Franciscan Inn & Suites

The Franciscan Inn in Santa Barbara is a beautiful and charming hotel located just a short walk from the beach. The property is very clean and well-maintained, creating a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere for guests. The rooms are tidy and nicely decorated. The staff is very helpful and friendly — always ready to assist with anything you need. The breakfast was delicious, with a nice variety of fresh options to start the day right. One of the highlights of the hotel is the outdoor pool area, perfect for relaxing in the sun. There’s also a convenient on-site laundry facility, which is great for longer stays. The location is ideal — close to the beach, restaurants, and the heart of Santa Barbara, but still quiet enough for a peaceful night’s sleep. Overall, the Franciscan Inn is a lovely place to stay, whether you’re visiting for a weekend getaway or a longer vacation.

Upon arrival, we had a great first impression. The initial front desk associate (I believe his name was Ben) was fantastic—friendly, welcoming, and very helpful. Unfortunately, the experience went downhill from there. The room was disappointing for a property charging over $400 per night. It felt bare and lacked warmth—no rugs, wall art, and overall not very cozy. The night front desk attendant was unpleasant and unhelpful. We were told at check-in that after 10 PM, ice could be obtained at the front desk, but when we asked at 10:15pm, she refused and told us the person at check-in “didn’t know what they were talking about.” The next morning, we inquired about extending our stay and were met with a cold demeanor by a different front desk associate. The response to our greeting was simply, “Yes,” with no effort to be helpful or welcoming. At checkout, we asked if we could use the bikes for a couple of hours to explore the city. Since we had already been checked out via their system, we were told it wasn’t possible and were advised to rent bikes elsewhere—adding an extra $50 to our trip. The lack of empathy was mind blowing. This was the first and only time we requested to use the bikes during our stay. Overall, I would not stay here again or recommend this property to others.

Our stay was wonderful. My mom and I spent two nights here and we were truly very satisfied. Everything was clean, the room was tidied daily, and the staff was friendly. Both receptionists were extremely welcoming. I’ll gladly book a few more days here again for a relaxing getaway. We didn’t even need to use the car, as everything was within walking distance. I also appreciated the option of red and white wine available in the room (for purchase) — the quality was excellent, which made it a nice bonus

If you’re from a metropolitan area you probably aren’t accustomed to motels, but in Santa Barbara the rules are different, a majority of the hotels here are boutique. So don’t be discouraged from staying here as many of them are better kept than you’d expect. That being said, I’ve stayed at many different spots each time I visit SB. I enjoyed the Franciscan the most for a number of reasons. First, the service. Shouts out to my brother Ben Dridi, hands down the best hotel concierge service you’ll ever get period. Just as the door mats here say, you will “come as guests leave as friends”. The hospitality was unmatched, and comfortingly familiar, thank you for your kindness and great conversation! Second, check out time is noon, which is a huge plus as most properties have firm 11AM check out times, if you’re like me and like to spend some time the day of check out, that extra hour makes such a difference in allowing you the time to gather your things and prepare for the day. Last, but definitely not least, the rooms are spotlessly clean and parking is pretty accessible to your room. You’ll have AC which isn’t always included around here and a large modern flat screen TV you can enjoy when relaxing in your room. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting!

What an amazingly beautiful hotel! My mom and I stayed here one night on our trip down the coast and we wish we could have stayed longer! The room set up was very modern, clean, safe - almost felt like a small apartment with a sitting area. There is fridge, microwave, espresso coffee maker (so good!) and they also provide kitchenette essentials! They also provide bottles of wine for purchase in the room as an option. The overall atmopshere of the room and hotel was phenomenal. On top of that, the gentleman who checked us in was exceptionally plesant and helpful. He gave us a map of the city and hot spots to check out, aiding as a guide. The hotel also rents out bikes (manual and electric) for a small fee that we took advantage of. On site parking available as well. Thank you for a great experience!

We had a fantastic stay at The Franciscan Hotel in Santa Barbara. A special shoutout to Ben – incredibly friendly, helpful, and exceptionally accommodating when we accidentally booked for the wrong date. Everything was handled smoothly and with a smile. We felt very welcome and comfortable from the start. We'll definitely be back – highly recommended!

