Parks & Nature
Great walking/jogging route, cliff side ocean views, beautiful at sunrise or sunset. Look for dolphins, whales, and hang gliders! Off leash dog park, so be prepared for friendly pooches.
81 locals recommend
Douglas Family Preserve
Great walking/jogging route, cliff side ocean views, beautiful at sunrise or sunset. Look for dolphins, whales, and hang gliders! Off leash dog park, so be prepared for friendly pooches.
Also known as Hendry's Beach, try the Boathouse for a sit down dinner where you can watch the waves break and the sun set. If at Mesa Steps Beach, its about 1/2 mile walk to Arroyo Burro.
41 locals recommend
Arroyo Burro Beach
Cliff DrAlso known as Hendry's Beach, try the Boathouse for a sit down dinner where you can watch the waves break and the sun set. If at Mesa Steps Beach, its about 1/2 mile walk to Arroyo Burro.
Steep steps lead down the bluffs to a stretch of beach frequented only by locals. Secluded and peaceful, but be prepared for a lot of steps!
21 locals recommend
Mesa Lane Steps
Steep steps lead down the bluffs to a stretch of beach frequented only by locals. Secluded and peaceful, but be prepared for a lot of steps!
The grown up sanctuary park across the street from Kid's world. A calm lovely natural landscaped feel with a pond with turtles and fishes. A nice spot to rest and relax downtown.
35 locals recommend
Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens
Alice Keck Park Memorial GardensThe grown up sanctuary park across the street from Kid's world. A calm lovely natural landscaped feel with a pond with turtles and fishes. A nice spot to rest and relax downtown.
Food Scene
Great sit-down Mexican restaurant. Friendly service, relaxed, low lit, family run place with great food.
35 locals recommend
Rose Cafe
1816 Cliff DrGreat sit-down Mexican restaurant. Friendly service, relaxed, low lit, family run place with great food.
Pascucci
509 State StItalian Restaurant on State Street. Delicious, and affordable!
Santa Barbara landmark Cajun cuisine restaurant just off State St.
38 locals recommend
The Palace Grill
8 E Cota StSanta Barbara landmark Cajun cuisine restaurant just off State St.
Best breakfast in Santa Barbara hands down. Huge portions, great prices, three locations! Don't forget to ask for apple butter to go with your cornbread!
34 locals recommend
Cajun Kitchen Cafe
1924 De La Vina StBest breakfast in Santa Barbara hands down. Huge portions, great prices, three locations! Don't forget to ask for apple butter to go with your cornbread!
Happy Hour restaurant right on the beach. Enjoy dinner and drinks while watching the waves break. Brunch is great also!
223 locals recommend
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach
2981 Cliff DrHappy Hour restaurant right on the beach. Enjoy dinner and drinks while watching the waves break. Brunch is great also!
Ichiban Sushi
1812 Cliff DrSushi Restaurant just down the hill
Szechuan Restaurant
1994 Cliff DrGreat local Chinese restaurant
If you want to eat like a local, try this delicious steakhouse. A Santa Barbara staple for 47 years, this steak and seafood restaurant doesn't advertise and has thrived on local custom.
17 locals recommend
Chuck's of Hawaii
3888 State StIf you want to eat like a local, try this delicious steakhouse. A Santa Barbara staple for 47 years, this steak and seafood restaurant doesn't advertise and has thrived on local custom.
Busy Family-Style Italian Restaurant, with enormous portions, excellent food, value and service. Self serve wine, and the best garlic rolls ever.
6 locals recommend
Palazzio
1026 State StBusy Family-Style Italian Restaurant, with enormous portions, excellent food, value and service. Self serve wine, and the best garlic rolls ever.
College favorite. Fresh quick Mexican food, This is THE original Freebirds. Everything is fresh, everything is delicious, every ingredient is top quality; plenty of healthy options.
19 locals recommend
Freebirds
879 Embarcadero del NorteCollege favorite. Fresh quick Mexican food, This is THE original Freebirds. Everything is fresh, everything is delicious, every ingredient is top quality; plenty of healthy options.
Cielito specializes in Mexican/Latin American dishes located on the upper end of Downtown in a beautiful plaza behind the Art Museum. Great for lunch or dinner!
18 locals recommend
La Playa Azul Cafe
914 Santa Barbara StCielito specializes in Mexican/Latin American dishes located on the upper end of Downtown in a beautiful plaza behind the Art Museum. Great for lunch or dinner!
