Paul & Mercedes' Guidebook
Food scene
Ca'Dario Cucina Italiana
250 Storke RdBest Italian food in Goleta!
One of the best restaurants in SB (located in the Funk Zone - downtown SB).
*Make a reservation - they often book weeks in advance
* If they are booked you can try still try and get a seat at the bar :)
64 locals recommend
Loquita Santa Barbara
202 State StOne of the best restaurants in SB (located in the Funk Zone - downtown SB).
*Make a reservation - they often book weeks in advance
* If they are booked you can try still try and get a seat at the bar :)
Milk & Honey
30 W Anapamu StHip tapas place & great cocktails (upper - downtown SB)
Sama Sama Kitchen
1208 State StSuper cool Indonesian spot, great cocktails (upper-downtown SB)
Best ambiance in SB - and great Mediterranean food!
Great date-night spot.
57 locals recommend
Zaytoon
209 E Canon Perdido StBest ambiance in SB - and great Mediterranean food!
Great date-night spot.
Best view in SB - great brunch, seafood, & cocktails.
Take a walk on Hendry's beach after!
223 locals recommend
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach
2981 Cliff DrBest view in SB - great brunch, seafood, & cocktails.
Take a walk on Hendry's beach after!
Classic SB local seafood spot - great view of the Harbor - & best Bloody Mary's in town!
*The wait time is usually 30-45 min but they have a bar downstairs where you can wait - you can also walk along the breakwater until your table is called :)
203 locals recommend
Brophy Bros.
119 Harbor WayClassic SB local seafood spot - great view of the Harbor - & best Bloody Mary's in town!
*The wait time is usually 30-45 min but they have a bar downstairs where you can wait - you can also walk along the breakwater until your table is called :)
Arigato Sushi
1225 State StReally good, high-end sushi (upper-downtown SB).
Oliver's
1198 Coast Village RdAmazing vegan restaurant in Montecito - beautiful patio.
PANINO Goleta
5666 Calle RealGreat sandwiches (lunch only) - locations in Goleta & SB.
Great bakery & breakfast/brunch in Goleta - other locations in SB.
117 locals recommend
Jeannine's Restaurant & Bakery
1253 Coast Village RdGreat bakery & breakfast/brunch in Goleta - other locations in SB.
TAP Thai Cuisine
Great Thai food close by.
Authentic Mexican food - have been going here for 35 years - so good!
96 locals recommend
La Super-Rica Taqueria
622 N Milpas StAuthentic Mexican food - have been going here for 35 years - so good!
Bars/Breweries/Wineries
Lama Dog Tap Room + Bottle Shop
116 Santa Barbara StGreat brewery in the Funk Zone (downtown SB).
Cool spot on lower State Street for beer, cocktails, and Cuban-inspired food.
8 locals recommend
Shaker Mill
418 State StCool spot on lower State Street for beer, cocktails, and Cuban-inspired food.
BEST BAR in Goleta (& maybe SB!).
Really cool speak-easy/mid-century ambiance - fab cocktails!
11 locals recommend
The Imperial Lounge
320 S Kellogg AveBEST BAR in Goleta (& maybe SB!).
Really cool speak-easy/mid-century ambiance - fab cocktails!
Captain Fatty's Brewery
6489 Calle RealGreat Goleta brewery walking distance from our house!
SAMsARA Wine Co.
6485 Calle RealReally good wine in Goleta, walking distance from our house!
Neighborhood
Located on lower State Street, across from the beach & pier - lots of really good restaurants, bars, wineries, shops, and art galleries. Great place to walk around and spend the day.
54 locals recommend
The Funk Zone
137 Anacapa StLocated on lower State Street, across from the beach & pier - lots of really good restaurants, bars, wineries, shops, and art galleries. Great place to walk around and spend the day.
Sightseeing
Take a tour of the historic Mission or just visit the Rose Garden (right in front of the Mission).
Great place to picnic.
