has been lovingly preserved. Comfortable, stylish with antique furniture and modern appointments where needed (fridge and real coffee maker). Very clean and well maintained.
Well appointed with real silverware, wineglasses, nice grounds with lit candles and pool style furniture.
The WiFi is great and the Internet more than adequate.
Very close to the beach and many fine dining establishments.
Enjoy!

This place is awwwesome! Was our last stop on a 5 day road trip, and was one of our favorites! I can’t believe how nice this place was/​how close we were to the beach for the price. We go one of the more basic/​small rooms, but it still had a full kitchen & a great size! This place also comes with free bike rentals! And DVD’s you can check-​out in the main building.
The service was great, since we checked in very late (9pm), and were only staying one night, they let us have a late check out at 1pm! This place really did feel like a little home, we’ll for sure be back here :)

This is small property just a block from the beach. Check out a bike when you arrive and check out the shoreline. The parking is tight, but manageable.
Everyone was very hospitable and our room was beautiful. We had a lot of room to lounge and relax (#5). Four of us spent time together in the evening comfortably.
The breakfast leaves a lot to be desired. The banana bread is delicious, but there is not near enough in the welcome basket to call it «breakfast». We are out both days we were there.
Towels were plush a wonderful and the toiletries were great. The bed was comfortable, but the sheets were worn down (with a rip in the undersheet).
Overall, it was a fantastic stay and we appreciated all their hospitality!

Super cute inn. Walking distance to all the fun in SB and quick 10 min walk to all the action on state street. Loved the bed, it was super comfortable and the room was very quaint and charming.
Perfect for a quick romantic get away to celebrate our 2^nd wedding anniversary. Would definitely come back and recommend.

Yes it deserves all the 5-​star reviews it gets!
I stayed in 2 different rooms here on the same trip, as they didn’t have consecutive nights available for my desired stay, but I really wanted to try this place. So glad I did! They even moved my luggage for me. So I got to experience a queen suite (# 8), and a King suite (# 116A). Both were completely lovely. The queen suite was in a very nice, quiet corner, decorated very traditionally, and the king suite was on the street (I could hear the traffic noise, but that’s not Harbor House’s fault), and it was decorated more modern. So I got to try them both!
The rooms are impeccably clean, and the staff is awesome. Such an easy experience. I did take advantage of the bicycles on a couple of days, which was super fun. A very easy walk to the beach and some great restaurants (Toma is just around the corner). About a mile to State Street, which is a nice walk as well.
There IS air conditioning here! Yay! Because it was unseasonably hot. All the rooms have ceiling fans, even in my little living room, so I was able to keep it very comfortable. The kitchens have everything you need to make coffee or tea, plus all sorts of cooking utensils, dinnerware, etc., should you want to cook for yourself. There was even a bowl of those little individual creamers in the fridge.
As another reviewer said, I typically don’t think about returning to a hotel. I usually stay in the super large monstrosities, but this time I tried something different. I will most definitely stay here if I’m ever in Santa Barbara again!

Harbor House Inn is located in a quaint and quiet neighborhood just two short blocks from the water. It was a home away from home! We booked one of the smaller studios, the #2. Even though it was the one of the least expensive, it was still above and beyond what I expected.
The perks of the room:
Surprisingly spacious. There was a small sitting area and vanity flanking the queen bed, along with a small kitchen and full bath.
Plenty of dresser space and as well as a lot of those cool velvet hangers that I love and use at home so that my blouses don’t slip or get weird indentations.
Very comfortable bed with great linens.
Fully stocked kitchen with a plethora of teas and coffee, snacks, condiments… microwave, small fridge, dishes, flatware, paper towels… the list could go on and on.
Cute bathroom with a tub shower. Again, fully stocked with plenty of toiletries, toilet paper, tons of towels, etc.
Easy access to the beach. A 2 min walk or 30 second bike ride.
Bikes for all guests to use until sun down. All you have to do is visit the front desk and get a lock. We had a lot of fun with these.
Flat screen TV with cable.
Great wifi
Totally quiet and comfortable. This is a not a party spot, and everyone was very chill and nice.
Just great finishes above all. Nothing was lacking from the bath mats to the flatware.
Cons:
I have to put this as a con, but it does not affect my rating because it was hilarious. My bf couldn’t fit in the shower! He is 6’6″ and his head was against the ceiling. He had a hard time, but we both had a good laugh. Also the water pressure was a little low and it was hard at times to regulate the temp of the water. Not sure if this was a quirk of our room, or if this is an inn wide thing. Either way, I didn’t mind much. :)
All in all, if you are looking for a moderately priced room, (a little less than $ 400 /​night), this is the place for you. Everything that you could possible need so that you don’t have to leave your room for a couple of days is here. If I wasn’t so fired up about seeing the beach and eating everywhere, I would have never left the room! Also, Aaron who mans the front office is a doll. If you have a chance to talk him up, you should! He is super nice and interesting. Happy travels!

