Things To Do
Bob's Well Bread at the Ballard Store
Bob’s Well Bread Bakery of Los Alamos fame recently opened a second outpost in the adorable hamlet of Ballard, the smallest and oldest community in the Santa Ynez Valley. The café occupies the historic Ballard Store space. Here, you’ll find a similar delectable menu of baked goods and made-to-order brunchy eats as the Los Alamos original. While you’re in the neighborhood, don’t miss the 1883 Little Red Schoolhouse and say “hi” to the miniature donkeys.
Dos Carlitos Restaurant & Tequila Bar
If you’re craving the flavors of Mexico, Dos Carlitos has you good and covered. Open daily, the upscale Mexican eatery is noted for its attention to detail, from the handmade tortillas and meats off the Parilla. Pair the Mexican specialties like enchiladas verde and pork pozole with award-winning tequila and mezcal cocktails.
S.Y. Kitchen
Another Valley standout tucked in the Wild Western town of Santa Ynez, SY Kitchen serves elegantly modern Italian fare in an airy farmhouse with lovely patios. The lunch and dinner menu features salads, handmade pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and grilled meat and fish dishes. Their craft cocktail program is a big draw, too—expect innovative mixology and a rotating line-up of seasonal sips.
Bar Le Côte
Upscale dining is prevalent in Los Olivos, starting with coastal cooking at Michelin-Plate-awarded Bar Le Côte, an unsuspecting blue-painted tavern in the quaint town of Los Olivos, where executive chef/co-owner Brad Mathews is firing up coastal California-inspired plates influenced by the rich heritage of Spanish and Portuguese cuisine. From fresh clams and oysters to flavorful paella and dry aged branzino dishes, the heart and soul of this restaurant lies in its love for the sea.
Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe
A former stagecoach stop dating back to the 1860s, Los Olivos is home to dozens of wine tasting rooms, art galleries, and upscale boutiques. Los Olivos Café & Wine Merchant is a delightful lunch and dinner spot that doubles as a wine shop, so you know the wine list is solid and hyper-local. Their menu features a variety of farm-fresh salads as well as sandwiches, pastas, and burgers.
Mattei's Tavern
The Tavern at The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern takes ranch-inspired cuisine (and interior design) to another level. Many ingredients on the menu are harvested from the resort’s on-site garden and sourced from local farmers. Feel right at home in the countryside while indulging in the restaurant’s acclaimed elevated, seasonal dishes.
Nella Kitchen & Bar
The newest kid on the block is Nella Kitchen & Bar. The latest project from the same team of Italian natives behind SY Kitchen, Nella currently serves dinner Thursday through Sunday evenings. The menu features Roman Flatbreads known as “Pinsas,” creative salads, and beautifully plated mains like orate, duck, and filet mignon. As with SY Kitchen, the cocktail offerings are top shelf and the wine list is a blend of Santa Barbara County and European vintages.
Hitching Post II
You’ll want an empty stomach for dinner at Hitching Post II. This family-owned and operated steakhouse was a local favorite long before Sideways made it famous. Hitching Post is equally beloved for its steaks (grilled over an open fire of red oak) as it is for its Hitching Post label pinot noir selection. In traditional, old-school steakhouse style, entrees come with ample portions of starters, sides, and dessert. Hitching Post is currently serving dinner in their large outdoor tent illuminated with twinkling lights. You can also experience their grilled flavors with lunch at the adjunct Hitching Post Wine tasting room next door.
Industrial Eats
Tucked in an unassuming industrial park in Buellton where many wineries have production facilities, Industrial Eats is a casual eatery with serious culinary cred—known for their comprehensive butcher shop selection—think ribeye, foie gras, oysters, duck, rabbit, and sea urchin. With a menu category of “not pizza” populated by salads and sandwiches, you know the pizza is damn good here, too. Pop over to their neighbor Alma Rosa Winery for a tasting pre or post-feast.
The Tavern at Zaca Creek
Locals were over the moon to see the recent return of The Tavern at Zaca Creek. After decades of being shuttered, the beloved Buellton haunt has been reborn and reimagined. The iconic landmark property is once again home to an inviting rustic-chic restaurant and bar with lunch and dinner (including expanded hours for Sunday brunch). The menu features a range of meat, fish, and poultry dishes and also caters to vegans and vegetarians with daily selections of plant-based creations.
