Santa Barbara: Carpinteria, Goleta, Montecito, Santa Barbara
Locally made food products, restaurant menu choices reflect seasonal, artisanal, farm-sourced ingredients, proximity/access to coastal seafood. Farmers markets are popular, fun to visit.
Rori's Artisanal Creamery - Montecito, Santa Barbara
Sunday-Thursday 10:00am -10:00pm; Friday-Saturday 10:00am-11:00pm
Location: 1024 Coast Village Road, Montecito; Santa Barbara Public Market: 38 West Victoria Street, Space 103
Why Go There? Produces rich artisan small-batch high quality ice cream, sorbets; unique flavors; uses Straus Family Creamery organic milk/cream base; rotating seasonal ingredient offerings; original hole-in-the-wall Montecito location expanded into Santa Barbara (also into Los Angeles)
Access: Drive; public transportation
More Information: Rori’s Artisanal Creamery
Chocolats du CaliBressan - Carpinteria, Santa Barbara
Location: 4193 Carpinteria Ave #4, Caprinteria; 1114 State Street #25, Santa Barbara
Why Go There? Locally made artisan chocolate shop offers fun educational chocolate tasting: choice of three truffles, six varying percent cacao chocolate disks, nominal fee. Carpinteria location schedules 3:00pm-4:00pm factory tour (third Saturday), includes sparkling wine (fee).
Access: Drive, street parking, pay parking lots, garages; public transportation
More Information: Chocolats du CaliBressan
Cold Spring Tavern - Santa Barbara
Daily: lunch, dinner; Weekends only: breakfast
Location: 5995 Stagecoach Road (San Marcos Pass area, one mile off of Highway 154, approximately 20 minutes north of Santa Barbara)
Why Go There? Stagecoach stop established 1865, tavern exudes rustic charm. Menu focus is simple game, red meat preparations; barbecues held outside during (very busy, popular) summer weekends; live music Friday evenings, weekend afternoons/evenings. Drive or walk .5 mile beyond the tavern for view of civil engineering landmark suspension bridge.
Access: Drive (popular with weekend motorcyclists)
More Information: Cold Spring Tavern
Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market - Santa Barbara (Carpinteria, Goleta, Montecito - see website)
Tuesday 3:00pm-6:30pm; Saturday 8:30am-1:30pm
Location: Santa Barbara/Cota Streets
Why Go There? Vendors reflect bounty of Southern California; look for dates, citrus, nursery plants, flowers
More Information: Farmers Market + Facebook
Lark Restaurant - Santa Barbara (not curator reviewed)
Tuesday-Sunday, 5:00pm-10:00pm
Location: 131 Anacapa Street
Why Go There? A former (historic) renovated fish market serves family-style central coast farm/seafood sourced meals.Inviting patio; full bar, emphasizes local, artisanal spirits/wine/beer. Schedules food/beverage paired dinners.
Access: Drive (valet parking), parking lots within walking distance; public transportation
More Information: The Lark
McConnell's Fine Ice Creams - Santa Barbara
Daily, 12:00pm-evening
Location: 728 State Street; 201 West Mission Street (name changed to Mission Street Ice Cream & Yogurt, but serves only McConnell's ice cream, house made soft serve yogurt)
Why Go There? Rich creamy ice cream since 1949, still made in small batches with grass-grazed dairy products, local, sustainable and organically sourced ingredients. Traditional flavors with extras: chocolate covered strawberries; look for several variations of coffee flavors.
Access: Parking lots (free first 75 minutes); street parking; public transportation
More Information: McConnell’s
Renaud's Patisserie & Bistro - Santa Barbara
Location: 1324 State Street; 3315 State Street
Why Go There? Classic French cafe, bakery offers calorie-laden treats, solid breakfast, lunch
Access: Drive, street parking, pay parking lots, garages; public transportation
More Information: Renaud’s Bakery
Santa Barbara Public Market - Santa Barbara
Daily 7:30am-10:00pm (Saturday-Sunday opens 8:00am)
Location: 38 West Victoria Street
Why Go There? Public market houses high quality eateries, shops: artisan ice cream, asian bowl restaurant, baked goods, casual beer-focused restaurant (schedules beer tasting/pairing events), seafood market. Flagstone Pantry offers tasty entree salads, fresh soups.
Access: Street/lot parking; public transportation
More Information: SB Public Market
Santa Barbara Vintners New Release Spring Weekend - Santa Barbara
April weekend
Location: Varies
Why Go There? Annual event features 100+ wineries, local food offerings, food/wine seminars, music
More Information: SB Vintners Weekend + SB County Wines
Twenty-Four Blackbirds Chocolate - Santa Barbara
Daily 12:00pm-7:00pm (closed holidays)
Location: 428 East Haley Street
Why Go There? Artisan bean-to-bar chocolate bars, truffles are high end, made with top quality chocolate, produced on-site. Owner tooled own molds for his bars; self-guided tours; plans for chocolate making classes, pairings.
More Information: Twenty-Four Blackbirds
Wine Cask Restaurant - Santa Barbara
Location: 813 Anacapa Street
Why Go There? Five, eight course chef's tasting menus feature farm-sourced seasonal ingredients; Tuesday farmer's market chef stroll/dinner; occasional wine dinners; extensive wine list
Access: Drive, street parking, pay parking lots, garages; public transportation
More Information: Wine Cask
Additional Resources
The Andersen’s - Santa Barbara
High quality Danish Restaurant & Bakery; events. Don't miss mini, large Mazarin almond paste tarts.
Calendar of Events - Santa Barbara
Magazine list events
El Encanto - Santa Barbara
Hillside restaurant offer city views (at a price!); winemaker dinners (not curator reviewed)
California Agricultural Tourism Directory - Santa Barbara area (and whole state)
Agritourism events
Ojai Wine Festival - Ventura
Ojai Wine Festival (June) wineries/breweries, food