Santa Barbara is a seaside paradise. It’s no wonder we refer to it as the American Riviera.
While plenty of visitors stick to the swath of hotels, restaurants, and activities close to the beach, there’s more to enjoy here than just that. Venture a few blocks inland, and you’ll enter the zone recently christened the Arts District.
The main artery of Santa Barbara is State Street, which closed to traffic downtown during Covid. This helped spark a rebranding and renewal of the neighborhood’s northern end, an area historically demarcated by theaters run by rival movie studios in the 1920s. It’s now full of interior design stores, galleries, and restaurants, as well as the new location for the famous Saturday morning farmers market—the favorite of former local Julia Child.
Where to Stay Near the Arts District
A guest room in the recently renovated Hotel Santa Barbara
(Courtesy of Hotel Santa Barbara and Visit Santa Barbara)
Hotel Santa Barbara
Renovated in 2025, this version of Hotel Santa Barbara feels new and fresh, with light wood tones and a clean scent reminiscent of a high-end department store, that nevertheless still honors its historic roots. Look for graceful curves in the ceilings, decorative hand-painted tiles, and a vintage elevator. The new bar, 1926—named for the hotel's founding year—serves coffee, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches in the morning before transitioning to cocktails at night. In its early days, the hotel welcomed famous guests like Clark Gable, and was a place where rum runners stashed their loot during Prohibition. It is situated right on State Street, perfectly positioned for exploring just a few blocks down from the Arts District.
Rooms are thoughtfully appointed with framed maps of Santa Barbara, tall pine headboards, lacquered olive-green walls, and plush seating and carpets. The bedside lamps feature wooden bead shades that cast a warm, dappled glow and there are local pour-over coffee set ups. Out in the hallways, you'll find water stations with still and sparkling spouts to refill your in-room bottles. // 533 State St., hotelsantabarbara.com
The Upham Hotel
Tucked away on De La Vina Street, The Upham Hotel exudes Victorian charm. Set on an acre of manicured gardens with a quiet, neighborhoody feel, it is the oldest continuously operating hotel in Southern California. Though it sits in a peaceful pocket of the city, it’s surprisingly walkable, just a block from the Public Market and an easy stroll to the upper Arts District. Rooms are comfortable, clean, and inviting the way a beloved family member's guest room is: You could genuinely move in.
The amenities lean into the B&B spirit: a daily wine happy hour, continental breakfast, and a lobby fireplace made for curling up beside with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. The newly opened Amasa Bistro (see below) is leveling up the draw here. Pop into their tiny bar with its own (one-hour-only) happy hour, or enjoy an al fresco meal on the storybook wraparound porch. // 1404 De La Vina St., uphamhotel.com
Kimpton Canary Hotel
The Kimpton Canary Hotel is situated in a prime spot near the Arts District section of State Street and features those cushy amenities that Kimpton is so good at—including luxurious four-poster beds and a popular rooftop pool, the largest in Santa Barbara. The onsite restaurant, Finch & Fork, serves as a venue for many events and local activities, and they also just launched an in-room dining menu for dogs. // 31 West Carrillo St., canarysantabarbara.com
Where to Eat + Drink Near the Arts District
Gala
(Blake Bronstad; Courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara)
The Daisy
The Daisy was founded by Carmen “Daisy” DeForest and her husband Dominic, who relocated to Montecito before the pandemic and decided to open this all-day cafe, inspired by Ottolenghi (the chef whose food led Daisy into the kitchen). It was an instant local favorite for its generous mezze plates, heaping salads, and all kinds of snacks and nibbles served in a beautifully airy, breezy space that feels like vacation. // 1221 State St. thedaisyrestaurant.com
Gala
