Before The Riviera Beach House became the stylish coastal hideaway it is today, the building was quietly making history on Santa Barbara’s iconic lower State Street as a place to welcome artists, beachgoers, and rail-riding adventurers alike. Since 1928, it has served as a modest inn, a cozy European-style hotel and most recently, the Hotel Indigo. Built in the Mediterranean Revival style that defines much of the city’s post-earthquake architecture, The Riviera Beach House’s evolution reflects the changing tides of Santa Barbara’s hospitality scene, shaped by its beachside location, and proximity to the trendy Funk Zone neighborhood and central train station.
Located at 121 State Street, the building has stood witness to nearly a century of local transformation. The Funk Zone was once part of Santa Barbara’s early Chinatown, with whispered legends of underground tunnels and opium dens swirling through the city’s lore. While these tales remain unverified, they add an air of mystery to the property’s past and paint a vivid picture of the neighborhood’s colorful roots.
In 2022, the historic building was completely reimagined and relaunched as the Riviera Beach House by hotelier Maya Mallick of the famed Culver Hotel in Los Angeles. Channeling her love of art and design, the renovation preserved the structure’s charm—whitewashed brick, cozy rooms, and sun‑filled patios—while layering in modern coastal elements and contemporary amenities, including an airy open-concept lobby, a second‑floor art gallery (in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara), a sundries pantry and creative programming.
More than just a hotel, the artful Riviera Beach House is a living example of the Funk Zone’s evolution as a creatively vibrant, walkable neighborhood that is conveniently located next to one of Santa Barbara’s most beautiful beaches.