Evan and I love traveling to Santa Barbara. After a few trips, I’ve compiled an epic list of all the best coffee shops, restaurants, dessert spots, and more! So as my gift to you, I present The Best Santa Barbara Restaurant Guide!
COFFEE
First up to start any Santa Barbara Restaurant Guide (and day) is COFFEE. Evan is an avid coffee drinker and I am an avid lover of good coffee shop ambiance, so we make a good team.
Dart Coffee
This is Evan’s favorite coffee shop in my Best Ever Santa Barbara Guide. We love the artisanal roastery, with adorable indoor ambiance and a lovely outdoor courtyard seating. The vibes are right. Located in the Funk Zone, this is perfect for a cup of joe before Helena Ave Bakery (in the breakfast section). Or you can peruse Mollusk Surf Shop afterwards, which is our favorite shopping in town and right next door.
Dune Coffee Roasters
Dune Coffee boasts four locations in Santa Barbara and some glorious home roasted beans. This hip coffee shop certainly smells amazing and has some serious baked goods. While I couldn’t partake, the croissants looked insanely flakey and decadent. Their gluten free chocolate chip cookies are supposedly pretty dope too.
Caje
Last up on the coffee tour is Caje coffee Roasters. With bright and colorful, plant-filled interiors, this is above all a perfectly instagrammable spot (a necessity for any Best Ever Santa Barbara Restaurant Guide). We dug the vibes and decadently good coffee as well. The homemade almond milk is stuff of legends!
BREAKFAST AND BAKERTIES
Vacation Evan LIVES for breakfast out on the town. It’s truly a delight to watch this man’s joy finding the most delicious food in the perfect ambiance. So, you can all thank Evan for this glorious chapter of The Best Ever Santa Barbara Restaurant Guide.
Helena Ave Bakery
This has become our go to breakfast spot whenever we’re in town. The garden courtyard feel gives this place the perfect Santa Barbara ambiance. It’s also attached to the Santa Barbara Wine Collective. So you can swing by in the early afternoon for lunch and maybe a little wine tasting if you’re feeling wild.
If you need some ideas of what to order, we love the Santa Barbara Farmers’ Market Bowl, Breakfast Sandwich, gluten free brownie, and Evan loves the scones. To sum it up, everything is incredible.
Jeannine’s
Another Santa Barbara staple, Jeannine’s has really taken over town with four locations and some seriously good eats. I love the ambiance of the Uptown location, but I’m sure you can’t go wrong with any of them. Jeannine’s is known for their griddle eats, equally decadent pancakes and french toast galore, as well as the benedicts, but I’m partial to the omelets.
Lark
Last on the breakfast list is Lark, a farm to table restaurant. Lark serves up locally sourced brunch on the weekends and incredible dinner too. If you’re looking for a late brunch with the gang with seriously flavorful cuisine, check out Lark for Saturday & Sunday brunch. After you fall in love with brunch, come back for dinner and enjoy.
Lilac Patisserie
Lilac Patisserie is an all gluten free shop specializing in artisanal cakes and french cafe feels. Whether you’re swinging in for a cappuccino and sweet treat, or enjoying an artisanal breakfast or lunch, this place is chic as can be. A word to the wise: it is a bit pricey for simple breakfast, so don’t be shocked at a $17 egg plate.
Oat Bakery
I stopped in at Oat Bakery to pick up some bread for a home cooked brunch. Imagine my surprise when they also had gluten free loaves! We picked up a regular jalapeno corn loaf for the gluten eaters, and a gluten free sage garlic for me. The bread was delicious toasted, though it only lasted about a day and a half, so eat it fast babes.
LUNCH
Following a glorious breakfast and maybe a walk on the beach, what else is there to do but tuck in to a delicious casual lunch?
Panino
Serving up some seriously delicious sandwiches on bread that had Evan raving, Panino is my favorite lunch spot. I am obsessed with their California Cobb salad and went three times in one week to get it. So, don’t sleep on this spot. Panino has six locations across southern California.
South Coast Deli
Before you dismiss the lack of ambiance at most South Coast Deli locations, give this spot a chance. We love picking up salads here and heading down to Butterfly Beach for a dog friendly picnic. The sandwiches and salads here are HUGE. You can enjoy a massive salad for a great price, or split it between two people.
Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach
After a stroll along this dog friendly beach, pop into Boathouse at Hendry’s for lunch with a view. Boathouse specializes in coastal California vibes, with great salads and seemingly unlimited fresh seafood options. They’re also open for breakfast, dinner, and happy hour, so your options are endless.
DINNER
Please don’t forget to save room for dinner! There are some absolutely glorious dinner spots in Santa Barbara. From casual BBQ to garden Mediterranean, I have some delicious options for you to round out The Best Santa Barbara Restaurant Guide.
Bettina
After seeing What’s Gaby Cooking stop in here during her Santa Barbara trip, you could say I was officially influenced. The vibe: light and bright, styled in chic pinks and earthy greens, artisanal California Italian fusion with bomb cocktails and an impressive wine list. The gluten free pizza was so insanely good, I’m actually drooling just thinking about it now.
Shalhoob’s Meat Market
Next on our list is a casual spot that’s perfect for a hungry crowd looking for serious eats without the frills. Shalhoob’s has been a neighborhood meat market and supplier in the area for over 40 years, and serves up epic BBQ. I was pleasantly surprised by the tasty salad and veggie sides as well. The cocktail, wine, and beer list were also very impressive.
Bibi Ji
While Bibi Ji may not look particularly eye-catching from the streetfront facade on State Street, don’t let looks deceive you. Once you step inside, you’re met with dark woods, an impressive wall of wine, and gloriously good Indian food. It is a bit pricey, but the quality is fantastic. I would love to go again with a group so I could order an ever wider array of the menu.
Zaytoon
If you’re looking for a gorgeous outdoor dining experience with hearty Labenese eats and fresh ingredients, look no further than Zaytoon. Ivy and bougainvillea coat the walls of this fountain-filled courtyard, with lots of cozy sections that make this spacious restaurant feel cozy and intimate.
Zaytoon is another spot that would be great for a group so you can sample more of the divine options. Bonus: the wine pours are generous.
Jane
Jane came highly recommended, dishing out artisanal fare in a laid back, chic atmosphere. Family owned and operated, this is a cute spot for a date night with real California vibes.
Loquita
The last dinner spot on our Best Santa Barbara Restaurant Guide is Loquita. I haven’t actually eaten here but I received probably 100 messages saying people loved this spot. It definitely has a gorgeous atmosphere and is crowded every single time we walk by, so they must be doing something right.
Well my friends, that is a wrap on The Best Santa Barbara Restaurant Guide!
Before you go, make sure to check out my other travel guides featuring delicious eats around the globe: