SANTA BARBARA: A Leisurely Long Weekend
Santa Barbara Pier (photo credit: @fssantabarbara)
DEFINING CALIFORNIA COOL
California dreaming… crashing waves, salty skin, the hot sun on your face… add in the Santa Ynez Mountains as your backdrop, and you’ve got Santa Barbara! When a city is called the ‘American Riviera’ the bar is set pretty high, and Santa Barbara will meet and exceed all of those expectations. With the city’s Mediterranean climate, Moroccan architecture, farm-to-table food, and the wine…..oh the wine.. you are guaranteed to fall in love with this beautiful Californian costal city.
We checked out everything we could find, taste, and see, so that you can go and feel like a local on your very first visit
*Slight disclaimer- Santa Barabara is a very very expensive city- food, hotels, drinks…
WHERE TO STAY:
The Getaway:
Ritz Carlton Bacara Santa Barbara (photo cred: @ritzcarltonbacarasb)
Located about fifteen minutes away from downtown Santa Barbara, the Ritz Carlton Bacara is an oasis. The grounds are sprawling and stunning, there are three pools (two with ocean views), two miles of natural beach, six restaurants and basically every single activity imaginable: hiking trails, surfing, sailing, four tennis courts, painting classes and horseback riding. There is also a full spa, tons of stores and an impressive wine tasting room! The rooms are decorated in a Mediterranean style and have fireplaces and balconies with your choice of an ocean or garden view. Basically, we are telling you that you never have to leave the grounds.
The Ultimate in Luxury:
San Ysidro Ranch (photo cred: @sanysidroranch)
Any celebrity that has visited Santa Barbara has stayed at the San Ysidro Ranch- Audrey Hepburn, Winston Churchill, JFK and Jackie O even had their honeymoon there! The property is over 500 acres and includes 17 miles of hiking trails (!!!). Guests are housed in private cottages decorated with hand picked antiques and furniture- intended to give off the feeling of a homey and intimate stay. The restaurants are beyond- The Stonehouse focuses on organic produce that is mostly grown on the property and Plow & Angel makes the most incredible comfort food- pretty sure we had the best mac & cheese of all time and don’t even get me started on the ribs (they are award winning). The spa treatments are not to be missed- you can either go in to the main spa or have your appointment in your cottage. Oh, and you might think the prices for everything are in another currency, but unfortunately this is not the case- it will probably be the most expensive hotel you will ever stay (or dream of staying) at, so this is definitely a bucket list option.
The Fancy One:
Four Seasons Biltmore (photo cred: @fssantabarbara)
Across the road from the beach in Montecito is the Four Seasons Biltmore- a tropical looking paradise. You can feel the luxury oozing out of every corner from the moment you step foot on the property- lush courtyards, fountains, Spanish Colonial villas and bungalows. The on-site pool overlooks Butterfly Beach, but guests can pay for access to celebrity hotspot, Coral Casino Club and their Olympic sized pool and members-only restaurant (there is a waitlist to get on the waitlist to become a member there!).
The Cool One:
Hotel Californian (photo cred: @hotelcalifornian)
For those looking for the that fancy-cool vibe, Hotel California is the place to stay! Celebrity interior designer, Martin Bullard transports you to another country, making you feel like you are staying at a hotel in Morocco or Spain. The hotel had just over 120 rooms and is made up of three buildings- one of them is the original Hotel California which was only open for two weeks before shutting down due to an earthquake in the early 20th century. The hotel is equipped with a traditional Turkish hammam spa and is a stone’s throw from the bustling Funk Zone (we will get back to that in a bit) as well as the beach- this is us telling you that you can park your car and leave it for your entire stay. Both of the hotel’s dining options are top notch- the Goat Tree café is great quick and casual spot to grab a coffee or lunch and Blackbird is a high-end middle eastern restaurant (the executive chef was trained by Thomas Kellar…yeah).
The Luxury Adventure:
El Captain Canyon (photo cred: @elcaptaincanyon)
If you are looking for an outdoor experience without giving up on the whole electricity thing, El Captain Canyon will be perfect for you. The hotel spans over 350 acres and offers guests the option to stay in cabins, yurts, or luxury tents. The rustic-chic cabins are equipped with soaking baths, wet bars, mini-fridges, central heating, and private fire pits. If you are looking for a real outdoor experience, you can glamp in one of the deluxe safari tents or a yurt- these come with full hardwood flooring and electric lighting (still unsure on the whole toilet situation). The hotel grounds have over 15 miles of hiking paths and offer basically every outdoor activity you can imagine- mountain biking, fishing, kayaking…the list goes on. One of the coolest features of the hotel is that you can make your own food- you can pick up supplies at Canyon Market (on the property), or opt in to their ‘grill dining’ where you have a barbeque and private firepit to cook a protein of your choosing as well as a few side dishes, salads, garlic bread and s’mores!