I don’t usually leave reviews, but my experience at The Franciscan Hotel was so disappointing I felt compelled to warn others. From check-in to check-out, it was clear that guests are only valued if they have a credit card in hand. Hospitality was cold, service was inattentive, and when I reached out after my stay with a reasonable request, I was completely ignored. My message was supposedly forwarded to the general manager, but I never heard back. I followed up more than once, gave them every chance to respond, and was met with silence. This is not how a reputable hotel treats its guests. Buyer beware. There are plenty of other places to stay in Santa Barbara that actually care about your experience. Don’t waste your time or money here.

Lovely big bed. Spotlessly clean room . Great location. Ben on the front desk couldn’t have been more helpful and had a friendly welcome for everyone. Nice breakfast , and complimentary bikes added to the overall experience. Safe free parking at rear of hotel. Excellent.

Franciscan Inn & Suites originally was a spanish ranch house in the 1920's, now it is a historic charming 53 rooms & suites nest in a beauiful quit neigborhood. This property is so unique on the outside as well as the inside, there is free parking here and no resort fee, the lobby is cute with a general souvenic and gift store in the center plus a section for Ice cold beverages, water and Ice cream, breakfast is served from 7:30 am to 9:30 am it's a continental breakfast with egg bites, meat patty, cereals, croissants, toast, fresh O.J. plus fruits. The lobby coffee and tea area is open 7am to 10pm, fresh baked cookies are also in the lobby daily from 1pm to 9pm, there are two table and chairs with one bench. The staff at the front desk here Flor, Ben and C.J. were all very friendly, helpful, very knowledgeable with ton of useful Information, each one of them went the extra mile takingb care of us...all three of them need a raise. Our room was clean comfortable and remarkable with a door mat as you enter,ther were two rocking chairs, a sofe bed, a micowave, a fridge, dishes, silverware, dish towels, a T.V. in the front, plus another T.V. in the bedroom, a private small patio. This Inn is in walking distance to the Marine Harbor, the Stearns Wharf, State St. plus The Funk Zone, and last the front office surprise us with a bottle of Jaume Serra Cristalino Champagne w/ glasses, will be returning here like real soon.

TLDR: if you're a hot and/or light sleeper, maybe book elsewhere. My biggest complaint about this place is that the queen bed in the standard room is way too warm and has zero motion isolation. The mattress traps heat and gets super hot during the night. Absolutely horrible for a hot sleeper. Also, the mattress has ZERO motion isolation - meaning that if your partner makes any movement, it's gonna feel like a mini earthquake to you! I am not even talking about getting in or out of bed, I am talking about feeling the other person's every small motion like turning from side to stomach position or moving a limb. You're gonna feel it. It might even wake you up if you're a light sleeper. One of the worst night's sleep at a motel/hotel domestic or international. Will not come back for sure. pros: tasty fresh baked cookies (if you're lucky and they're not all gone). Breakfast is decent (eggs, sausage, bacon, bagel, muffins, cereal, OJ, milk, coffee, fruit)

Small but quaint little room,luckily away from the street.We were very comfortable during our 1 night stay. (Excellent break from driving up to Long Beach) Walkable to Funk Zone and about 15 minutes at the most to State Street. Nothing other then breakfast bars,fruit and coffee.They serve cookies late afternoon,very tasty! Great staff and we'd definitely come back

Bad: Things are not where they should be. Akward bed set up, it was ok. Good: Get to sleep in with rowdy people next door.

Made a reservation through Priceline and everything went smoothly until I get home and realize they overcharged me. I attempted to call, but there was no answer so I emailed them and made them aware of the error. They replied with an invoice with a price that did not reflect the Priceline price I had booked for. I replied two times now with screenshots of the receipt l, and they never replied. It has now been two months and they still have yet to reimburse me the difference. it was a nice place and a great location, but be very aware of the overcharging and poor communication.

This is a lovely place to stay if you're visiting SB and want to be near the pier and beach. It's also within walking distance of downtown and the neighborhood is cute. We had 2 pugs traveling with us and they only charged a one-time $75 fee for the whole stay, instead of a fee per dog, per night. When we entered the room, the pugs were so excited to see a clean bed prepared for them and a food/water bowl! What a nice touch! The room is sparkling clean and the bed is very comfortable. AC/heat works beautifully. Parking is free on-site right outside the room. You pretty much have everything you need for a comfortable stay. The only 2 things that could've made it better are a microwave (there's a fridge but no microwave) and a continental breakfast. The one time I needed a microwave, the person at the front desk was happy to heat my leftovers for me, though. Every afternoon, they serve freshly baked cookies in the lobby -- another nice touch. Overall, you get decent value staying here. They don't have it ALL but for the price, I was more than pleased with my stay. I'd gladly return next time we visit SB :)

