Guidebook for Santa Barbara
Everything Else
Unique! A working winery with a cozy tasting room located within a barrel-vaulted production space. In the fall, that space fills up with grapes. Ask me for 2 for 1 coupons for the tastings.
414 N Salsipuedes St
414 North Salsipuedes StreetUnique! A working winery with a cozy tasting room located within a barrel-vaulted production space. In the fall, that space fills up with grapes. Ask me for 2 for 1 coupons for the tastings.
The best cheese shop in town. Incredible selection of fromage from all over. Owned by a young couple who saw a need in town, then created a stir. You can tote their cheeses to the wine tasting rooms.
825 Santa Barbara St
825 Santa Barbara StreetThe best cheese shop in town. Incredible selection of fromage from all over. Owned by a young couple who saw a need in town, then created a stir. You can tote their cheeses to the wine tasting rooms.
My favorite wine tasting room on this spur of the Urban Wine Trail. Hip interior. Wry events including old movies on the patio. Ask me for 2 for 1 coupons.
22 Anacapa St
22 Anacapa StreetMy favorite wine tasting room on this spur of the Urban Wine Trail. Hip interior. Wry events including old movies on the patio. Ask me for 2 for 1 coupons.
Wild fish! The "only local commercial fishermen's direct outlet to the public" in SB. Local, seasonal king salmon, oysters, mussels, ridgeback shrimp, halibut, black cod, rockfish, opah, uni...
117 Harbor Way
119 Harbor WayWild fish! The "only local commercial fishermen's direct outlet to the public" in SB. Local, seasonal king salmon, oysters, mussels, ridgeback shrimp, halibut, black cod, rockfish, opah, uni...
A microbrewery using as many locally grown ingredients as possible. Really good beer served in a cool tasting room structure where it's made.
16 habitants recommandent
Telegraph Brewing Company
418 N Salsipuedes StA microbrewery using as many locally grown ingredients as possible. Really good beer served in a cool tasting room structure where it's made.
Food Scene
An authentically vintage Italian place, it was built by its immigrant owner in 1937. Outside: a vine-trellised terrace overlooks the bocce court! Inside: locals' bar and snug wooden booths.
600 Olive St
600 Olive StreetAn authentically vintage Italian place, it was built by its immigrant owner in 1937. Outside: a vine-trellised terrace overlooks the bocce court! Inside: locals' bar and snug wooden booths.
An SB institution with long weekend lines. Julia Child mentored its charming owner who keeps inventing daily specials. Homemade tortillas, frequent celebrity sightings. Funky, vinyl-enclosed patio.
622 N Milpas St
622 North Milpas StreetAn SB institution with long weekend lines. Julia Child mentored its charming owner who keeps inventing daily specials. Homemade tortillas, frequent celebrity sightings. Funky, vinyl-enclosed patio.
My favorite taqueria in SB! Homestyle mexican cooking. Huge menu beyond tacos. Order at the register and eat in or outside. Great fresh fruit drinks. Beloved by locals.
129 N Milpas St
129 North Milpas StreetMy favorite taqueria in SB! Homestyle mexican cooking. Huge menu beyond tacos. Order at the register and eat in or outside. Great fresh fruit drinks. Beloved by locals.
Lovely, gracious-but-casual Mexican restaurant owned by the same family for 3 decades. Great fish tacos. Perfect margaritas. Inside with tablecloths, or outside under unbrellas on the terrace.
914 Santa Barbara St
914 Santa Barbara StreetLovely, gracious-but-casual Mexican restaurant owned by the same family for 3 decades. Great fish tacos. Perfect margaritas. Inside with tablecloths, or outside under unbrellas on the terrace.
Fun, energetic Mexican restaurant with good food. One block SE from La Super-Rica. Good for "cold" weather. No outdoor dining.
600 N Milpas St
600 North Milpas StreetFun, energetic Mexican restaurant with good food. One block SE from La Super-Rica. Good for "cold" weather. No outdoor dining.
Love the ambience. Food too. It's part of El Paseo, a Spanish labyrinth of small courtyards built in the 1920s. A fireside table table in winter, a patio table whenever possible. Quiet and romantic.
813 Anacapa St
813 Anacapa StreetLove the ambience. Food too. It's part of El Paseo, a Spanish labyrinth of small courtyards built in the 1920s. A fireside table table in winter, a patio table whenever possible. Quiet and romantic.