Gala was opened in 2023 by Santa Barbara native Tara Penke and her husband, chef-owner Jaime Riesco. The couple lived in Barcelona for almost 20 years, running the acclaimed restaurant Picnic. Gala is inspired by the Spanish coastal town Cadaqués, home of Salvador Dalí (Gala was the name of Dalí’s wife). Relaxed with a warm energy, the restaurant feels European and seaside-chic, with white linens, candlelight, tulips, and cement walls with touches of coral and cream. Arched windows frame a small bar with just a handful of cocktails, like a turmeric gimlet, a classic vesper, and a passion fruit pisco sour. A perfect side salad comes piled up in a bowl with a shavings of parm and herbs. The menu is seafood-centric, but also features a requisite burger and several farmers market specials. Gala is located in the Presidio neighborhood, just a couple blocks from the Arts District. // 705 Anacapa St., galasb.com
Dom’s Taverna opened last summer, bringing a Spanish-inspired menu to this Arts District side street. White walls, a turquoise-tiled open kitchen, good lighting, and funky music create a hip vibe here, with a long bar serving crafty drinks like the Night Vision, made with mint-washed gin. A menu of seafood-driven and seasonal dishes prevails. Owner Raj Nallapothola (Torónix Gourmet) and chef Dom Crisp (LA’s The Lonely Oyster) are the duo behind the magic. // 30 East Victoria Street, domstaverna.com
A super popular and lively hot spot is Secret Bao, an open, bustling space with outdoor seating that’s packed even on a Wednesday night after 8pm. An example of a pandemic-era pop-up gone great, chef-owner Peter Lee has created a varied menu of his favorite pan-Asian comfort foods with seasonal ingredients (farm shout outs on the menu) like udon carbonara and bacon-kimchi fried rice. There’s local beer and wine, plus soju cocktails like the popular lychee-tini with a big puff of foam on top. //1201 Anacapa St., secretbaosb.com
Bistro Amasa
Inside The Upham Hotel is the brand new Bistro Amasa, named after Abe Lincoln’s cousin, Amasa Lincoln, who first ran the hotel. The restaurant is helmed by the partners behind Michelin-recognized Barbareño, nearby. The space feels very London chic, with great lighting, dark red tulip-shaped pendant lights, marble-topped tables with striped red cushion seats, and a tiny bar up front with only two stools. The peekaboo cutout window in the wall to the kitchen is fun to get a glimpse into. The menu features classic dishes with a twist, like country club food, yet unexpected. Try the meatloaf with mole and lime or the hot-smoked salmon with everything bagel cream, farro, and tomato water. Crafty cocktails are equally unexpected, like the gin fizz with celery salt. They just started brunch service out on the wraparound deck. //1404 De La Vina St., bistroamasa.com
Casual Eats, Coffee + Beer Near the Arts District
Hook & Press Craft Donuts & Coffee
(Blake Bronstad; Courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara)
Mother Dough Bagels
Mother Dough Bagels isn’t technically in the Arts District. But the nearby eatery, which opened in January 2025 in a cute little house a short walk away from busy State Street, is worthy of a mention. The long-fermented, hand-rolled sourdough bagels are the obvious draw here for their chewy, tender perfection, served with a variety of interesting toppings like gochujang or tobiko-dotted cream cheese. Espresso drinks with house-made syrups like miso caramel and black sesame are hard to resist, as well. Order the furikake everything bagel. // 604 Santa Barbara St., motherdoughbagels.com
Mosaic Locale
Mosaic Locale is a cool concept: a coffeehouse collab (Groundwork) with a cafe (Goodland Waffles & Melts), and a craft brewery (Draughtsman Aleworks)—because you can’t go wrong with a waffle and a beer. It’s a space where folks linger, working and chatting; where locals stop in to pick up their seafood CSA from a cooler under the counter; where a plethora of games and books offer a real community vibe. Plus, it’s in a good location directly across from the art museum. // 1131 State St., mosaiclocale.com
Hook & Press Craft Donuts & Coffee
Hook & Press is set in a cheerful, high-ceilinged space full of plants, bulb chandeliers, and big windows in a corner location within the La Arcada Plaza. Aside from delicious donuts with interesting flavors that constantly change with the season, there is a long list of morning plates and breakfast sandwiches, where you can sub any of the bread options—homemade buttermilk biscuit, brioche bun, or English muffin—with a mini gluten-free potato waffle. They feature lots of special drinks, like a bright pink rose latte with beet and maca and the blue-hued yerba mate latte with almond milk and adaptogens. //15 East Figueroa St., hookandpressdonuts.com
SeoulMate Kitchen
