Name: Lavender Inn by the Sea
Address: 206 Castillo Street, West Beach, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America, Santa Barbara, California, US
Price range: US$200–US$625 per night
Rating: 8.7

What guests think

At Lavender Inn by the Sea, travelers highlight a walkable location near the beach and harbor, consistently friendly staff, and thoughtful extras like breakfast, an evening wine-and-cheese hour, free parking, and access to bikes from the sister property.

Rooms are generally comfortable but dated, with some small bathrooms and in-room AC units that can be very loud; traffic and train noise are mentioned in a subset of rooms. Many guests find the property and rooms clean, though recurring comments note musty or damp odors and occasional maintenance hiccups such as slow Wi-Fi or finicky TVs. The courtyard, small heated pool, and garden seating provide pleasant common spaces to relax. Overall, expect a charming, older inn that prioritizes location and simple comforts.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Facilities include a small, clean pool with garden seating, free parking, and complimentary bike access via the sister property. Several guests appreciated the outdoor areas; a few noted facilities are modest and some amenities are across the street.

Related guest reviews

10

Debra

10 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

We stayed for three nights at the end of October. Our king room was clean and the bed comfortable. The bathroom was stylishly appointed and plenty of toiletries and bath robes provided. The full size fridge with small freezer and a coffee maker were nice additions and coffee and iced water was also always available in the lobby. Breakfast was tasty and there was a good choice including yogurt, cereals, porridge, frittata, bagels, pastries, toast and loaf cake. The breakfast room was very well serviced and restocked. The hotel is well placed a short walk from the harbour/beach and the hotel has little extras such as afternoon cheese and wine and free bikes from the sister hotel opposite. A small but spotlessly clean pool and garden seating were great places to relax and we would definitely like to return here in future.

8

M

15 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Clean rooms but ours was tired and more dated than a lot of the photos. Good breakfast, good happy hour service. Some of the outside furniture had chewing gum and some stains on but plenty of other seating. The access to facilities (second pool area over the road and access to free bike rental) was a really nice addition. Good area well located to West Beach.

8

Judy

14 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very nice breakfast. Was hoping to use the bikes but it was raining. The exercise room has only 4 pieces of equipment perhaps add some free weights or exercise bands

10

Lori

10 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Lovely boutique hotel. Loved the outdoor seating area on the grass with comfy couches and chairs. Great to relax after a day of exploring. The pool was great and a nice place to relax. Close to the ocean. Highly recommend!

10

Andrea

28 Mar 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean and comfortable. Lovely outdoor gathering area with soft seating and dining tables made it feel resort like. We were generously upgraded and loved our room.

10

Scott

20 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice charming motel. Comp bikes to ride along the beach. Very pleasant.

10

Erin

3 Jan 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great little hotel close to the beach and downtown. Free parking, free breakfast, free wine and cheese and free bikes!!

10

Ginger

19 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Very nice place to stay. It’s also convenient for walking. Nice pool area and lounging area outside.

10

Bridget

27 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

2nd time staying and Lavender in and we love it. Insane value. So many ammentiies. Wine, breakfast, pool, hot tub, and free bike rentals!!

10

Amy

15 Dec 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I loved the room, the grounds, the wine hour, the egg bites with salsa at breakfast, the christmas tree, the fireplace, etc. I didn't love that the ice machine was located across the street and the hairdryer didn't work in room 15.

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Cleanliness

Most guests describe rooms and grounds as clean. However, recurring notes mention musty or damp odors (sometimes with dehumidifiers) and occasional issues like mold or plumbing smells.

Related guest reviews

10

Debra

10 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

We stayed for three nights at the end of October. Our king room was clean and the bed comfortable. The bathroom was stylishly appointed and plenty of toiletries and bath robes provided. The full size fridge with small freezer and a coffee maker were nice additions and coffee and iced water was also always available in the lobby. Breakfast was tasty and there was a good choice including yogurt, cereals, porridge, frittata, bagels, pastries, toast and loaf cake. The breakfast room was very well serviced and restocked. The hotel is well placed a short walk from the harbour/beach and the hotel has little extras such as afternoon cheese and wine and free bikes from the sister hotel opposite. A small but spotlessly clean pool and garden seating were great places to relax and we would definitely like to return here in future.