Arty, funky place with inventive food. Great reviews. Breakfast and lunch only. Dine under the patio umbrellas. Owned by 2 young couples long in the food biz in town. .
35 habitants recommandent
The Shop Kitchen
730 N Milpas StArty, funky place with inventive food. Great reviews. Breakfast and lunch only. Dine under the patio umbrellas. Owned by 2 young couples long in the food biz in town. .
French Press. Excellent coffee. Great cross-section of people, inside or terrace. Much-liked by locals.
528 Anacapa St
528 Anacapa StreetFrench Press. Excellent coffee. Great cross-section of people, inside or terrace. Much-liked by locals.
Good coffee, nice patio, across from Presidio. Good stop while sightseeing.
97 habitants recommandent
Handlebar Coffee Roasters
128 E Canon Perdido StGood coffee, nice patio, across from Presidio. Good stop while sightseeing.
Good sandwiches, fun counter.
(Pickle Room next door is a bar that opens at 4:30. Great drinks and bar menu.)
16 habitants recommandent
Three Pickles Subs & Sandwiches
126 E Canon Perdido StGood sandwiches, fun counter.
(Pickle Room next door is a bar that opens at 4:30. Great drinks and bar menu.)
The favorite new restaurant among locals. Set in a funky-chic complex including a pizza place, fancy French wine bar, etc. Great setting for outdoor dining.
171 habitants recommandent
The Lark Santa Barbara
131 Anacapa StThe favorite new restaurant among locals. Set in a funky-chic complex including a pizza place, fancy French wine bar, etc. Great setting for outdoor dining.
Sightseeing
They rent bikes: beach cruisers, tandem beach cruisers, mountain bikes, kids' bikes, Schwinn road bikes. Plus roller blades, etc. Don't rent the surreys! (hard to peddle)
23 E Cabrillo Blvd
23 East Cabrillo BoulevardThey rent bikes: beach cruisers, tandem beach cruisers, mountain bikes, kids' bikes, Schwinn road bikes. Plus roller blades, etc. Don't rent the surreys! (hard to peddle)
To colonize the coast, Spanish soldiers founded this fortress in 1782. Chapel, living quarters, and ongoing archaeological digs hint at life on the frontier. Amazing.
(Walk NE from his corner.)
123 E Canon Perdido St
123 East Canon Perdido StreetTo colonize the coast, Spanish soldiers founded this fortress in 1782. Chapel, living quarters, and ongoing archaeological digs hint at life on the frontier. Amazing.
(Walk NE from his corner.)
Rent sit-on-top kayaks, or SUPs (Stand Up Paddling) gear for an hour or more. Paddle out to greet sea lions on the buoys. Dolphins sometimes appear nearby!
133 Harbor Way
133 Harbor WayRent sit-on-top kayaks, or SUPs (Stand Up Paddling) gear for an hour or more. Paddle out to greet sea lions on the buoys. Dolphins sometimes appear nearby!
Is this the most beautiful civic building in America? You decide. It's one of my favorite structures anywhere. Go to the top of the clock tower, see the Mural Room, sunken gardens...
1100 Anacapa St
1100 Anacapa StreetIs this the most beautiful civic building in America? You decide. It's one of my favorite structures anywhere. Go to the top of the clock tower, see the Mural Room, sunken gardens...
Arts & Culture
Free admission. Special exhbitions, and a concise permanent collection, begin to explain why SB is so extraordinary. Artful souvenirs in the gift shop. Do visit.
136 E De La Guerra St
136 East De La Guerra StreetFree admission. Special exhbitions, and a concise permanent collection, begin to explain why SB is so extraordinary. Artful souvenirs in the gift shop. Do visit.
Essentials
Great prices on cheese, bread, deli stuff, wine, beer, etc. Everything you need for beach picnics. Plus lots of staples.
29 S Milpas St
29 South Milpas StreetGreat prices on cheese, bread, deli stuff, wine, beer, etc. Everything you need for beach picnics. Plus lots of staples.
A green grocer for days when the farmers' market is not in town. (FM is Sat. AM and Tues PM) Organic and conventional produce. Bulk foods: grains, nuts, granolas, more.
335 S Milpas St
335 South Milpas StreetA green grocer for days when the farmers' market is not in town. (FM is Sat. AM and Tues PM) Organic and conventional produce. Bulk foods: grains, nuts, granolas, more.
Smart & Final
217 E Gutierrez StGood for non-fancy canned and packaged foodstuffs and paper goods. Some produce.