60 Best Hotels in The Central Coast, California

A luxury resort with four restaurants and a 42,000-square-foot spa and fitness center with 36 treatment rooms, the Ritz-Carlton Bacara provides a gorgeous setting for relaxing retreats. The Spanish Colonial–style buildings and manicured gardens sprawl across 78 acres next to a rugged stretch of beach 15 miles north of downtown Santa Barbara. The rooms have views of the ocean, mountains, or gardens; all rooms have private balconies or patios and about half have fireplaces. Kids and adults alike can join in Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program, which connects participants with natural wonders along the Gaviota Coast.

Built in 1915 and following more than $100 million of extensive renovations a century later, this Santa Barbara icon lives on to thrill a new generation of guests with its relaxed-luxe bungalow rooms, lush gardens, and personalized service. The landmark-preserved, Mediterranean-style complex has hosted many luminaries over the years, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt and privacy-seeking stars from Hollywood's golden years. Rooms and suites come in two styles of bungalows—Craftsman and Mission—nestled among lush gardens, courtyards, and pathways.

The redwood guesthouses at this luxurious retreat blend almost invisibly into a wooded cliff 1,200 feet above the ocean and have views of the sea or the mountains. On-site activities include everything from yoga to stargazing.

Hundreds of celebrities have escaped to this romantic resort on 160 tranquil acres 1,200 feet above the Pacific, where you can participate in a range of activities, workshops, and programs; sunbathe; hike in the nearby hills; or pamper yourself with mind-and-body treatments in the spa or your own private quarters. All rooms have walls of natural wood and cool tile floors; some have private hot tubs on expansive outdoor decks. If you prefer more rustic accommodations at a lower rate, opt for one of the resort's 15 safari-style glamping cabins in the redwoods.

Since 1946, celebrities and plain folk alike have come to this 10,000-acre ranch to join in a slew of activities, including horseback riding, tennis, golf, archery, boating, and fishing. You can also just lounge by the pool or book a treatment at the day spa. The ranch-style rooms and suites come with garden views, covered porches, high-beam ceilings, and wood-burning fireplaces, and the decor incorporates Spanish-tile accents and fine Western art.

This swank, 20-acre, Tuscan-style resort amid estate vineyards is also a private museum (nonguests are welcome to walk around) where owner Douglas Ayres displays hundreds of artworks and artifacts collected on his world travels, including things like ancient Indian river stones and statues, a massive cross section from a giant sequoia, and Russian and California impressionist paintings.

Friendly, personalized service and an oceanfront setting keep guests returning to this Embarcadero inn, which features well-appointed rooms with state-of-the-art tiled bathrooms and cozy comforters atop king beds. Ask for an oceanfront room with fireplace, soaking tub, and a private balcony from which you can gaze at Morro Rock and kayakers in the bay.

Owned by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, this hotel offers a full slate of upscale amenities and public areas that feature mahogany, oak, and maple floors and furnishings; stone tiles; granite countertops; and textured walls and color schemes that reflect a chic, contemporary vibe. Guest rooms, done in rosy hues, have 42-inch plasma TVs, lavish baths with rain showers, and beds with posture-pampering mattresses; ask for a room with a private balcony or terrace overlooking the mountains and vineyards.

A sprawling collection of Spanish-Moorish buildings that opened in 2017 at the site of the historic 1925 Hotel Californian, this sophisticated property with a hip youthful vibe occupies nearly three full blocks just steps from Stearns Wharf and the harbor. The complex includes various rooms and suites created by famed SoCal interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, a rooftop pool deck with panoramic views, a Moroccan-theme spa, three restaurants and bars, meeting rooms, ballrooms, and three wine-tasting rooms.

San Luis Obispo's Chumash, mission, and 19th-century industrial eras blend with urban sophistication in this eco-friendly, four-story complex, which opened in 2019. Named after the most prominent of the "Nine Sisters" (volcanic plugs that define the local landscape), the hotel has spacious rooms and suites with platform beds topped with down comforters, extra-large baths with walk-in showers, and wireless audio systems and smart TVs. Other perks include a rooftop pool deck with sweeping views of the surrounding hills, an edible garden, and a 4,000-square-foot spa.

Equestrian themes surface throughout this intimate European-style boutique hotel a half block from the main square and near some of Paso's best restaurants. Each of the 16 spacious rooms is named after a famous racehorse (its history and picture hang on the wall) and includes custom European contemporary furnishings, king beds with exquisite linens and comforters, and original works of art. Most rooms have fireplaces and window seats; some have vaulted cedar ceilings. For more affordable motel-style rooms with similar ambience, check out sister property Stables Inn, a few blocks away on Spring Street, the town's main drag.

Just a block from the mission and steps from restaurants, shops, and night spots, this sleek, three-story hotel has custom-furnished rooms with light wood floors, high ceilings, and either a private balcony or terrace—often with a view of the garden courtyard and mountains. Amenities include two restaurants, three bars (including one on the roof), a full-service spa with eight treatment rooms, pool, and fitness room.

In the stagecoach days, Mattei's Tavern provided wayfarers with hearty meals and warm beds; in the early 2020s, new owners restored the 1886 building and four cottages (historic artifacts, paintings, and photos are on display everywhere) and added clapboard, cottage-style buildings with guest rooms sprinkled over the 6-acre property with winding paths and gardens amid old-growth palm and olive trees. Part of Auberge Resorts Collection, the inn offers an array of luxurious amenities. Nearly all the cozy, contemporary rooms have an indoor fireplace and private patio with fire pit or sun porch with a swing, and all hold vintage furnishings with brass accents and sumptuous bathrooms with walk-in showers; some have standalone bathtubs.

