Guidebook for Santa Barbara

Gabrielle
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 recommandé par les habitants
Scarlett Begonia
21 W Victoria St
39 recommandé par les habitants
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.
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 recommandé par les habitants
Sama Sama Kitchen
1208 State St
60 recommandé par les habitants
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.
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 recommandé par les habitants
bouchon Santa Barbara
9 West Victoria Street
58 recommandé par les habitants
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.
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 recommandé par les habitants
The Shop Kitchen
730 N Milpas St
35 recommandé par les habitants
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.
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 recommandé par les habitants
Jeannine's Restaurant & Bakery
1253 Coast Village Rd
117 recommandé par les habitants
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.
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 recommandé par les habitants
Renauld's Bakery
1324 State St
42 recommandé par les habitants
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.
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 recommandé par les habitants
Rori's Artisanal Creamery
38 W Victoria St
8 recommandé par les habitants
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.
Local fine dining yet also the best burger in town.
31 recommandé par les habitants
Barbareño
205 W Canon Perdido St
31 recommandé par les habitants
Local 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 recommandé par les habitants
Brophy Bros.
119 Harbor Way
203 recommandé par les habitants
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.

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 recommandé par les habitants
EOS Lounge
500 Anacapa St
18 recommandé par les habitants
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.
They do food there but it's just OK, but it is the best live music venue in town.
58 recommandé par les habitants
SOhO Restaurant & Music Club
1221 State St
58 recommandé par les habitants
They do food there but it's just OK, but it is the best live music venue in town.
Smaller club, gorgeous back courtyard with lovely statues.
Indochine
434 State St
Smaller 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 recommandé par les habitants
El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara
800 Alvarado Pl
45 recommandé par les habitants
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.

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 recommandé par les habitants
Los Olivos
59 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Franceschi Park
1510 Franceschi Rd
31 recommandé par les habitants
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.

Arts & Culture

They also have a great shop and cafe too.
28 recommandé par les habitants
Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara
653 Paseo Nuevo
28 recommandé par les habitants
They 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 recommandé par les habitants
Santa Barbara Downtown
46 recommandé par les habitants
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 St
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

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.
112 recommandé par les habitants
Paseo Nuevo
651 Paseo Nuevo
112 recommandé par les habitants
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.
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 St
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!

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.
Great place for a picnic!
72 recommandé par les habitants
Mission Rose Garden
420 Plaza Rubio
72 recommandé par les habitants
Great place for a picnic!
Great spot in town for a picnic. Pond, ducks, flowers. Just gorgeous.
35 recommandé par les habitants
Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens
Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens
35 recommandé par les habitants
Great 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 recommandé par les habitants
Whole Foods Market
3761 State St
94 recommandé par les habitants
Pretty 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.
57 recommandé par les habitants
Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market
232 Anacapa St
57 recommandé par les habitants
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.