Best Places to Stay in Capitola Village
Capitola is one of those rare beach towns that feels charming without trying too hard. Colorful Venetian cottages, ocean views from almost everywhere, walkable restaurants, and zero cookie cutter corporate-chains. It's the kind of place that makes you wonder why you don't come to places like this more often.
If you're planning a solo getaway or a quiet weekend escape, picking where to stay in Capitola matters more than it does in most towns. Capitola Village is small, and being walkable to the beach and restaurants versus a mile away on 41st Ave is a different trip entirely. I've stayed at most of the properties below personally, so this is firsthand opinion. Nobody had to comb through TripAdvisor for it.
The Inn at Depot Hill
The Inn at Depot Hill used to actually be the train depot for Capitola from 1901 to 1950. It was then a private residence until 1990 when it was converted into a luxurious bed and breakfast. (The train no longer runs through Capitola, so no need to worry about that noise.)
The Inn has 13 guest rooms, each themed as a different “travel destination”. There is a common backyard with a fountain, living room filled with books and a fireplace, and a breakfast nook. Some of the guest rooms feature their own fireplace and private mini-patio.
There is a wine and cheese hour on select weekends, so check when you book if that matters to you. Breakfast is provided in your room, or you can eat in the breakfast nook. Breakfasts were good with eggs, fresh fruit, fresh croissant, coffee and OJ.
I stayed in the Portofino Room. Lots of Italy themed decor and coffee table books. There was a gas fireplace with no glass in the front, so the fire actually provided warmth, which I understand is the original point of fireplaces. I didn't use the outdoor bathtub, but I'm sure that would be fun in the right circumstances. The room has an indoor bathtub too, which was deep and comfortable (high praise from a bath aficionado like me). There is a desk, so that came in handy for remote work.
Though pricey (as are all of the hotels in Capitola Village), the Inn at Depot Hill is the one I recommend first, and I plan to work my way through more of the rooms. Next up would be Paris or Delft.
They've also added a new room since my stay, the Depot Suite, which trades the themed decor for a modern black and white look with a rain shower and heated bathroom floors. It's the one room that isn't pretending to be somewhere else.
By the way, the Inn at Depot Hill is a 4 minute walk from the beach.
Monarch Cove Inn
The Monarch Cove Inn is on Depot Hill, on a cliff at the edge of a quiet neighborhood. It's about a 10 minute walk to Capitola Beach, down 86 stairs, or a little bit longer on the road.
The main house was built in 1895, and was the vacation home of a couple of wealthy English families. In the 1920s it was sold and turned into lodging, “El Salto Resort”. Mary Pickford and Al Capone were among its guests. (Not at the same time, as far as anyone knows.) In 1991 the Resort was renamed “Monarch Cove Inn” in tribute to the Monarch butterflies which have a sanctuary on the estate. They are typically there between November and February to get some sun.
Today the Inn has 9 rooms and 2 cottages available. Dogs are allowed for an extra charge in the cottages only. They also host weddings and other events in a large tented deck overlooking the ocean.
The rooms and Inn are Victorian style. Very old, with antiques, including the bathrooms. I've stayed in a few rooms, and always found the beds very comfortable. The views are the best of any place I've stayed in Capitola, and the property is quiet in a way the Village never is. It feels like you've stepped back in time.
Despite the old timey feel, I did find the internet connection to work well, and have worked remotely there several times.
Breakfast is included and is brought to your room each morning. Fresh fruit, a couple of pastries and croissants, coffee and juice.
Capitola Venetian Hotel
The colorful “Venetian” houses are a symbol of Capitola, and you cannot sleep any closer to the beach and the Village without waking up in the sand. The first two rows of them are privately owned. Many of them are available as vacation rentals, but you have to contact them directly (many are on VRBO). The Capitola Venetian Hotel is comprised of the third row of houses back, the beige buildings. There is one unit at the front that is part of the hotel, see the photo with an arrow below.
Brutal honesty: the interiors are dated and no one is winning a design award here. Here's the thing though. You can roll out of bed and be on the sand in sixty seconds, and the lagoon view out the window does more for a room than new furniture ever could. If location is your top priority, this is the closest bed to the beach in Capitola, scuffed nightstands and all.
Capitola Beach Suites
Capitola Beach Suites are right behind the Venetians on the road leading to the Wharf. Their location and view are spectacular. A 1-minute walk to the restaurants and beach. Older furniture and not super updated inside, but if you don't mind that, the view and location are worth it.
(The Capitola Wharf itself reopened in late 2024 after a full rebuild from the 2023 storms, so the walk out over the water is back.)
Capitola Hotel
The Capitola Hotel is located on the Esplanade across the street from the restaurants. I must admit I haven't stayed here yet, but friends of the Sojourns With Sue blog have recommended it. Here's a look:
Other Lodging
There are several other hotels in Capitola, most are on 41st Ave which is about a mile away from Capitola beach. I haven't stayed at any of these yet, but here are the top rated ones.
- Best Western Plus Capitola By-the Sea Inn & Suites
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Santa Cruz – Capitola
- Quality Inn & Suites Capitola By The Sea
Where should I eat in Capitola?
See my post of the Best Restaurants in Capitola for my favorites.
What the heck should I do while I'm there?
Calm down, and check out my post on What to Do in Capitola for some ideas.
One Last Thing
I hope you enjoy Capitola as much as I do. If you've stayed somewhere here that I haven't gotten to yet, tell me about it. I consider lodging research a legitimate hobby. Thanks for reading.
