Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara

Location: 2 minute walk to the pier, 5 minute walk to the wineries in funk zone, and a 3 min drive to the main part of downtown. Other than the construction that’s happening around the property right now, the location is prime.
Room: my main concern with hotel rooms is cleanliness. And the room was definitely clean which I love. Everything looks pretty new as well. The bed was very comfortable (other than the squeaky noise it made every once in a while), and the bathroom was clean as well (major plus). The only thing that may be a disclaimer is that the rooms and bathroom do tend to be pretty small. Personally, not a problem. Oh and the shower and toilet situation is pretty different but nothing that you can’t work with comfortably.
Hotel: Super cute, hip, and bright. Loved the décor and vibe.
Staff: didn’t come in contact with much staff because we were out most of the time. But the front desk attendant was polite and helpful. They have free bike rentals, and gave us a free kayaking coupon and two-​for-​one wine tasting deals! It was awesome and made our stay that much better!

Mixed feelings on this one. It ended up working very well for me in the end but there were some bumps along the way.
I reserved a king Patio room and was dismayed to arrive around 3:45 after a 5 hour drive to be told my room was not ready yet and it would be half an hour. Turns out they wanted to put me on the non construction side, which is a must. Since checkout time is 11 and I had to respect that, not sure why tiny room could not be cleaned in time
This hotel works best for single travelers and couples since the spaces are tiny. Beautiful but not big enough for families. But the city is building a children’s museum next door and this massive construction project takes up one entire side, so renting a patio room on that side would be a huge noisy disappointment. Across the street is another massive noisy construction project. A problem until September of 2016 I hear.
I had a good experience ion the end though. Gracious man working at front desk comped the $ 20 parking because of the inconvenience. I brought a sound machine that played ocean sounds and drowned out the construction. Bed was super comfortable. The patio let in a ton of light and was definitely worth it.
Just make sure to get on the non construction side. Call ahead and see whether this will be possible. Otherwise it would be a great big drag.
Also given the wine trail right outside the door and that this is one of the few areas of town that doesn’t have screaming kids dominating the scene, you have to wonder why the children’s museum is being sited here.
I would like to come back but probably won’t risk it for several months until the construction ends

Due to my boyfriend’s sometimes heart breaking spontaneity, we didn’t have anywhere to stay on Valentine’s night, after we had driven 3+ hours to get away from home for the evening. We were parked at a police station searching for cell service, practicing my patience with him and searching Unilocal!for hotels nearby. After calling upwards of 10 places and SURPRISE, all of them being booked for the weekend, I landed on Hotel Indigo. They had a room at a decent price and they were a few minute walk from anything we could have wanted or needed for 24 hours.
The hotel was extremely cute. And by cute, I mean quaint. There was definitely no room for excess. No excess baggage or movements. No biggie. They had gifted us with a complimentary bottle of wine, which we thoroughly enjoyed. We freshened up and hit the pavement.
It ended up being the perfect spot for a quick night away. We ate, we drank, we walked. Lovely.
My only complaint: the room was icebox cold when we first arrived. We ended up sweating all night because the air didn’t kick on not one time when we got back. Even the house keepers couldn’t get it working for us. We learned this morning that the front desk controls it! Would’ve been nice to know.
I doubt we will stay here again. We will plan better next time, but it was cute and it worked!

Stayed at hotel indigo for the weekend to celebrate the fiancé’s birthday. We had a king courtyard patio room, yeah the rooms are tiny and the bathroom is tight but what hotel indigo lacks in space it makes up for with everything else. The staff was very welcoming and hospitable. There were flowers for my fiancé sent up to our room after I let the staff know it was her birthday. The location can’t be beat of this place! Right in the heart of Santa Barbara just a few steps away from all the amazing wine tasting rooms and only a block or two from the pier. Hotel is beautiful and clean, beds are super comfortable even though the king bed takes up 70% of the room. Overall I’m extremely pleased with this hotel and will definitely be returning next time we decide to visit Santa Barbara!

Comfy bed. Clean. Very small room. We were not advised about a $ 20 parking fee or that the restaurant/​bar wouldn’t be open. Great location close to beach and funk district.