One of the best places in SB for a light breakfast. Fantastic fresh baked pastries and baked goods, try their almond croissants. Open for Breakfast and Lunch!
9 locals recommend
Renaud's Bakery and Bistro
3305 State StOne of the best places in SB for a light breakfast. Fantastic fresh baked pastries and baked goods, try their almond croissants. Open for Breakfast and Lunch!
Adventurous Eaters, this is my daughters' favorite taco place in all of CA. Cheap, delicious, and as authentic as it gets. This is the best of the hole in the wall eateries.
53 locals recommend
Lilly's Taqueria
310 Chapala StAdventurous Eaters, this is my daughters' favorite taco place in all of CA. Cheap, delicious, and as authentic as it gets. This is the best of the hole in the wall eateries.
Best coffees on the mesa, try the fun gelato flavors! Pleasant place to enjoy the ocean breeze, laid back atmosphere with a variety of seating options.
13 locals recommend
Good Cup
1819 Cliff DrBest coffees on the mesa, try the fun gelato flavors! Pleasant place to enjoy the ocean breeze, laid back atmosphere with a variety of seating options.
Looking for a fancier romantic dinner spot? Italian restaurant with fantastic food, wine, service, and an understated elegant ambiance. One of the best places in SB.
41 locals recommend
Olio e Limone Ristorante & Olio Pizzeria
11 W Victoria StLooking for a fancier romantic dinner spot? Italian restaurant with fantastic food, wine, service, and an understated elegant ambiance. One of the best places in SB.
Fun breakfast/lunch spot on the East Beach, casual outdoors seating, great for people watching, and enjoying the oceanside
15 locals recommend
East Beach Grill
1118 E Cabrillo BlvdFun breakfast/lunch spot on the East Beach, casual outdoors seating, great for people watching, and enjoying the oceanside
Enjoy one of Santa Barbara's best seafood restaurants as well as great views of the harbor and the mountains.
203 locals recommend
Brophy Bros.
119 Harbor WayEnjoy one of Santa Barbara's best seafood restaurants as well as great views of the harbor and the mountains.
Fun and friendly local diner with homemade style food, great for breakfast (lunch and dinner too)
43 locals recommend
Mesa Cafe & Bar
1972 Cliff DrFun and friendly local diner with homemade style food, great for breakfast (lunch and dinner too)
Cielito specializes in Mexican/Latin American dishes located on the upper end of Downtown in a beautiful plaza behind the Art Museum. Great for lunch or dinner!
11 locals recommend
1114 Craft House and Kitchen
1114 State StCielito specializes in Mexican/Latin American dishes located on the upper end of Downtown in a beautiful plaza behind the Art Museum. Great for lunch or dinner!
Modern organic vegetarian/vegan restaurant that serves creative, delicious, and beautiful food with a fresh seasonal menu
59 locals recommend
Mesa Verde Restaurant
1919 Cliff DrModern organic vegetarian/vegan restaurant that serves creative, delicious, and beautiful food with a fresh seasonal menu
Inventive and delicious seasonal tapas dishes. Foodies will love this place
170 locals recommend
The Lark Santa Barbara
131 Anacapa StInventive and delicious seasonal tapas dishes. Foodies will love this place
Little local yogurt and crepe shop with high quality yogurt, fresh fruits and toppings and fantastic service! Way better than Pinkberry or Yogurtland. The couple who own the shop are super sweet and always make their desserts with great care, and it shows! I highly recommend this place!
Rockin' Yogurt (Organic)
620 State StLittle local yogurt and crepe shop with high quality yogurt, fresh fruits and toppings and fantastic service! Way better than Pinkberry or Yogurtland. The couple who own the shop are super sweet and always make their desserts with great care, and it shows! I highly recommend this place!
Best ice cream in town. They have a changing seasonal flavor selection that is always fantastic and highly uncommon in ice cream!
36 locals recommend
Mission Street Ice Cream & Yogurt - Featuring McConnell's Fine Ice Creams
201 W Mission StBest ice cream in town. They have a changing seasonal flavor selection that is always fantastic and highly uncommon in ice cream!
