Santa Barbara
The American Riviera, with its natural beauty, wonderful beaches, lack of nightlife, and unaffordable home prices is a great place to visit — provided one sets their expectations appropriately. This is a ‘locals’ perspective of the places to see and things to do. Enjoy!
Food
mesa burger
315 Meigs Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
The original Mesa Burger it is, unsurprisingly, up on the mesa. Good, creative burgers with tasty sides and a few beers and wine on tap.
WEBSITE: https://www.mesaburger.com/
mesa cafe
1972 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Great brunch spot to enjoy and vibe with the locals. Pick up this week’s of the Indy (The Independent, the weekly paper the locals read) and do the crossword while enjoying a leisurely brunch on the patio. Fair warning: it can get very busy on the weekends!
WEBSITE: https://www.mesacafesb.com/
mesa verde
1919 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Mesa Verde offers a solid variety of vegan food. You’ll see vegan standards and some more eccentric dishes. While not every dish will be a winner, they’re always swinging for the fences, and their creativity is appreciated. It is a bit pricey, but generally worth it — especially if you have folks Livin’ La Vegan Loca.
WEBSITE: https://www.mesaverderestaurant.com/
Reunion kitchen and drink
1118 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Located on Santa Barbara’s beautiful East Beach, this restaurant boasts views of the water that are hard to beat. Considering its location, the food is reasonably priced while also being quite good. Their drinks are tasty, and it’s hard to beat the experience of sipping on a cocktail and watching the waves crash on the beach a few hundred feet away — not to mention the people watching opportunities it provides!
WEBSITE: https://www.reunionkitchen.net/santa-barbara
DRINK
Rodeo Room
231 W. Montecito Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Serving food as well, they have great cocktails and an equally good vibe. Plus, they’re open until midnight (which, in Santa Barbara, passes for late).
WEBSITE: https://www.rodeoroom.com/
Fun
The moxi
125 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation (MOXI) is great fun for all ages (though certainly aimed at children). It’s a discovery and exploration museum with a variety of interactive activities and exhibits. We go here about once a month just to get out of the house and do something fun!
WEBSITE: https://moxi.org/
Santa Barbara zoo
500 Ninos Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
The Santa Barbara Zoo is small but mighty! It has a great number of animals, exhibits, and activities. It’s great for a day visit, with or without kids!
WEBSITE: https://www.sbzoo.org/
santa barbara botanic garden
1212 Mission Canyon Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Tucked into the foothills above Santa Barbara, the Botanic Garden is a small oasis. It’s quiet and beautiful, and includes a creek, redwood grove, and a very fun ‘back country’ that is great for children, complete with a tire swing, miniature house, labyrinth, and numerous other interactive activities in and around the garden. Go for a peaceful getaway or some fun play!
WEBSITE: https://sbbotanicgarden.org/