The Ultimate Santa Barbara Travel Guide

It’s finally time I sat down and spilled ALL of the details and recommendations for Santa Barbara. After spending several weeks (about 10 weeks) there in 2019, I have learned a great deal about this city and all that it has to offer.

Overall, Santa Barbara is a wonderful place to visit any time of year. The weather is mild (60-70 degrees), the sun is typically shining and there’s so many different things to do in the area. If you love wine, you’re in luck. Santa Barbara is home to some of the BEST wines in the entire world. If you don’t love wine, there’s still so many other things you can do. There’s beautiful beaches, incredible restaurants, historical Spanish missions and all kinds of activities on the water.

I hope you find this guide useful and informative when it comes to planning your trip to Santa Barbara.

Overview

The Lay of the Land

Santa Barbara is comprised of a few different areas or “neighborhoods” if you will. It’s good to have a general understanding of the area before visiting.

Downtown Santa Barbara

This is where most of the action happens. This is where you will find the majority of the restaurants, bars, shops and things to do. Downtown Santa Barbara is also very close to the waterfront and the beaches.

Downtown is comprised of a few different sections that people might talk about when you are here:

• The Funk Zone
  • This area has a high density of bars, tasting rooms and restaurants. It’s a great place to hang out any time of day. It is also within walking distance of the waterfront and beaches.
• State Street
  • This is the main street that runs through downtown and other parts of Santa Barbara.
• La Arcada Plaza
  • This is a cute little area off of State Street that has a few shops, bars and restaurants. It is located further north on State Street.

There’s also an area that people refer to as “Upper State Street.” This isn’t technically Downtown Santa Barbara, but there’s still a lot of shops and restaurants. This is where you will find the historic Santa Barbara Mission and a big outdoor shopping center known as “La Cumbre Plaza.“

Goleta

This is more of a “suburb” of Santa Barbara that is located directly west of Downtown Santa Barbara. This is more of a residential area, and it’s where more of the bigger name stores are located. You’ll find things like Costco, Home Depot and different fast food joints in this area.

It’s a great place to stay if you’re looking for a cheaper option. There are several Marriott and Hilton branded hotels in this area to choose from. Also, the Ritz Carlton is located in this area.

Montecito

This is a smaller community located directly east of Downtown Santa Barbara. Montecito has a different personality than the rest of Santa Barbara. It’s a very affluent area, and there are a lot of fancy shops and restaurants. It’s very neat and very clean. There are also several fancy resorts in the area. Basically, if you have a lot of money, you’ll fit right into Montecito!

Wine Country (Santa Rita Hills, Solvang, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos)

When some people travel to Santa Barbara, they immediately think of the wine country part of Santa Barbara. This “wine country” is actually located about an hour north of Downtown Santa Barbara.

I like to think of the Santa Barbara Wine Country as being comprised of many different areas including Lompoc, the Santa Rita Hills, Buellton, Solvang, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos and even Los Alamos. There’s TONS of different wineries to visit in all of these areas. It’s a great place to visit if you’re a wine lover.

Map of Recommendations

How to Get There

The easiest way to get to Santa Barbara is to fly into the Santa Barbara Airport. It can be a bit expensive to fly directly into Santa Barbara, so you could also fly into LAX and drive. The drive from Los Angeles is about 2-3 hours depending on traffic (95 miles).

Where to Stay

We typically stay in Goleta at the Marriott Courtyard since that is where Alex stays for work. This is a 15-20 minute drive to Downtown Santa Barbara. If you are looking for a cheaper option for lodging in Santa Barbara, I would highly recommend staying in Goleta.

If you are looking to splurge and spend a little more money, check out some of the hotels listed below. The ones in the luxury section are pretty pricey, but they are all amazing.

Most of these hotels are located in Downtown Santa Barbara, but a few are not. The Ritz Carlton is actually closer to Goleta and the Rosewood Miramar Beach is in Montecito.

