Wine Country cuisine and Channel seafood downtown since 1998. Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2002. Garden patio year-round, deep County wine list.
Signature: Central Coast seasonal menu, Santa Barbara Channel seafood, Wine Country cheese course
Italian fine dining since 1999 under chef Alberto Morello, with a Sicilian-influenced menu and 230-label wine cellar. Wine Spectator Award since 2002.
Signature: Sicilian pasta, House-made fresh pasta, Seasonal fish
Michelin Bib Gourmand on State Street. Indonesian-inspired Southeast Asian food from French-trained owners using Bali recipes and Central Coast farm produce.
Signature: Braised pork noodles, Nuri ribs, Tamarind-glazed wings
Cajun and Creole downtown since 1985. Authentic New Orleans-style blackened fish, jambalaya, and Bananas Foster. Team service, four-decade loyal following.
Signature: Blackened fish, Cajun jambalaya, Bananas Foster
Long-running State Street sushi bar with candlelit energy. Known for the magic mushroom roll and black cod. Japanese technique meets Californian produce.
Signature: Magic mushroom roll, Black cod, Nigiri omakase
Michelin Bib Gourmand counter in the Santa Barbara Public Market. Street food tacos, ceviches, and regional Mexican dishes from fresh local ingredients.
Signature: Street food tacos, Regional ceviches, Mexican street snacks
Family-owned California dining room on State Street. All sauces, dressings, and breads from scratch daily. Salads, seafood, pasta, house-roasted proteins.
Signature: Composed seasonal salads, Fresh pasta, House-roasted proteins
Wine Country cuisine and Channel seafood downtown since 1998. Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2002. Garden patio under string lights, 50 seats.
Italian fine dining since 1999 under chef Alberto Morello, with a Sicilian-influenced menu. Over 230-label wine cellar, Wine Spectator Award since 2002.
Casual New American on State Street with a 360-degree bar, wide patio, and a menu of burgers, fish and chips, and cocktails for the Granada Theatre crowd.
Signature: Burgers, Fish and chips, Craft cocktails
Progressive organic California food on Victoria Street since 2011. Rotating seasonal menu from breakfast through dinner on a sustainable sourcing commitment.
Signature: Seasonal brunch plates, Local farm salads, Rotating organic mains
Founded in Santa Barbara in 1949. French pot method, organic local ingredients, no preservatives. State Street shop is the brand's original home.
Signature: Dutchman's Gold vanilla, Eureka lemon and marionberry sherbet, Seasonal small-batch flavours
Founded by former professional cyclists in 2011. Small-batch roasts from Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala, Kenya. Two cafes, precise single-origin brews.
Signature drink: Single-origin pour-over
Santa Barbara specialty coffee anchor since 2009. State Street flagship serves espresso, pour-overs, and seasonal single-origins in a bright downtown space.
Signature drink: Seasonal single-origin filter
Fully gluten-free French patisserie on State Street, USA Today's 10 Best Artisanal Bakeries. Layer cakes, macarons, croissants, eggs benedict daily.
Worth the queue: Gluten-free French macaron assortment
Long-running downtown bakery serving European-style breads, pastries, and breakfast with strong espresso. A neighbourhood anchor at pre-Instagram prices.
Worth the queue: Rustic sourdough loaf
Founded by professional cyclists in 2011. Small-lot beans from Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala, Kenya. Two cafes, subscription service, ethical sourcing.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala, Kenya
How they serve: Espresso, Pour over, Filter, Whole bean retail
Santa Barbara specialty roaster since 2009. State Street flagship serves espresso, pour-overs, seasonal single-origins from 07:00. Multiple city locations.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Cold brew, Whole bean retail
Longest-running Wine Country restaurant in Santa Barbara since 1998. Wine Spectator Award. Santa Barbara County cellar, paired with a seasonal kitchen.
Signature pour: Santa Barbara County Chardonnay by the glass
Wine focus: Santa Barbara County wines, deep California list
Food: Full Wine Country cuisine menu
Santa Barbara's original Irish pub since 1996. Live music six nights a week, pints until 02:00. 30,000-song jukebox, pool, darts, sidewalk patio.
Signature drink: Guinness on draught
Food: Bar snacks, wings
Live music venue and restaurant on the second floor of Victoria Court. Nightly blues, funk, rock, reggae. California fare and wines. Open to 02:00.
