60 Best Hotels in The Central Coast, California

Reasonable rates for the area, an oceanfront location, evening bonfires, and well-equipped rooms—some with wood-burning fireplaces and private patios—make this motel a great choice.

This sparkling Spanish Colonial Revival–style hotel in the heart of the Arts District, formerly a classic 1959 motor inn, opened in fall 2022 as a sophisticated refuge with spacious, seaside-theme rooms, hip Euro-contemporary interior spaces, and a stellar Mediterranean-centric restaurant, St. Rémy, open all day and evening. This is a good choice for those who would like to park the car and walk or bike to downtown attractions.

A 12-story hotel with an enviable location on the beach and next to a historic pier, the Crowne Plaza is within walking distance of downtown restaurants and nightlife. All rooms have balconies and ocean views of some sort—ask for a room on the west or north side to catch the sunsets. The hotel's restaurant and bar have ocean views, too. For a fabulous SoCal moment, grab a seat on the patio near the firepit if the weather's good.

This 1930s Norwegian-style property is endearingly rustic, with its village of cabins nestled in the redwoods; many of the very individual rooms have their own fireplaces. The room doors lock only from the inside, and your neighbors can often be heard through the walls—if you plan to bring children, you must reserve an entire building. Still, Deetjen's is a special place.

On grass-covered bluffs overlooking Shell Beach, this luxury resort looks and feels like an exclusive community of villas; choose among sprawling one- or two-bedroom suites, each with a gourmet kitchen, laundry room with washer and dryer, and contemporary furnishings. Two-bedroom units include either a spa tub or fireplace; penthouse units have both. Rejuvenate at the on-site spa, lounge by the spacious heated pool, or stroll down a short path to the beach to gaze at the sea—this place was made for upscale escape and relaxation.

This luxury inn's elegant, tree-shaded main building occupies a prime downtown corner, and its spacious accommodations, all completely updated in 2023, have fireplaces and include a complimentary wine tasting for two at Parker family tasting rooms. Nella, a modern Italian-inspired bar and restaurant on the first floor, serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

This luxury, family-owned B&B—designed as a casual place where friends can gather to enjoy good wine, food, and music—has rooms and suites in the main building or cottages, as well as a "village: of six studio-layout bungalows with private porches and parking. Rooms and suites have a king bed, a balcony or outside seating area, and a fireplace or stove; three rooms also have spa tubs.

An on-site restaurant, spacious rooms, and a slew of amenities make this 17-acre property—which includes sister hotel Holiday Inn Express—a popular and practical choice for Channel Islands visitors. The hotel sits on the edge of the harbor, a few minutes' drive from the national park's visitor center and concessionaire boat launches. Each of the nautical-theme rooms has flat-screen TVs; most have private patios or balconies. For the best views, request a third-floor marina-facing balcony room. Activity courts include tennis, basketball, and volleyball.

From this restored 1887 Italianate Queen Anne downtown, you can walk to many restaurants and attractions; uniquely decorated rooms, each with private bath, are filled with antiques, and some rooms have stained-glass windows, fireplaces, and decks. Each evening, wine and hors d'oeuvres are served in the intimate dining room; there's also a lavish homemade breakfast when you rise.

At this rustic-modern complex of adobe-and-redwood buildings, you can choose between motel-style rooms, cabins, and cottages in the woods. Rooms have a contemporary, earth-tone look and a "green" sensibility, with organic linens and wool carpets, and walk-in showers with natural river-rock radiant-heated tiles. All have gas fireplaces, and some have private outdoor patios.

Built in 1922 in the heart of downtown and still sparkling, the two-story Granada is a vintage-style retreat with hardwood floors, redbrick walls, and antique rugs. All rooms have Italian linens, marble vanities, and custom art; some rooms have fireplaces, and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony.

A full-scale resort with seven buildings spread over 24 landscaped acres across from East Beach, this hotel was founded by the late TV actor Fess Parker, best known for playing Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone. Most rooms have private balconies and terraces, and suites have a wet bar, a spa tub, and a small refrigerator. The complex centers on a palm tree–lined plaza and includes the Spa del Mar, a spacious pool and hot tub, three tennis courts, two restaurants and a coffee shop, a nine-hole putting green, shuffleboard, bike rentals, and a rental-car outlet.

A favorite among Channel Islands visitors, this quiet, comfortable, lodge-inspired property sits right at the Ventura Harbor entrance. The guest quarters are spacious retreats with flat-screen TVs and puffy duvets. The south side of the hotel overlooks the marinas. For the best views, ask for an upperfloor harborside room or suite.

Artists own and operate these two bohemian-chic inns—the Blue Iguana, a cozy Southwestern-style hotel about 2 miles west of downtown, and the Emerald Iguana, which has art nouveau rooms, suites, and cottages in a secluded residential setting near downtown. The owners' works and those of other local artists decorate the rooms at both inns; some suites and cottages have kitchens.

Surrounded by eucalyptus trees, this inn abuts a heron rookery and Morro Bay State Park. The setting, on the edge of Morro Bay, is beautiful, though the birds can cause a din (and make a mess of parked cars). Many of the contemporary California–style rooms have fireplaces, private decks, and bay views.

