"Best of Santa Barbara"
Our Favorite Restaurants
Mesa Cafe is a casual neighborhood eatery located less than two miles away and is a longtime favorite of our family. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they are family friendly and tend to have something for just about everyone. (Their burger is amazing!)
43 locals recommend
Mesa Cafe & Bar
1972 Cliff DrMesa Cafe is a casual neighborhood eatery located less than two miles away and is a longtime favorite of our family. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they are family friendly and tend to have something for just about everyone. (Their burger is amazing!)
Mesa Verde offers exceptional vegan/vegetarian fare and friendly service in a casual yet elegant environment. They have a large heated patio in addition to their indoor seating. They are conveniently located on Cliff Dr. about two miles from the house.
59 locals recommend
Mesa Verde Restaurant
1919 Cliff DrMesa Verde offers exceptional vegan/vegetarian fare and friendly service in a casual yet elegant environment. They have a large heated patio in addition to their indoor seating. They are conveniently located on Cliff Dr. about two miles from the house.
Family owned and operated since before our family moved to Santa Barbara in 1990, The Rose Cafe is a Mesa neighborhood staple. Their service is famously friendly, their salsas are wonderful, and they are known for their exceptional verde sauce!
35 locals recommend
Rose Cafe
1816 Cliff DrFamily owned and operated since before our family moved to Santa Barbara in 1990, The Rose Cafe is a Mesa neighborhood staple. Their service is famously friendly, their salsas are wonderful, and they are known for their exceptional verde sauce!
Owned and operated by family friends, the Black Sheep would have made our list of favorite restaurants even had we not had this personal connection! With a more adventurous menu than most Santa Barbara eateries, an excellent beer, wine and cocktail selection, and an incredibly passionate and knowledgeable staff, The Black Sheep never fails to disappoint. Reservations recommended Thursday through Saturday.
13 locals recommend
Black Sheep Restaurant
18 East Cota StreetOwned and operated by family friends, the Black Sheep would have made our list of favorite restaurants even had we not had this personal connection! With a more adventurous menu than most Santa Barbara eateries, an excellent beer, wine and cocktail selection, and an incredibly passionate and knowledgeable staff, The Black Sheep never fails to disappoint. Reservations recommended Thursday through Saturday.
Arguably Santa Barbara's best sushi restaurant. Phenomenal Japanese cuisine in an elegant setting.
150 locals recommend
Arigato Sushi
1225 State StArguably Santa Barbara's best sushi restaurant. Phenomenal Japanese cuisine in an elegant setting.
Chef Weston Richards' consistently delicious and creative cooking is, for us, the main draw to this high-end wine bar and merchant. Their wine shop has an excellent selection of regional and European wines at a variety of price points and their by the glass list, while pricey, is well curated.
15 locals recommend
Les Marchands Restaurant & Wine Shop
131 Anacapa StChef Weston Richards' consistently delicious and creative cooking is, for us, the main draw to this high-end wine bar and merchant. Their wine shop has an excellent selection of regional and European wines at a variety of price points and their by the glass list, while pricey, is well curated.
The best coffee shop in town, with delicious breakfast and lunch fare.
97 locals recommend
Handlebar Coffee Roasters
128 E Canon Perdido StThe best coffee shop in town, with delicious breakfast and lunch fare.
Loquita, the Lark's Spanish-inspired sister restaurant, offers a fun, shared plate casual fine dining experience. Like The Lark, the ambiance is beautiful and the service is on point.
64 locals recommend
Loquita Santa Barbara
202 State StLoquita, the Lark's Spanish-inspired sister restaurant, offers a fun, shared plate casual fine dining experience. Like The Lark, the ambiance is beautiful and the service is on point.
The menu at The Lark reads like a love letter to the Central Coast, featuring primarily locally and regionally sourced farm-to-table fare in a casual fine dining environment. Reservations recommended Thursday through Saturday; they also have a large communal table available for walk-ins.
171 locals recommend
The Lark Santa Barbara
131 Anacapa StThe menu at The Lark reads like a love letter to the Central Coast, featuring primarily locally and regionally sourced farm-to-table fare in a casual fine dining environment. Reservations recommended Thursday through Saturday; they also have a large communal table available for walk-ins.
Two side-by-side sister eateries. The elegant, romantic ristorante offers more refined Italian cuisine, and the pizzeria next door offers wood-fired pizzas and delicious salads and appetizers in a boisterous, casual yet stylish setting.
41 locals recommend
Olio e Limone Ristorante & Olio Pizzeria
11 W Victoria StTwo side-by-side sister eateries. The elegant, romantic ristorante offers more refined Italian cuisine, and the pizzeria next door offers wood-fired pizzas and delicious salads and appetizers in a boisterous, casual yet stylish setting.
