The historic district in Downtown Santa Barbara is home to many beautiful buildings and landmarks. This is the longtime heart of the Central California city – where native Chumash tribes gathered in one of their largest villages and the Spanish built a presidio and officer quarters in the 1700s. Today it’s the hub of modern city life, chock-full of restaurants, nightlife, sights, arts, and culture. Walk or bike about and connect with Santa Barbara’s inner soul, past and present, that permeates every block.
ALESSIA Patisserie and Cafe, East Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Alessia Patisserie & Café
El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park, East Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
El Presidio State Historic Park
El Paseo, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
El Paseo
Santa Barbara County Courthouse, Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Casa de la Guerra, East De La Guerra Street, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Casa de la Guerra
Paseo Nuevo, Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
La Paloma Cafe, Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
La Paloma Café
Bibi Ji, State Street, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Bibi Ji
Barbareño, West Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Barbareño
Santa Barbara Historical Museum, East De La Guerra Street, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Santa Barbara Historical Museum
L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele Santa Barbara, State Street, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele
Corazón Comedor, East Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Best Places for Breakfast in Santa Barbara
Alessia Patisserie & Café
A traditional French bakery and dessert shop with melt-in-your mouth croissants, sweet and savory crepes, and other drool-worthy items. Feast on blue crab crepes, duck confit hash, or a traditional croque monsieur.
Best Things To Do in the Morning in Santa Barbara
Wander around the historic downtown using this handy Red Tile Walking Tour map as a guide. Head to the Santa Barbara Courthouse and ride the elevator up to the clocktower rooftop, with 360° views of the city and its iconic red tile roofs.
Don’t miss along the route: the fabulous Courthouse and El Presidio (see both below) and the nearby Casa de la Guerra, the grand home of the presidio commander and the social hub of Santa Barbara throughout the Spanish era.
El Presidio State Historic Park
The Spanish built four presidios, or military outposts, along the coast of Alta California. They founded the Santa Barbara Presidio on April 21, 1782 – the last of the four after San Diego, San Francisco, and Monterey.
Santa Barbara Courthouse
This gorgeous building is a National Historic Landmark and also a working courthouse. After a major earthquake destroyed much of downtown, the city constructed a Spanish Colonial Revival-style courthouse that helped Santa Barbara establish a “new” unified look.
Best Places for Lunch in Santa Barbara
L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele
Classic Italian meets contemporary California at this 3rd U.S. outlet of a world-famous pizzeria in Naples. New in 2023, the eclectic menu includes pizza, but also everything from zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta cheese and seafood linguine to truffle burgers. (PS: The other two are in NYC and Hollywood.)
Best Things To Do in the Afternoon in Santa Barbara
Visit the Santa Barbara Historical Museum to follow a fascinating visual story of the region, from the first prehistoric and Chumash settlers, through the Spanish, American, film, and other significant eras to the present day.
Browse the shops in the Paseo Nuevo Mall, taste wine in El Paseo, walk up and down State Street and check out the galleries, shops, and cafés that line the city’s main drag.
Santa Barbara Historical Museum
More than 500 years of local history comes alive at this impressive museum, chock-full of artifacts like saddles, furniture, and costumes, plus paintings and other artworks. Be sure to check out their latest exhibitions, which change every few months.
Best Places for Dinner in Santa Barbara
Barbareño
This casual-upscale restaurant a few blocks west of State Street crafts hyper-local dishes inspired by Santa Barbara’s culinary roots. Try the eggamuffins, acorn tagliatelle, uni Caesar salad, Santa Maria barbecue tritip, and other unusual dishes.
Best Places to Stay in Santa Barbara
Bonus Pro Tips
As Katy Perry, Hometown Girl, says: “Santa Barbara is my hood. I mean, it’s not much of a hood, but it is definitely like my hood. I claim Santa Barbara like I claim my family. I’m going to be married and buried there.”
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