Absolutely charming! I didn’t want to leave! I stayed in a Queen Studio and could not have been more pleased. I will definitely be back to explore Santa Barbara more and use this little place as my base.
The studio was just so homey and quiet. It is located on a quiet residential street, yet it is convenient to everything. Inside, the studio was filled with antiques, yet had updated plumbing and fixtures. It felt like I lived there. The little kitchen with the awesome gas stove and cute tableware, pots, pans, cutlery. Everything you could want to make a meal. So awesome!!!
The grounds were blooming with flowers, sunning chairs, and it was soooo quiet!
The bathroom was a good size with high ceilings. Yes, the shower is tiny, BUT you’re on vacation! No need for a huge shower. The towels were fluffy, the soaps and shampoos were quality items.
Did I mention the windows in this place? The kitchen had two, the living room had two and the little nook to the side of the bed had two! I opened them up while I was there to allow light to fill the room with sunshine and ocean breezes. The ocean is down the street and across the main beach drag, Cabrillo Street.
Parking is tight, but there is PLENTY of parking on the residential streets.
I’ve never loved a place more than I loved this little Inn!
For the price, this place offered the most value. Because you can relax, have a place to eat your food if you wanted to bring something back or cook. Plus store the contents of that fancy doggy bag from a restaurant and a place to reheat if you wanted. Loved the bikes, the little glowing candles at night… Just lots of ambience!

Cozy, homey, and beautiful! I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a stay at any hotel or inn as much as I enjoyed Harbor House Inn.
My boyfriend took me on a surprise trip to Santa Barbara for Valentine’s day and we stayed the weekend here. I was sick and miserable but this surprise really cheered me up! Upon arrival, check in was easy and we felt really welcomed. I was blown away when we saw our room and the cute complimentary basket filled with goodies! I think you must stay here at least 2 nights to get the basket because there’s no way you could finish all that in one night. They have DVDs and beach cruisers with helmets you can borrow. We definitely took advantage of the beach cruisers and rode them around and went shopping. The location is awesome with the pier being close by. Parking is easy; the staff gave us a permit for our car and we parked it right next to our room. The little kitchen really came handy for making hot tea and they provide an assortment of teas and coffee too.
I wish we could have stayed there forever, but when Sunday came around we had to go back to reality. A weekend stay here does not come cheap, but I really hope to be back in the future!

Spoiler alert: CUTE & COZY!
If you’re used to staying in high-​end, modern hotels, this MIGHT not be the place for you, but don’t write HHI off just yet. I’m a girl who loves to have new, shiny things but I took a chance booking our stay [Sept 2014] here and absolutely LOVED Harbor House Inn!
Here’s why:
*Easy check-​in
*Friendly, fast service
*Free beach cruisers (locks included) — so fun, we were able to use them even after checking out. We took them out to the pier (few mins away) and enjoyed a nice lunch before making the drive home. They also have boogie boards, beach umbrellas and other goodies for you to use.
*DVD library, believe closes at 10pm
*Complimentary welcome basket (if staying 2+ nights)
*Great location
*Free WIFI, was a little spotty now and then
We stayed in a Queen Studio (specifically Room #1) and it averaged to be about $ 300/​night including taxes and what not. Room was great! It had a quaint and cozy vibe, and felt like a home away from home. It was also VERY clean! I was actually surprised at how clean it was :)
The kitchenette was stocked with a ton of useful items:
Stove
Toaster
Coffee maker, coffee (decaf & caffeinated), measuring spoon
Tea
Water
Utensils, cooking utensils, pots, pans, dishes, glasses
Dish washing soap, sponge, paper towels
. Even a wine opener!!! HELLOOO!
Another plus was the bed was absolutely comfortable, I slept like a baby, maybe even drooled a little. The bathroom was a fair size, if anything, the toilet was kind of small but more importantly the water pressure was great! I don’t know about you all, but sucky water pressure drives me mad! I loved how each room had a small porch and there was also a communal sitting area in the middle of the grounds to enjoy a glass of wine or just to sit under the starry sky.
Harbor House Inn is the real deal guys. The only drawbacks that might be an issue for some:
*No A/​C, but they do have plenty of windows and a ceiling fan
*Thin walls at kitchen area
*Our room was facing street side so we did hear pedestrians walking by
*Actual room keys (you’re given 2), a tad cumbersome compared to now traditional room card keys but not a big deal — just make sure not to lose them!
*No pool/​spa, but hey, you have the ocean just a few mins away!
I will definitely return to HHI whenever overnighting it in SB and will recommend this venue to family, friends and Unilocalmigos.

Slam dunk. It’s a block to the water, easy reserved parking for guests and that Golden Era feel that’s so well maintained, you’ll forget it’s steps from Stearn’s Wharf and salt water ruination.
Like most inns in this neck, it’s a single tier nook with, oh, maybe 8 – 10 rooms built around a micro cul de sac. Room keys are keys, and the décor hasn’t changed much over the decades. But the real treats are… the treats! Yes, the infamous gift basket is as incredible in its entirety as its star feature: the homemade banana bread.
Beyond this meal and a half, we happened to stay around Halloween and were toppled with full size candy bars while perusing the DVD library. Need a bike? Guests ride ‘em for free, which you’ll want to do on a typically perfect day.
Many of the near-​perfect spots we check out during our lightning fast overnighter in SB left us a little sour, but Harbor House Inn is an easy five star inn. Sleep there. Or fall in to a banana bread coma there. Whichever.