We stayed here for 2 nights in the "Manager's Suite" - 2 bedrooms, living room w/ sofabed, microwave and mini fridge. On the plus side, the hotel is in a great location and neighborhood, just a block to the beach, by the marina/harbor, and a few blocks to State St., has a pool (not fancy, but fine) and a little hot tub. There's also coffee, tea and snacks in the lobby (tangerines, apples, granola bars). No water, unless you purchase a small bottle for $2; would be nice to have a place to refill water bottles. I stayed here 10 years ago, and they had beautiful Santa Barbara artwork and wooden furniture. After the remodel, all that is gone. The rooms are very stark - white walls, almost no artwork or decoration, and strange furniture that looks like it was picked up at various yard sales. My friend joked that they spent all their money on the remodel and had nothing left for furniture. I joked that in our manager's suite, the manager moved out and took all his furnishings with him! Actually, the only decorative piece in our place was a large wooden abacus on the dining table, which was pretty strange. I think for the prices they are charging: about $360-$440/night ($440 for our room), they should spruce up the rooms with some nice furniture and artwork, and make the place more inviting. Also, the second bedroom had no closet, hooks, dresser or shelves; that would be nice, too. Also, add some wine glasses. Just a few helpful tips.

A harmonious blend of the old and the new, the Franciscan Inn & Suites is a great place to stay when visiting Santa Barbara. Just a few blocks from the main harbor and Stearns Wharf, the Franciscan Inn is centrally located to all the must see spots in Santa Barbara. Downtown is just a few minutes drive as well as the Mission. Upon check in, we received a good 'ol key to our room. The room is modernized and feels chic; from the well curated furniture to the bathroom appointments. I liked the ac as it blow cold, quiet air. I reckon that the kids will enjoy their stay as I see kids having as smile in their faces when they concluded their fun in the hotel pool. The lobby was bright and served some light breakfast in the morning. If there is a knock to this hotel, I would say that the walls are thin and the neighbors can be easily heard. Overall, me and my wife had a great stay at the Franciscan Inn & Suites.

I was beyond impressed when the Franciscan Inn exceeded our expectations on every level. We spent our wedding night here after getting married at the courthouse. Our room was spotless and lovely, with a beautiful fire pit right outside. All of the employees were gracious and welcoming, and we were thrilled to receive a celebratory bottle of champagne after our wedding. Beautiful bathroom with spotless tub, and super comfortable bed. Walking distance to the water and Chad's, the perfect breakfast spot. My only issue was the lack of a full sized mirror, which made getting ready a bit of a challenge. We will DEFINITELY be back.

A nice place to stay while in Santa Barbara. Walking distance to the beach, State street and the wharf. Close to many restaurants The rooms all differing decor which makes it quaint. Room 110 was extremely clean. Had 2 rooms and a kitchen/dining/sitting area While it has televisions in the rooms unless you have google play there is only you tube to watch. No other streaming service was available. Could not log into Netflix, paramount plus etc That was a bummer We were lucky to have hot water on Sunday morning while others had no hot water. Friends came and used our shower as there was no hot water in their room (129) Hot tea/coffee/ hot chocolate available in the recent area along with cookies. Muffins in the mornings could Be found there

Stayed 1 night because the other Hotel could not accommodate us an extra night at a good price in October. The Franciscan had a room for us and the price was right. Wonderful atmosphere. Quiet, friendly, and professional. Ben at the front desk made was awesome. Excellent location to State St and the wharf area. The grounds are beautiful everywhere you look and the rooms were nice. Definitely will return.

This place is a great spot to stay at if you want to be close to downtown SB and not have to worry about driving or parking. We pretty much parked the car at the hotel (free parking!) and walked everywhere. Room was spacious and clean, and the bed was comfortable. The bathroom was small though and with little counter space. Also, no microwave or fridge in the room. I know you're pretty much paying for the location, but for almost $300 a night, there are other hotels around the same pricing with nicer rooms and amenities.

