No one knows their town like a local, right? You may be familiar with Montecito because of celebrities or the royal family (No, I haven’t seen Harry and Meghan yet, unfortunately), but I was lucky enough to grow up here. Patrick and I were fortunate to move back to Montecito in 2019, and we hope to stay in this quaint and serene part of Santa Barbara. I’ve previously given you a rundown of SB’s popular Funk Zone area, but now it’s time to cover my own neighborhood!
Go-to Dining & Drinks:
Panino – casual with delicious sandwiches
Bettina – this is our favorite pizza place in all of SB
Los Arroyos – great food and margs and live music at times
The Honor Bar – hit up the restaurant or the to-go market
Sakana – cozy spot with amazing (and our favorite) sushi
Oliver’s – vegan restaurant with a gorgeous patio
Rosewood Miramar Beach – big fan of the beach bar, but the Manor bar is lovely too
Jeannine’s – wonderful brunch and lunch with lots of outdoor seating
Blender’s – to-go smoothies
Mesa Burger – casual burger spot
San Ysidro Ranch – gorgeous property for a wonderful dinner or drink
Pierre Lafond Market & Deli – laid-back restaurant, market, coffee spot with lots of outdoor seating
Montecito Gourmet by Village Cheese & Wine – build-your-own deli sandwiches
Renaud’s Patisserie and Bistro – amazing baked goods (mouth-watering croissants)
Tre Lune Ristorante – classic spot for dinner or brunch
Lucky’s Steakhouse – known for dinner and drinks, but the brunch is fabulous too
Merci Montecito – adorable coffee shop
Local Montecito – bar/restaurant that stays open late
Coast & Olive – lots of outdoor seating for a cocktail or food
Folded Hills Montecito Tasting Room – the only wine tasting spot in Montecito
Rori’s Artisanal Creamery – ice cream shop
Sushi Bar Montecito – 17-course sushi experience dinner
My favorite shops:
Upstairs Pierre Lafond – gifts, women’s, and children’s clothing
CODA Studio – home design
Kismet Montecito – gifts and lingerie
Maison K – home and gifts
Montecito Mercantile – gifts and home goods
The Nurture Cottage – children’s
Gorjana – jewelry
The Tennis Shop of Montecito – sporting goods
Whiskey & Leather – women’s and men’s clothing
Lily – gifts and home
K. Frank – women’s and men’s clothing
Hudson Grace – home and gifts
Imagine – gifts and art
Angel – women’s clothing
Clic – gifts and home items
Jenni Kayne – women’s clothing and home goods
Tecolote Book Shop – bookstore
Hogue & Co. – florist
Activities:
Hiking – Montecito has lots of accessible hiking trails. There are also natural hot springs that you can hike to as well.
Butterfly Beach – Walk the beach or hang at the wall for sunset. Bike or walk one of the most stunning bike paths too.
Miramar Beach – One of my favorite places to beach walk.
Hammond’s Beach – Walk through a lovely, flower-lined short trail (Hammond’s Meadow Trail) to get over to this section of the beach.
Coast Village Road – Check out lots of the restaurants listed above and shop at local boutiques.
Montecito Country Mart – Dozens of shops, businesses, and restaurants in one location.
Lotus Land – Read a whole post on Lotus Land here. A historic estate and one of the best gardens in the world.
Casa del Herrero – You can tour this historic home designed by George Washington Smith and walk the beautiful gardens.
Montecito Library – Okay, I am a nerd at heart, and I love our small, 1910-established library.
Upper and Lower Manning Parks – Separated by San Ysidro Road, the two park areas are charming. Upper Manning includes a tennis court, barbecue areas, and a tree-covered shady lawn. Lower Manning has a large, open lawn, picnic benches and grills, and a small playground.
I hope that you enjoy your time spent in Montecito or “little mountain.” I’ll always be a fan of the lush landscaping, wooden street signs, dark and quiet nights, and very small-town feel of my neighborhood. Whether you come for a hike, drink, or beach day, I’m sure that you’ll never forget your time spent in this little slice of paradise.
Sweater, beach tote, and headband from Kismet Montecito.
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