Things To Do
The Funk Zone
This is our main neighborhood hang while in Santa Barbara. We recommend staying as close by as possible. The entire neighborhood is walkable, and you'll want to take advantage of that. Pop into great shops, breweries, coffee places, wine tasting rooms and restaurants. Explore at your leisure, it's an awesome place.
Pier Santa Barbara
The Pier is a stone's throw from Hotel Californian and an amazing walk out to the Pacific Ocean. There are restaurants and shops on the pier and an excellent fish taco spot. Worth a walking adventure down the salty wood beams!
Santa Barbara Harbor
The harbor is an amazing collection of seafood shacks, seafarer's shops, and sea lion watching. If you want some fresh seafood, marina vibes, and hang with some boat people- this is your spot.
Santa Barbara's Historic Courthouse
The Santa Barbara Courthouse is historic and beautiful. Definitely worth a tour around the grounds if you have some time to kill. Also, climb to the top of the courthouse tower for some of the best views in Santa Barbara.
Walk State Street Promenade
The promenade is a relatively new addition to Santa Barbara in the sense that traffic used to be allowed to drive up and down State Street. However, in the last three years the city and converted State to mainly a pedestrian promenade, accenting lovely outdoor dining, markets, and great hangout spots for a local brew or cocktail.
Old Mission Santa Barbara
Check out the Old Mission if you want to take in some old California architecture and an interesting historical experience unique to SB. Many silent movies were filmed here!
Rent Bikes and Cruise Around the American Riviera
Most hotels have free bike rentals in Santa Barbara but there are also smaller bike rental places throughout the city. Santa Barbara is very bike friendly! We love cruising down State Street and along the Pacific Ocean in style.
Restaurant Recommendations
La Paloma - Our favorite, trendy California Mexican spot in town Loquita - Excellent spanish food (paella!) and beautiful ambiance. In the Funk Zone. The Lark - Consistently considered one of SB's best restaurants. Wonderful California cuisine right in the Funk Zone. The Lucky Penny - Best pizza in the Funk Zone! Scarlett Begonia - Cute, casual brunch spot with great potato based cinnamon rolls Dart Coffee - Our favorite coffee shop in SB Bibi Ji - Excellent, modern Indian food Blackbird - Sleek, sexy restaurant within the Hotel Californian Sama Sama - Indonesian/Californian fusion. Barbareño - California cuisine that'll change your life Jeanines - Casual lunch and brunch spot with beach views located right next to the Harbor View Inn La Super-rica Taqueria - I mean... SoCal is known for our amazing street tacos...