We were able to get a decent deal on this hotel through groupon and we were very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the hotel and rooms! The hotel is located perfectly at the end of state street and directly next to the Amtrak station. There are many wine tasting rooms, restaurants, and shops all within a 20 minute walk or less and it’s a 5 minute walk down to the pier.
The rooms themselves are small but they are immaculate and well designed to make the small space work for travelers-​they have a very European feel. Yes the there is glass door that you have to close to separate the shower from the toilet but that didn’t really bother me, another creative use of the small space! We had a small patio attached to our room which was nice but a little too chilly to use.
The restaurant on site was great for a few drinks and the service from Drew at the bar was very friendly. We just had a few glasses of wine and beignets for desert, be warned that the chocolate is advertised as «spiced» and it is indeed spicy-​I did not enjoy but my husband did.
Service from hotel staff was friendly and very competent. My only complaint is that we had to check out the evening before our last day because a wildfire ruined our plans for the following day and we were trying to seek some sort of partial refund but hotel management never contacted us. The person on the night shift said he would have a manager contact ASAP but we still haven’t heard back and probably won’t be pursuing it any further.
Overall we would stay here again!

Great boutique hotel with small but clean rooms. The 2 star review is because our room overlooked the construction zone next door. We were told construction starts at 7am, which would be fine, BUT it started at 5:30 am instead. Management comped our parking but I expected better, more pro-​active customer service. Instead of leaving vacation energized and refreshed, I left feeling tired and cranky. If it weren’t for the perfect location, I would give 1 star. Will not be visiting this hotel again.

I decided to book with Hotel Indigo because it was modern and fairly priced. I read a few reviews on Unilocal before making my reservation and was really nervous about the size of the room and noise from the nearby train tracks because a lot of people mentioned that in their review… but Hotel Indigo really superseded our expectations.
First, the hotel is in a great location on State St., minutes away from shopping in one direction and a very short walk to the pier in the opposite direction. It is the perrrrfect place to stay if you are visiting SB as a group of two; couple or girls trip. Hotel Indigo is a pet friendly hotel so there were free dog treats in the lobby everyday and water and tea placed in the lobby every evening. They also provide guests with complimentary bike rentals. There is no elevator but the hotel is only two stories. They do have a freight elevator for your luggage.
When I made the reservation online, I mentioned that we were in town to celebrate my friend’s birthday. When we got to our room there were fresh flowers, chocolate candy, and a personalized Happy Birthday note on the desk. That was an amazing touch and a great way for my friend to start her birthday stay in SB. Thank you, Hotel Indigo!
So, about the room. Yes, it is small, but they make very good use of every inch of space in the room. Our room had double queen beds, which were soooo comfortable, and we did not feel cramped or like we were in a cage. it was perfect for the two of us girls. The bathroom does not have a real door. Instead it is swinging, stained glass door that doesn’t offer much privacy… You cannot see through the glass but you can hear a lot of what’s going on in there. It was not a big deal for us. The shower was functional and felt sooo good, but the toilet is veryyyy close to the shower. Again, not a big deal. Also in the room were Aveda products, cable TV, a Keurig machine, and AC. The only thing that was missing was as full length mirror.
So the train came and our beds shook for about 10 – 20 seconds. The noise was not super loud, but I can see how some people may be bothered by it. The good news is that Hotel Indigo places disposable EAR PLUGS in each room, so you don’t really have to worry about that noise.
Unfortunately, we did not eat at the restaurant but they do have one! I totally, totally, totally recommend this placed:)

Where the opportunity to shower during excretion presents itself.
The reviews are spot on. Nice, cozy boutique hotel that reinforces intimacy.
Square footage is creatively utilized around these parts.
Upgraded to a room with a private garden; not necessarily interested in seeing what a downgrade looks like.
Will definitely get the job done for our short stay in town where beach, food, and exploration will dominate our time.
Complimentary wifi.

Hotel Indigo’s vibe is very similar to what I assume it would be like to stay in the guest room of your really quirky, eccentric aunt who is either a therapist, professor, or green peace executive.
My one-​night stay was as pleasant as can be. The location is perfect for anything SB-​related. It’s smack dab in the middle of the part of State St if you want to be half way from the water to the bustling parts of the main thoroughfare. The rate was one of the best I found in the area for a boutique hotel.
The staff dished out pleasantries like it was their job, and my teeth and legs were happy that they had spare tooth brushes and razors for those of us forgetful folk. No complimentary breakfast and there is construction going on, but it didn’t disturb my sleep.
The room was mostly all bed (not a ton of empty floorplan, though, there was a desk also wedged in there. It’s all hardwood floors (which I’m not a huge fan of), and the bathroom doesn’t leave a whole lot of separation between toilet and shower… in fact, the glass door to the shower swings open right at the base of the toilet and you pull the shower curtain to meet it to close the shower off from the rest of the bathroom space. As soon as you start showering, the water on the floor starts to raise up and you get nervous that you’ll turn the bathroom into a slip and slide danger zone, but the floor is carved out just so, so that water doesn’t get everywhere. Definitely an odd setup, but it works.
I will definitely be making a habit out of staying here on my visits to SB, which will be much more frequent in the coming year!