Coast Range
Coast Range, a unique eatery that gets its inspiration from a variety of global cuisines, resides right in the heart of Solvang. It showcases dishes of the land and sea variety, with high-quality favorites like local rock crab, wagyu beef and black cod and has earned a Michelin Plate ranking.
First & Oak
Solvang dishes out much more than traditional Scandinavian fare and baked goods these days. If you time your visit for a Wednesday through Sunday night, book a dinner reservation at First & Oak. Considered one of the valley’s most sought-after dining experiences, the Michelin-endorsed eatery invites you to customize your own tasting menu.
PANINO Solvang
If you’re seeking quality takeaway picnic fare to bring to a winery, Panino is a reliable local sandwich shop with locations around Santa Barbara County. The menu features 30 different sandwich creations, so there will be something for every dietary preference on the spectrum.
Paula's Pancake House
Naturally, the Danish Village of Solvang is renowned for its Danish cuisine, particularly the baked goods and made-to-order breakfasts. Paula’s Pancake House is a classic—as the line of patrons awaiting tables will reveal. The thin Danish style pancakes and scrumptious aebleskivers (like a hybrid of a pancake and donut) are well worth the wait. After your meal, you can pop into Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery for some sweets to-go.
peasants FEAST
Don’t let the name fool you—Peasants Feast boasts a decadent selection of dishes fit for a king and has deservedly landed itself a Bib Gourmand ranking. Inspired by classic Californian cuisine and seasonal farm-to-table fare, you’ll find items like the savory mushroom toast, fresh baby gem salad and a mouth-watering pastrami smoked salmon sandwich on the menu.
Ramen Kotori
Ramen Kotori is another Solvang standout created by a husband and wife team who have worked in some of California’s finest kitchens. Ballard Inn’s Budi Kazali is also a partner in their endeavor. Currently serving lunch and dinner, the Japanese-inspired menu features small bites like bao bun with pork belly and crispy chicken, plus a variety of ramen dishes. There’s even a kid-friendly menu with simpler items to appeal to younger palates.
Brewer-Clifton Tasting Room
Founded in 1996, Brewer-Clifton wines are a reflection of the geographic, geologic and climatic uniqueness of California’s Sta. Rita Hills appellation in Santa Barbara County. Founder and Winemaker Greg Brewer has spent the entirety of his three-decade career dedicated to crafting cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from this finite stretch of land.
Dragonette Cellars
As vignerons, they have committed themselves, above all else, to the mindful farming of precise blocks in exceptional vineyards for low yields and high quality and to the shepherding of these grapes into wines of purity, complexity and balance. Given the remarkable climatic and soil diversity in Santa Barbara County, Dragonette Cellars produces small lots of Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah of interest and distinction.
Liquid Farm Tasting Room
The name Liquid Farm describes the authentic nature of wine (liquid from farming), and reflects our strong belief that all great wines start in the vineyard. It is truly all about selecting the right locations and the highest quality fruit, then allowing the varietal and regional typicity to shine through from vineyard to glass.
Petros Winery & Restaurant
For the first time since Petros opened his restaurants, Petros Winery will offer California wines for sale. Fine culinary products carefully crafted and delivered at peak quality from his hometown of Iaonnian, Greece, and the Epirus Mountains include; extra virgin olive oil, feta, oregano, volo olives, yogurt and honey.
Stolpman Vineyards - Los Olivos Tasting Room
Over 20 years ago, our Founding Partner, Tom Stolpman, discovered what we believe to be one of the greatest viticultural sites on earth. Hidden in the hills of California’s Central Coast, on a rare Limestone outcropping & unobstructed from the Pacific Ocean wind, this unique land is naturally suited to grow Syrah and Roussanne grapes. We are committed to preserving this natural environment for our vines through conscious farming, dry farming, & sustainable employment. In the winery, we prefer native fermentation & minimal manipulation.
Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards
Alma Rosa Winery is situated on the north-facing slopes of the Santa Rosa Hills in Santa Barbara County. Our wines are layered, vibrant and balanced, and they reflect the special terroir of the Sta.Rita Hills, which benefits from cool Pacific Ocean breezes funneled inland through the unique transverse mountain range of our region.
Buttonwood Farm & Vineyard
This local gem has quickly grown to become one of the best Santa Ynez wineries, and for more reasons than their fabulous Bordeaux and Rhone wines. The 106-acre farm is also abundant with bounties like olives, pomegranates, vegetables, and their famous peaches.
