14 Best Hotels In & Around San Luis Obispo, California

Hotel Cerro

Hotel Cerro is a spectacular boutique hotel that combines luxuries with eco-friendly features and a convenient downtown location. It even includes Edible Gardens and a Green Wall on the open terrace level, growing its own herbs, fruit, vegetables, and microgreens that provide many of the ingredients for its impressive Brasserie SLO restaurant. The rooftop pool is a definite highlight, surrounded by lounge chairs and cabanas for relaxing with a fabulous view of the surrounding hills. Poolside service, including refreshing cocktails and light bites, is available too. There are a wide range of accommodation options, including beautiful and spacious loft suites with brick walls and exposed beams along with apartment-like residences with gourmet kitchens and fireplaces.

While the long list of amenities is impressive, the service is just as exceptional, guaranteed to make you feel at home, only better.

Granada Hotel & Bistro

Dating back to 1922, the Granada Hotel and Bistro is within walking distance of many shops, eateries, and attractions like Mission San Luis Obispo and Bubblegum Alley. A stylish, high-end property, it offers rooms with hardwood floors and redbrick walls, with the higher categories featuring fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling windows with city views. It offers complimentary loaner bikes, a spa, and restaurant along with frequent artist and music workshops.

Madonna Inn

If you don’t mind something just slightly outside of downtown, less than a five-minute drive away, the Madonna Inn offers unique accommodation in a turreted pink resort reminiscent of a castle. The rooms and suites are all unique with various themes, but all include luxurious bedding and pillow-top mattresses. Amenities include a heated infinity pool, two hot tubs, and a 45-foot-high waterfall. Guests can also enjoy indulgent treatments at the spa, working out in the fitness center, a game of tennis on the tennis courts, and multiple dining options.

San Luis Creek Lodge

Located within a short walking distance of downtown, this charming Tudor-style lodge offers romantic rooms with an English country-style feel that include four-poster beds, exposed wooden beams, whirlpool tubs, and fireplaces. Standards all feature large flat-screen TVs, DVD/CD players, mini-fridges, bathrobes, microwaves, and coffee makers with Starbucks coffee. While there isn’t a restaurant on site, there are multiple eateries on the same block and a complimentary breakfast is served in the breakfast room, which also offers tea and snacks. There are other freebies too, like DVD rentals and popcorn.

Apple Farm Inn

Located near San Luis Obispo Creek just a few minutes from the historic downtown area and the Mission, Apple Farm Inn welcomes guests with complimentary wine and cookies at check-in. There are a variety of uniquely styled guestrooms located in the Millhouse and Trellis Court motel including a suite with a living room and kitchenette. Some of the higher-end rooms feature fireplaces, four-poster beds, whirlpool tubs and creek views. Breakfast can be delivered to your room for an additional charge. The on-site Apple Farm Restaurant & Bakery offers breakfast, lunch and dinner focused on farm-to-table dishes. Other perks include free daily wine tastings, along with coffee, tea, cider and other treats available in the lobby throughout the day. There’s a year-round heated outdoor swimming pool, too.

Estero Inn, Morro Bay

A casual waterfront inn, Estero is an intimate boutique property with eight rooms, all of which come with views of the bay, fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, microwaves, mini-fridges, and Wi-Fi. Some include private decks so you can relax with a salty sea breeze. Look forward to panoramic ocean views, colorful sunsets and watching the abundant wildlife, which includes lots of sea otters, sea lions and seals. Further offshore, humpback and gray whales are frequently spotted. The property often features special packages too like the Stay and Play package that includes a complimentary bottle of champagne and a one-hour tandem kayak rental with any two-night stay between November 2021 and February 2022.

SeaCrest Pismo, Pismo Beach

Located right along the coast in Pismo Beach, this oceanfront hotel has long-been a favorite spot for those who want a prime view of the Pacific. Most rooms come with ocean views as the property sits on a 5-acre bluff. The retro-style rooms are bright with fun, vividly patterned walls and all come with patios or balconies, flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, microwaves and coffee makers. Suites even come with Wii games consoles. A complimentary continental breakfast, all-day coffee, cocoa and cookies are also provided, while the grounds include three hot tubs and a heated oceanfront pool. There are also terraces with fire pits, BBQ grills, umbrella tables, and direct beach access.

