Santa Barbara
The American Riviera, with its natural beauty, wonderful beaches, lack of nightlife, and unaffordable home prices is a great place to visit — provided one sets their expectations appropriately. This is a ‘locals’ perspective of the places to see and things to do. Enjoy!
Food
Convivo
901 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Serving delicious, upscale Italian fare, they have great pizzas and flatbreads, house made pasta, and wood-fired specialties. A great place for a celebratory dinner, they have beer, an excellent wine selection, and very good cocktails.
WEBSITE: https://www.convivorestaurant.com/
Dutch Garden
4203 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
A local standard for decades, Dutch Garden makes excellent German fare. Their schnitzels are excellent (try the Celeriac schnitzel for a tasty vegetarian take), as are their home-made sausages, and, really, all their food. Their foot-wide pretzel — served hot, with mustard butter — is a great appetizer to share, and don’t forget to get a side of gurkensalat! They also have an excellent selection of European beers, and a fun atmosphere.
Website: None
mesa burger
315 Meigs Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
The original Mesa Burger it is, unsurprisingly, up on the mesa. Good, creative burgers with tasty sides and a few beers and wine on tap.
WEBSITE: https://www.mesaburger.com/
mesa cafe
1972 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Great brunch spot to enjoy and vibe with the locals. Pick up this week’s of the Indy (The Independent, the weekly paper the locals read) and do the crossword while enjoying a leisurely brunch on the patio. Fair warning: it can get very busy on the weekends!
WEBSITE: https://www.mesacafesb.com/
Reunion kitchen and drink
1118 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Located on Santa Barbara’s beautiful East Beach, this restaurant boasts views of the water that are hard to beat. Considering its location, the food is reasonably priced while also being quite good. Their drinks are tasty, and it’s hard to beat the experience of sipping on a cocktail and watching the waves crash on the beach a few hundred feet away — not to mention the people watching opportunities it provides!
WEBSITE: https://www.reunionkitchen.net/santa-barbara
Third Window brewing co.
406 E Haley St #3, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
A spot visited by locals and out-of-towners alike, they serve excellent beer — brewed on-site — with a broad selection of styles (you’re likely to find multiple types of lagers, porters, and IPAs), they serve up the best smashburgers in town. They also have great pizzas, fries, and wings (which are smoked, given an interesting take and taste compared to what you might be used to). The wait to order can be a bit long, but the food is always worth the wait.
Website: https://www.thirdwindowbrewing.com/
Yellow Belly
2611 De La Vina St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
A favorite local joint with a good selection of great beers, solid food, and a fun, family-friendly vibe. They have a small play area for kids, good burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and apps. It’s not uncommon to find us here — with or without child — on a Friday night.
Website: https://www.yellowbellytap.com/
DRINK
The Good Lion
1212 State Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Serving great, seasonal cocktails in a small-but-mighty space down the street from the Arlington and next door to the Granada Theatre, it’s a great place to grab a drink and catch up or do a little people watching.
WEBSITE: https://www.goodlioncocktails.com/
Rodeo Room
231 W. Montecito Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Serving food as well, they have great cocktails and an equally good vibe. Plus, they’re open until midnight (which, in Santa Barbara, passes for late).
WEBSITE: https://www.rodeoroom.com/
Fun
The moxi
125 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation (MOXI) is great fun for all ages (though certainly aimed at children). It’s a discovery and exploration museum with a variety of interactive activities and exhibits. We go here about once a month just to get out of the house and do something fun!
WEBSITE: https://moxi.org/
Santa Barbara zoo
500 Ninos Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
The Santa Barbara Zoo is small but mighty! It has a great number of animals, exhibits, and activities. It’s great for a day visit, with or without kids!
WEBSITE: https://www.sbzoo.org/
santa barbara botanic garden
1212 Mission Canyon Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Tucked into the foothills above Santa Barbara, the Botanic Garden is a small oasis. It’s quiet and beautiful, and includes a creek, redwood grove, and a very fun ‘back country’ that is great for children, complete with a tire swing, miniature house, labyrinth, and numerous other interactive activities in and around the garden. Go for a peaceful getaway or some fun play!
WEBSITE: https://sbbotanicgarden.org/