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Plus, Centrally located. Major minus, Awfully small rooms. If you want to feel like you’re staying in a tiny room in Europe, this place is for you. They are «pet friendly», but do not allow pets to be in the rooms alone. This is ridiculous. We have stayed in well over 100 pet friendly hotels and our pup is very well behaved and used to hotels and I think it’s absurd to have that type of rule. The toilet is inside of the shower and the bathroom is pretty much in the bedroom. SMALL. I know they want to keep the «quaint» feel and maximize the space they have, but feels like you’re staying in a hotel in London and the price is ridiculous for the amount of space you receive. No refrigerator in the room. There are plenty of other options that would provide more space for the price. Good luck!

My room was the smallest hotel room I’ve stayed in in the U.S. and one of the more expensive hotels I’ve stayed in so I would say the worst bang for the buck. There is no dedicated shower, just a head on the wall and drain on the floor. The only elevator is for luggage so hope you don’t mind stairs.
I also felt like they were miss leading, to me a double room means two double beds but it actually means one double bed so we had to «upgrade» to a king which cost more.
If your traveling by yourself or a couple and don’t mind small rooms you may stay, besides being small there was nothing else wrong although my preference would be to stay at a traditional hotel.

First you should know this hotel was booked as part of a Travelocity deal «Hidden Hotel 40% Off» so once revealed I was initial a bit disappointed because I had already done some pre-​search on hotels in Santa Barbara and this was not one of my picks.
In short, I knew from the guest reviews the rooms were very small, the bathrooms even smaller with ear plugs provided as the hotel was right next to the train station. In contrast it was on the main drag (at one end of State Street) and I heard that the hotel staff was really, really, great and made for a great experience.
So with positive mindset and dog and boyfriend in tow we escaped LA for a fun and much needed overnight stay in SB. What we experienced before even getting into our room was something different. Upon arrival we were not welcomed by even a smile or a «How may we may your stay better?» and through the check-​in process not a hint of be accommodating, which I just figured I would shrug off and forget so to have an enjoyable weekend.
However after talking in the room we both agreed and felt that for the $ 400 plus dollars a night ($ 366 plus $ 40 pet fee and $ 20 parking) the level of expected service was NOT AT ALL what we expected period. As a result my bf went downstairs to mention our experience with our first visit not expecting much anything in return, but a sympathetic ear and some added smiles.
Alexis was the floor supervisor on-​duty at that time, she listened and totally understood our situation and wanted to keep us as guests and turn our negative initial experience around. She was our saving grace, so gracious and really turned our experience around 180 degrees. Alexis is a valued asset to this property so I hope she gets rewarded for the excellent customer service she provides guests.
As I now recall before even getting near the front desk she was the only one who initially talked with me and welcomed our dog Luigi. As a result of the EXCELLENT 5-​star service provided by Alexis I would say that I give this property 3 stars — if the rooms were bigger, or the rates a bit lower or there was even a light complimentary breakfast I would rate this hotel at 4 stars.
Lastly, although our complimentary ear plugs were used to shield our ears from the dogs snoring, I can see how being woken by a train could affect your opinion of this property, which we did not experience on the Saturday night we stayed.

I overlooked the rate.
I overlooked the lack of elevator.
I overlooked the tiny room.
I overlooked the compact king bed.
I overlooked my corner view of a construction site and parking lot.
I overlooked the shower and toilet occupying the same space.
I overlooked the evening train rolling by.
I could not overlook the 6 am trains and their horns blasting by a few yards away.
No amount of Aveda shower products can save this place.

The room is very very small. There is just enough space for a bed. Its perfect for one person or cozy for a couple. but i would not recommend it for a family or group of friends.
The bathroom is very small also. Lets just say you can not shower while someone is using the toilet. There is no tub. The shower floor is basically shared with the toilet floor.
The room is very clean. The staff is very friendly. The location is perfect. Walking distance to the beach. and the Urban wine trail. You will not need to touch your car while staying at this hotel. My husband and i walked everywhere.
The hotel has a really cool artsy funky design. Dog friendly which was great. Overall our experience was great but its definitely on the pricey side for the size you get.

Really cool little Hotel! My best friend & God daughter stay there a lot when they visit from the Valley, so I meet up with them outside seating area in the restaurant… really amazing Moscow Mules! They were divine! They didn’t have regular top shelf vodkas… more eclectic variety, which was super cool, but tricky when we ordered a martini… but really sweet server named Kristen, who was very helpful! Cool library and patios and workout space!
Check it out!!!

