Santa Barbara Dining

Santa Barbara restaurants — including the best restaurants in Santa Barbara — fill a cornucopia of cuisines and dining options. With around 600 eating establishments, Santa Barbara and environs equals any area its size in the United States for its selection of restaurants based on cuisine type, style and ethnicity, as well as on price.

A Few Words About Santa Barbara Restaurants

From delightful corner taco stands touted by famous chefs, to five star-worthy gourmet enterprises, Santa Barbara, Montecito and nearby Carpinteria and Ojai offer something to suit everyone's taste. The Santa Ynez Valley, home to Santa Barbara's internationally acclaimed wine country, hosts its own impressive array of cafés, bistros, brasseries and family-friendly eateries.

Everyone Has Their Favorites

Locals, part-time residents and frequent visitors all have their opinions of which establishments are the best restaurants in Santa Barbara. That includes Heidi Maune, who, as a longtime area resident and sophisticated traveler, has developed not just a refined palate, but also her own list of local dining choices.

Begin Your Santa Barbara Restaurant Tour

Heidi will be sharing her recommendations soon here on her website, so check this page often. Meanwhile, the Santa Barbara Independent "Food & Drink" provides interesting and often lively insights, although you might want to begin your culinary tour of Santa Barbara restaurants with a visit to the dining pages of Visit Santa Barbara and Tripadvisor.

To quote Montecito's revered Julia Child, "Bon appétit!"