What is Upper Riviera like?

Travellers will be sure to enjoy their time in Santa Barbara's Upper Riviera neighbourhood. Consider a visit to Franceschi Park as part of your Upper Riviera travel plans.

What's a favourite place to stay in Upper Riviera?

Based on our traveller data, El Encanto Santa Barbara is one of the top choices for your stay in Upper Riviera. This hotel offers a full-service spa and 2 restaurants.

How many hotels should I expect to find in Upper Riviera?

Expedia has 21 hotels and other accommodation options in Upper Riviera to choose from, making this an ideal home base for exploring the greater Santa Barbara area.

If I need to cancel my hotel reservation in Upper Riviera, will I receive a refund?

Yes, you'll find most hotel room reservations are fully refundable if cancelled before the hotel’s cancellation deadline, which often is within 24-48 hours of your arrival date. If you booked a non-refundable reservation, you might still have the option to cancel and get a refund within 24 hours of booking. Add your dates and click on "Search", then use the filter option "fully refundable" to get the top deals on offer in Upper Riviera.

What can I see and do in this Santa Barbara neighbourhood?

Franceschi Park is an attraction you might want to check out while you're in Upper Riviera. Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Bowl are also worth a visit when you're out sightseeing in Santa Barbara.

Top 10 Upper Riviera Hotels of 2026

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Our top choices for Upper Riviera hotels

1. El Encanto Santa Barbara

Upper Riviera

Dylan

includes taxes & fees

1 Sept - 2 Sept

2. Motel 6 Santa Barbara, CA - Beach

East Beach, 3.2 km from Upper Riviera

Ismael Vasquez

includes taxes & fees

1 Sept - 2 Sept

3. The Inn at East Beach

East Beach, 3.3 km from Upper Riviera

Patrick

includes taxes & fees

2 Sept - 3 Sept

Desk, laptop workspace, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board

4. Avania Inn of Santa Barbara

West Beach, 3.5 km from Upper Riviera

Martin

includes taxes & fees

1 Sept - 2 Sept

5. Casa Riviera

Laguna, 2 km from Upper Riviera

Monica

includes taxes & fees

31 Aug - 1 Sept

6. Pacific Crest Hotel Santa Barbara

East Beach, 3.1 km from Upper Riviera

Victoria

includes taxes & fees

17 Aug - 18 Aug

7. Santa Barbara Inn

East Beach, 3.2 km from Upper Riviera

Mario

includes taxes & fees

3 Aug - 4 Aug

Premium bedding, laptop workspace, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board

8. Casa Jardin

Laguna, 1.8 km from Upper Riviera

Yessica

includes taxes & fees

10 Aug - 11 Aug

9. Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

East Beach, 3 km from Upper Riviera

McKenna

includes taxes & fees

31 Aug - 1 Sept

10. Casa Iglesia

Oak Park, 2.5 km from Upper Riviera

Rich

includes taxes & fees

31 Aug - 1 Sept

11. Lemon Tree Inn

North State, 3.1 km from Upper Riviera

michael

includes taxes & fees

2 Sept - 3 Sept

12. Beachside Inn

West Beach, 3.6 km from Upper Riviera

Adam

includes taxes & fees

23 Aug - 24 Aug

13. The Franciscan Hotel

West Beach, 3.4 km from Upper Riviera

Marcella

includes taxes & fees

2 Sept - 3 Sept

14. Villa Rosa Inn

West Beach, 3.2 km from Upper Riviera

Jose

includes taxes & fees

4 Aug - 5 Aug

15. Haley Hotel

Lower State, 2.6 km from Upper Riviera

Rey Jacob

includes taxes & fees

1 Sept - 2 Sept

16. Palmoro House

East Beach, 3.1 km from Upper Riviera

Tristan

includes taxes & fees

5 Aug - 6 Aug

17. La Playa Inn

West Beach, 3.5 km from Upper Riviera

darryl a

includes taxes & fees

2 Sept - 3 Sept

18. Sandpiper Lodge

North State, 4.3 km from Upper Riviera

Joe

includes taxes & fees

26 Aug - 27 Aug

19. Coast Village Inn - Santa Barbara

4.8 km from Upper Riviera

Inna

includes taxes & fees

31 Aug - 1 Sept

20. Mar Monte Hotel, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

East Beach, 3.3 km from Upper Riviera

Adolfo

includes taxes & fees

31 Aug - 1 Sept

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Where to stay in Upper Riviera

Find the best Upper Riviera areas for the activities you enjoy most.

