This post wast updated in December, 2022

Stay

Santa Barbara has a wide arrange of hotels from inexpensive inns to rehabbed cool retro motels to luxury hotels. Where you stay depends on budget, location and what you want out of your trip. I\’ve stayed in a lot of Santa Barbara hotels for either staycations, celebrations or now going back as a traveller. Below are my top 3 picks.

(Closed until 2025) Four Seasons Santa Barbara: One of my all-time favourite stays anywhere. Worth it for a night, a weekend or longer if you\’re lucky. The rooms, the spa, the food, service and location are all perfection. See my full review and photos here. Note: as of 2023 this hotel is closed with no opening date announced.

San Ysidro Ranch: Not technically in Santa Barbara but close enough. I celebrated a birthday weekend here in one of the loveliest cottages I\’ve ever stayed in. I\’d say this is in my top 5 hotels and experiences – just like everyone else with a hotel list. It was destroyed by the Montecito mudslides and closed for a year but I\’m happy to report that it reopened in the Spring of 2019. I highly recommend a visit not only because it\’s beautiful, but it deserves the help to get back on its feet.

Belmond Elencanto: This had been on my list of places to stay and finally in February 2019 I was able to cross it off my list. I had one of the deluxe rooms with a balcony and fireplace which did not disappoint. The views, the rooms, the grounds and the service were top notch. I\’ve eaten here a lot and I have to be honest and say that\’s been consistently disappointing (we had afternoon tea on which was a real let down and awkward, our room service had mix-ups and our breakfast came out cold). But I loved the room and the overall vibe so recommend it.

Explore

The city has electric bike rentals with stations all over town, including Montecito. You can buy a monthly pass or 1 use passes (good for up to 30min) but they’re honestly the best way to get around town.

Santa Barbara Courthouse: Free with beautiful 360 views of the city if you climb the tower (or if you\’re here in summer, catch an outdoor flick in the gardens). The Santa Barbara Bowl is the best place to catch a concert in the summer.

Butterfly Beach & Hammonds Beach: They\’re connected with different ways to access them. Butterfly beach is always more crowded but can be easily accessed from across the Four Seasons Santa Barbara. Hammond\’s Beach requires a little walk down a rail and parking is at the end of San Ysidro Road. (Updated to add that the new Rosewood Miramar Hotel is now on Hammond\’s Beach so there\’s easier access but it\’s also more crowded). Check the tides and try to get here during low tide.

Arroyo Burro State Beach (or Hendry\’s as it\’s known to locals) is an off-leash dog beach complete with dog-wash station to help get rid of all the sand before you get in your car. There\’s a trail that goes from the beach up to Douglas State Preserve Park which is one of my favourites for walking the dog.

Horseback Riding on the beach: This was on my buck list and my two-hour ride did not disappoint. I went with Los Padres Outfitters and highly recommend them whether you\’re a first-time rider or totally seasoned.

Old Mission Santa Barbara: One of the historic sites to see whilst in town. As a fan of the book, Island of the Blue Dolphins, I was especially moved to see the plaque here dedicated to the heroine of the book. The rose garden right across is the perfect place for a picnic.

Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens: A cool and beautiful place that\’s easy to walk around with also a little history thrown in.

Eat

One of the things I miss the most about Santa Barbara? The food. From the local hole in the wall joints to the cream of the crop restaurants, Santa Barbara has the best food around. Sometimes I\’ll drive back up just for sushi – it\’s that good.

Sushi: Sakana is a small Montecito Sushi spot was my regular go to and I never miss a chance to eat here when I\’m in town. If you can\’t make it to Montecito, Arigato Sushi on State Street is a close second (and caters to larger parties)

Mexican: Cava is always a good place for a treat or celebration. The food and service is the best and the menu truly exceptional. The atmosphere is charming – grab an outdoor seat if you can. If that\’s not within your budget, Los Arroyos – both downtown and in Montecito – have the best budget Mexican food and it\’s a true locally run, family owned business. My favourite? The ceviche!

Family/Locals: Really great food, atmosphere and prices, these have been my staple restaurants to go to with family and friends. Arnoldi\’s is a long-time classic local place with bocce courts out back. Opal\’s menu and the atmosphere is fantastic and Trattoria Victoria is a classic local Italian restaurant that I\’ve gone back to time and time again. For breakfast, Jeannines can\’t be beaten. I love the Montecito location but their downtown one has the most seating and easy access. And if you have food allergies like gluten, Savoy has the best options from gluten free toast and sandwiches. It\’s also a tea lovers paradise.

Backyard Bowls has several locations and is a great, cheap, healthy way to have breakfast with their different types of breakfast bowls and smoothies (with gluten free options). My favourite is the warm Quinoa bowl.

Coffee: My go-to for coffee is Handlebar. If you want something that has an Instagrammable outdoor space or really fancy, unique coffees, Caje on State street is a great option. Dune coffee is another favourite (their Tres Leches is so good).

Juice: There\’s a lot of juice options in Santa Barbara but the best is the local Juice Ranch. It\’s all organic, made in house, and really, really good. The Little Miss Sunshine is the perfect morning perk up if coffee isn\’t your thing.

Drinking: The Lounge at the Four Seasons Santa Barbara is a classic and local favourite but if you need something hipper, closer to downtown or want a lot of options, The Funk Zone is where you want to be. Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company for beer and the Santa Barbara Wine Collective for, well, wine are my regular stops.

Shop

Santa Barbara: My absolute favourite shop is The Shopkeepers. They have great clothes, unique jewelery and home bits and you need to go in their dressing rooms, trust me! Daini Home carries my favourite candles and is great for home goods and gifts. Wendy Foster on State Street is one of my favourite clothing botiques and Folio Press is my favourite paper, card and gift shop.

Summerland: if you like home decor, Summerland is the place to go. I’ve bought (too much?) from the Summerland Antique Collecive, Botanik and Porch. A really unique experience is Sacred Space, which sells crystals and new age things but it has so many winding nooks and crannies and a stunning outdoor garden space. Totally worth exploring. There’s also the fancier The Well, which is mostly outdoor and incredibly stunning.

Montecito Country Mart: has one of my favourite clothing stores, Doen. Claire V bags are here as well as Hudson Grace and a few other unique botiques. There’s also ice cream, pizzing and coffee shops so it’s a great little outing.