Luxury Hotels ($600+)

• Ritz Carlton Bacara
• Four Seasons
• Hotel Californian
• Rosewood Miramar Beach
• Belmond El Encanto

Middle of the Road ($200+)

• Hilton Santa Barbara
• Hotel Indigo
• Harbor View Inn
• Hyatt Centric Santa Barbara
• Kimpton Canary
• Hotel Milo

Where to Eat

Santa Barbara has an incredible food scene and there’s so much variety when it comes to the restaurants. You’ll find TONS of amazing seafood and sushi since it’s located right on the Pacific Ocean. You’ll also find incredible Mexican food throughout the area.

I’d say most restaurants are pretty casual in Santa Barbara, but there are a few options for fine dining and tasting menus. Overall, there’s something for everyone and something for whatever mood you’re in. You won’t go hungry!

My Forever Favorites

• Arigato Sushi (Location: Downtown Santa Barbara – State Street)
  • Favorite Thing(s) to Order: Bay City Roll, Su-Miso Albacore, Jalapeño Yellowtail
  • Tips: They don’t take reservations, so try to get there right when they open at 5:30 PM (if you want to get a good spot). They have plenty of seating inside and at the sushi bar. There is limited seating outside.
  • Drink Situation: It’s just beer, wine and sake.
• Bibi Ji (Location: Downtown Santa Barbara – State Street)
  • Favorite Thing(s) to Order: Crispy Cauliflower and Chana Masala
  • Tips: Try the tasting menu if you can and be sure to ask for wine pairings. They are super knowledgable when it comes to the wines and they will give you some really interesting varietals. The wine list is very creative and includes things you won’t find anywhere else. The food is delicious and and very filling!
  • Drink Situation: Beer and wine
• The Boathouse (Location: Hendry’s Beach)
  • Favorite Thing(s) to Order: Fresh Oysters and Pacific Seabass
  • Tips: If the weather is perfect and you want to watch the sunset, this is the place for you. This restaurant has the one of the best atmospheres in all of Santa Barbara. Be sure to make a reservation if you want to dine here for dinner. Everything on the menu is delicious and the seafood is extremely fresh.
  • Drink Situation: Cocktails, beer and wine.
• The Lark (Location: Downtown Santa Barbara – The Funk Zone)
  • Favorite Thing(s) to Order: Brussel Sprouts and Roasted Chicken
  • Tips: Make a reservation, as this place is always packed. The menu is meant to be shared amongst the table versus ordering individual entrees. Everything is delicious, and the menu changes seasonally. The ingredients are always fresh. Be sure to try some of the complimentary popcorn!
  • Drink Situation: Cocktails, beer and wine.
• Santo Mezcal (Location: Downtown Santa Barbara – The Funk Zone)
  • Favorite Thing(s) to Order: Enchiladas Verdes, Ceviche Verde
  • Tips: This is a popular Mexican restaurant near The Funk Zone. If it’s a nice day, I would try to sit outside and people watch. It’s close to the ocean, so there’s always a lot of people walking around. I also recommend getting one of the XL margaritas. They are delicious!
  • Drink Situation: Cocktails, beer and wine.
• Sushi Bar Montecito (Location: Montecito)
  • Favorite Thing(s) to Order: You don’t order! It’s an Omakase style menu and you will get 17 courses.
  • Tips: This restaurant only seats 10 people at a time and you must have a reservation. They have a couple different seatings each night. I would suggest doing one of the beverage pairings. They do a sake tasting, a wine tasting and a house tasting that has a little bit of everything. You can also order drinks a la carte.
  • Drink Situation: Cocktails, beer, wine and sake

The Best Atmosphere

• The Boathouse (Hendry’s Beach)
• The Lark (Funk Zone)
• Bluewater Grill (Waterfront Downtown)
• Santo Mezcal (Funk Zone)
• Bouchon (State Street)