A coastal town with a pier extending into the ocean, a beach, and a mix of residential and commercial buildings.

Santa Barbara Beach

Santa Barbara Beach is known for its stunning beaches, and you can see some sights area like Stearns Wharf and West Beach.

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A coastal beach with palm trees, a sandy shore, and a clear blue sky.

Montecito

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Montecito. A stop by Miramar Beach or Butterfly Beach might round out your trip.

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A coastal town with a prominent white building with a red roof, palm trees, and mountains in the background.

Downtown Santa Barbara

The pristine beaches and ample dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Downtown Santa Barbara. A stop by Presidio Santa Barbara or Arlington Theater might round out your trip.

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A marina with multiple boats docked, calm water, and a clear sky.

West Beach

If you're spending some time in West Beach, Santa Barbara Harbor and West Beach are top sights worth seeing.

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A beach with palm trees, a pier, and the ocean at sunset.

East Beach

East Beach is beloved for its stunning beaches. Take some time to explore sights in the area like Santa Barbara Zoo and East Beach.

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Top Upper Riviera Hotel Reviews

Avania Inn of Santa Barbara

8/10 Good

"Good hotel. We just stayed one night in our trip. We did not use the amenities."

Ramada by Wyndham Santa Barbara

8/10 Good

"The pond and ducks were a fun amenity but the rooms felt a little older/outdated. The air conditioner units in our two rooms were different and one worked better than the other. Be sure to request a room facing the pond. My family didn’t like the breakfast- they said the eggs and the sausages were not good. They also were very pushy about letting everyone know that they would be closing the breakfast soon, starting about 15 minutes before and then with many repeated reminders after that. One or two reminders would have been fine. But so many reminders made it feel a bit unwelcoming."

The Upham Hotel

10/10 Excellent

"Our stay at the Upham Hotel in Santa Barbara was nothing short of outstanding! From the moment we arrived until the time we checked out, every member of the staff made us feel genuinely welcomed. Their friendliness, professionalism, and attention to detail were simply incredible and truly elevated our entire experience. Our room was exceptionally spacious, beautifully maintained, and incredibly comfortable. The beds and pillows were among the most comfortable we've ever slept on, making for a wonderfully restful night's sleep after exploring Santa Barbara. The location couldn't have been more perfect. Everything we wanted to see and do was just a short walk or short-drive away, making it easy to enjoy the charm, shopping, restaurants, and beauty of downtown Santa Barbara without ever needing to drive. The in-house restaurant was an unforgettable experience. The food was absolutely delicious, and the service was nothing short of magical. Every meal felt special, with attentive staff who made us feel like honored guests. My wife and I absolutely fell in love with the Upham Hotel. It's one of those rare places that combines historic charm, exceptional comfort, amazing food, and world-class hospitality into an unforgettable stay. We left already talking about when we can come back. If you're looking for the perfect place to stay in Santa Barbara, look no further—you won't be disappointed. Highly, highly recommended!"

Hotels in Upper Riviera

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Our top choices for Upper Riviera hotels

1. El Encanto Santa Barbara

2. Motel 6 Santa Barbara, CA - Beach

3. The Inn at East Beach

4. Avania Inn of Santa Barbara

5. Casa Riviera

6. Pacific Crest Hotel Santa Barbara

7. Santa Barbara Inn

8. Casa Jardin

9. Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

10. Casa Iglesia

11. Lemon Tree Inn

12. Beachside Inn

13. The Franciscan Hotel

14. Villa Rosa Inn

15. Haley Hotel

16. Palmoro House

17. La Playa Inn

18. Sandpiper Lodge

19. Coast Village Inn - Santa Barbara

20. Mar Monte Hotel, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

Where to stay in Upper Riviera

Santa Barbara Beach

Montecito

Downtown Santa Barbara

West Beach

East Beach

Top Upper Riviera Hotel Reviews

Avania Inn of Santa Barbara

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