The luxe Inn at the Pier, part of Hilton's Curio collection, covers a prime city block just steps from the sand and across from the pier. The classic California beach-style rooms include private balconies; most offer ocean views. Head to the rooftop pool deck for drinks, snacks, and ocean views (don't miss the sunset hour), or to the on-site restaurant, Blonde, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Fine wines, a destination restaurant, and a vineyard's-edge setting make a stay at the Justin winery's inn an exercise in sophisticated seclusion. Three suites lie steps from the tasting room and restaurant. The high-style color scheme favors greens and dark walnut, the furnishings are contemporary with haute-1960s flourishes, and the bathrooms all have spa tubs. The fourth suite, ⅓-mile away and done up in French-country style, sits amid the production facilities, putting you even more in the thick of the winery action.

From its rococo bathrooms to its pink-on-pink froufrou steak house, the Madonna Inn is fabulous or tacky, depending on your point of view. In several faux-Swiss buildings arrayed on a hillside, rooms are each unique, to say the least: Rock Bottom is all stone; the Safari Room is decked out in animal skins. A walking/bike path leads from the hotel to downtown San Luis Obispo, about a mile away.

A complex of five buildings on 3 landscaped acres across from East Beach, the Mar Monte, part of the Hyatt family of properties, is an appealing lodging option, where the historic main building (circa 1931) reflects old Santa Barbara—Spanish tiles, wrought-iron chandeliers, and vintage black-and-white photos. All rooms and baths have down comforters, flat-screen high-definition TVs, contemporary furnishings, and refrigerators; some deluxe and ocean-view rooms have private balconies or patios.

On the site of an old spa hotel of the same name, this inn has various buildings clustered around a lush, shaded garden with a pool. Each of the 18 Deluxe Spa rooms has a hot tub in its bathroom or on its balcony, and bears the name of a local winery that supplied the room's photography, artwork, and other special touches. The Piccolo at the Paso Robles Inn is a four-story luxury hotel with a rooftop bar adjacent to the historic property.

A cobblestone courtyard and country-French custom furnishings evoke a Provençal mood at this cheery inn. With extensive experience in luxury lodging, the owners are serious about the details: the individually themed rooms, sprinkled with lavender water, have L'Occitane bath products and homemade pillow chocolates. Rates include wine and appetizers at cocktail hour and a full homemade breakfast on the sun-filled patio or in the dining room.

At this cliff-top resort—the only inn and restaurant for miles around—glass walls in most rooms open to awesome ocean views. Though not especially luxurious, some rooms have spa tubs, kitchenettes, and fireplaces. The restaurant is a good place for well-made American fare (sandwiches, salads, pastas, and main courses) before or after the winding Highway 1 drive. Even if you're just passing by, stop to stretch your legs on the 14 acres of lush gardens above the sea.

While not a fancy place, this hidden oasis has many perks that merit a stay, including a convenient location between the airport/UCSB and downtown; lush gardens around a lagoon with ducks, turtles, and koi; a solar-heated outdoor pool and hot tub; a fitness center; free parking and Wi-Fi; and relatively affordable rates for the region. This is a particularly good choice for families and is close to many restaurants and services.

This posh, Mission Revival–style inn sits in a quiet neighborhood a few blocks from Libbey Park and a short walk from downtown. One- and two-bedroom suites, each named after a bird, ring a cobblestone courtyard with fountains and olive trees. All suites have spacious living rooms, kitchenettes, fireplaces, and feather beds.

This wellness resort's hot mineral springs bubble up into private outdoor tubs on an oak-and-sycamore-forest hillside. Whether or not you stay here, it's worth coming for a soak—even though the grounds are well within earshot of a busy road. Each room or suite has its own balcony with a hot tub with piped-in mineral water. Healthful California cuisine made from the bounty of local farms and the on-site chef's garden is served in the romantic Gardens of Avila restaurant ($$–$$$).

Perched on a hilltop surrounded by national forest and stunning, unobstructed ocean views, this yurt resort provides a stellar back-to-nature experience along with creature comforts. The yurts here—circular structures of heavy-duty fabric, on individual platforms with decks—are designed for upscale camping. Ocean view yurts have king beds and fireplaces; the rest have one or two queen beds. The sunny main lodge has a big fireplace, games, and a well-stocked sundries and gift shop.

Spacious, contemporary rooms, a peaceful location just steps from San Buenaventura State Beach, and easy access to downtown arts and culture make the Marriott a popular choice. The hotel completed a head-to-toe remodel of public spaces and rooms in 2018. Rooms reflect a subdued upscale nautical theme, the expansive lobby welcomes guests with warm colors and comfy lounge areas, and a lush garden courtyard offers quiet nooks for relaxation.

This stylish, yet casual Marriott Autograph Collection resort, on the town’s famed boardwalk just steps from the beach and the Pismo Pier, feels like a luxury beach house, with a swank living room–style lobby-lounge, a pool and hot tub, an outdoor bar, and a lawn with firepits—all overlooking the ocean. Well-appointed rooms range from standard kings to lavish suites; some have kitchenettes, all have spa-like bathrooms with marble countertops, and most have private balconies with ocean views.