Lunch Spots

• Corazon Cocina (Public Market)
• Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar (Public Market)
• Los Agaves (Various Locations)
• Santo Mezcal (Funk Zone)
• La Super-Rica (Downtown)
• Santa Barbara Shellfish Company (Stearns Wharf)
• Anywhere in the Santa Barbara Public Market (Public Market)

Dinner Spots

• Seafood:
  • The Boathouse
  • Bouchon
  • Bluewater Grill
• American:
  • The Lark
  • Bouchon
  • The Black Sheep
  • Jane Restaurant
  • Finch & Fork
• Mexican:
  • Santo Mezcal
  • Corazon Cocina
  • Los Agaves
  • Flor de Maiz
  • La Super-Rica
  • Los Arroyos
• Sushi:
  • Arigato Sushi
  • Sushi Bar Montecito
• Indian:
  • Bibi Ji
• Italian:
  • Olio Crudo Bar
  • Olio e Limone
  • Olio Pizzeria
  • Toma

Ice Cream

• Rori’s (Public Market)
• McConnell’s (Various Locations)

Coffee Shops

• Caje Coffee Roasters
• Handlebar Coffee Roasters
• Dune Coffee Roasters

Where to Drink

Santa Barbara is one of the best places to visit if you love fun cocktail bars and good wine. There’s so many amazing places to check out and everything is so close together. Every single cocktail bar we’ve visited has an amazing atmosphere and the bartenders make incredible drinks.

If you think the cocktail bars are awesome, just wait till you check out some of the wineries. Santa Barbara is most known for their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but they can plant almost any varietal. The weather is extremely cool on the coast, but the temperature typically increases one degree for each mile traveled inland.

Cocktail Bars

• The Pearl Social*
  • Overview: This is a newer bar in Santa Barbara in The Funk Zone and it’s adorable. It’s technically attached to The Lark, so stop in if you’re over there for dinner.
  • Why I Love It: They have live music, and the atmosphere is amazing.
• The Good Lion
  • Overview: This is a fun little bar on State Street across from Arigato Sushi. If you have to wait for a table at Arigato, I’d stop in here for a quick drink.
  • Why I Love It: The drinks have always been great, and they serve a complimentary punch during happy hour.
• Test Pilot
  • Overview: This is another fun bar in The Funk Zone that has more of a Tiki Bar vibe. They can make you just about any drink you want, but a lot of the drinks on the menu are rum based. Be sure to get a picture in the egg chair if you go.
  • Why I Love It: They have a great atmosphere and it’s in a great location.
• Lab Social*
  • Overview: This is a speakeasy bar in Santa Barbara, and it’s actually a coffee shop during the day. After a certain time, they close the front door and you have to find your way in through the back. They serve up delicious cocktails in addition to lite bites.
  • Why I Love It: It’s very unique, and I like that it’s a little off the beaten path.
• Glass House Cocktail Garden
  • Overview: This cocktail bar is all outside, but it is covered. You walk in, make yourself comfortable on one of the couches and a waitress will come take your order. The cocktails are super unique and have interesting names. They do have a happy hour and you can actually bring in outside food!
  • Why I Love It: I think it’s one of the cutest cocktail bars in Santa Barbara and the drinks are amazing.