I wanted to like this place I did. I was staying here for work so the price pisses me off a bit less but it was over 300 a night and let me tell you it was NOT worth it
Now the staff really REALLY tried to make my stay pleasant and even accommodate me when there was and I am not joking a mosquito infestation in the room
Regardless the place would have been a 4 star if the price was better AND the rooms and hall didn’t smell like musty sewage

Hotel Indigo markets itself as a hipster, environmentally friendly hotel. We chose to stay there because we do try to be environmentally friendly, we liked the price and we liked the location which was near to the tasting rooms that we planned to visit. We had read that it was located right near an Amtrak station, but since the trains don’t run overnight we weren’t concerned.
The hotel is fairly small with a creatively painted mural on the side. Parking is in the lot next door. When you walk in, you are greeted with lots of gleaming golden wood. The staff at the desk was friendly and explained everything we needed to know, including the free wifi password. There is a small luggage elevator, but it was not working, so we had to carry our luggage up the flight of stairs.
The bedroom was small, but comfortable and every bit of space was cleverly used. As a photographer, I loved the huge blown up photo of a camera on the wall behind our bed, I also appreciated the safe, where I stored my camera and lenses when we went out to eat. There is no continental breakfast, but there is a restaurant next door.
One of my favorite parts was the little library sitting area out in the open area between the rooms. It was filled with art books and photography books, perfect for resting and glancing through.
The most interesting use of space, however was the bathroom. The shower is created by closing a clear glass door that is right in front of the commode. So, that literally if you are going to the bathroom, your feet are in the shower. It is the most ingenious use of space. Some people might not like this, but we had no problems with it.
We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Indigo and will not hesitate to book there again when staying in Santa Barbara.

It’s on the smaller side, BUT it’s also on the cleaner professional and well thought out design side. For the small building they have the team made some smart renovation choices that are so good it almost makes you forget about the size. The functionality of the furniture and room layout, colorful yet subtle color palettes just shows you how clever they were when they made the changes. It’s one block away AMTRAK. As other Unilocalers said there is no elevator, only a lift for your luggage. The building is only one story and it’s not a huge stair case. Cute clean, well maintained gym with all the basic essentials.
Hotel Indigo is near everything: shops, restaurants, wharf, urban wine trail, train, beach… it’s on State street closer to the beach. I really liked the customer service from every single staff member working there. Check out time is at noon. The restaurant below, which was featured in a few magazines, was closed which I was a little bummed about because it seems to be really popular. Parking is $ 20 a day, they raised it from $ 15.
Places nearby within a five minute walking distance or less from the Indigo: 1. Beach Break Café for breakfast or lunch it’s casual, family friendly and they have a lot to offer. 2. Kunin Winery on Anacapa cool hippie chic winery with delicious wines. 3. Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, even if you don’t like seafood you should take a walk on the historic once industrial fishing wharf. 4. Lafonde Winery 5. Oreana

We had such a great experience a year prior to showing up again last month, but it looks like they got rid of all the little perks that made their hotel stand out among the rest. What happened Hotel Indigo? =(
When we returned back last month, I opted for a room with a patio with hopes we’d have more wiggle room since the room itself is probably the smallest hotel room we’ve ever stayed at (and we’ve stayed at quite a few hotels through the years during our travel adventures). I laughed when we opened the door to room 125 on the first floor. It was no bigger than the room we stayed at a year ago on the second floor. We didn’t bother using the patio we paid extra for since it was so cold outside and we were both still getting over being sick.
I just found it odd that two guys (vendor and Hotel Indigo employee) were having an impromptu meeting right there at the check-​in counter. A vendor was trying to gain their business, but whoever he was talking to was telling him that they’re not going to switch since they were very happy with their current vendor. I didn’t think it was very professional to have this meeting at the front desk as guests were arriving and checking in. You have a conference room steps away from the check-​in counter, you could have used that room, just a suggestion.
Anyway, after a long drive getting into Santa Barbara, it would have been nice to see the table in the lobby stocked with the usual, complimentary iced tea, water and some light snacks to welcome their guests. I was immediately bummed when they didn’t have that. I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt and thought maybe they only have that in the morning, but when we were ready to check out the following morning, the table was still bare. It made me sad since I really enjoyed the complimentary lemon chip scone I tried last year.
We really love going to Santa Barbara and the location of this hotel was close to the nearby shops and restaurants, but I didn’t like the sound of the super loud horn from the train approaching the train station that’s steps away. They leave a pair of packaged ear plugs on your nightstand for a reason, at least that was still complimentary for their guests, lol!