SeoulMate Kitchen was opened in 2025 by co-owners Francesca Muñoz Vaca and Juan Pedro in the very popular Santa Barbara Public Market. The flavors are fresh and the food feels nourishing, yet indulgent. Try the kimchi toki soup with thin slices of tteokbokki, a lighter and tender version of the usual heavy cylinders. The Seoul Sizzle Rice with bulgogi is delicious, served with lettuce leaves and herbs to make your own little ssam bites. Order one of their many matcha or coffee cloud drinks, like the black sesame. // 38 West Victoria St., seoulmatekitchen.com
What to Do Near the Arts District
The historic Granada Theatre
(Blake Bronstad; Courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara)
Santa Barbara Museum of Art + Street Art
It makes sense to start your exploration of the Arts District at an art museum, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art will not disappoint. Founded in 1941, it features more than 28,000 works of art from ancient to modern times. The museum was expanded in 2021 following an extensive $50 million renovation, and it has also recently welcomed a new director from the Seattle Art Museum. A fun time to visit is during the First Thursday art walks, when the museum and nearby galleries (don’t miss Sullivan Goss; 11 E. Anapamu St.) unveil new exhibits and stay open later. // 1130 State St., sbma.net
Since May, a sweeping street mural has been taking over a main intersection in this part of downtown, made possible through a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative. Artist Eddy Jimenez's 4,000-square-foot ground-level work will occupy the corner of State and Carrillo Streets, drawing on traditional Zapotec and Mixtec weaving designs to honor the cultural roots of agricultural workers. Only three other U.S. cities were chosen to receive the funding aimed at energizing public spaces, improving street safety, and fostering community connection.
Arlington Theatre
One of the main things that solidifies this area as an arts epicenter is State Street’s historic theatres. This was a hot spot during Hollywood’s Golden Age, with rival studios battling it out a stone’s throw from each other. The Arlington Theatre (formerly owned by Fox) is a lush, glamorous venue still operating today. It’s a primary site for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where many red-carpet events occur. // 1317 State St., arlingtontheatresb.com
The Granada Theatre
The Granada Theatre (a former Warner Brothers property) has an ornate ceiling and lights, balconies, and cushy red velvet seats. Built in 1924 just before the earthquake, it survived the disaster, which explains why it’s eight stories tall—four more than mandated by post-earthquake building codes. Today, the Granada features many UCSB Arts & Lectures projects, many of which are free. // 1214 State St., granadasb.org
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Visiting the stunning Santa Barbara County Courthouse should be a prerequisite for those new to town. That may not sound like a typical travel must-do, but this tile-roof structure and its surrounding grounds exemplify the beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and alluring landscaping that make Santa Barbara a hard place not to want to live in. It’s also a very popular place for couples to get married (in fact, my own parents said “I do” here). // 1100 Anacapa St., santabarbara.courts.ca.gov
Fashion + Decor
This is a neighborhood to shop ‘til you drop, with an interesting, little-known fashion history. Iconic designer Salvatore Ferragamo worked here in the early 1900s in his brother’s shoe repair shop, making boots for the “Flying A” silent film studio. This fashion element remains today at celeb favorite Catherine Gee (27 W. Anapamu St.), as well as Ace Rivington (1100 State St.), a boutique opened by a former Guess jeans designer. // Next door to The Daisy is a great boutique and lifestyle brand, Domecíl (1223 State St.) that offers home decor, bath and body products, and clothing with an eye for sustainable materials and global artisans. // The Santa Barbara Couture Pattern Museum (1525 State St., PH Fl. 301) opened in 2024 (by appointment only).
Cat Therapy
Book an hour of Cat Therapy when you need a place to chill and reboot with some cuddles. Santa Barbara’s first cat café (minus the café part) has a mission to save rescue kitties from being euthanized. All the animals here are adoptable, and the serene space gives the community some “therapy” with interactions complete with soft pillows, kitty toys, and plenty of nooks and nests to linger in. // 1213 State St., Suite L, cattherapysb.com