*Serves Food

Downtown Wineries

• Au Bon Climat (Presidio)
  • If you love Pinot Noir, you HAVE to check this place out. It is my favorite winery in all of Santa Barbara. Jim Clendenen really helped put Santa Barbara County on the map. It’s one of the most respected wineries in Santa Barbara and all over the world.
  • Tasting Fee: $15
• Sanford (La Arcada)
  • This is another great one if you love Pinot Noir. It’s some of my favorite Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara. They were one of the first pioneers for planting vineyards in Santa Barbara. Another classic Santa Barbara winery that is a must visit.
  • Tasting Fee: $20
• Whitcraft (Midtown)
  • If you’re looking for something a little different and a little funky, you have to try Whitcraft Winery. Their Pinot Noir is much lighter and lower in alcohol than a lot of the other wineries in Santa Barbara County. I love what they are doing, and I love how they aren’t afraid to experiment.
  • Tasting Fee: $15
• Jamie Slone (Presidio)
  • This winery makes a good variety of wines and produces wine from a lot of varietals you don’t typically see. I really liked their Bordeaux Blend in addition to some white varietals like the Albariño.
  • Tasting Fee: $20
• Grassini (Presidio)
  • This winery makes heavier wines than what you typically see in Santa Barbara since the grapes are coming from the Happy Canyon area. It is much warmer over there, so they can make a lot of bigger and bolder wines like a Cabernet Sauvignon.
  • Tasting Fee: $10-$25
• Happy Canyon (Presidio)
  • Similar to Grassini, Happy Canyon is making a lot of bigger and bolder varietals due to the location of the vineyards. They have a beautiful tasting room in Downtown Santa Barbara with a polo theme.
  • Tasting Fee: $15
• Santa Barbara Winery (Funk Zone)
  • This was the first winery in Santa Barbara, and it’s a fun place to visit in The Funk Zone. I didn’t love the wines, but they weren’t bad. The location is great, but the wines didn’t stand out as much as some of the other wineries.
  • Tasting Fee: $15
• The Valley Project (Funk Zone)
  • This is one of the cutest tasting rooms in Downtown Santa Barbara! They have a huge mural with all of the different AVAs of Santa Barbara County. It’s a great way to learn more about the Santa Barbara wine region and all the different varietals they can grow. They have quite the variety of wines to try since they produce wines from all over Santa Barbara.
  • Tasting Fee: $15
• Deep Sea (Stearns Wharf)
  • If you want to enjoy a wine tasting right on the ocean, this is the place for you. The tasting room is located right on Stearns Wharf so you’ll have an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean.
  • Tasting Fee: $18
• Pali Wine Company (Funk Zone)
  • This is a neat place to check out in The Funk Zone. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and they offer wines by the glass in addition to a tasting flight. This winery has a huge variety, so if you’re looking for something more than Pinot Noir, this might be the place for you.
  • Tasting Fee: $15
• Melville (Funk Zone)
  • Melville produces several amazing wines, but the ones that stood out the most were the Pinot Noir and Syrah. They have a beautiful tasting room downtown, and they also serve a couple lite bites if you’re hungry.
  • Tasting Fee: $15
• Folded Hills (Montecito)
  • If you’re over in the Montecito area, be sure to check out Folded Hills. They make several different varietals, but I loved their Grenache the most. Interestingly enough, this winery is owned by a member of the Anheuser-Busch family.
  • Tasting Fee: $20

Breweries

• Figueroa Mountain Brewing (Funk Zone)
  • This brewery has several locations, but the one I am referencing in this guide is the one located in The Funk Zone. They have several beers to choose from and you can order food. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. Their patio is a great place to sit and soak in the sunshine.
• The Garden (Public Market)
  • This technically isn’t a brewery because they don’t make their own beer, but they have several different beers to choose from on draft. I love the atmosphere here, and it’s a great place to watch a sporting event. They also serve food, so it could be a great option for lunch or dinner.
• Institution Ale Company (State Street)
  • This is a fun brewery located downtown that is known for their IPA and an American Brown Ale. They have both indoor and outdoor seating options. They also have larger tables, so this could be a great option if you come with a bigger group. For food, they have several different pizzas and salads to choose from.

Things to Do

Wine Tasting

As you can see from above, there is no shortage of wine in Santa Barbara. Wine tasting is one of the most popular things to do in the area, so be sure to check out a tasting room or two while you’re here. There’s plenty of tasting rooms in Downtown Santa Barbara, but you can also venture out to the official “wine country” if you’d rather see vineyards and have a more in-depth experience.

It’s about 45 minutes to an hour drive to Solvang/Santa Ynez from Downtown Santa Barbara. This is a great area to visit if you want to experience a wine tasting at an actual vineyard.

