Guidebook for Santa Barbara
Food Scene
They make everything from scratch. And they have a lovely courtyard. I prefer this restaurant for breakfast but they do lunch and dinner as well.
39 locals raden deze aan
Scarlett Begonia
21 W Victoria StThey make everything from scratch. And they have a lovely courtyard. I prefer this restaurant for breakfast but they do lunch and dinner as well.
They use locally sourced ingredients and have the best margarita I've ever had - a lime basil margarita. Sooooo good. And the food is delicious.
60 locals raden deze aan
Sama Sama Kitchen
1208 State StThey use locally sourced ingredients and have the best margarita I've ever had - a lime basil margarita. Sooooo good. And the food is delicious.
This is one of my favorite fine dining restaurants. Over 60 local wines by the glass. Local chef and owner too. Lovely courtyard seating yet this inside is also great. They have a room for groups of 10-20 where my husband and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner.
58 locals raden deze aan
bouchon Santa Barbara
9 West Victoria StreetThis is one of my favorite fine dining restaurants. Over 60 local wines by the glass. Local chef and owner too. Lovely courtyard seating yet this inside is also great. They have a room for groups of 10-20 where my husband and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner.
Great for breakfast, simple, order at the window and sit at picnic tables. Despite the casual atmosphere, the food is awesome and everything is made form scratch.
35 locals raden deze aan
The Shop Kitchen
730 N Milpas StGreat for breakfast, simple, order at the window and sit at picnic tables. Despite the casual atmosphere, the food is awesome and everything is made form scratch.
Great for breakfast or lunch. Don;t get confused with the other locations. The one in Montecito is nice but this one is better. Skip the one on State Street. And this one is also right next door to the courthouse. Go and check out the tower for the best view of Santa Barbara (free too). This restaurant is also in my favorite courtyard of SB. The Arcada. Gorgeous.
117 locals raden deze aan
Jeannine's Restaurant & Bakery
1253 Coast Village RdGreat for breakfast or lunch. Don;t get confused with the other locations. The one in Montecito is nice but this one is better. Skip the one on State Street. And this one is also right next door to the courthouse. Go and check out the tower for the best view of Santa Barbara (free too). This restaurant is also in my favorite courtyard of SB. The Arcada. Gorgeous.
The BEST chocolate croisants outside of Paris. Thatis of course because the owner is form France. There is another location on lower State Street across from the Arlington Theater (best Theater in town!) so if you want to go downtown then go tot hat location.
42 locals raden deze aan
Renauld's Bakery
1324 State StThe BEST chocolate croisants outside of Paris. Thatis of course because the owner is form France. There is another location on lower State Street across from the Arlington Theater (best Theater in town!) so if you want to go downtown then go tot hat location.
Best ice cream EVER! And this location is in the SB Public Market where there are several food stops including a lovely wine bar. There is another location in Montecito.
8 locals raden deze aan
Rori's Artisanal Creamery
38 W Victoria StBest ice cream EVER! And this location is in the SB Public Market where there are several food stops including a lovely wine bar. There is another location in Montecito.
Barbareño
205 W Canon Perdido StLocal fine dining yet also the best burger in town.
On the breakwater so a great spot for a walk before or after eating. Mostly seafood but one of the best burgers (and garden burgers) in town. Local favorite spot. The chowder and salad is a great budget option.
203 locals raden deze aan
Brophy Bros.
119 Harbor WayOn the breakwater so a great spot for a walk before or after eating. Mostly seafood but one of the best burgers (and garden burgers) in town. Local favorite spot. The chowder and salad is a great budget option.
Drinks & Nightlife
They have an outdoor courtyard with a fire place if you need to get some air, plus two dance areas with two different kinds of music playing.
18 locals raden deze aan
EOS Lounge
500 Anacapa StThey have an outdoor courtyard with a fire place if you need to get some air, plus two dance areas with two different kinds of music playing.
They do food there but it's just OK, but it is the best live music venue in town.
58 locals raden deze aan
SOhO Restaurant & Music Club
1221 State StThey do food there but it's just OK, but it is the best live music venue in town.
Indochine
434 State StSmaller club, gorgeous back courtyard with lovely statues.
This is a hotel and fine dining restaurant but the food is overpriced and horrible. HOWEVER, it is one of the best views of Santa Barbara and they make great coctails. Go here for drinks before dinner.
