An Insider's Guide to Santa Barbara

Montecito Inn places you a short drive to everything Santa Barbara. From winery tours to finding your favorite brands, Santa Barbara has so much to offer visitors. Besides the following attractions, our concierge maintains a fully updated list of the area's best places to visit and activities to enjoy and would be happy to help you plan your day.

Santa Barbara Dining

For the best dinner in town, look no further than Sushi by Scratch Restaurants, located right on site, offering a menu showcasing the bounty of Santa Barbara County in a manner both elegant yet rustic, precise yet unforced. Montecito Inn is also located near several other great Santa Barbara dining options:

Lucky's: Steakhouse located just next door to the Inn.
Los Arroyos Montecito: Serves Mexican comfort food and margaritas, located just across the street.
Jeannine's Restaurant & Bakery: Local pastry shop and bakery located just a three-minute walk from the Inn.
Sakana Sushi Bar & Japanese: Highly rated sushi restaurant located half a mile from the Inn.
Sushi By Scratch Restaurants: MICHELIN-started, omakase-style sushi restaurant that focuses on fresh seafood found locally in Santa Barbara.
Tre Lune Ristorante: Delicious, simple food reminiscent of Italy.

Area Festivals

Santa Barbara features mild weather year-round, as well as a rich history, which makes it an ideal place to host a variety of festivals and outdoor events. Explore a full listing of festivals on the  Santa Barbara Calendar of events or contact our concierge.

Old Spanish Days Fiesta: Held every August, this is Santa Barbara’s version of Mardi Gras featuring traditional Spanish dancing.
Harbor & Seafood Festival: For one day each October, seafood lovers descend on Santa Barbara for a day of seafood, live music, and arts and crafts.
Santa Barbara Wine Festival: Sample more than 70 local wines and explore the tastes of dozens of local restaurants and caterers.
Fourth of July in Santa Barbara: Dozens of events include fireworks, craft shows, and parades.
Greek Festival: Get your fill of baklava and spanakopita at this annual event held each August.
Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Held each February, this world-class event features films from the top directors and actors in the world.

Santa Barbara Shopping

Downtown Santa Barbara features world-class shopping opportunities. Spend a relaxing day strolling down the brick-lined sidewalks to explore everything State Street offers, from eclectic local shops to your favorite retail brands. Find more information about shopping in downtown Santa Barbara here.

Another popular area for shopping is the Paseo Nuevo Shops & Restaurants, located just over three miles from the Inn. This area offers all your favorite retail brands in one location.

Santa Barbara Theaters

With a rich history as the home and playground to some of Hollywood's earliest stars, Santa Barbara is home to several historical theater landmarks, including the Granada Theater. Visit our concierge to learn more about these historical sites and explore our theater scene.

Arlington Theater:Legendary, historic landmark theater seating up to 2,000 guests.
Labero Theater: founded in 1873; California's oldest operating theater.
Riviera Theater: Santa Barabara's Non-profit art house.

Universities in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is home to several world-class institutes of higher education. Our boutique hotel provides convenient amenities and easy access to area colleges for college visits, parents' weekends, and graduations.