4

Saulius

5 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

There is mold in the room. After just two nights all the clothes smell mold.

8

Ann

12 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The bed was very comfortable, but the bathroom sink/mirror area was very tiny. The room was clean and large. It did smell a bit musty, though. The afternoon wine and cheese was a nice option.

6

Christopher

29 May 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Good location and friendly helpfull staff. Rooms were typical motel standard and smelled a little moldy. There was also installed a dehumidifier in our room, so probably som issues with humidity.

10

Thomas

9 May 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Close to downtown, short walk to Stearns Wharf Pier, great service from the staff. Lovely property. Room had a musty smell, air purifier provided but still .

10

Chad

10 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean room comfortable bed

10

Arlene

7 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very clean and staff was friendly.

8

Alexis

7 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We enjoyed our stay. Eli was great. The only complaint we have is that the smell from the sink was pretty bad. It reminded me of when I went to Cancun last year and had really bad plumbing, the stench was palpable. I don’t know if this is fixable, and I wouldn’t mention it in a public review, but I urge you to perhaps investigate maybe some enzyme sticks or other ways to mitigate the smell.

10

Helen

1 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean and comfy

6

Eve

28 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The a-c/heat unit was so loud and I woke up multiple times during the night for 2 nights as it went off and on. The room temperature was not consistent -either too hot or too cold. The room was very dated and plain. It was more of a 2 star hotel than a 3 star hotel. The bathroom needed new grout and new tile. I would likely not stay again.

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Rooms

Rooms are comfortable but dated, with some small bathrooms. Several guests report noise from the street or in-room AC units and spotty Wi-Fi, though some rooms are spacious.

Related guest reviews

8

Don

29 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The Hotel is very clean with a comfy bed. Wi-Fi is inconsistent and slow. We experienced multiple network drops and required us to log back on to the Wifi service. We were upgraded to a HUGE room, however the TV was so tiny that we could not watch from the bed! For our one night stay it was just fine.

8

Ann

12 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The bed was very comfortable, but the bathroom sink/mirror area was very tiny. The room was clean and large. It did smell a bit musty, though. The afternoon wine and cheese was a nice option.

4

Terry

29 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was dark and had no fresh air. The TV had 2 remotes and one set of instructions and we couldn’t find anything to watch.

8

Geera

30 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Overall property met our needs. Place very close to downtown walkable to the beach and pier. Would comment that Wi-Fi service is terrible…. Extremely slow. Overall, property is decent.

6

Tammy

16 Sept 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

This motel was dated. The room we had was dark and small. For the price, we were disappointed. The people were kind and they did welcome us with wine and cheese. But the room was disappointing.

6

Joseph

18 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean but very outdated

8

Noeme

8 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent location, very close to the beach and lots of restaurants and wine tasting rooms. Hotel staff was friendly and helpful. There is complimentary breakfast, which was basic but good enough, water and coffee, as well as sparkling wine when we checked in. Free parking as well. All nice touches. Rooms were clean, although a bit dated. The only issue was the extremely loud AC unit. Very, very loud sounded like an airplane! And the hotel is on the Main Street, so you will hear cars as well as the train going by. I could not sleep all night because of the sound, it was too warm to sleep without the ac. Other than that, it’s a great property and very close to everything Santa Barbara has to offer. I would stay again, as the location was great and it was a good value overall, just bring some ear plugs!

6

KENICHI

10 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Room are clean . Bathroom are very small no space to put any belongings TV remote react very slow

6

Rui

7 Sept 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The location is good, within walking distance to the beach and restaurants. The staff is friendly. Free breakfast and afternoon wine tasting. The pool is clean. However, the room is small. Bathroom is very small. AC and the refrigerator were very loud, which kept waking me up at night. Overall, this is an overpriced motel.

4

Alejandro

20 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice hotel nice location. My partner couldn’t sleep at all the pillows were quite soft and lumpy and the bed is lumpy. We liked being able to walk to State Street and the Pier

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Service

Service is frequently praised as friendly, helpful, and welcoming, with smooth check-ins and useful local tips. A few guests reported lapses during unusual situations or housekeeping requests.