HOW TO SPEND YOUR DAYS:
The Great Outdoors:
The Santa Barbara Zoo is over 30 acres in size and houses 150 species of over 500 living creatures consisting of insects, mammals, reptiles, and birds. What makes this small and charming zoo (you can walk the entire place in two hours) so special is that it is part of the worldwide species survival plan to protect animals from extinction. Be sure to visit Gemina, the crooked necked giraffe!
Lotus Land by Ganna Walska (photo cred: @lotuslandgarden)
Lotusland is a must-see for all plant and flower lovers! Once a private property owned by Ganna Walska, this 37 acre property houses 25 uniquely designed gardens full of imported as well as native flowers and plants! Advance reservations are recommended and tours generally last about two hours!
The Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens span 5 miles and strictly consist of California-native plants, trees, and flowers! You can get some of the best views of the city and the coast from inside the gardens.
Stearns Wharf (photo cred: @visitsantabarbara)
Santa Barbara is full of incredible hiking trails with stunning views- you really can’t go wrong with any of them (we suggest googling the level of difficulty before picking one)- our favourites are Inspiration Point and Romero Canyon Loop.
The waterfront and boardwalk in Santa Barbara are well known for being absolutely gorgeous. Stearns Wharf, originally used for passenger transportation and freight shipping, has cool vintage shops, ice cream parlours, guided boat trips, and restaurants serving fresh seafood- you might even see them catching your lunch!
Art and Culture:
The Funk Zone is the undeniably coolest, busiest, and most fun area in Santa Barbara. You will find tons of shops, cafes, galleries, and wine tasting rooms lining the streets! The entire area is charming and quirky- old converted warehouses, ivy-covered buildings, murals painted by local artists, and commissioned graffiti!
The Funk Zone (photo cred: @thefunkzone)
Santa Barbara is giving the Napa Valley a run for their money in terms of wines- the majority of the vineyards around Santa Barbara take about 30 min to reach (we highly suggest visiting at least one or two- more on that later), so if you are looking for someone quicker and closer, go and visit one of the tasting rooms in the Funk Zone. You can arrange for a tour of a few places or take yourself on the urban wine trail- there really is no bad choice. Whatever you do, be sure to check out the liquor & wine grotto.
Santa Barbara Trolley Tour (photo cred: @sbtrolley)
The Santa Barbara Trolley Tour is the perfect way to get a feel for the entire city. You can get on and off the trolley as you please and we suggest taking this tour on your first day (tickets are good for two days) so you can see where everything is and where you want to spend your time. The tour will take you past Butterfly Beach, the Moreton Bay Fig Tree, Stearns Wharf, Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Courthouse, and Andrea Clark Bird Refuge. The full tour is about an hour long, and your guide will be able to answer any and all questions you have about the city!
Day Trips:
Gaviota State Park (photo cred: @andrewssworld)
If you drive about 30 minutes northwest of Santa Barbara you’ll arrive at Gaviota State Park where you can visit the hot springs as well as hike the Gaviota Peak, which is a summit in the Santa Ynez mountains. **Be warned: those milky blue waters are good for your health but they smell like sulfur…
There is nothing we recommend more than taking a day trip to one of the Vineyards/Wineries (about 30 min driving from downtown) in the areas around Santa Barbara. This area is quickly gaining recognition as a wine-lovers paradise with vineyards and wineries all over Santa Ynez Valleys, Los Alamos, Santa Maria, and Santa Rita Hills all with different microclimates that allow them to produce different types of grapes and wines. Each vineyard/winery is different- some offer tours, others offering tastings, some have food and drink available others allow you to bring your own food to make a picnic. Our favourite of them all was Pence Vineyards & Winery because there we got some of everything- a tour of the grounds, knowledgeable staff to guide us through the tasting, local produce to snack on, and some truly incredible wines. Other great spots are Tantra, Stoplman, Pax, Jolie Laide.
Pence Vineyards & Winery (photo cred: @pencevineyards)
The Hearst Castle (photo cred: @thehearstcastle)
Originally the estate of William Randolph Hearst, Hearst Castle is now a national museum. Tours are offered every day and you will find beautifully designed rooms, terraces, fountains, and ancient artifacts. Many Hollywood starts stayed at the castle in the 1920s and 30s- Cary Grant, Charlie Chaplin, Bette Davis- so you will be in good company!
Solvang, California (photo cred: @cityofsolvang)
One of the most charming places you can visit is Solvang, the small Danish town about 20 minutes outside of the city. The entire town is designed to look like you are in Denmark- the main street is lined with stores selling traditional Danish foods and trinkets, and if you time things right, you can even catch a performance at their outdoor theatre!
