I have been visiting Santa Barbara a few times a year for awhile now and each time I fall more in love with it. I dare say that I even feel like a “local” when I visit. My husband and I got married in Santa Barbara a few years ago and since we had a small wedding we turned it into a three day vacation with our best friends. Basically, I adore this place. So here is my travel guide to a place that feels like home at this point.
Santa Barbara Travel Guide
Eating
Montecito
Lucky’s Montecito
Absolutely my first stop when I arrive into Santa Barbara. Lucky’s is located in Montecito, a small community about 2 miles from downtown Santa Barbara. The vibe is relaxed, yet refined and polished. The menu is steak house with a nice selection of local seafood. Really you cannot go wrong with anything at Lucky’s. Plus, it is a fantastic place to spot local Montecito celebrity residents. I have never gone and not seen at least a few big names sitting next to me. Tip: If you are a martini fan they serve the best ones I have ever encountered.
Bettina Montecito
While Bettina labels itself as a pizza restaurant it is sooo much more than that. Everything is made in a wood fire oven which results in a meal that transports you directly to Italy. The cocktails are made with hard to procure liquors, but they are not fussy and overdone. The wine menu is incredibly interesting and very, very reasonably priced. Bettina is the type of place where when the meal ends you just want to start all over because the idea of leaving this amazing spot sorta breaks your heart.
Santa Barbara
The Lark
I love restaurants that are constantly reinventing their menu and procuring their ingredients from local farms. The food at The Lark is always incredibly fresh and interesting, a duo that I love and respect. Their cocktail menu changes seasonally as well which I rarely see today. In terms of the wine list they have a great selection of Santa Barbara County wines as well as wines from regions that are rarely represented. Most recently I had a Chardonnay from Jura I have only read about before and I was delighted to see I could finally try it.
Santa Barbara Public Market
Located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara this indoor market has a variety of food stalls and a tap house. My go-to is Corazon Cocina for the different types of fresh ceviche. The building the market is housed in has a gorgeous courtyard covered in bougainvillea where you can sit and truly feel the Santa Barbara vibes.
Helena Avenue Bakery
My go-to breakfast and coffee spot when I am in town. It shares a space with the Santa Barbara Wine Collective so you can drink your coffee and look at wine at the same time, dream come true. The avocado toast is made with fresh pea tendrils, radishes and their delicious sourdough bread. The bakery also offers lunch which is equally delicious. Tip: Get there before 9 am to have the true local experience as it is where most residents stop to get their coffee.
Drinking
Santa Barbara Wine Collective
Located in the same space as Helena Avenue Bakery this shop represents mainly local wine producers. They have an incredible selection of female wine makers of Santa Barbara County whose wine is hard to find outside their own tasting rooms.
Llama Dog
This tap room has a great selection of California beers that changes daily. It shares a space with The Nook which is my go-to for lunch. The seafood dishes are really great like Ahi Tuna Burger, Halibut Tostada, and Blackened Rockfish tacos.
Toma
Technically this is a sit down Italian restaurant, but I love to visit at 5 pm when it opens and get their famous olive oil infused martini and ahi tuna cones. It has a wonderful little bar that I sit at before heading off to dinner. Another plus are the delicious house fried olives that are put in front of you right when you sit down. Its location is also fantastic right on the beach front.
Shopping
Wendy Foster
There are a few locations of this fantastic shop that represents many California brands. Each location has a different vibe to it which I like because you can tell a lot of thought went into the cliental in each area. The Montecito location is my favorite. The stores very calming color scheme which makes you want to immediately want to dress in all the luxe casual pieces on display.
Whistle Club
If I could write a love letter to a store I would do it to the Whistle Club. Why? The selection is perfectly curated to represent brands that rarely get stocked outside New York. Brands like Rachel Comey, No.6, Closed, Lauren Manoogian, and Tibi. Also, their customer service is outstanding. I actually received a thank you email after my visit that was personalized to the conversation I had with them while shopping.
Blue Door
The vintage store to end all vintage stores. The space is large and decorated in a way that looks more like a very chic home than a vintage shop. The people who work here are incredibly friendly and helpful when you have questions about the pieces in the shop. You can tell there is a lot of love and time put into procuring the items they carry.
Love Worn
The best place for vintage denim and t-shirts. This place a very cool vibe that feels a bit like stepping into Penny Lanes closet. If you ever wanted to try on truly vintage levis coupled with a fringe suede coat this is the place to do it. Also, there is a local art space next door where you can often see the artist working on their pieces while you shop.
The Shopkeepers
There is a vintage meets new vibe here that I truly appreciate. You can find gorgeous leather coats alongside wide leg jeans from brands practicing clean denim production. The store has a woodsy, eucalyptus smell coming from the amazing candles they sell. Tip: Go when it opens at 10 am after getting coffee next door at Helena Avenue Bakery for a truly serene shopping experience.
I hope you love this town as much as I do!