Related guest reviews

10

karen

28 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent people at the front desk. When we checked in we were given a list of popular breweries and wine tasting rooms. The common area was lovely. The workers in the pool area and grounds were very friendly. When we checked out Lee helped us and store our luggage and was very helpful.

10

JOHN

19 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Charming and well appointed boutique hotel in down town Santa Barbara! Two story property with pool and great parking on site. Big room and very comfortable bed. Very quiet and beautiful grounds and landscaping. They serve wine and appetizers in the evening and guests have picnic style happy hour in the courtyard area. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! We walked to the marina in 10 minutes and ate at Brophy Bros…it was great food with great atmosphere and views. Lots of restaurants in walking distance. Exceptional customer service! We will definitely stay again 100%!!

10

Annie

8 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great friendly helpful staff. Good breakfast. Clean nice rooms

8

denise

1 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

I was very comfortable staying at this property, it was clean and convenient to both the shore and downtown. Loved having free bicycles to use to get around. My only complaint would be that we were there for 4 nights and we never once had housekeeping service to update towels or empty trash even though I requested it after day 2.

10

Joseph

11 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff was cheerful and very helpful. Great location. Very comfortable room. We will be back.

4

Doug

17 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

In general this is a nice property that, except for a few issues, would be a good option. The rooms are reasonably sized and everything appeared to be clean and good repair. However, on our second day we experienced a power outage that lasted almost until the following morning. The truly shocking thing is that there is no emergency lighting anywhere in the rooms or on the property that we could see (Umm, did California close their Health and Safety Department?). In addition, we never heard word one from the staff. Upon checkout they asked if I enjoyed my stay and, when I mentioned the outage and hi wit impacted our stay, the clerk just said she didn’t know anything about it because she was off that night but had heard about it later. That wast it. No “sorry you had to shower and get dressed for valentines day dinner in the dark using a cell phone camera”. Nada. In addition, we had to open the window to get some air when the power went out and the road noise work us up numerous times overnight and in the morning. Unlikely we’ll be back anytime soon.

8

EDWIN

30 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The receptionists were especially helpful and courteous

10

Steven

2 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location. Staff very helpful and nice.

10

Michelle

31 Aug 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Lovely inn with helpful staff. Very clean and enjoyed and appreciated the upgrade. :)

6

Joanne

27 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The trip for my son’s birthday weekend for 3 nights. Being in July, the price was high, but the location was wonderful as we could walk to the wharf, jetty, beach, and café’s on State Street. The room was small but comfortable, and it was nice having a fridge and a microwave. I have to say, though, being an Asian American single mom, I noticed that the front desk staff were a bit uncomfortable with me. I’m not sure I will stay at the Lavender Inn again.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Location

Walkable to the beach, harbor, and State Street/Funk Zone, with easy access to transport. Some guests mention traffic or train noise in certain rooms and a few concerns about the immediate area at night.

Related guest reviews

8

Ajay

3 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean room, great location, decently breakfast.

10

Angela

28 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

This was a fantastic location… Wonderful hotel, staff were fantastic… I would highly recommend and would definitely stay here again on my next visit to Santa Barbara. We were within walking distance to the pier, beach, and all of the restaurants and shopping on State Street.

10

Jesus

1 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location near wharf, funk town, restaurants

10

Mark

1 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Room was spacious, clean and everything in great condition. Location was a few blocks from the waterfront which made for great morning walks along the harbor and beach

8

Lisa

18 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Staff very friendly! Loved the garden atmosphere! Breakfast was great! Busy street only negative.

10

Ani

30 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Beautiful quiet and centrally located

10

Marco

29 Jan 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Good location and very walkable

10

Wiebke

12 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very nice hotel, at walking distance of the harbour and the beach. Also not so far from downtown. Parking available. Nice and clean rooms. Breakfast was limited but very tasteful. Friendly staff.

10

Frederick

27 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Good variety of breakfast options and afternoon wine, cheese and crackers was a great plus for us. Location was great. Close to all Santa Barbara has to offer. Within walking distance of Marina and Pier restaurants and activities.

