Santa Barbara is an absolutely gorgeous town north of Los Angeles on the Pacific coastline. It is nestled right up to the water, with beautiful mountains behind. A much quieter locale than the rest of southern California, it is a great vacation spot. Besides stunning scenery and weather, it has fantastic little restaurants, shopping and a thriving wine country to boot. I highly recommend making a pilgrimage to this SoCal 
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Where to Stay
Bacara Resort & Spa
8301 Hollister Avenue
Goleta, CA 93117
805-968-0100
This is a lovely Spanish-colonial style resort located slightly to the north of Santa Barbara proper. It is one of those places where, upon arrival, you find that the pictures you’ve seen haven’t exaggerated its beauty, but perhaps, under-rated. The complex is comprised of many small buildings with rooms and suites that are stocked with the highest quality amenities (Fresh products abound!). The property also has an amazing set of pools, a world class spa, golf and other activities, and fantastic vistas. It’s a treat to be able to stay here!
Shopping
State Street is the main drag of downtown Santa Barbara. It is a Mecca for shopping. It has everything from Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom’s to little boutiques and surf wear purveyors. From here it’s an easy jaunt to Stearn’s Wharf, which is pretty, but very kitschy.
Restaurants
Miro
8301 Hollister Avenue
Goleta, CA 93117
805-968-0100
This is the restaurant at the Bacara. It is a high-end purveyor of California haute cuisine. It has a lovely view over the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. The wine list is quite extensive with a broad selection of Central Coast wines. The cuisine is inflected with Spanish edges (a nod to the name) but the ingredients are pure California - fresh and flavorful.
Bouchon
9 West Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-3123
805-730-1160
This is a small, almost delicate, restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara. It has a locally focused menu that changes seasonally to reflect the freshest available ingredients. I had an amazing dish of lamb chops here the first time I visited Santa Barbara - they were grilled to perfection and served with lovely, light accompaniments. They also have a great, almost exclusively Santa Barbara-sourced, wine list, I had a tasty little sparkling rosé from Flying Goat that I wish I could get in Texas....
Seagrass
30 East Ortega Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-1629
805-963-1012
Located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, this is a fantastic seafood restaurant. My little sister spent a semester UC Santa Barbara and every time someone came to visit her, she inevitably took them to Seagrass for dinner. This restaurant is all about the “coastal experience”. They do everything from amazing sashimi-style dishes to hearty bouillabaisse-like stews. While you will find some wines from further afield, Seagrass excels at providing a Santa-Barbara focused wine-list.
La Super-Rica Taqueria
622 North Milpas Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93103-3032
805-963-4940
Supposedly Julia Child’s favorite taco stand, La Super-Rica has been drawing long-lines of crowds for its authentic, Mexican tacos for some time. The building itself is hardly more than a shack, with a makeshift dining room out back. However, the cooks turn out quite the variety of tacos on small corn tortillas. I enjoyed the Rajas and the simple chicken taco. This place is cheap and an excellent lunch option.
Further Afield in the Wine Country
Less than 60 miles north of downtown Santa Barbara is the amazing wine country of Santa Barbara County. Encompassing three AVA’s, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria Valley, and Santa Rita Hills, this is definite Pinot country, though other varietals increasingly get their fare due. Visit for a day trip or a long weekend. It is simply beautiful.
The first town you will encounter along the 101 is Buellton. It is home to the restaurant cum winemaker The Hitching Post II (406 East Highway 246, Buellton, CA 93427, 805-688-0676). The Hitching Post II shot to fame in the movie Sideways as a purveyor of excellent Pinot Noirs. Head down Highway 246 to the little Danish town of Solvang. Among the Danish restaurants and curio shops is an excellent tasting room called the Tastes of the Valley (1672 Mission Dr (Hwy 246), Solvang, CA 93463, 805-688-7111). It is dedicated to providing a tasting venue for small, boutique wineries that can’t afford spaces of their own.
