14 Best Hotels in The Central Coast, California

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.