72 locals recommend
Mission Rose Garden
420 Plaza RubioTake a tour of the historic Mission or just visit the Rose Garden (right in front of the Mission).
Great place to picnic.
Lotusland
Cold Spring RoadWorld-famous botanic garden & estate in Montecito.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
1212 Mission Canyon RdBeautiful botanic garden in the foothills of SB.
Santa Barbara Harbor
132-A Harbor WayWalk along the breakwater for excellent views of SB.
Classic Western barn with scenic trail rides in the Santa Ynez Valley (Mercedes rides here weekly)
Nojoqui Horse Ranch
3000 Alisal RoadClassic Western barn with scenic trail rides in the Santa Ynez Valley (Mercedes rides here weekly)
Beautiful botanic park in downtown SB with duck pond, lawn, & trails.
33 locals recommend
Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens
1500 Santa Barbara StBeautiful botanic park in downtown SB with duck pond, lawn, & trails.
Beaches
Beautiful beach in Montecito.
Have a cocktail at the Biltmore' Four Season's bar after (Paul & Mercedes had their first date here).
145 locals recommend
Butterfly Beach
Beautiful beach in Montecito.
Have a cocktail at the Biltmore' Four Season's bar after (Paul & Mercedes had their first date here).
Beautiful SB beach - you can let your dogs off-leash here:)
The Boathouse Restaurant is also located here.
155 locals recommend
Hendrys Beach
Beautiful SB beach - you can let your dogs off-leash here:)
The Boathouse Restaurant is also located here.
Great beach downtown SB with beach volleyball courts :)
13 locals recommend
East Beach Volleyball Courts
East Cabrillo BoulevardGreat beach downtown SB with beach volleyball courts :)
Best Goleta Beach - great kayaking & beginner surfing spot. Located in Isla Vista/UCSB campus.
Nice walking trail along the bluffs too!
Devereux Beach
Slough RoadBest Goleta Beach - great kayaking & beginner surfing spot. Located in Isla Vista/UCSB campus.
Nice walking trail along the bluffs too!
Trails
Beautiful park on the Mesa with nice (short) walking trail and views of SB beaches.
65 locals recommend
Shoreline Park
Shoreline Dr & Santa Rosa PlaceBeautiful park on the Mesa with nice (short) walking trail and views of SB beaches.
Only a block from our house!
Beautiful walking trails around the lake - keep your eyes peeled for swans, bunnies, coyotes (they aren't dangerous-just give them space), and hawks!
6 locals recommend
Lake Los Carneros
Only a block from our house!
Beautiful walking trails around the lake - keep your eyes peeled for swans, bunnies, coyotes (they aren't dangerous-just give them space), and hawks!
Cold Spring Trailhead
811 Cold Spring TrailBeautiful intermediate hike in Montecito - great views.
Lizards Mouth Rock
Great bouldering & great views of SB & Goleta
Santa Ynez Valley Wineries
The Santa Ynez Valley is famous for it's wine production (recently named best wine region by Wine Enthusiast).
Best known for Pinot Noirs (the film SIDEWAYS takes place here).
Best kept secret in the SB Wine Region - you will need to make a reservation.
Beautiful drive (about 45 min from our house) through the Santa Ynez Valley.
19 locals recommend
Demetria Winery & Vineyard
6701 Foxen Canyon RdBest kept secret in the SB Wine Region - you will need to make a reservation.
Beautiful drive (about 45 min from our house) through the Santa Ynez Valley.
Amazing Austrian varietals in this quaint tasting room in Los Olivos (Santa Ynez).
Solminer Wine Company
2890 Grand AvenueAmazing Austrian varietals in this quaint tasting room in Los Olivos (Santa Ynez).
Rusack Vineyards
1819 Ballard Canyon RdGreat location/views (& wine!) 5 minutes outside Los Olivos.
Carhartt Vineyard
2939 Grand AveFun, young scene (& good wine!) in Los Olivos.