My daughter reserved a room as a surprise gift for my Birthday. The Hotel has many structures and there are numerous parking spots in front of each structure. The lobby is very clean and classy. It has comfortable chairs and relaxing lighting. They offer free coffee, cookies, granola bars and some fruits. The staff was very professional and friendly. The room itself,  was not too fancy but modern, clean and very comfortable.There was a coffee machine with many coffee flavors.The room key was the classic key which was nice. The bathroom was modern with a nice mirror. There was a non slip bathtub mat in the bathtub. They gave attention for details, for example; there is a plant on the table between two comfortable arm chairs with fabric seats and another one next to the closet. The only critique was that the room didn't include microwave nor a mini fridge. We had a great time in Franciscan Inn and our stay was outstanding. The hotel was very close to all the destinations we were planning to visit in our trip which made our visit to Santa Barbara very enjoyable

Very great hotel walking distance to everything like pier ,funk zone ,state street,mall Amtrak .Lots of parking rooms are nice .Make sure you download movie apps on phone they play thru tv (Netflix,Hulu etc)they have mini store inside lobby for snacks etc.The front desk was nice he gave me a map of city ,food options etc.Theres a pay shuttle you can take to attractions.They gave me a bottle of champagne for birthday.

We had an amazing stay kicked off by our wonderful interaction with Ben at the front desk. He conversed with us in different languages, offered a ton of great information that helped during our stay, and also was just a blast to talk to, which put us in a fantastic mood after a long drive. Huge thank you to Ben! The service, location, parking, ease of access, and extra goodies in the lobby made our stay very pleasant and memorable. The room was clean and spacious, and was comfortable to relax in after a lot of walking. We would definitely visit again!

We loved our 1 night stay here on a trip through Cali! Wish we had 2 nights the man that greeted us when we got there was so cheerful! The perfect greeter with lots of info! Basic room, yes... but clean and appointed! The man that was there in the morning (I believe his name was CJ?) was a world traveler, wonderful to talk to! Both had a lot of info about the are and great suggestions of what to do and where to go! They were kind to hold our luggage in the morning and we used the little bit clean pool area well past our. check out time We will def stay here again when we plan a California trip! 1 block from the beach

The place is comfortable, spotless and the staff are friendly and helpful. And a it's a block from the beach. Our room had a nice living area with a comfortable couch and chairs. There was a little private patio area outside the bedroom sliding glass doors. Bed was very comfortable. Would definitely stay there again!

WE stayed at this nice abode located just within a block of the beach in the lovely area of Santa Barbara. The rooms were clean enough, we had a few issues, but the staff took care of our needs right away. I can tell your hands down that all the staff from the front desk to maintenance to housekeeping were excellent. They wanted to make sure that your stay there was the best it could be. The Inn and Suites are a bit outdated, but if it is quaint in the style of Santa Barbara. I would most certainly stay here again and recommend it to you and family and friends. Next time you are in town, need a nice and decent place to say, why not book at Franciscan Inn and Suites, tell them Joey sent ya.:) If that does not get you great service and perhaps a pizza? ;-) Kidding no pizzas here, but they do have nicely fresh baked cookies every day.