Fresh healthy lunch and dinner options. Something for everyone, they have ever changing daily specials which are always great. A large selection of great soups, salads and pastas and wraps
25 locals recommend
Fresco Cafe
23 State StFresh healthy lunch and dinner options. Something for everyone, they have ever changing daily specials which are always great. A large selection of great soups, salads and pastas and wraps
This location is only for the Saturday morning Farmer's Market - walk around and sample all the fresh seasonal fruits, and veggies, pies, and cheese, and live music and performances. There is another on Thursday afternoon on State St. http://www.sbfarmersmarket.org/events.php
56 locals recommend
Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market
232 Anacapa StThis location is only for the Saturday morning Farmer's Market - walk around and sample all the fresh seasonal fruits, and veggies, pies, and cheese, and live music and performances. There is another on Thursday afternoon on State St. http://www.sbfarmersmarket.org/events.php
A local favorite taqueria, their burritos are fantastic! This is a bit hole in the wall place with limited seating, but their food, prices, and service are always fantastic!
10 locals recommend
Super Cuca's Taqueria
2030 Cliff DrA local favorite taqueria, their burritos are fantastic! This is a bit hole in the wall place with limited seating, but their food, prices, and service are always fantastic!
Entertainment & Activities
Check out their newest arrival, baby Giraffe Chad! Born March 26, 2016!
169 locals recommend
Santa Barbara Zoo
500 Ninos DrCheck out their newest arrival, baby Giraffe Chad! Born March 26, 2016!
Whale watching tours, day trips to the Islands, sunset cruises and more! http://condorexpress.com/whale-watching/
29 locals recommend
Condor Express Whale Watching
Whale watching tours, day trips to the Islands, sunset cruises and more! http://condorexpress.com/whale-watching/
Great place for outdoors equipment rentals, lessons, or tours. High quality bikes, surfboards, kayaks, parasailing, paddleboarding, etc. They deliver! http://www.santabarbarafitnesstours.com/
Cal Coast Adventures
736 Carpinteria StGreat place for outdoors equipment rentals, lessons, or tours. High quality bikes, surfboards, kayaks, parasailing, paddleboarding, etc. They deliver! http://www.santabarbarafitnesstours.com/
For the more casual bike based adventure. A variety of wheeled vehicles available for rent hourly or half day. http://wheelfunrentals.com/Locations/Santa-Barbara
30 locals recommend
Wheel Fun Rentals
24 E Mason StFor the more casual bike based adventure. A variety of wheeled vehicles available for rent hourly or half day. http://wheelfunrentals.com/Locations/Santa-Barbara
Shopping
Paseo Nuevo
651 Paseo NuevoSB's outdoors shopping mall, in the heart of Downtown SB
Convenient pharmacy chain for the little things that need to be picked up
19 locals recommend
Rite Aid
35 S Milpas StConvenient pharmacy chain for the little things that need to be picked up
Essentials
Wholesome, natural, and organic grocery and products. Fruits and foods (prepared or ingredients) galore. Try their smoothies, they're amazing (especially the Carob Almond Dream)
121 locals recommend
Lazy Acres Grocery
302 Meigs RdWholesome, natural, and organic grocery and products. Fruits and foods (prepared or ingredients) galore. Try their smoothies, they're amazing (especially the Carob Almond Dream)
Vons
2010 Cliff DrClosest grocery market
Everything Else
SBCC probably has one of the best real estate of any school in CA. Check out their view of the harbor on West Campus.
22 locals recommend
Santa Barbara City College
721 Cliff DrSBCC probably has one of the best real estate of any school in CA. Check out their view of the harbor on West Campus.
Arguably the 2nd most beautiful campus in CA. See Santa Barbara City College for best.
52 locals recommend
University of California, Santa Barbara
Arguably the 2nd most beautiful campus in CA. See Santa Barbara City College for best.
Santa Barbara Airport
500 James Fowler RdLocal regional airport, fastest way to get to SB
Arts & Culture
Architectural Foundation Sunday Tour starts here, see the historic art and architecture of downtown Santa Barbara post-1925 http://www.afsb.org/?page_id=79
8 locals recommend
Santa Barbara Public Library
40 E Anapamu StArchitectural Foundation Sunday Tour starts here, see the historic art and architecture of downtown Santa Barbara post-1925 http://www.afsb.org/?page_id=79
Historic downtown theater with an opulent, gold-toned interior featuring live music & theater. Check their website for events
55 locals recommend
The Granada Theatre
1214 State StHistoric downtown theater with an opulent, gold-toned interior featuring live music & theater. Check their website for events