This outdoorsy, golf-oriented resort and spa is set on 220 beautifully landscaped, oak-studded acres, with hillside views in nearly all directions. Although the rooms and suites have been refreshed over time, all still reflect the Spanish-Colonial architecture of the original 1923 resort. If you're a history buff, ask for a room in the 100-year-old adobe Neff Building. In 2019, the resort opened The Farmhouse, a sprawling epicurean center that hosts numerous foodie events for guests of all ages.

The second-oldest home in Cambria (built in 1875) and a national historic monument, this painstakingly restored B&B inn offers luxurious creature comforts in a pristine, English-garden setting on the banks of Santa Rosa Creek. The two Greek-revival buildings are made of Cambria pine and Big Sur redwood.

Sprawling across 16 lush acres on one of the area's most scenic and exclusive beaches, this luxury resort was built from scratch on the site of the former Miramar by the Sea hotel, where generations of fashionable SoCal residents vacationed for decades. The stunning design pays tribute to the hotel's history while providing ultraluxe modern amenities, including a full-service spa.

At this romantic hideaway on a historic property in the Montecito foothills—where John and Jackie Kennedy spent their honeymoon and Oprah sends her out-of-town visitors—guest cottages are scattered among groves of orange trees and flower beds. All have down comforters and fireplaces, most have private outdoor spas, and one has its own pool. Seventeen miles of hiking trails crisscross 500 acres of open space surrounding the property.

This full-service, family-owned, Spanish-Mediterranean hotel occupies a prime waterfront corner across from East Beach. The spacious rooms are decorated with Polynesian and Asian influences and have decks, refrigerators, high-definition TVs, queen or full sofa beds, and free Wi-Fi. The on-site restaurant, Convivo, serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner (fresh seafood, house-made pastas, and wood-fired pizzas) with ocean views from the sleek dining room and outdoor patio tables. 

If you're a fan of traditional bed-and-breakfast inns, this property, with its beautifully appointed Victorian main house and acre of lush gardens, is for you. If privacy and luxury are your priority, choose one of the elegant cottages or a room in the century-old barn; each has a wood-burning fireplace and luxurious bedding; several also have whirlpool baths. In-room massages and other spa services are available.

Easygoing hospitality, vineyard-view rooms, and elaborate breakfasts make this inn a mile west of U.S. 101 worth seeking out. Associated with SummerWood Winery, which specializes in Rhône and Bordeaux blends, the inn was completely remodeled in 2013 in a contemporary country French–inspired style. The overall effect is upscale but casual. All rooms have gas or electric fireplaces and balconies or decks with vineyard or garden views; some have vaulted ceilings.

Decorated to the hilt with floral pillow covers and watercolors by local artists, this Wine Country–theme hotel is highly popular. Each room has a gas fireplace and fresh flowers; some rooms have canopy beds and cozy window seats. Inside are a restaurant serving American food (hearty breakfasts), a gourmet food and wine shop, a bakery, and a gift shop. Smaller, motel-style rooms are also available for a considerably lower price than the inn-style ones.

Modeled after a village in early California's Mexican period—with a facade that replicates eight different casitas, including several famous historical homes in Mexico—Avila La Fonda surrounds you with rich jewel tones, fountains, and upscale comfort. Inside, stained-glass windows and tiled murals celebrate Mexican art and life in Avila Beach. Guests can choose from two types of rooms: a spa room with a huge tub near the king bed, or a great room with a gourmet kitchen and a queen bed.

Families, honeymooners, and business travelers all find respite at this two-story oceanfront hotel, where some of the stylish nautical-theme suites have fireplaces and ocean views and all have private patios and balconies. Swim in the outdoor heated pool, play checkers on a life-size board, or practice putting on the on-site green—this place is about full-on beachside R&R.

This intimate hotel embraces Craftsman style in its wood-and-stone architecture and in custom furnishings such as faux-Tiffany lampshades. Rooms are decked out with fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, and down bedding. Most rooms have hot tubs, some on private creek-side balconies.

The lodge's modern, motel-style cottages with Mission-style furnishings and vaulted ceilings sit in a meadow surrounded by redwood trees and flowering shrubbery. Some rooms have fireplaces, and some have kitchens; all have a deck or a patio. The larger, multibed rooms and suites are a good choice for families.

In summer at this rustic property you can sip drinks beside—or in—the Big Sur River fronted by the inn's wooded grounds, and, if you're here on a Sunday afternoon between May and September, you can enjoy live music on the restaurant's deck. The eight suites in the main building have king beds in the bedroom, trundle beds in the living room, and decks overlooking the river. The standard rooms in the motel building across the road have one or two queen beds and either porches or patios.

Accommodations at this 25-acre retreat up the hill from the East Village range from basic fireplace cabins to motel-style standard rooms to large fireplace suites and deluxe suites with spa tubs. The lodge is always busy, as its extensive gardens are popular with wedding parties; groups and conferences are big business; and bands play rock, folk, and jazz in the lounge every night.

A full-service hotel in the heart of downtown, this Kimpton property blends a casual, beach-getaway feel with contemporary California style. Spanish tiles, wood floors, and sea-grass color schemes create an exotic mood throughout. Homey touches in the light-filled rooms include wood-and-rattan four-poster beds, yoga mats, and canvas tote bags to take along while touring the town. The sixth-floor, guests-only rooftop lounge has a pool and stunning views.