Where to begin? Unfortunately, there is a long list of negatives here. NOTE - please take a look at other recent reviews (I stayed here December 2023). The critical reviews are spot-on and consistent with my sub-par experience. This inn is overpriced and not a worthy Santa Barbara hotel stay. I visited this property with my adult brother and my 81-year-old mother. The review of the property is predicated on our collective experience. We stayed for one night, arriving in the evening after dark. For an expensive property, too many things were difficult. A hotel stay should be easy, straightforward and pleasant. The good: the rooms are clean. The location is excellent. The neighborhood is peaceful and beautiful. The not-so-good: 1. This property is not correctly represented in the photos--it is a motel, albeit one in a very nice neighborhood with a prime location and a photogenic, nice central office building. It is in need of some careful, curated attention from the owners in order to earn the price point it commands. For example, the parking lot is old and has alligator cracking throughout...not the best look for a premium property in Santa Barbara. If you are a light sleeper, you will likely be bothered by people making noise outside or by car lights shining in the window of your room. The staff are badly hampered by resources that do not work properly. Several examples: 2. Outdoor lighting - we arrived after dark. The exterior lights of the property were not on; the parking lot was not lit, nor were the walkway lights outside each room. My mother could not find the public bathroom in the dark walkway and gave up. I asked the front desk clerk if the lights could be turned on--her answer was that they are on a timer. Again, we arrived an hour after nightfall, so this was a very odd proposition. It is a dangerous safety hazard to not have exterior lights on after dark. Other hotel guests were using flashlights in the parking lot and walkways to get around. The fact that the lights were not on after dark could result in someone getting injured. 3. The TV set was far too complex. The TV in my mother's room would not function correctly. We had to ask the front desk clerk for assistance--she couldn't solve the problem either. We had to unplug the cable box and the TV and restart both of them. Even then, we could not get the TV to work properly--there are two remotes and no instructions. My mother finally gave up and read a book. For a $270/night motel, this is far short of one's expectations. My TV at a Motel 6 would work more reliably. 4. The room had no instructions--not for the A/C unit (which was attached to the wall--if you were not familiar with the control, you would have a frustrating evening). The accoutrements for coffee were lacking--my brother's room had no stirrers for coffee, so he used a Q-tip to stir his sugar into the coffee). I've already written about the two remotes...one controlled volume and channels; the other controlled the smart TV. Without guidance from the hotel staff it would be a game of trial and error to get to TV stations. Additionally, the rooms are stark. No clock and no phone. No place to plug in USB devices. Even a little device on the nightstand could improve the experience. Instead, you plug things into the wall outlets and hope for the best. 6. Computers for public use do not function. The computer for boarding pass printing was a complete failure. My mother likes to have a paper boarding pass--we got all the way to the Print page only to have the desk clerk tell us the computer didn't work. Really? Why is it even turned on? 7. I then tried to email the pass to the clerk. Her "info@" email could not receive emails from me, even after trying two different accounts. I even tried to respond to her email to me--which came through correctly--yet she could not receive my email response. 8. Finally, the lack of breakfast is a surprise. There is coffee and some fruit...but nothing that one might consider even approaching a continental breakfast. Spend your money elsewhere.

Our stay here was great. We had a bachelorette party split up into different Franciscan Suits. The suits had all been renovated and upgraded, which was nice. The ONLY complaint is that the pull-out couches are VERY LOUD to sleep on, especially if you're sleeping with someone else. You will be woke. Up every time someone moves. We actually ended up pulling the mattress off the pull-out and laying it on the floor and that was much better because the mattress was thick. Other than that, we had a great stay. NO continental breakfast, but they do serve some refreshments and cookies and coffee or tea during the day. Ben checked us in and he was SO nice and helpful and gave us tips on where to go and what to do. I would go back and stay again!

So we usually stay at La Playa Inn but because of the holiday it was booked. It's always good to book way before a major holiday. I recommend booking 2 months before even. Overall our stay was pleasant. The bed was comfy and the room was comfortable and quaint. It didn't come with a refrigerator but we called the front lobby and they brought over a mini refrigerator right away. The location is in walking distance to Stearns Wharf, Finney's Crafthouse, Chad's, and more which is a huge plus. Overall, we had a great experience and will put it on our list of places to stay.

Loved this place. Both front desk persons were very welcoming and pleasant. Super clean and modern room and the Hot Tub was very well maintained. Nice stay all around, will come back. Also I liked the coffee, tea and snacks available in the lobby all day, very nice touch.

Clean, good location. Room was small with bare minimum appointments. Poor value for money. Extremely overpriced for product provided. This is a $150/night product.

Immaculate room, friendly and helpful staff, perfect location. This is my new happy place. I grew up in Santa Barbara and live off-grid now, but I need a little civilization now and then. The Franciscan Inn delivers all this and then some. They have been upgrading the facilities so there has been construction activity, but it has still been quiet and clean. I look forward to my next stay.

Location: The Franciscan Inn is two blocks from the Santa Barbara waterfront, three blocks from Lower State Street; close to all the goings-on but far enough to way to make it quiet and restful. Room: I loved the tall bed and the firm mattress! Bonus points from me for having an electrical outlet close enough to the table that I could plug in my device when I was using it. The landscaping is simple and beautiful. I didn't use the spa or the pool. Staff: From housekeeping to the front desk staff, everyone was cheerful, helpful and friendly every single day. I complained about the in-room coffee maker (My one complaint, seriously) and they replaced it within minutes. I will stay here again the next time I visit Santa Barbara. The clean, welcoming room was an enhancement to my trip.

Amazing that a renovation can result in less services not more. Definitely minimalist. Only one mirror in the bathroom, none in the room . A tv but not hooked up to cable. No telephone so you have to look up the hotel number to call the front desk. Wonder what happens in an emergency? Only thing not lessened was the price.

