Lounging on California’s sublime south coast, 100 miles from Los Angeles, lies a pocket so pleasant it hurts. Welcome to Santa Barbara.
Sophisticated Santa Barbara has just celebrated the 100th anniversary of its signature summer Old Spanish Days festival, but there are plenty more reasons to visit. Framed by the Santa Ynez Mountains, and with an abundance of sunshine, a Mediterranean climate, and sprawling Pacific Ocean views, this is a must-stop for those cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway, LA weekenders, and anyone with the urge to live out a coastal California fantasy.
Together with other unique communities in the region, from posh Montecito and its sister Summerland to family-friendly Goleta and unsung Gaviota, the sublime Santa Barbara South Coast is a region that deserves more attention as a whole – this is our guide to the best of it.
SANTA BARBARA
Elegant yet laid-back, Santa Barbara, is the best-known city on the region’s South Coast. It has year-round appeal and almost constant golden sunshine. It’s home to unspoiled sandy beaches, a historic wharf, a cool new art district, great restaurants and is on the doorstep of the Santa Ynez Valley wine region. Its pristine coastal setting is best appreciated from the waters of the Pacific Ocean on an atmospheric sunset cruise. Visit in August to catch the Old Spanish Days festival, when the town comes alive with passionate flamenco performances and open-air food and craft markets.
Where To Stay
Five-star El Encanto, a Belmond Hotel with its lush hillside perch overlooking the Pacific and plush classic coastal style rooms and suites; the traditional Harbor View Inn on the waterfront with big rooms and prime festival parade views; playfully designed Palihouse Santa Barbara within walking distance of the historic Presidio area.
Where To Shop
Local designer, Catherine Gee’s State Street shop filled with contemporary women’s pieces sought after by celebrities; Colette Cosentino Atelier + Gallery, home to a curated collection of art and objets d’art from the namesake Santa Barbara artist.
Where To Eat + Drink
Funk Zone favourite The Lark for pretty seasonal small plates of modern Californian cuisine; downtown spot La Paloma Café serving country-style dishes like wagyu tri-tip beef with Santa Maria salsa and pinquito beans; also in new downtown Mexican tequila bar, Augie’s, for great shrimp tacos and margaritas. For a taste of the region’s best wines, follow the Urban Wine Trail to spots like Frequency Wines and Carr Winery.
MONTECITO
Four times smaller than Santa Barbara, this tiny enclave of wealth is best-known for its long list of celebrity residents who own multi-million-dollar mansions in the surrounding hills. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now settled in the area in a lavish Mediterranean-style estate. Ellen DeGeneres recently sold her mansion to singer Ariana Grande; Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Aniston also live here. To get your bearings, hire a bike (complete with a sidecar if you like) from Mad Dogs & Englishmen for an amble past all the picturesque mansions before a wander around the gardens and stunning historic estate of Casa del Herrero.
Where To Stay
San Ysidro Ranch
The glam five-star San Ysidro Ranch with bungalows set into lush hills and a historic list of guests including Winston Churchill, a new speakeasy and an afternoon tea menu; the Montecito Inn, once owned by Charlie Chaplin and with a classic style and Santa Ynez mountain views.
Where To Shop
Montecito Country Mart
The Montecito Country Mart outdoor shopping village packed with designer shops like Clare V. and Dôen, organic artisanal cafes like Merci and interior design shops like Hudson Grace; Coast Village Road, a street lined with independent shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants.
Where To Eat + Drink
Tre Lune
Hip 10-seater Sushi by Scratch Restaurants at the Montecito Inn, a highly acclaimed omakase eatery, where diners leave it to the chef to choose dishes; simple Tre Lune for pared-back nostalgic Italian food; breezy bakery-café, Bree’osh to sample the best buttery croissants and French-quality pastries.
SUMMERLAND
Montecito’s sister, Summerland, is a tiny off-radar community that’s been stealing the Santa Barbara South Coast spotlight of late. Victorian and Craftsman houses dot the hillside, and white sand beaches, small shops and friendly locals characterise the town. Spending a few days here feels like a getaway from busier communities. Part of Summerland’s appeal is its main drag lined with 38, and counting, interior shops. It’s become a Mecca for design enthusiasts, where local celebs like Ryan Gosling have been spied. The grounds of one such interior store – Home Crush – is also the setting for a new monthly food gathering. The Taste Makers Market showcases more than 40 local artisan foodie outlets at its monthly Saturday pop-up with ocean views.
Where To Stay
Inn on Summer Hill
Luxury seaside bed and breakfast, The Inn on Summer Hill, with a boutique hotel atmosphere, where all rooms have decks or balconies overlooking Summerland Beach and catch sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
Where To Shop
By Blake Bronstad
The main drag lined with chic interior design shops, including Home Crush with its perfectly curated sleek-luxe interior furnishings and design studio for that complete home makeover; and tranquil Porch filled with ceramics, textiles, art and furnishings inspired by the natural world.
Where To Eat + Drink
Discover Feast inside vintage Field + Fort interior boutique, serving breakfast, salads, sandwiches and ‘feasts’ like rotisserie chicken, roasted cabbage, and potatoes; the bright and airy Summerland Winery for wine tasting (they have alcohol-free wines, too).
GOLETA
Family-friendly Goleta, meaning ‘the good land’, is the most laid-back of all this region’s coastal communities. Hugging its westernmost border, it’s a peaceful sun-drenched haven for hiking, birdwatching and picnics on the beach. Come autumn and winter, it comes alive as a hotspot for chasing butterflies. Eucalyptus wood in the Coronado Butterfly Preserve and the Goleta Butterfly Preserve is a haven for migrating monarch butterflies, while coastal dunes to the south provide nesting grounds for the threatened snowy plover.
Where To Stay
Ritz Carlton Bacara
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, a lavish, blow-the-budget hotel with a gorgeous spa and a new wine tasting room featuring local wines; and less expensive, light and airy The Steward, Santa Barbara, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel which is newly renovated and serves coffee grown on plants throughout the historic estate.
Where To Eat + Drink
Jane Restaurant
Jane at the Marketplace for market plates and playfully named cocktails like raspberry lemon drop and blood orange margarita; new Santa Barbara Fish Market restaurant to sample the fresh whitefish ceviche tostada; surf-inspired CAYA at The Leta hotel for California cuisine; Samsara Winery for wine tasting.
GAVIOTA
When you’re done wining, dining and shopping around the Santa Barbara South Coast, unsung Gaviota is your friend. Overlooked by many locals, this is the coastal region at its most wild. It’s blessed with natural beauty and quiet spots, making it the perfect spot for unplugging. Visit the nearby state beach parks, including Gaviota State Beach and El Capitán State Beach, take a guided kayak tour of the Gaviota Coast from Santa Barbara Adventure Company, while spring and early summer is the time for picking blueberries at Santa Barbara Blueberries.
Where To Stay
Photo by El Capitan Canyon
El Capitan Canyon for glamping in either cedar cabins or spacious yurts, both with king or queen beds, fine linens, kitchenettes, private patios and fire pits.
Lead image credit: Old Spanish Days Fiesta Photo by Blake Bronstad, courtesy Visit Santa Barbara
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