Signature drink: California wines by the glass
Food: California fare, fresh seafood, gourmet pizza
English-style pub on Ortega Street open until 02:00. The go-to for Premier League football in Santa Barbara. Dog-friendly, no-frills, genuine local crowd.
Signature drink: UK and domestic ales
Food: Limited bar snacks
Mexican restaurant and late-night tequila bar on lower State Street. Elevated tacos, seafood enchiladas. Reopened June 2026 after full renovation.
Signature drink: Handcrafted margaritas and mezcal cocktails
Food: Elevated street tacos, seafood enchiladas
Michelin Bib Gourmand counter in the Santa Barbara Public Market. Street food tacos, ceviches, and regional Mexican dishes from fresh local ingredients.
Try: Street food tacos, ceviche, regional Mexican snacks
Counter-service taqueria on Micheltorena open 06:00 to 22:00 daily. Generous burritos, breakfast tacos, and carne asada. Vegetarian options throughout.
Try: Burritos, breakfast tacos, carne asada tacos
Santa Barbara's flagship weekly market with 100-plus certified California farms. Seasonal stone fruit, avocados, artisan bread, prepared foods. EBT accepted.
Tuesday afternoon market on lower State Street with certified farms, prepared foods, and artisan goods. Smaller and quieter than Saturday. Until 18:30.
Contemporary food hall at the Funk Zone edge with locally owned vendors: Corazon Cocina, Wexler's Deli, Rori's Creamery, Fala Bar. Regional sourcing.
The food heart of Santa Barbara's signature five-day Fiesta. El Mercado De La Guerra fills De La Guerra Plaza with food stalls serving traditional Spanish and Mexican-American dishes alongside craft vendors and continuous live entertainment. A second Mercado Del Norte runs simultaneously at Mackenzie Park.
Award-winning cookbook author Pascale Beale leads a Saturday class: farmers market tour followed by hands-on Mediterranean cooking in her professional kitchen, finishing with a three-course lunch on the terrace.
Counter-service taqueria on Micheltorena Street. Generous burritos, breakfast burritos, menudo, caldo. One of the longest-running taquerias in Santa Barbara.
Try: Burritos and tacos
Michelin Bib Gourmand Mexican counter in the Santa Barbara Public Market. Hand-pressed tortillas, regional guisados, horchata. No advance reservation needed.
Try: Street tacos and ceviches
Long-running downtown bakery serving European-style breads and breakfast with strong espresso. Neighbourhood anchor on a residential side street.
Try: Fresh-baked bread and breakfast plates
Fully gluten-free French patisserie on State Street. USA Today's 10 Best Artisanal Bakeries. Layer cakes, macarons, croissants, eggs benedict daily.
Order: Eggs benedict on gluten-free English muffin
Progressive, locally sourced organic California cafe on Victoria Street. Rotating seasonal menu from brunch through dinner. Vegetarian-forward options always.
Order: Rotating seasonal egg dish with local farm produce
Second-floor live music venue and restaurant on State Street. Nightly blues, funk, rock, reggae sets. California fare, wines. Doors until 02:00.
Try: California fare, gourmet pizza, fresh seafood
Santa Barbara's original Irish pub since 1996 with live music six nights a week. 30,000-song jukebox, pool, darts, sidewalk patio. Pints until 02:00.
Try: Bar snacks, wings
Long-running English-style pub on Ortega Street open until 02:00. The go-to for Premier League football in Santa Barbara. Dog-friendly, no-frills.
Try: Bar snacks
Late-night Mexican restaurant and tequila bar on lower State Street. Elevated tacos, seafood enchiladas. Reopened June 2026 after full renovation.
Try: Tacos, seafood enchiladas, handcrafted margaritas
Family-owned second-floor venue and restaurant on State Street. Nightly live blues, funk, reggae, rock. California fare, wines. Open until 02:00.
Santa Barbara's original Irish pub since 1996. Live music six nights a week, 30,000-song jukebox, pool, sidewalk patio. Guinness until 02:00.
English-style pub on Ortega Street, open until 02:00 every night. The Premier League home in Santa Barbara. Dog-friendly, no-frills, local crowd.