Cabrillo Pavilion Bathhouse

Amazing location but the lockers are old and the whole place is just screaming for a remodel.
I’ve been swimming here for years and everything is the same including the 80s volleyball photographs on the wall. That’s a testament to just how little it’s changed.
So as a historic relic it’s kinda cool but as a locker-​room its unfortunately a bit decrepit.
Still, the beachside location is unbeatable so I gave it 3 stars.

Yes the gym is old and a little dirty. The equipment is left over from some other generation. But I’ve been there three times and there’s always been someone friendly working out. I enjoy chit chatting. Above all else it’s right on the beach. You can work out in the gym, then change into a swimsuit, go swiming, then go back to the locker room and take a nice shower and get dressed. Don’t expect a five star resort but if you wear flip flops in the shower you’ll be just fine.

I was here (upstairs) for a wedding reception and it was absolutely beautiful. The artwork inside was such a nice touch, too. The facilities were great, with seating on the balcony and inside. I would gladly come back for another reception of some sort

The website refers to this place as «one of the best kept secrets in town.» After having recently been there and worked out for an hour, and then later speaking to them on the phone about something I forgot in my locker, I wholeheartedly disagree with that statement. Reasons:
1. Very dirty
2. Old, cheap, poorly functioning gym equipment
3. Smells bad
4. Homeless people apparently use this place as their go-​to place for showers and personal hygeine — I saw numerous disheveled men in the locker room bathing, shaving, etc., and none had worked out or done anything else that would require that. It was just their daily cleaning ritual.
5. Front desk staff not very helpful — I forgot something in my locker and called repeatedly to ask them to help me locate it, every time it seemed to me that they were just trying to do as little as possible to help me, but rather that they just wanted to get rid of me.
Santa Barbara is a great city, but I would recommend steering clear of this place; it is a dump.