Things To Do
Book Den
Nestled half a block off State Street, Santa Barbara`s main shopping street, The Book Den has been serving the literary needs of Santa Barbara residents and visitors alike for more than eighty years. It's a great place to stop for a few minutes (or hours if you're Kyle) while you're cruising down State Street.
Crushcakes & Cafe
LA Coffee in Santa Barbara. And some pretty great cupcakes too.
Stearns Wharf
Some of the best views in Santa Barbara! Take a ride on the Water Taxi. Spend some time with marine life at the Sea Center. See what your future holds at Madame Rosinkas. Visit the Stearns Wharf Bait & Tackle and cast your line to fish at the edge of the wharf.
Santa Barbara Public Market
The Santa Barbara Public Market, located at 38 West Victoria Street & Chapala, is a contemporary urban marketplace offering locally & regionally sourced food, wine, and beer. Nestled in the thriving performing and cultural arts district of downtown Santa Barbara, the Public Market is Santa Barbara's premiere dining destination for locals and visitors alike. With such a diverse collective of merchants under one roof, the Santa Barbara Public Market offers a truly unique experience to dine, drink, gather and host special events.
The Lark Santa Barbara
Your family-style dinner at this lauded New American restaurant will probably come out looking more like a piece of art than an edible arrangement. But then you’ll get over it, and realize that your plate is filled with ingredients so fresh they were probably picked from the farm that morning. The cocktail program (which uses seasonal fruits and veggies) is on-point, too.
Santa Barbara urban wine trail
Once you’ve hit up the retail shops on State St, take a short walk over to the Urban Wine Trail -- basically, over 20 tasting rooms in and around the Funk Zone area. If you like Bordeaux, check out Grassini Family Vineyards, which is a small-production tasting room that pours only Bordeaux varietals. Other notable tasting rooms include Riverbench and Cottonwood Canyon Winery. You can also order a pedicab to take you along the trail, or hail one down on the streets.
Brophy Bros.
The view of the harbor itself at this seaside restaurant is worth the price of the meal. Request a seat outside or grab one at the bar facing the view (it’s worth the extra wait). Once you’ve started to feel like you’re on vacation and ready to eat, order seafood. Don’t think about ordering anything else. The Cajun seabass, salmon, or beer-battered fish & chips are all good options. So is washing it all down with a cold beer.
Wheel Fun Rentals
A bike ride along the coastline with palm tree-lined streets and a view of the Santa Ynez Mountains? Um, yes please. Wheel Fun has a huge selection, and is right on the beachfront. Bingo.
Belmond El Encanto
Reserve a seat on the terrace, order yourself a glass of wine, sit back, and enjoy the killer sunset and panoramic views of Santa Barbara. Seriously guys, it’s pretty amazing.
Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show
Every Sunday, over 200 local artisans display their original artwork during this European-inspired art fair that has been running for 50 years strong along Cabrillo Blvd. All the artists are Santa Barbara locals and create the art themselves, so you’ll get to meet and talk to the artist themselves and, if you’re lucky, watch them in action.
State Street
Historic State Street Plaza in Downtown Santa Barbara is one of America’s most pedestrian-friendly downtowns, in large part due to the amazing diversity of shopping choices. From Santa Barbara-style specialty shops to national brands, and from regional gallery favorites to indie boutiques, Downtown Santa Barbara offers an authentic shopping experience, whether you are seriously shopping, strolling, or just taking in the scene.