If you are really looking to explore, you can take a trip to the Channel Island- a national park consisting of 5 islands. You have to take a boat or sea plane to reach these islands, so we highly recommend making arrangements with a third party agency to sort everything out for you (there are no stores or hotels on the islands, fyi). Here you can hike, explore caves, observe the wildlife and take in the absolutely stunning views!
WHAT TO DO AT NIGHT:
Nightlife in Santa Barbara is pretty laid back- dinner and casual drinks are definitely the vibe over loud and wild nightclubs. Wine bars are the most popular choice and the coolest spots are in the Funk Zone.
Pearl Social Santa Barbara (photo cred: @pearlsocialsb)
If you feel like you are slowly morphing into a grape from all of the wine, visit Pearl Social. You can easily spend your night listening to live music and sipping on specialty cocktails.
Milk & Honey is the cocktail bar attached to Alcazar (a tapas restaurant) and drinks are made with locally sourced ingredients and artisanal spirits.
In the lobby of the Canary Hotel you will find Finch & Fork, one of the busiest bars in town. Locals as well as visitors frequent the bar for the massive menu that focuses on fresh and local ingredients.
Santo Mezcal Santa Barbara (photo cred: @santomezcal_sb)
Test Pilot is a non-spring break style tiki bar- the vibe is super fun and the drinks are far less sugary than you would expect. Make sure to order the Suisse Family Robinson!
Santo Mezcal is the place to go for fresh margaritas, mezcal, and tequila cocktails- the tacos are also very good and definitely worth a taste (or two).
WHERE TO SHOP
Shopping is divided between downtown Santa Barbara (where the best finds are antiques, vintage, and indie brands) and Montecito (high-end and designer shops). **reminder: everything is very expensive.
Diani Boutique Santa Barbara (photo cred: @dianiboutique)
If you take a walk down State Street in Santa Barbara you will see tons of stores- you can find really cool boutiques selling indie brands as well as shops selling a curated selection of high-end designers in Diani or walk into the Funk Zone and find in vintage and antique shops like Blue Door.
Jenni Kayne Santa Barbara (photo cred: @jennikayne)
You can easily spend an entire day in Montecito checking out all of the stores. Jenni Kayne is the place to go for that easy-breezy (pricey) California look - they sell clothing, jewelry, and shoes and have a home store with a very similar vibe across the street!
For all skincare and beauty lovers, Cos Bar is a can’t miss- they sell high end products from high-end brands and pride themselves on the fact that they only bring in brands that they personally approve of.
Whisky & Leather is the place to go for trendy clothing in Montecito- you can find brands like For Love & Lemons and Scotch & Soda and they have options for men and women!
Upstairs at Pierre Lafond (photo cred: @upstairspierrelafond)
At Maison K you will find a selection of home goods (antique mirrors, vases, blown glass, rugs, furniture..) as well as womens’ clothing that the owners find on their travels. The palette of the store is soft and neutral, so it is easy to find pieces that work in any space.
Above Pierre Lafond Deli, you will find Upstairs at Pierre Lafond. This gem is a fan favourite in Santa Barbara because they cater to everyone- high end as well as affordable options for books, mirrors, candles, blankets, greeting cards, robes… the list goes on!
WHERE TO EAT:
Santa Barbara is really big on the farm-to-table movement and most restaurants focus on fresh and local ingredients. This is not to say that all you are going to find are salads and grain bowls, the selection of food options in the city is seemingly never-ending and most places are really quite good.
We are going to start with dinner because it is the most important part of our day. We were shocked by the number of restaurants serving international cuisines in the city. We did our best to try and get a taste of everything, and here is the best of what we found:
Loquita Santa Barbara (photo cred: @loquitasb)
Spanish tappas-style restaurant Loquita is busy and buzzing from the moment they open until close. Even with a reservation, you will probably still be waiting for your table so just slide into the cocktail bar and order a drink! Whatever you do, make sure to order the seafood paella, it was SO good!
Food/Drink: 8.2
Vibe: 8.5
For a classic Italian dinner, go to Bettina in Montecito. The food is all served family-style and meant to be shared- they specialize in crispy and chewy pizzas and pastas (these aren’t chewy or crispy). This is the most low-key of all of the restaurants on our list as it is located outside of the Downtown area, but is still has a good vibe.
Food/Drink: 7.7
Vibe: 7
The Lark Santa Barbara (photo cred: @thelarksb)
For a real farm/sea/vineyard/ranch-to-table experience, you must eat at The Lark. Located in the bustling Funk Zone, you will find a family-style sharing menu and a cocktail list that uses fresh and seasonal fruits and veggies.