Stayed here 4 nights during fourth July weekend 1st time staying here on the Franciscan suite booked on official Website with promo code applied of 10% off Other promos available pending dates booked 2 story inn with adequate parking both outside the building and additional parking located by the pool. Laundry and spa also available on site. Franciscan suite a little under 350 square feet with a living dining combo, kitchen, sofa that doubles as a queen bed, and bedroom with queen bed. Updated bathtub shower combination and vanity. Dining table with 4 chairs and plantation shutters in the main room and bedroom. Flat screen tv in the bedroom and living area. Pro Walking distance to the beach / wharf / harbor - pending pace 3-7 mins away Walking distance to downtown / train station 10-15 minutes pending pace Adequate lot and street parking / plenty of lights Shower pressure very strong and soothing and water is soft Complimentary coffee tea hot cocoa fruit granola bar Pool spa laundry facilities on site Near major convenience market gas station car wash liquor store dining options Felt to be in safe area with constant walking to and back Plenty of cable channels Con Can hear door slam People talking will echo Carpet could be replaced due to dirt / stain spots Reception is the room is horrid little to none existed Sofa bed squeaks upon any slight movement but very comfy mattress Great spot for holiday festivities. Can hear fireworks at inn possibly view pending direction pointed. Room layout suited for families and groups bunking together. Would stay here again for location and proximity to sights.

We had a great quick stay here. Just in town for one night to see a show at the Santa Barbara Bowl. Arrived a couple hours prior to check in but the friendly attendant at the counter checked and they had a room ready so we were able to get an early check in which was nice after a long drive so we could relax a bit before heading out for a bite and to the show. Walking distance to the beach and the harbor. Lots of dining options nearby. Parking at the Inn was convenient and included. Wishing I'd packed my swimsuit to enjoy some time by the pool as the weather was perfection. We stayed in a one bedroom suite. Living room decor was very basic but everything was very clean. Bedroom was small but extremely comfortable. A great night of sleep after the show. Some complain that Netflix and the like aren't available to stream, but we didn't mind. I'd recommend a stay here. Albeit pricey, the location is perfect.

This hotel is a great value for its location. The rooms are small but well appointed, and it is so very quiet and peaceful. We have stayed in ocean front hotels which tend to get a lot of traffic noise at night. This place is one block from the beach and so quiet and peaceful that we were able to sleep with the window cracked. The staff are friendly, checkin was easy, and there are no parking fees. This is our new favorite place to say in Santa Barbara.

Ben was very helpful with sorting out some last minute issues. Will revisit when in the area!

For the price I was expecting so much more. The rooms are very plain and uninviting. The mattress was lumpy and uncomfortable. But the worst part of our stay was the staff. When we arrived they were not welcoming at all to our family or the one behind us. Thought maybe they were having a bad day but it was worse the following day with a different desk person. Asked for directions and she said she didn't know. Customer behind us was helpful and told us where restaurant was located (a few blocks away). If you are looking for a welcoming and comfy place to stay, avoid the Franciscan Inn.

Wonderful staff at the front desk. Delicious warm cookies. Rooms newly remodeled. Lots of room in bedroom and bathroom. Free parking and WiFi. Easy access to beach and nearby restaurants. Great price. Can't wait to return.

Corner of Bath & Mason on 2/1/23..M+V Just checked in at 10:00 PM and walked out our front door and saw this! Great start to everything from checking in to settling in

We experienced a friendly greeting and freshly baked cookies upon our arrival. Our room was conveniently located with adequate parking in front of our room. The room was an adequate size and very clean. We found the bed to be a little soft for our taste. There were an inadequate number of electrical outlets, and this caused a problem for plugging in two necessary medical devices. We were aware there was no refrigerator in the room, but the staff was amenable to keeping an item we needed refrigerated in their office. As we had hoped, we found the location to be excellent. It was an easy walk to the beach, wharf, and shops.

We had a wonderful, last minute stay at the Franciscan last week and couldn't have been happier. We'd had a reservation at an East Beach hotel, which we quickly abandoned (for several reasons - it would have been a long, difficult night) and Ben quickly found us a great room for the night. He was so friendly and conversational - we learned a lot about Santa Barbara (and him!) in short time. Our king deluxe room was clean, well appointed, quiet and so comfortable. Unfortunately, it wasn't available for a 2nd night (Fiesta weekend) but the hotel concierge, Flor, was able to secure us a 2nd night in another king room, which was very nice, quiet and comfortable, too (but not quite as deluxe :)). We felt well cared for and that our stay was appreciated. They have welcome mats here in front of every guest room that says "Come as Guests, Leave as Friends" - that sums up our visit perfectly. We look forward to returning to the Franciscan next time we're in town.

