We will be in Santa Barbara for a long weekend. Any and all suggestions for dinner spots and activities are welcome! We are staying at a B&B, so no need for breakfast thoughts,. Thanks.

Satrting at Upper downtown/State St and moving towards the harbor:
Jane... nice fresh, interesting food, lively atmosphere at lunch or dinner.
Cafe Buenos Aires...across the street from Jane, nice courtyard atmosphere, great Mojitos, pretty good food, somtimes live music.
Olio and Limone...just off State on west Victoria. Great Italian.
Ca Dario...other side (east) on Victoria, great Italian food.

Milk and Honey on Anapamu (east) just a block off State...trendy tapas, great Mojitos.

Museum Cafe...lunch in SB Art Museum...good interesting fresh food. Tapas and wine also from 3-5 when the Museum is open. Go in throught the gift store.

The Chase...I love their marinara sauce...fun bar, charmingly over decorated. The fish soup is to die for.IMHO

Joes...mid State St at Cota. A Santa Barbara institution...noisy, strong drinks, and great cheeseburgers.

The Palace on Cota...opens at 5:30. Great cajun food and atmosphere. Show up a few minutes before they open if you don't have a reservation.

Just off State on Anacapa St...The Paradise Cafe for its charming outdoor spaces and good food.

2 blocks off State St...on Santa Barbara St The Daily Bread (bread, treats, sandwiches) and C'est Cheese (great cheese, salami, sandwiches), and Playa Azul (Mexican food) for its charming patio.

On the breakwater in the SB Harbor, Brophy Bros upstairs, fish, drinks...outdoor tables overlook the boats.

On Stearns Wharf...SB Shellfish Co. Expensive bot outstanding shrimp tacos.

I have left out some good ones I know; there are so many in such a small area.

Hi again,

I forgot El Bajio on Milpas St (might be a mile east of State)...tiny little Mexican place with the best carnitas tacos and asada tacos I have ever had outside of Mexico. Lots of flavor in a simple taco.

Great list kasia!
The Chase has the best calamari known to man..they prepare it just like abalone..I get it with the lemon caper butter with fettucine and a caesar salad..all for around $13 bucks..
Trust me, it is one of the best things I have ever had!
I always see tons of big name movie stars when we go there.
I like drinks at San Ysidro Ranch at Plow and Angel..
Opal is great too..
Lucky's in Montecito is good but pricey.
Best Patty Melt is at the Nugget in Summerland..classic

SB Shellfish is great, love the lobster there. We also enjoyed Olie e Limone for Italian. If you go to Montecito, don't miss the restaurant at The Biltmore. ***kim***

book marking

Thanks for all the suggestions. We stayed at the Bath Street Inn (B&B) just a few blocks from State Street... walked into town each day. Ate, shopped and played... it was grand! We were a bit dissapointed at State & A Grill; When asked what our server recommended from the menu, she replied "Uuumm, the hamburgers are good." Museum was a delight. We will be back!

So here it is, a year later.... would you make the same recommendations? I am going to Santa Barbara next month and was wondering.

bookmarking

We enjoyed dinner at Sojourner, an unassuming vegetarian restaurant on East Canon Perdido St just off State. Had lunch at Brophy Bros on the Wharf. Good meal but very hectic even on a Monday lunchtime in October!