Cliffs Hotel and Spa, Pismo Beach

Perched atop a cliff above Shell Beach, this magnificent property provides direct beach access and a heated oceanfront pool. Enjoy views galore and an atmosphere that’s ideal for relaxing. The modern rooms include ocean-inspired décor, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, work stations and Italian marble bathrooms. Higher-end options come with balconies and fireplaces, and there are pet-friendly rooms too. Take relaxation up a notch at the spa, which offers body and facial treatments along with decadent massages. There’s also an on-site restaurant, Marisol, with a menu focused on locally sourced produced and seafood. It also hosts Sunday brunches, happy hour specials, and live music.

Avila Lighthouse Suites, Avila Beach

Located just steps from the beach that’s popular for sunbathing and swimming, this all-suite hotel offers both one- and two-room suites making it perfect for families, friends traveling together, and couples too. Every suite comes with a private balcony or patio, kitchenette, separate living room with a flat-screen TV, and a bathroom with a full-size tub as well as Bath and Body Works toiletries. Many feature gas fireplaces too. The property includes a pool, hot tub, and a spa, plus you’ll have easy access to several blocks of restaurants and shops within walking distance too.

Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa, Pismo Beach

Arguably the top property in Pismo Beach, this luxury resort sits within three buildings that were once condos. They now serve as one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and penthouse suites. All provide many of the comforts of home, including full kitchens, laundry facilities, living rooms, dining rooms, and even walk-in closets. Each one has a private patio or private terrace along with the features of an upscale resort like plasma flat-screen TVs and beds with high-thread-count linens. Some feature fireplaces or jetted tubs, too. While there isn’t direct beach access, just north of the property is a staircase that leads down to Shell Beach. There’s also a spa and fitness center hosting yoga classes, an infinity-edge pool, and special perks like free bike rentals, beach chairs, board games, and DVDs.

Allegretto Vineyard Resort, Paso Robles

At this Wine Country resort, modeled after the abbeys and monasteries of Italy and France, you’ll find all of the amenities typical of a luxury resort, such as a relaxing spa, fitness center, pool with full-service cabanas, room service, and an on-site restaurant serving seasonal Italian fare. Then there are the unexpected extras, like the massive courtyard (perfect for sipping coffee while reading a book), a sound labyrinth for finding a moment of Zen, bocce ball courts, and a wine tasting room featuring wines from The Allegretto’s own label.

The Trailer Pond at Alta Collina Winery, Paso Robles

For a very unique glamping escape, consider a stay in a vintage trailer that sits in the heart of a Paso Robles vineyard. The Trailer Pond at Alta Colina Winery features retro trailers that sit beside a pond surrounded by 130 acres of vineyards. The 1950s trailers are cozy and ideal for a romantic wine-loving couples’ stay with a ton of charm. They provide unmatched views of the Adelaida District as well as exclusive access to Alta Colina’s highly sought-after winery. Enjoy private tastings and tours without the need for transport.

SummerWood Winery Inn, Paso Robles

Located four miles outside of Paso Robles right in the middle of a vineyard, SummerWood Inn is part of SummerWood Winery. The farmhouse-style property offers an intimate stay with just nine rooms, each of which provide unobstructed views of the vineyard, fireplaces, pillow-top beds, and luxury bath products. Guests also enjoy made-to-order, farm-fresh breakfasts every morning, along with afternoon wine tastings and seasonal appetizers.

The Canyon Villa, Paso Robles

An award-winning inn, the Canyon Villa overlooks a sweeping vineyard-filled valley located on an 11-plus acre estate. The guest wing includes four luxurious guestrooms with patios or balconies, whirlpool tubs for two, freestanding showers, and fireplaces. Gourmet dining can be enjoyed in the Italianate dining room or al fresco on the terrace. In the afternoon, enjoy small plates and wine tasting.