Right around the corner from the Olio Ristorante and Pizzeria is the small, beautifully designed crudo bar, perfect for a romantic date night.
Olio Crudo Bar
11 W Victoria StRight around the corner from the Olio Ristorante and Pizzeria is the small, beautifully designed crudo bar, perfect for a romantic date night.
East Beach Tacos
226 S Milpas StOur go-to taco joint!! We love this place!!
The best bakery in Santa Barbara, Renaud's boasts Parisian-quality baked goods and a variety of simple and delicious breakfast and lunch options.
42 locals recommend
Renauld's Bakery
1324 State StThe best bakery in Santa Barbara, Renaud's boasts Parisian-quality baked goods and a variety of simple and delicious breakfast and lunch options.
Test Pilot
211 Helena AveExcellent cocktails!!!
Best seafood in town, housed in a little beach shack at the end of Stearn's Wharf in downtown Santa Barbara.
32 locals recommend
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company
230 Stearns WharfBest seafood in town, housed in a little beach shack at the end of Stearn's Wharf in downtown Santa Barbara.
Open Wednesday through Saturday, The Dutch is a hidden gem featuring made-from-scratch German food and the best beer list in town. Run by a husband and wife team (Ken is the chef and Lori is the sous chef), it is beloved by locals and has no shortage of quirky charm. They don't take reservations and they often take their last walk-ins for dinner at 7:30. Don't go if you're in a hurry or too hungry to wait a bit for your food, as it is made from scratch and the service, while exceptionally friendly, is not reliably fast; do go if you want a memorable, old school Santa Barbara dining experience you can't get anywhere else.
Dutch Garden Restaurant
4203 State StOpen Wednesday through Saturday, The Dutch is a hidden gem featuring made-from-scratch German food and the best beer list in town. Run by a husband and wife team (Ken is the chef and Lori is the sous chef), it is beloved by locals and has no shortage of quirky charm. They don't take reservations and they often take their last walk-ins for dinner at 7:30. Don't go if you're in a hurry or too hungry to wait a bit for your food, as it is made from scratch and the service, while exceptionally friendly, is not reliably fast; do go if you want a memorable, old school Santa Barbara dining experience you can't get anywhere else.
Less than half a mile down the road, the Boathouse is a perfect place to dine before or after a walk on the beach. It is also a favorite of locals for weekend brunch!
223 locals recommend
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach
2981 Cliff DrLess than half a mile down the road, the Boathouse is a perfect place to dine before or after a walk on the beach. It is also a favorite of locals for weekend brunch!
If you're planning on exploring the Santa Ynez wine country at all, S.Y. Kitchen is an absolute must! The rustic Italian menu features some of the best food in the county, made with love and locally sourced ingredients, and their bar manager is hands-down the best mixologist on the Central Coast...if there is one place to skip the wine and go for a cocktail, this is it!
55 locals recommend
S.Y. Kitchen
1110 Faraday StIf you're planning on exploring the Santa Ynez wine country at all, S.Y. Kitchen is an absolute must! The rustic Italian menu features some of the best food in the county, made with love and locally sourced ingredients, and their bar manager is hands-down the best mixologist on the Central Coast...if there is one place to skip the wine and go for a cocktail, this is it!
If you're heading down Montecito way, Honor Bar is a great casual lunch and dinner spot with great cocktails.
77 locals recommend
Honor Bar
1255 Coast Village RdIf you're heading down Montecito way, Honor Bar is a great casual lunch and dinner spot with great cocktails.
The Monarch
1295 Coast Village RdCasual fine dining, another great Montecito option.
A classic Montecito steakhouse and a favorite of locals and local celebrities.
61 locals recommend
Lucky's
1279 Coast Village RdA classic Montecito steakhouse and a favorite of locals and local celebrities.
Cash only, counter-service authentic Mexican joint with a huge cult following, La Super-Rica is beloved by locals and visitors alike.
96 locals recommend
La Super-Rica Taqueria
622 N Milpas StCash only, counter-service authentic Mexican joint with a huge cult following, La Super-Rica is beloved by locals and visitors alike.
Sama Sama Kitchen
1208 State StAn homage to South East Asian street food. Great cocktails too!
Nearby Grocery and Convenience Stores
A Santa Barbara staple for more than three decades, Lazy Acres is a large health foods store two miles from the house. They have a full deli, salad bar, cafe and juice bar.
121 locals recommend
Lazy Acres Grocery
302 Meigs RdA Santa Barbara staple for more than three decades, Lazy Acres is a large health foods store two miles from the house. They have a full deli, salad bar, cafe and juice bar.