45 locals raden deze aan
El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara
800 Alvarado PlThis is a hotel and fine dining restaurant but the food is overpriced and horrible. HOWEVER, it is one of the best views of Santa Barbara and they make great coctails. Go here for drinks before dinner.
Sightseeing
Just over the hill into the Valley, Los Olivos is mostly a wine tasting town. Small spot you can walk around on foot to at least 10 different tasting rooms. And just a short Uber ride away (15-20 minutes I think) so you can skip the driving and enjoy the wine.
59 locals raden deze aan
Los Olivos
Just over the hill into the Valley, Los Olivos is mostly a wine tasting town. Small spot you can walk around on foot to at least 10 different tasting rooms. And just a short Uber ride away (15-20 minutes I think) so you can skip the driving and enjoy the wine.
Best view of all of SB. A secret spot really. Park your car and walk down to the house. It is high enough up that you can see all of Santa Barbara and close enough to see it all too.
31 locals raden deze aan
Franceschi Park
1510 Franceschi RdBest view of all of SB. A secret spot really. Park your car and walk down to the house. It is high enough up that you can see all of Santa Barbara and close enough to see it all too.
Arts & Culture
They also have a great shop and cafe too.
28 locals raden deze aan
Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara
653 Paseo NuevoThey also have a great shop and cafe too.
You may want to check out the SB calendar of events.... http://santabarbaraca.com/plan-your-trip/calendar-of-events/?gclid=CPrRgMy2tMwCFUlufgodd_4KfQ
46 locals raden deze aan
Santa Barbara Downtown
You may want to check out the SB calendar of events.... http://santabarbaraca.com/plan-your-trip/calendar-of-events/?gclid=CPrRgMy2tMwCFUlufgodd_4KfQ
If you happen to be visiting for the 1st Thursday of the month, a lot of galleries in SB participate in 1st Thursdays. A very social setting where people walk from gallery to galley. http://www.downtownsb.org/events/1st-thursday
Downtown Organization
27-B E De La Guerra StIf you happen to be visiting for the 1st Thursday of the month, a lot of galleries in SB participate in 1st Thursdays. A very social setting where people walk from gallery to galley. http://www.downtownsb.org/events/1st-thursday
Shopping
Gorgeous outdoor mall with a Nordstrums, Macy's and many other great shops. It's right downtown so you can stroll State St before or after.
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Paseo Nuevo
651 Paseo NuevoGorgeous outdoor mall with a Nordstrums, Macy's and many other great shops. It's right downtown so you can stroll State St before or after.
Best bathing suits, lingerie, and pajama store in town! Can be expensive, but don't miss their sale baskets, pop a seat in the comfy chair and find your treasure!
Tropical Affair A
12 E Cota StBest bathing suits, lingerie, and pajama store in town! Can be expensive, but don't miss their sale baskets, pop a seat in the comfy chair and find your treasure!
Parks & Nature
Very small park. Only one parking spot. It is close to our house. It is a small cave with Native American paintings on the walls. A quick but special stop.
Painted Cave
Very small park. Only one parking spot. It is close to our house. It is a small cave with Native American paintings on the walls. A quick but special stop.
Mission Rose Garden
420 Plaza RubioGreat place for a picnic!
Great spot in town for a picnic. Pond, ducks, flowers. Just gorgeous.
35 locals raden deze aan
Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens
Alice Keck Park Memorial GardensGreat spot in town for a picnic. Pond, ducks, flowers. Just gorgeous.
Essentials
Pretty close to our house - just at the bottom of the hill.
94 locals raden deze aan
Whole Foods Market
3761 State StPretty close to our house - just at the bottom of the hill.
Santa Barbara has Farmer's Market 6 days a week. My favorites are Tuesday 430-7pm (hours change depending on the season so be sure to check online before you go). Also Saturday 830-1230 just off of State Street on Anacapa. They also have one in Montecito, Solvang, Goleta. Even if you do not have shopping to do, going for the people watching and a flavor of the community is a lovely walk through town.
56 locals raden deze aan
Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market
232 Anacapa StSanta Barbara has Farmer's Market 6 days a week. My favorites are Tuesday 430-7pm (hours change depending on the season so be sure to check online before you go). Also Saturday 830-1230 just off of State Street on Anacapa. They also have one in Montecito, Solvang, Goleta. Even if you do not have shopping to do, going for the people watching and a flavor of the community is a lovely walk through town.