Below is a list of some other areas I would check out if you have additional time:

• Lompoc Wine Ghetto
• Santa Rita Hills
• Los Olivos
• Solvang (Danish Village)
• Santa Ynez
• Los Alamos

Sailing

If you’re visiting during the summer months, I’d recommend a sunset sail. This is one of the prettiest times on the water, and it can be a little calmer. You could probably go sailing any time of year, but it would be a little chilly during the winter months. Either way, be sure to bring a jacket because it cools off at night regardless of the season.

Here are some companies to check out if you’re interesting in sailing:

• Sunset Kidd
• Santa Barbara Sailing
• Celebration Cruises

Shopping

If you’re in the mood to shop, I would suggest checking out Paseo Nuevo. This is an outdoor shopping mall right off State Street in Downtown Santa Barbara. There’s tons of different stores and restaurants located throughout the mall.

In addition to Paseo Nuevo, there’s more shopping all along State Street. There’s tons of local boutiques and vintage shops in this area.

Santa Barbara Zoo

I’ve personally never been to the Santa Barbara Zoo, but I’ve heard good things. This would be a great family activity if you are traveling to Santa Barbara with kids! The weather is nice most of the time, so this would be a great activity if you want to walk around and see some animals.

Tickets are $20 for adults (13+) and $12 for children (2-12).

Missions

If you’re into history, be sure to check out the Old Mission Santa Barbara. It was founded in 1786 by the Spanish Franciscans, and it’s still an active parish church today. It’s a beautiful building and they offer self-guided tours daily. There are also different events that take place here throughout the year like Old Spanish Days.

Hiking

There’s tons of great hiking trails throughout Santa Barbara, so if you’re more of the outdoorsy type of traveler, this would be a good option for you. We have hiked parts of the San Ysidro Trail at sunrise, and it’s beautiful. There’s several options when hiking this trail, and it’s fairly easy to find.

Inspiration Point is another popular hiking trail in Santa Barbara. For a full list of different trails throughout Santa Barbara, check out this post linked here.

Stearns Wharf

Even though it can be a little touristy, Stearns Wharf is a great place to check out. It’s filled with TONS of shops and restaurants. It’s also a great place to observe boats on the water.

I’d recommend checking out the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company and the Deep Sea Tasting Room.

Beaches

There’s no shortage of beaches in Santa Barbara, so be sure to check one out while you’re visiting. One of the prettiest and most popular beaches is Butterfly Beach. Another popular one among locals is Arroyo Burro Beach, otherwise known as “Hendry’s Beach.” It’s much quieter than a lot of the other beaches, and you can take your dog here without a leash.

Some of the most popular and most visited beaches in Santa Barbara are West Beach and East Beach. These beaches are right in Downtown Santa Barbara near all of the action. There’s plenty of places to play beach volleyball and other sports. You can also check out Stearns Wharf if you are visiting one of these two beaches.

Polo Match

Depending on the time of year you visit, you might be able to watch a Polo Match at the Polo & Racquet Club. We bought tickets for a Polo Match on a Sunday afternoon, and it was amazing. It was so fun to watch the game and enjoy a cocktail or two.

I thought it was really nice because they had servers that come and take your order in the stands. You don’t even have to get up! Also, at half-time, you’ll be able to go out to the field and stomp the divots. This is tradition when it comes to polo. They also serve a complimentary glass of sparkling wine if you help with the divot stomp! It’s hard work.

If you’re looking for more information on Santa Barbara and the surrounding area, be sure to check out some of my other blog posts linked below.

• Wine Country Weekend – Santa Ynez Valley
• The Best Instagram Locations in Santa Barbara
• The Best Restaurants in Santa Barbara
• A Day of Wine Tasting in Los Olivos
• Wine Country Weekend – Sta. Rita Hills & Santa Maria

Have y’all ever been to Santa Barbara? If so, what are some of your favorite things to do in the area?