Staff was friendly but the WiFi was absolutely terrible! All the TVs couldn't connect and it was a huge pain trying to figure out how to even turn on the cable! If I want to watch TV, it shouldn't be that difficult!

Nice little place walking distance to the water and State St. Hotel staff was friendly and accommodating. If you stay here do try the fresh cookies in the lobby, they are really good. The bed was comfortable and the room was a decent size. Our visit was during a very hot weekend and the a/c worked wonderful. The only reason for the 4/5 is due to the fact that the room was considerably dated. Furnishing and fixtures could use an upgrade. An in room mini fridge would also be a nice addition. Understanding that the hotel is older and has normal wear and tear which is to be expected. The price point is consistent with other places in the area. Not a bad place for a night or two.

They remodeled. The beautiful Santa Barbara art is gone. The wood furniture is gone. The charm is gone. The staff does not seem too happy anymore. It's okay if you like 5000 kelvin spotlights shining on you with no dimmer and IKEA-like furniture. I can't enjoy paying Santa Barbara prices for such a disconnected interior decorator. Been here for 20 years. Not going back. Happy to have an opportunity to move next door where they really seem to care about you.

We stayed in the Franciscan Suite and the place was very clean and comfortable. Parking was easy and included . We walked to the beach (3 minutes) , the pier ( 7 minutes) and the Funk Zone (12 minutes) . We would def stay again. .

Newly remodeled with attention to details. Our suite included a sitting room with big screen TV, kitchenette with refrigerator, microwave, and sink, a Lavazza espresso machine and table and chairs. The bed with comfy with a super warm and fluffy comforter. The property is very quiet and we appreciated the 12 noon check out. In addition there are freshly baked cookies in the lobby. You can easily walk to State Street, the harbor and pier.

This is a great value! The room is spacious, comfortable, and newly remodeled. The front desk staff couldn't be nicer. The location is great. Will definitely be back.

Spent 3 nights here and had a really enjoyable time. Check in was quick and efficient. The staff member helping me was very friendly. Room was on the corner which was a little weird because the rooms are either facing the parking lot or the street. Room I was located in was right on the corner right behind the sign which I was told was recently renovated. For a corner room overlooking the street, it was relatively quiet which was nice. It also got a lot of sunshine, especially in the morning. It was a wheelchair accessible room so it was very spacious. The bed was comfortable, a bit high to hop into if your in a wheelchair, but I was ok with it. Bedroom had no chairs or closet which were located in the adjoining room. Room also included a refrigerator and a sink by the closet. Place has free parking and free WiFi which was awesome. It is about a 15 to 20 minute walk to the bars and restaurants along State Street so I basically did not move my car for the 3 days in town. The beach is just down the block and on the beach side is a stop for the beach trolley which someone told me cost a quarter to ride. Hotel also a Jacuzzi and a pool on different sides of the property. Unusual but I can see the point of adults in the Jacuzzi and kids in the pool not bothering each other. Breakfast is included but it is mostly juice, toast, fruit, and coffee. I would just go over for a coffee. Overall, I would definitely stay here again.

We booked on short notice and paid roughly $340.00 a night for a pretty basic motel room. It was comfortable and convenient. Checking in was a little weird with an argumentative young lady at the front desk. We had to switch the reservation into my name as my fiance didn't have a physical ID, but only a screenshot of her passport and D.L. I chalked it up to an employee just following the rules. The next morning, I meandered up to the front office to ask how to make coffee. I was told that there is no longer a coffee maker in my room because it was broken. I appreciated the back story on the $50 appliance, readily available on Amazon. I went to my car, got out my camping stove and Bialetti and solved the issue on my own. Upon checking out, my girl mentioned some incessant talking from housekeeping right outside our door and the same receptionist from the night we arrived mentioned something about our room being at a discounted rate as if that were the reason for no coffee and the breakdown of roles in the service industry. We decided that we wouldn't be returning under any circumstances based solely on on interactions with the staff.