8

Brian

28 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Staff was very nice, and the property was well kept. Location is easily walkable to the beach, and a moderate walk to the State St area.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

Continental breakfast and an evening wine-and-cheese hour are widely appreciated; many find breakfast tasty with a decent selection, while some consider both offerings simple or limited. Overall, food is a pleasant perk rather than a full dining experience.

Related guest reviews

10

Debra

10 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

We stayed for three nights at the end of October. Our king room was clean and the bed comfortable. The bathroom was stylishly appointed and plenty of toiletries and bath robes provided. The full size fridge with small freezer and a coffee maker were nice additions and coffee and iced water was also always available in the lobby. Breakfast was tasty and there was a good choice including yogurt, cereals, porridge, frittata, bagels, pastries, toast and loaf cake. The breakfast room was very well serviced and restocked. The hotel is well placed a short walk from the harbour/beach and the hotel has little extras such as afternoon cheese and wine and free bikes from the sister hotel opposite. A small but spotlessly clean pool and garden seating were great places to relax and we would definitely like to return here in future.

6

Charlie

24 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The AC unit was inside the room, making it hard to relax or sleep. The breakfast was very poor, and for the price they charge, they could certainly do better. Overall, great location and excellent staff, but the owner seems cheap.

10

Lisa

6 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything was excellent, especially breakfast and happy hour. Only stayed 1 night, but next time will be more! Very comfortable room with kind and helpful staff. An easy stay! Lovely location.

8

David

14 Jan 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Lavender Inn was a good place to stay in a great location. We enjoyed wine and cheese in the evening and their breakfast in the morning. Our first floor room was a bit dated and musty. A dehumidifier was located in the room. The room was clean and well kept. The bathroom was updated and large.

10

Erin

3 Jan 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great little hotel close to the beach and downtown. Free parking, free breakfast, free wine and cheese and free bikes!!

10

David

6 Jan 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The property is well maintained and the staff very helpful. The wine and cheese at end of day is nicely prepared and a good way to wind down from the day before heading out to explore restaurants in the evening. The breakfast is surprisingly good with more than your basic continental selection of baked goods.

10

Fabio

5 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 7 nights

Cute hotel with great outdoor sitting to enjoy the garden. Front desk staff is very friendly and helpful. Happy hour is great.

10

Sasikarn

16 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

All the front desk staff are very friendly, polite, professional abd courteous. The compliment breakfast and afternoon wine happy hours are AWESOME!!

10

Frederick

27 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Good variety of breakfast options and afternoon wine, cheese and crackers was a great plus for us. Location was great. Close to all Santa Barbara has to offer. Within walking distance of Marina and Pier restaurants and activities.

8

Jeanne

21 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

I liked the ambiance of the property and the staff was very friendly and helpful. The hotel is pretty close to the busy main road, so I could hear traffic noise all the time, but it was tolerable.The Happy Hour was a little sparse and the wine was kind of terrible. Offering eggs and berries at breakfast would have been nice as well. Other than that, I enjoyed my stay.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	US$207
February	US$218
March	US$246
April	US$246
May	US$265
June	US$302
July	US$327
August	US$344
September	US$303
October	US$270
November	US$239
December	US$211

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19 $500
20 $268	21 $200	22 $206	23 $208	24 $295	25 $625	26
27 $217	28 $203	29 $200	30 $206

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $284	2	3
4 $232	5 $248	6 $244	7 $245	8 $262	9	10
11 $262	12 $242	13 $256	14 $246	15 $246	16	17
18 $259	19 $251	20 $253	21 $252	22 $258	23 $427	24
25 $245	26 $249	27 $246	28 $256	29 $255	30 $249	31

Lavender Inn by the Sea

Prices for Lavender Inn by the Sea

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Double Queen Room

Accessible Fireside Suite

King Room

Lavender Junior Suite

King Twin Deluxe Room

Queen Room

Lavender Deluxe Room

Guest reviews of Lavender Inn by the Sea

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

FAQs about Lavender Inn by the Sea

Prices for upcoming dates