Mesa Liquors
1818 Cliff DrLiquor store with an impressive selection of wine, beer and spirits.
CVS Pharmacy
1282 Coast Village RdVons
2010 Cliff DrGrocery store in the Mesa Center.
Bars & Breweries
Classic Santa Barbara dive bar with a great selection of beer and wine, a pool table, a cozy patio and a rotating gallery featuring the work of local artists. Cash only.
16 locals recommend
Elsies Tavern
117 W De La Guerra StClassic Santa Barbara dive bar with a great selection of beer and wine, a pool table, a cozy patio and a rotating gallery featuring the work of local artists. Cash only.
Test Pilot
211 Helena AveExcellent cocktails in the Funk Zone!
The Pickle Room
122 East Canon Perdido StreetCocktails and comfort food.
Finch & Fork
31 W Carrillo StHotel bar and restaurant with excellent cocktails and great food.
Great beer selection with indoor and outdoor seating. In the same building with a number of other taprooms and food options.
37 locals recommend
Lama Dog Tap Room + Bottle Shop
116 Santa Barbara StGreat beer selection with indoor and outdoor seating. In the same building with a number of other taprooms and food options.
Adjacent to Llama Dog Tap Room, Topa Topa Brewing is a favorite among locals.
44 locals recommend
Topa Topa Brewing Co.
104 E Thompson BlvdAdjacent to Llama Dog Tap Room, Topa Topa Brewing is a favorite among locals.
Pure Order Brewing Company
410 N Quarantina StBrass Bear Brewing & Bistro
28 Anacapa StOne of the first breweries to open a taproom in the Funk Zone, Figueroa Mountain is also a live music venue.
84 locals recommend
Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. Santa Barbara
137 Anacapa StOne of the first breweries to open a taproom in the Funk Zone, Figueroa Mountain is also a live music venue.
The Good Lion
1212 State StIf you are a lover of classic cocktails, this is the place for you.
While also a restaurant, Joe's is best known for their famously stiff and expertly prepared cocktails.
84 locals recommend
Joe's Cafe
536 State StWhile also a restaurant, Joe's is best known for their famously stiff and expertly prepared cocktails.
Press Room
15 E Ortega StExcellent British style pub. A great place to catch soccer games!
Wildcat
15 W Ortega StSanta Barbara's favorite dance club and cocktail bar.
Outdoors
Less than a mile from the house, the Douglas Family Preserve is a beautiful place for a walk or a jog on a bluff overlooking the water. It's an unofficial dog park as well, so must love dogs!
81 locals recommend
Douglas Family Preserve
Less than a mile from the house, the Douglas Family Preserve is a beautiful place for a walk or a jog on a bluff overlooking the water. It's an unofficial dog park as well, so must love dogs!
Just down the hill from our house is Hendry's Beach, great for a stroll or a swim! If you're facing the ocean, go right if you'd like to avoid dogs, as the beach to the left is on off-leash dog friendly zone.
155 locals recommend
Hendrys Beach
Just down the hill from our house is Hendry's Beach, great for a stroll or a swim! If you're facing the ocean, go right if you'd like to avoid dogs, as the beach to the left is on off-leash dog friendly zone.
A favorite hiking spot, Inspiration Point is one of many beautiful trails in Santa Barbara. Check out www.santabarbarahikes.com for a complete list of trails including trail conditions!
46 locals recommend
Inspiration Point
A favorite hiking spot, Inspiration Point is one of many beautiful trails in Santa Barbara. Check out www.santabarbarahikes.com for a complete list of trails including trail conditions!
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a living museum dedicated to research, education and conservation of California native plants. Admission is $14 for adults and $8 for children under the age of 17.
136 locals recommend
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
1212 Mission Canyon RdThe Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a living museum dedicated to research, education and conservation of California native plants. Admission is $14 for adults and $8 for children under the age of 17.
A Santa Barbara treasure, Lotusland is a botanic garden home to over 3,000 different plants from around the world, scattered over 25 unique gardens on a 37 acre estate in a residential area of Montecito. Lotusland can be visited by reservation only. Tours are offered at 10AM and 1:30PM Wednesday through Saturday between February 15 and November 15.
Ganna Walska Lotusland
695 Ashley RdA Santa Barbara treasure, Lotusland is a botanic garden home to over 3,000 different plants from around the world, scattered over 25 unique gardens on a 37 acre estate in a residential area of Montecito. Lotusland can be visited by reservation only. Tours are offered at 10AM and 1:30PM Wednesday through Saturday between February 15 and November 15.
Santa Barbara Zoo station
A family favorite!
Museums
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
2559 Puesta Del SolSanta Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center
211 Stearns WharfSanta Barbara Museum of Art
1130 State StMOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation
125 State St