48 Hours in Santa Barbara
Three locally curated ways to
eat, sip and wander through the city.
However you like to spend a weekend, we’ve put together a few of our favorite ways to experience Santa Barbara. Consider these a starting point—wander, linger, and make them your own.
THE FOOD LOVER
TASTE THE CITY. LINGER AWHILE.
Day One:
9:00 AM — Spudnuts Donuts
Start with a local favorite - a light, fluffy potato doughnut just around the corner from The Vina.
11:00 AM — Wander State Street
Browse the shops and hidden courtyards along Santa Barbara’s iconic promenade.
1:00 PM — Taqueria Cuernavaca
Stop for handmade tortillas and generously filled tacos at this local favorite.
3:30 PM — Twenty-Four Blackbirds Chocolate
Sample small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate made right here in Santa Barbara.
7:00 PM — Barbareño
Enjoy a memorable dinner inspired by California’s central coast.
Day Two:
9:00 AM — Farmers Market
Browse seasonal produce, local finds and plenty of Santa Barbara flavor (Tues & Sat).
12:30 PM — Lunch by the Water
Settle in for fresh seafood and harbor views.
3:00 PM — McConnell’s Creamery
Cool down with a scoop—or two—from this hometown favorite.
5:30 PM — Wella’s Soul Food
Dig into fried chicken, barbecue and soulful sides at this family-owned gem. Open Thursday–Sunday.
7:00 PM — Wander the Waterfront
Stroll from East Beach toward Stearns Wharf as the sun goes down.
THE SIPPER
WINE, COCKTALS & THE HILLS.
Day One : A Taste of Santa Barbara
9:00 AM — Slow Rise Morning at The Vina
Enjoy our featured Santa Barbara Roasting Company coffee, then head downtown for breakfast and fresh coastal air.
12:00 PM — Frequency Wine Company
Sip family-produced wines in this relaxed Presidio tasting room.
2:30 PM — Wander Funk Zone
Browse the galleries and discover a tasting room near the waterfront.
6:00 PM — Dinner Between Sips
Pause for a leisurely dinner in the Funk Zone—you’ll find everything from casual local favorites to beautiful, shared plates.
8:30 PM — Test Pilot
End the evening with an inventive tropical cocktail at this lively neighborhood bar tucked just a few blocks from the beach.
Day Two: A Taste of Los Olivos
9:30 AM — Coffee, Bagel & Coast
Pair The Vina’s featured coffee with a freshly made Mother Dough sourdough bagel by the water.
11:00 AM — Head to Los Olivos
Trade the coast for rolling hills and a charming wine-country town.
1:30 PM — Lunch & a Little Wandering
Stop for lunch, then browse the shops and galleries along Grand Avenue.
3:30 PM — One Last Pour
Choose one more tasting room—and perhaps a bottle for The Vina.
8:00 PM — The Good Lion
Return to Santa Barbara for a seasonal cocktail on State Street.
THE WANDERER
ART, HISTORY & HIDDEN CORNERS BY THE COAST
Day One:
9:30 AM — Coffee at The Vina
Ease into the morning with our featured Santa Barbara Roasting Company coffee.
10:30 AM — Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Explore the colorful Mural Room, tiled halls and panoramic clock-tower views.
12:00 PM — Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Spend an hour with the collection before continuing down State Street.
1:30 PM — Lunch at La Arcada
Enjoy lunch among the fountains, tiled walkways and hidden courtyards.
3:00 PM — El Presidio
Discover preserved adobe buildings, quiet paseos and Santa Barbara’s oldest neighborhood.
7:00 PM — Dinner & a Show
Dine downtown, then check the schedule for a concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl.
Day Two:
9:30 AM — Lotusland
Step into an extraordinary garden filled with rare plants, theatrical landscapes and wonderfully unexpected details.
12:00 PM — Lunch in Montecito
Take your time over lunch before making your way back toward Santa Barbara’s historic Mission district.
2:00 PM — Old Mission Santa Barbara
Explore the Mission and its grounds, then wander across the street through the colorful Mission Rose Garden.
5:30 PM — Stearns Wharf
Walk to the end of the wharf for fish & chips, ocean air, mountain views and the changing colors of early evening.
GOLDEN HOUR — Sunset by the Water
Find a spot along the beach, slow down and let Santa Barbara provide the final view.
Share Your 48 Hours!
Follow one of our itineraries—or make Santa Barbara entirely your own. Tag @TheVinaSB in your Instagram post or story, and we’ll send you a 10% off code for your next stay. Because 48 hours is rarely enough.
One 10% return-stay code per guest, per stay.