Our favorite place to grab a coffee and a croissant (the croissants are from Renaud's Bakery and are excellent!).
A hip place within walking distance of the hotels to grab breakfast and coffee.
A French bistro and bakery. Good for breakfast. Also another good breakfast/lunch option is Cruchcakes Cafe, which is across the street.
The public market is a good place for a bunch of relatively inexpensive food options. If you're in a group and you can't settle on what to eat -- this is the place. The Mexican, Italian, and BBQ places are all great. There are also two bars for beer and wine.
Hip, causal spot in the Funk Zone for dinner and drinks. The margs and tacos are delicious.
This is a great, but fairly pricey California-style restaurant in the Funk Zone. We had our first date here. Make a reservation the week before!
This little restaurant is an offshoot of the Lark in the Funk Zone -- it's an order-at-the-counter spot for pizza, salads and sandwiches.
This is a delicious, but fairly pricey Spanish restaurant in the Funk Zone. It's all tapas style and is particularly good for a group because you can try a bunch of stuff. We went here to celebrate Corey's UCSB graduation AND to celebrate Stef and Corey's engagement! Make a reservation!
A good spot in the Funk Zone for SB-style eats. It is all outdoor seating (so bring a jacket), and is order-at-the-bar style. Tri-Tip recommended!
This is just one of many spots to go for drinks in the Funk Zone. Attached to Lama Dog is a brewery and a winery. They serve food. Also go down the street for endless wineries, Figueroa Mountain Brewery, Test Pilot for tiki cocktails, and much more.
This place is known for their amazing views and deck seating! Stef's mom loved this spot.
A Santa Barbara classic.
Looking for fun things to do with kids? Check out the zoo or click the link below for more ideas.
One of the nicest beaches in the area. If the tide is low, walk south along the beach to get to some of our other favorite beaches (Hammond's and Miramar). If you get thirsty or hungry, check out the patio at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore across the street.
One of the great hikes close to town. The Jesusita trailhead and the Tunnel trailhead both go to Inspiration Point. Jesusita is longer and has less people (it's a great hike even if you don't get all the way to inspiration point).
Another favorite hike near town! Much of it is shady which can be nice on a hot day.
Douglas preserve is a lovely park for a stroll along the bluffs! Walk down to the Boathouse at Hendry's beach and grab a drink or a snack after a walk (they have great happy hour deals, 3-6 PM Sun-Thurs). Otherwise, continue your walk at Elings Park across the street.