Santa Barbara & Montecito Restaurants
119 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA
One restaurant that should be on your dining list is Brophy Bros, a seafood restaurant on the Santa Barbara Harbor. Customers can enjoy clam chowder bowls, fish and chips, and other staples of coastal cuisine while sitting outside and viewing the marina. Brophy Bros is known for its signature clam bar and Bloody Marys.
2981 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA
Another great dining spot is the Boathouse at Hendry's Beach, where you can enjoy delicious local seafood and stunning ocean views. The laid-back atmosphere and beachfront location make it a perfect spot for a relaxing meal or happy hour with friends. The restaurant serves all meals and is known for its seasonal dishes with daily caught seafood. The raw bar features ceviches, oyster shots, sea urchins, baked clams, and local stone crab claws.
134 E Canon Perdido St, Santa Barbara, CA
If you want to dine at a cozy cafe with delicious baked goods, look no further than Alessia Patisserie and Cafe. Located in downtown Santa Barbara, this European-style bakery is known for its delectable pastries, bread, and cakes baked fresh daily. With a charming interior, friendly staff, and mouth-watering treats, it is the perfect spot for a delicious meal or afternoon coffee.
900 San Ysidro Ln, Santa Barbara, CA
For a truly luxurious dining experience, make reservations at The Stonehouse Restaurant at San Ysidro Ranch. This restaurant is in the tranquil hills of Montecito and features an upscale menu focusing on locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients. Diners can enjoy their meal in a romantic and rustic setting, with stone walls, cozy fireplaces, and elegant chandeliers. The Stonehouse also offers an extensive wine list and signature dishes like plant-based cuisine, chickpea and artichoke cake, and Alaskan halibut.
3888 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Chuck's has been an upper State Street institution since 1967. It serves steaks, fresh fish and a salad bar that Independent readers voted the best in town in 2026, and it's a classic Santa Barbara night out that hasn't tried to reinvent itself.
3313 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Harry's Plaza Cafe is a classic American diner in Santa Barbara serving comfort food for over 50 years. It's a local favorite with friendly service, homestyle cooking, and a casual atmosphere. Featuring both indoor and outdoor dining, in addition to takeout, it's the perfect place to stop for a quick bite. Try some of their staples like the "Famous Dips" sandwiches or the beer-battered fish 'n' chips.
1279 Coast Village Rd, Montecito, CA 93108
Lucky's Steakhouse is a classic American steakhouse in Santa Barbara serving USDA prime steaks, seafood, and cocktails in an upscale atmosphere. It's a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. Featuring an attractive old-school bar with wainscoted walls, Lucky's is a great place to grab a drink with a friend, enjoy a tasty brunch, or dine on a delicious dinner from their expansive menu.
1255 Coast Village Rd STE 101, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Honor Bar is a chic cocktail bar in Montecito, Santa Barbara, with a focus on classic cocktails and small plates. It's a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, and it's known for its friendly service and sophisticated atmosphere. One unique aspect of Honor Bar that patrons love is its exhibitionist kitchen, which allows everyone to be in on the action. They highlight the in-person dining experience and are a great option when looking for an upscale, romantic spot.
29 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Oku is an intimate Japanese restaurant in Santa Barbara serving omakase, or chef's choice, sushi, and other Japanese dishes. It's known for its fresh, high-quality ingredients and creative dishes, while also balancing an enticing and welcoming atmosphere. With a large emphasis on hospitality and catering to guests' needs, Oku consistently delivers a delightful, beachfront dining experience.
101 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Another beachfront oasis, Santa Barbara FisHouse is a seafood restaurant in Santa Barbara known for its fresh seafood, outdoor patio, and stunning ocean views. Along with ensuring the freshest ingredients, they also aim to source as much of their menu locally as possible, in order to support the surrounding community. Paired with fantastic service from their expert team, Santa Barbara FisHouse is a much-loved spot that many return to again and again.
1208 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
A Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand recipient, Sama Sama Kitchen brings its Southeast Asian dishes to life with locally sourced ingredients. The welcoming interior is perfect for the Sama Sama idyllic downtown State Street location, next door to The Granada Theatre and across the street from the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
1014 Coast Village Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Lively as it is delicious, Bettina is a stylishly hip pizzeria with a vibe to match its Coast Village setting. Serving up a near-endless list of creative wood-fired pies that honor Italian tradition, there's no wrong choice to be made from the menu, simply the right choice for whatever your pizza craving may be. Located at the Montecito Country Mart, Bettina is a great spot for dinner and drinks with friends.
1201 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Chefs Peter Lee and Felicia Medina cook playful, Asian-inspired small plates and bao from a downtown corner on Anacapa, drawing on Korean, Japanese and Chinese cooking with a few surprises from other cuisines. The menu changes often and the room is lively, so book ahead on weekends.
