Wish you were here?

Hotel overview

Discover one of the finest hotels in Santa Barbara. Built in 1931, this historic coastal hotel welcomes guests with its casual elegance and first-rate service. Nestled between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the hotel is conveniently located on oceanfront Cabrillo Boulevard in Santa Barbara, across from East Beach and a quick stroll away from the charming Santa Barbara Zoo. This classic seaside hotel is a shining getaway to the City of Santa Barbara, also known as the American Riviera. The hotel is detailed with a fusion of Spanish Colonial architecture blended with modern conveniences.

Property information

Year Built: 1931
Last Renovation: 2015
Accessible rooms: 8
All rooms non-smoking: 200
Connecting rooms or suites: 52
Double bedrooms: 75
Floors: 3
Nonsmoking rooms: 200
Rooms with internet access: 200
Single-bedded accommodations: 122
Suites: 3
Total rooms: 200
Total rooms and suites: 200

{{title}}

Hotel details

Amenities

Show more

Activities

Show more

Hotel advisories

Advisory The following mandatory hotel-imposed fees are charged and collected by the hotel either at check-in or check-out. Resort fee: $39.90 (Plus Tax) per room, per night Mandatory hotel-imposed fees may not include tax and are subject to change, this is an estimate of what you will be charged. The hotel can provide current fees and inclusions when you check-in.

General policies & fine print

Check In: 4:00 PM
Check Out: 12:00 PM
General Policies: No charge for children 17 yrs and under when sharing room with parents.
Kids Stay Free Policy Maximum number of children per paid adult: 0Maximum child age: 17
Pet Policy Pets Allowed: A $50 non-refundable pet fee will apply. Only dogs weighing 50 lbs and under are permitted; two dogs allowed if not exceeding 75 lbs total. Service Animals exempt from fees.

Ratings & reviews

TripAdvisor traveler rating

TRI_LOGO_ANCILLARY_4.0 977 reviews
  • TRI_LOGO_ANCILLARY_ 4.0 star tripadvisor rating
    Excellent option in Santa Barbara

    Stayed midweek, 2 nights. Booked basic king room and was upgraded to corner king room. No balcony but great wraparound views of the ocean. Actually preferred this room over a balcony. Light and views much better. I’m a Hyatt globalist and have been eyeing this property for a while but was reluctant to stay due to some bad reviews. We went in with very low expectations and were very pleasantly surprised. Basic room pre tax was $300 night. With taxes and fees (and potential parking), that $300 can balloon. But it’s Santa Barbara, a unique hotel market. Your choices are either super high end or glorified motels (often for $300 night!) There are a handful of mid-high range properties in town but you’ll end up paying at least $500-600 night for a basic room and imo not worth it over Mar Monte. Mar Monte actually fills a good middle ground price point with middle ground features and some nice extras. Pros: location. It’s right across from East Beach and it’s quiet (minus car noise in front). The vibe is pretty mellow, views are insanely good if you’re facing the beach. Feels very safe. Character: the hotel is old and this can be a pro or con. There is charm to the corridors, almost in an old European way. The main building meanders a bit and is definitely not cookie cutter. The rooms have rough plaster walls and ceilings, old style windows. A renovation looks like it was done a few years ago and the designers worked with some of the quirks/character without making it feel generic. The pool area is decent. Comfortable chairs for lounging and sitting by a large firepit. A welcoming vibe filled with families and couples and multi generations. No posing going on here. A good bar area in the restaurant with great cocktails. No ‘scene’, it’s pretty mellow, but it’s relaxing. Attractive dining room with good breakfast (didn’t eat dinner) Staff: this is a big plus- almost everyone was super friendly. Valet’s were great and would hustle to get your car, young ladies at the front desk were warm and helpful, bartender, waiters in Costa were excellent. Pool staff were pretty good. The guy who checked us in on arrival was a little stiff and the only person we encountered who seemed a bit lacking. Cons: the character of the hotel is a bit of a double edged sword. There is a little funkiness around. Our wraparound windows were old, single pane, from the 40s or 50s by the look of the frames. I actually didn’t mind them once I got used to them. They provided a 4ft high horizontal strip of unbelievable wall to wall ocean view, that continued into the bathroom too, but the frames were old and funky and the blinds, while functional, are getting pretty worn. There is definitely a tired feel to the decor, but not horribly so. It did not detract from the overall function of the room. If we had a view facing away from the ocean it would have felt very different. We’d be staring at the parking lot or potentially a Mountain View- a very different experience. It might be fine if you’re planning on spending most of your time outside. There is a lot to do- pool, bikes, beach (beach chairs), a walking/jogging path towards the wharf. 5 minute drive into town. Housekeeping: not sure whose fault this is but housekeeping is putting sheets on the bed that don’t fit. Our king was outfitted with sheets that were far too short for the mattress- top and bottom. They fixed it after the first night but that should never happen. Some of the towels could use replacing too. Thankfully the front desk handled the sheet incident professionally so we felt taken care of. People might love the Mar Monte to upgrade everything to the next level and it might happen. But be careful what you wish for. This place is a gem with character (and a little funkiness) but that is what is keeping this place from charging even more to match its competitors. I’ll take the $300 a night rate any day.

    May 30, 2025
  • TRI_LOGO_ANCILLARY_ 5.0 star tripadvisor rating
    Great place to stay at Santa Barbara!

    The reception staff were great - from check-in to check-out! Lauren was very pleasant, quick to deliver and even followed up on a request after I returned to San Jose. Overall, the experience was great and I’d recommend this place to Busienss / Vacation travelers. Well done!

    May 30, 2025
  • TRI_LOGO_ANCILLARY_ 5.0 star tripadvisor rating
    Relaxing Time!

    I travel often and the staff are some of the nicest people I've met. Mar Monte really makes an effort to make sure your stay is great. The food at Costa and Lido is also great. We watched the waves from the bar in the evening and stayed for breakfast and lunch. The spritzer drinks at Lido are a great mocktails. The burger is also really good.

    May 29, 2025
  • TRI_LOGO_ANCILLARY_ 5.0 star tripadvisor rating
    Excellent Stay

    We loved the hotel. Everything from the coffee in the room to the incredible food at Costa (best cod ever) to bike rentals and friendly staff made our trip relaxing and memorable. Sky at the front desk was super helpful and kind. We also enjoyed the craft cocktails at every location. We will be back!

    May 28, 2025
  • TRI_LOGO_ANCILLARY_ 5.0 star tripadvisor rating
    Three Nights in Paradise

    The quality of the room was absolutely unbelievable! Super spacious and comfortable. The beds were great! Love the large television. The staff were very friendly and helpful with all our questions. Pool and hot tub have an epic view of East Beach.

    May 26, 2025