Food/Drink: 8.2
Vibe: 8
We have a love/hate relationship with Arigato Sushi- love that it is so good but also hate that it is so good because they don’t take reservations and always have a long line to get in. is it worth it? Absolutely, they serve some of the freshest fish in really innovative ways. Do we like waiting in line for anything? No.
Food/Drink: 8.3
Vibe: 7.6
Sama Sama Kitchen Santa Barbara (photo cred: @samasamakitchen)
Sama Sama Kitchen specializes in southeast Asian cuisine- the plates are small and meant to be shared. We basically ordered and ate everything on the menu and enjoyed every single bite. Don’t let the super casual cafeteria vibe throw you off, this is not a place to be missed!
Food/Drink: 8.2
Vibe: 7
Some of the most interesting Indian-style food can be found at Bibi Ji. The kitchen serves locally sourced fresh seafood in just a little bit different than traditional Indian spices and sauces. Whether you order a la carte or from the tasting menu, you will definitely be surprised and delighted by the dishes- our favourites are the Mr. Tso’s Cauliflower as well as the Uni Byriani.
Food/Drink: 7.7
Vibe: 7.4
Yoichi Santa Barbara (photo cred: @yoichirestaurant)
We didn’t get the chance to visit, but on the top of our list for next time is Yoichi- a kaiseki meal in the chef’s house. The chef, Yoichi Kawabata trained in Tokyo at the Nobu restaurant for years, so his attention to detail and top quality dishes should come as no surprise. If you go, PLEASE give us your thoughts!
Lunch:
Unlike most cities where lunch is kind of a quick grab-and-go space filler during the day type situation, Santa Barbara is a big lunch city. Most options, again, focus on fresh and local ingredients.
Lucky Penny Santa Barbara (photo cred: @luckypennysb)
The exterior of Lucky Penny is one the most recognizable places in the city- the entire outside is covered in pennies! Pizzas are their speciality but the sandwiches are great too. You can’t make a reservation, but the tables move pretty quickly.
Food/Drink: 7.8
Vibe: 8.1
Every foodie who researches Santa Barbara will stumble upon Super Riva Taqueria as it was Julia Child’s favourite taco spot. Is it better than any other top taco spot? Not really, but it is worth going just to say you have been to Julia Child’s favourite spot? Definitely.
Food/Drink: 7.7
Vibe: 6.5 (it is mostly just waiting in line)
For all of you bowl lovers, Backyard Bowls will keep you coming back for more- they make smoothie and acai bowls as well as porridge and grain bowls that you can customize from a list of a million options. The ingredients are super high quality and fresh.
Food/Drink: 7.5
Vibe: 7.2
Helena Avenue Bakery Santa Barbara (photo cred: @helenaavenuebakery)
Our favourite lunch spot was Helena Avenue Bakery- their bread and pastries are SO so good (they supply many restaurants in the city). The sandwiches are definitely the slam dunks- the bread is chewy and crispy and the topping are fresh and delicious. The best sandwiches were the egg salad and the chicken club.
Food/Drink: 8.3
Vibe: 7.3
Snacks + Coffee:
If you love ice cream, do yourself a favor and get yourself to the nearest McConnell’s Ice Cream shop as soon as humanly possible. Their dairy comes from local grass-grazing cows, fruit and nuts are locally sourced, and there are no fillers, stabilizers, or preservatives in any of their products… whatever they are doing, they are doing right. Every flavour is pretty incredible, but our favourites were the local strawberry and corn bread (there are actual chunks of the most amaaaazing cornbread).
Dune Coffee Roasters (formerly The French Press) tries to slow down coffee culture. While most places offer coffee as a to-go drink you can sip while doing other things, the owners encourage you to sit, enjoy, and ask as many questions as you can about their beans and roasts. If you like their beans, you can buy them all over the US.
If you want a coffee or maybe a matcha and a salad or maybe a sandwich or maybe a muffin, Goat Tree is the place for you. You can find a little bit of everything to eat and drink for a snack or a meal and can take it to-go or eat on their patio. The space is open and airy and they have a very pretty Moroccan-style mosaic floor.
McConnell's Ice Cream Santa Barbara (photo cred: @Mcconnellsicecreams)
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Santa Barbara is a gorgeous costal city that shows the very best of what California has to offer- mountains, beaches, nature, and farm-to-table food. We would suggest this city for anyone looking to take a long-weekend trip somewhere to relax and unwind but still feel like you’ve seen and done things and gained some culture. !
Best Time to Visit:
Santa Barbara is beautiful all year round, but if you go in early Spring or early fall, there will be less crowds and hotels will be less expensive.
How to Get There:
There is a small airport in the city, but very few cities offer direct flights, so we suggest flying into Los Angeles and driving!
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