If you’re planning on a full day, head up to Los Olivos, a quaint little country town. If you’re hungry, head to Los Olivos Grocery (2621 Highway 154, Santa Ynez, CA 93460, 805-688-5115). Located in the small center of downtown Los Olivos, this is a true country store. It has an excellent deli that is perfect for picking up sandwiches for a picnic. If you’re planning on staying in the area, the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn (2860 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos, CA 93441, 805-688-7788) is a great option. Los Olivos also has many tasting rooms – check out Andrew Murray, Consilience and Qupé. Head on to the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail for a gorgeous drive through the wine country.
gem…Where to Stay
Bacara Resort & Spa
8301 Hollister Avenue
Goleta, CA 93117
805-968-0100
This is a lovely Spanish-colonial style resort located slightly to the north of Santa Barbara proper. It is one of those places where, upon arrival, you find that the pictures you’ve seen haven’t exaggerated its beauty, but perhaps, under-rated. The complex is comprised of many small buildings with rooms and suites that are stocked with the highest quality amenities (Fresh products abound!). The property also has an amazing set of pools, a world class spa, golf and other activities, and fantastic vistas. It’s a treat to be able to stay here!
Shopping
State Street is the main drag of downtown Santa Barbara. It is a Mecca for shopping. It has everything from Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom’s to little boutiques and surf wear purveyors. From here it’s an easy jaunt to Stearn’s Wharf, which is pretty, but very kitschy.
Restaurants
Miro
8301 Hollister Avenue
Goleta, CA 93117
805-968-0100
This is the restaurant at the Bacara. It is a high-end purveyor of California haute cuisine. It has a lovely view over the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. The wine list is quite extensive with a broad selection of Central Coast wines. The cuisine is inflected with Spanish edges (a nod to the name) but the ingredients are pure California - fresh and flavorful.
Bouchon
9 West Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-3123
805-730-1160
This is a small, almost delicate, restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara. It has a locally focused menu that changes seasonally to reflect the freshest available ingredients. I had an amazing dish of lamb chops here the first time I visited Santa Barbara - they were grilled to perfection and served with lovely, light accompaniments. They also have a great, almost exclusively Santa Barbara-sourced, wine list, I had a tasty little sparkling rosé from Flying Goat that I wish I could get in Texas....
Seagrass
30 East Ortega Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-1629
805-963-1012
Located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, this is a fantastic seafood restaurant. My little sister spent a semester UC Santa Barbara and every time someone came to visit her, she inevitably took them to Seagrass for dinner. This restaurant is all about the “coastal experience”. They do everything from amazing sashimi-style dishes to hearty bouillabaisse-like stews. While you will find some wines from further afield, Seagrass excels at providing a Santa-Barbara focused wine-list.
La Super-Rica Taqueria
622 North Milpas Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93103-3032
805-963-4940
Supposedly Julia Child’s favorite taco stand, La Super-Rica has been drawing long-lines of crowds for its authentic, Mexican tacos for some time. The building itself is hardly more than a shack, with a makeshift dining room out back. However, the cooks turn out quite the variety of tacos on small corn tortillas. I enjoyed the Rajas and the simple chicken taco. This place is cheap and an excellent lunch option.
Further Afield in the Wine Country
Less than 60 miles north of downtown Santa Barbara is the amazing wine country of Santa Barbara County. Encompassing three AVA’s, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria Valley, and Santa Rita Hills, this is definite Pinot country, though other varietals increasingly get their fare due. Visit for a day trip or a long weekend. It is simply beautiful.
The first town you will encounter along the 101 is Buellton. It is home to the restaurant cum winemaker The Hitching Post II (406 East Highway 246, Buellton, CA 93427, 805-688-0676). The Hitching Post II shot to fame in the movie Sideways as a purveyor of excellent Pinot Noirs. Head down Highway 246 to the little Danish town of Solvang. Among the Danish restaurants and curio shops is an excellent tasting room called the Tastes of the Valley (1672 Mission Dr (Hwy 246), Solvang, CA 93463, 805-688-7111). It is dedicated to providing a tasting venue for small, boutique wineries that can’t afford spaces of their own.
If you’re planning on a full day, head up to Los Olivos, a quaint little country town. If you’re hungry, head to Los Olivos Grocery (2621 Highway 154, Santa Ynez, CA 93460, 805-688-5115). Located in the small center of downtown Los Olivos, this is a true country store. It has an excellent deli that is perfect for picking up sandwiches for a picnic. If you’re planning on staying in the area, the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn (2860 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos, CA 93441, 805-688-7788) is a great option. Los Olivos also has many tasting rooms – check out Andrew Murray, Consilience and Qupé. Head on to the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail for a gorgeous drive through the wine country.
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