Best hotels in Santa Barbara
Courtyard Santa Barbara Goleta
401 Storke Road, Goleta, CA, 93117
Only three miles from Santa Barbara Airport, Courtyard Santa Barbara Goleta offers resort-style luxury alongside winning convenience. A Marriott hotel, it has a large meeting space, an outdoor lounge complete with pool and fire pit, plus suites for family vacations.
Hotel Californian
36 State Street, CA, 93101
A five-star hotel close to Santa Barbara’s West Beach, Hotel Californian presents American amenities against a Moroccan-inspired backdrop. The Majorelle Spa is ornamented with Marrakesh-style mosaics and the rooms come with personal touches – maids, or djinns, leave poems, and quotations from ex-pats and Santa Barbara locals.
San Ysidro Ranch
900 San Ysidro Lane, Montecito, CA 93103
This five-star stay is just 20 minutes from Santa Barbara Airport – but it feels a world away, nestled in landscaped gardens and surrounded by mountains. The intimate cottages come with star-quality privacy. John F. Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, and Winston Churchill are some of the big names to have checked in. Enjoy a luxurious stay in a romantic cottage with a sunken spa and stone fireplace, and dine in an award-winning on-site restaurant.
Best restaurants in Santa Barbara
Yoichi’s
230 E Victoria Street, CA, 93101
Dive into a bowl of red miso soup or embrace seven courses of delights at Yoichi’s, Santa Barbara’s go-to Japanese restaurant. Here, the flavors are fragrant and the ingredients authentic – you can enjoy crab, octopus, grilled eel, or tofu tart.
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company
230 Stearns Wharf, CA, 93109
Located on the edge of Stearns Wharf, the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company is famous for sea views as well as seafood. Enjoy Dungeness crab with avocado and croutons or indulge in New England-style clam chowder.
Cold Spring Tavern
5995 Stagecoach Road, CA, 93105
Fill up the gas and head to the San Marcos Pass to be rewarded with a hearty lunch – it’s just 20 minutes from Santa Barbara Airport to Cold Spring Tavern. This hikers’ favorite has been serving mountain travelers since 1868. Dine on Cobb salad, signature tri-dip sandwiches, or the original recipe 1950 cold spring chili. They also host live music on weekends.
Best attractions in and around Santa Barbara
Old Mission Santa Barbara
2201 Laguna Street, CA, 93105
A Spanish mission church dating back to 1786, Old Mission Santa Barbara captures the city’s multi-layered colonial history. Take a self-guided tour to meet modern-day friars and explore nine rooms packed with exhibits.
Hammond’s Beach
Santa Barbara, CA, 93108
Santa Barbara has several beaches, plus many more that are accessible by rental car. While Butterfly Beach is well known for celebrity sightings, Hammond’s Beach in Montecito courts a laid-back surfing vibe.
Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park
CA-154, CA, 93105
It takes around 25 minutes to reach Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park from Santa Barbara airport. This simple sandstone cave contains rich and mysterious drawings whose meanings have been lost. It’s a great place to swing by as you drive to the many scenic lookouts close to Laurel Springs.