Was originally excited about my stay here. I had booked over the phone and had a pleasant experience. The morning of my arrival, I noticed that all of the rooms were $50 less than I had booked on phone. When I inquired about getting this lower fee, I was told it was not possible. Why? I have no idea. Normally a hotel would honor a lower rate, but I decided to stay anyway. When I was given keys and entered my room, I noticed it was very old and dusty. Outdated. Not in a cool "vintage way" but more so in a "Wow. These pictures looked nicer. I can't believe I have to pay this much money for an ugly room like this when I could have stayed at La Playa Inn or somewhere else for the same price had they had rooms available. Is this a joke?". And that's just it. At that moment I realized WHY this hotel had rooms open the same day of booking it and NONE of the other hotels had availability. It looked kind of empty and now I know why. This place is a dump. The front desk caucasian male worker at night was also not very friendly. I would not recommend anyone to stay here. Customer service sucks. The hotel is old and outdated, especially compared to its competitors (La Playa Inn etc) who they charge the SAME PRICE as. A friend showed me pictures of his Motel 6 room and I was jealous. Do yourself a favor and read this review before wasting your money.

Stayed here for our 2 days in Santa Barbara we wanted a place to stay that was close to the beach. The Franciscan Inn fit the bill, just a block or so away from the beach. Rooms were OK not too big but just enough for 4 ppl. Nothing out of the ordinary rooms could use some updating with certain things but that is OK not a big deal. Pool is nice for cooling off as well. Breakfast is your basic Continental breakfast, enough to get you going in the morning. Within walking distance from a lot of great restaurants and shops. Not far from the main street where they have the street blocked off for restaurants to eat outside. You can literally park your vehicle and not have to drive anywhere if that's what you wanted to do. Close to the pier as well. Would stay here again and recommend this place.

Reasonable rooms in a good location The Franciscan has been a part of lower Bath Street for year. You can walk to the harbor the beach in minutes. Rooms are quite in most location and they have parking The two bedroom is vey small as the second bedroom is wall to wall bed. Breakfast is basic Staff is very good

This location is a 2 minute walk from the beach and restaurants. There is plenty of on site parking and if you're lucky you can park right in front of your room. Ben at the front desk was extremely informative about what to do in the area. They offer snacks like cuties, granola bars, coffee and tea. The room itself was quaint, it had two very clean beds. I tore them apart checking for bugs, nothing was found. The bedsheets smelled a little like bleach which I appreciated. You get very little toiletries, bath soap, hand soap, shampoo, and conditioner. The towels were your everyday motel white towels with none offered for the pool or spa on site. Pro: close parking, close to beach, knowledgeable Ben, comfy, clean beds. Con: this is a family Inn with rooms available for large families so expect kids running around. No towels for the pool. And the worst thing about our room, the carpet was old and nasty, I wouldn't walk on it barefoot.

This spot is absolutely amazing! It's right down the street from the beach and lots of yummy restaurants. Affordable and the front desk associate was super helpful and friendly, he gave us a map and made sure to point out some places to hit up. The room was so cute and our sparking spot was right outside which was very convenient. Our neighbors are quiet and checking out was a breeze. We will definitely be returning!

We needed a place to stay last minute and on a very busy weekend. We paid $270 for the "suite" as it was the only room they said they had left. Defiantly, not worth the price but we were stuck. Upon check in, we were greeted by Ben who was absolutely a charming and lovely man. Very friendly and is the reason for the 4 star review. He provided us with a map of the facility as well as a map of Santa Barbara with suggestions on fun things to do. We didn't have time to do anything but I kept the map for next time I visit Santa Barbara, which is often. So would I stay here again??? Probably not, unless the price was much less and they up grade the room a bit. We were in room 126 which was a corner room on the second floor. The room was clean but didn't feel clean as there were stains on the couch etc. There was a kitchenette with a fridge, coffee maker and stove. The nicest part of the room was the bathroom which had been recently remodeled with lovey tile and a nice shower head. It was small but clean feeling. My biggest complaint was the bed. It was too hard for me. I am a side sleeper and my hips hurt all night and I kept having to roll over. Between that and how hot it was in the room, we did not sleep well. We opened our window but we were right above a pool filter or something that would turn on and off. There was a ceiling fan so we were able to get some air and while I saw vents in the ceiling, I didn't see any heating or AC thermostat. The breakfast is minimal. Packaged muffins and bagels etc but enough to get you going. All and all it is an ok place but we paid way too much for what we got.