622 N Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Sometimes the best food a city offers isn't located in tony digs, doesn't come with $100 bottles of wine, or even has a website where you can peruse the menu. Spots such as Santa Barbara's taco-centric La Super-Rica Taqueria succeed in the simple fact that in the culinary world, outstanding, authentic food trumps everything else. To be sure, waits are long, and it's cash only, but it's hard to argue against a place that Julia Child considered one of her favorites.
EXPLORE
9 West Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Many restaurants excel in fresh farm-to-table fare, but few do so with the warmth, elegance, and sophistication of Bouchon Santa Barbara. Sourcing as much as it can from the local land and sea, Bouchon also frames its culinary experience around its proximity to Santa Barbara Wine Country. Indeed, with an extensive list of wines native to California's South Central Coast, this is Santa Barbara's most authentically local fine dining experience.
205 W. Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Executive chef and co-owner Julian Martinez cooks Central Coast–rooted California food that is creative without being fussy. Barbareño is in the 2026 Michelin Guide, and Independent readers voted it best for service in 2026.
38 W. Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
The Public Market is a food hall a block off State Street. Vendors include Corazon Cocina (a Michelin Bib Gourmand), Rori's Artisanal Creamery, Ca' Dario Pizzeria Veloce and Empty Bowl noodles, so it's an easy stop when everyone in the group wants something different.
324 W Cabrillo Boulevard, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Waterfront dining doesn't get much better than Toma Restaurant & Bar overlooking the Santa Barbara Harbor. Tucked between two hotels on West Cabrillo Boulevard, the elegantly relaxed yet wonderfully romantic Toma serves Italian-inspired Mediterranean fare in a cozy, historic setting. Regularly regarded as one of Santa Barbara's top-rated restaurants, it's the perfect experience for any occasion.
18 E. Cota Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Owner Ruben Perez's downtown restaurant serves a seasonal, brasserie-leaning menu in a warm, intimate room, plus a Saturday brunch. It also hosts occasional themed dinners and collaborations with other local restaurants.
202 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
A Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand recipient, the Spanish-fueled Loquita easily earns the distinction. The bright, open dining room feels much larger than its relatively small capacity suggests and is awash in colorful tiles and bold wood accents. The welcoming bar is a favorite of patrons who love partaking in Loquita's signature cocktails, including hyper-creative takes on the classic gin and tonic. The tapas, however, are the real star of the show with a dizzying variety of options, including yellowtail, charred asparagus, prawns, and Mediterranean branzino.
901 East Cabrillo Boulevard, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Situated in the Santa Barbara Inn, directly across the street from East Beach and the Pacific coastline, Convivo offers the best of indulgent-Italian cuisine in a comfortable resort-style atmosphere. The two-story mirrored dining room welcomes those partaking in Convivo's house-made pasta or main dishes of halibut or bone-in ribeye. The outdoor patio, which ranks among Santa Barbara's best, beckons those seeking an ocean breeze and signature cocktails at happy hour, or a low-key spot to sample delicious wood oven pizza and flatbread.
131 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
The Lark opened in 2013 in a former fish market in the Funk Zone and helped turn the neighborhood into a dining destination. The shareable plates are built around Central Coast ingredients, and the restaurant is in the 2026 Michelin Guide.
1759 South Jameson Lane, Montecito, CA 93108
Caruso's holds one Michelin star and a Michelin Green Star. Chef-Partner Massimo Falsini cooks a seasonal coastal Italian menu built on what local fishermen and farmers bring in, served as a prix fixe or chef's tasting menu in a dining room right on the sand. Reserve well ahead.
224 Helena Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Chef Lennon Silvers Lee runs this 10-seat omakase counter in the Funk Zone, which holds one Michelin star. Fish comes from local waters and Japan, much of it dry-aged, and everyone is seated at once for a single service. Open Tuesday through Saturday.
1198 Coast Village Road, Montecito, CA 93108
Monte's opened on Coast Village Road in March 2026. Chef Daniel Kim cooks California food with a Korean influence, using produce from the restaurant's own Rincon Hill Farm in Carpinteria, and the Michelin Guide already lists it.
516 San Ysidro Road, Montecito, CA 93108
Chef Diego Moya cooks globally influenced California dishes from local ingredients in an intimate dining room in Montecito's Upper Village. It's in the 2026 Michelin Guide. Reservations are recommended, and the bar takes walk-ins.
37 E. Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Dario Furlati's Northern Italian restaurant has been a downtown standby for years, and Independent readers voted it Best Italian Restaurant in 2026. Expect well-made pastas, grilled dishes and a deep Italian wine list, and reserve ahead on weekends.
512 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Holdren's serves mesquite-grilled steaks and seafood in a saloon-style room on lower State Street, with a long wine list. Independent readers voted it Best Steak House in 2026.
1151 Coast Village Road, Montecito, CA 93108
Tre Lune is a classic Italian spot on Coast Village Road serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu covers pastas, osso buco, veal scaloppini and fresh fish, with patio seating and a full bar.