Casa Cassara Winery & Vineyard
Recognized as Solvang’s best winery in 2020, this local favorite is an Italian wine lover’s dream. And it’s also one of the most frequented hangout spots in town. And yes, we do subscribe the fact that this is one of the best wineries in Solvang CA!
Lavender Oak Vineyard
A long time dream of Dean and Christi Heck, Lavender Oak Vineyard was established in 2010 as a family run operation. This means all wines are made in small batches, on our estate, with special attention to organic methods; no pesticides, herbicides or harmful chemicals. From harvest to bottling & labeling, each bottle is delicately and meticulously composed; a labor of LOV.
Bibi Ji
Bibi Ji wowed locals and visitors alike when it debuted in 2018, giving the city its first contemporary Indian cuisine restaurant. A partnership between owners Alejandro Medina and James Beard award-winning sommelier Rajat Parr, Bibi Ji’s menu includes playful spins on Indian classics and street food that make for a delectable dinner in Santa Barbara. Order the Uni Biryani, a “local delight” topped with and served inside a freshly caught, local sea urchin.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach
It’s pretty hard to beat the oceanfront location of Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach, but it’s the quality of food and drink that really keeps patrons coming back for more. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the family-friendly Boathouse menu runs the gamut from eggs benedict and fish tacos to burgers and classic wedge salads. Seafood lovers are in heaven here thanks to the raw bar offerings and variety of fresh catch.
The Lark Santa Barbara
The Lark instantly became a “new classic” when it opened in the Funk Zone. Busy and buzzy since day one, this expansive farm-to-fork restaurant is stylish, relaxed and 100% delicious. Executive chef Jason Paluska’s seasonal menu changes frequently enough to keep it interesting month after month. Family-style portion sizes are excellent value for the price point and its craft cocktail program is another tasty draw.
La Super-Rica Taqueria
The most casual and budget-friendly eatery on our list, La Super Rica Taqueria is a humble taqueria on Milpas Street. The late Julia Child couldn’t get enough of the authentic, flavorful Mexican far and often brought her visiting food critic and chef friends to taste the goodness for themselves. The consistent lines out the door are a testament to her endorsement and the quality of the food, which is indeed worthy of a pilgrimage.
Loquita Santa Barbara
Spanish-style tapas is the specialty at Loquita, an always hopping, dinner-only restaurant in the Funk Zone. Chef Nikolas Ramirez concocts beautiful interpretations of traditional Spanish cuisine using Santa Barbara County’s abundance of fresh produce. The menu is comprised of hot and cold tapas, seasonal paellas, and wood-fired grilled seafood and meats. Loquita’s cocktail program—one of the best in town—pays tribute to Spanish classics.
Masala Spice Indian Cuisine
We at Masala Spice pride ourselves in bringing to you the true interpretation of our culture presented through our Menu, which will directly transport you to the peaceful mountains of Himalayas through the southern backwaters of Kerala as we still enjoy the great flavors from the home of the Majestic Bengal Tiger and end our voyage with the mouth-watering desserts from the vast lands of Gujrat, which will be the true gist of the Vacation you’ve been planning Forever.
Nikka Ramen
Nikka Ramen serves up traditional Japanese ramen, cooking our Tonkotsu broth for over 24 hours. This makes our delicious ramen soup a milky white color and gives it that unique Nikka Ramen savory flavor. Come try Nikka Ramen yourself at our Goleta, CA location and experience quality ramen in the Santa Barabara area.
Sama Sama Kitchen
If you’re looking to dine somewhere that feels effortlessly hip and contemporary with a kick of spice, get yourself to the Michelin Bib Gourmand-approved Sama Sama Kitchen. The lunch and dinner restaurant features Southeast Asian fusion-style cuisine prepared with ingredients sourced from local farms. It’s truly unlike anything else in town and the bright, innovative flavors will not disappoint.
Santa Barbara Public Market
Technically, Santa Barbara’s original food hall is more than one restaurant. However, given it’s the perfect place for grazing between multiple spots (two in particular that you need to add to your must-try list), we are counting it as one for the purposes of this list. Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar serves warming and flavorful Thai-inspired noodle dishes and Corazon Cocina satisfies Mexican cravings with its Guadalajara-style street food.
