The Ultimate Santa Barbara Weekend Getaway: 2-Day Itinerary

Friday Evening

When you arrive on Friday night, head to the Funk Zone – the heart of Santa Barbara’s arts, food, and wine scene. There are plenty of great restaurants and bars in the area where you can kick off your Santa Barbara vacation. 

For dinner, I recommend stopping by either Santo Mezcal or Shalhoob’s Funk Zone Patio. 

Santo Mezcal is a modern, elevated Mexican restaurant serving up ceviche, enchiladas, seafood, tacos, and more delicious dishes. It also has plenty of great vegetarian options. On the other hand, Shalhoob’s is perfect for anyone looking for a casual, more low-key eatery. The menu at this family-owned and operated restaurant includes shareable snacks, salads, tacos, burgers, sandwiches, and BBQ dishes. 

After dinner, stay in the Funk Zone for drinks at either Test Pilot, a tiki bar offering tropical-inspired cocktails, or Pearl Social, a cozy cocktail and music bar (pictured below). For Pearl Social, you can check out their event schedule online to see what DJs or live musicians will be playing. Both spots also have non-alcoholic drinks. 

Explore Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

The first stop of the day after breakfast will be the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, which is about a 10-minute drive from Downtown Santa Barbara. This beautiful, expansive, and super peaceful botanic garden is one of my favorite spots in the area, and can’t be missed!

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden was the first botanic garden to exclusively focus on plants native to the area. The 78-acre property is incredibly diverse, and is organized into 11 distinct sections. As you explore the more than five miles of walking paths, you’ll see a desert garden, a beautiful meadow, a Japanese tea house, a redwood grove, and so much more. You’ll also get expansive views of the water and the Santa Ynez Mountains. If you visit in the spring, you may also get to see the beautiful California poppies in bloom at the meadow!

Important note: reservations are required for admission! Be sure to book your time slot online prior to visiting. Currently, adult tickets are $20, and children tickets are $12 (but be sure to look at pricing info online, as this may change). 

Visit Old Mission Santa Barbara

Next, you’ll drive over to Old Mission Santa Barbara, which is a historic landmark. This mission dates back to 1786, and was the 10th California mission to be built. If you’re interested in touring, you can buy a ticket (currently $15 for adults) for a self-guided tour. This allows you to explore the entire grounds, which includes a museum, mausoleum, cemetery, gardens, and the interior of the mission church. 

If you’d prefer to skip the tour, you can also admire the exterior of the building and the surrounding property. While you are there, be sure to walk across the street to visit the small but beautiful Mission Rose Garden (which is free to visit). 

Important note: the Mission is sometimes closed to the public for weddings and other events – check the website for current closure information. Additionally, on Saturdays, you aren’t able to do a self-guided tour between 12:00pm and 2:30pm, so be sure to get there before that if you want to tour!

Grab Lunch in Downtown Santa Barbara

After exploring the mission, drive to the downtown area and stop for lunch at one of these popular spots: 

• The Daisy: The Daisy (below on the right and center) is the perfect spot for lunch in Santa Barbara. The menu (which has plenty of options for vegans and vegetarians) features sandwiches, bowls, salads, and more. The falafel plate is great! There’s also a variety of shareable sides, including fries, hummus, and a pickle plate.
• Santa Barbara Public Market: Another excellent option is this food hall (below on the left), which features a variety of different food and drink vendors. I’m personally a huge fan of Fala Bar, a 100% vegan spot serving creative and delicious falafel burgers (the kale burger is excellent), sandwiches, salads, and more. There’s also a pizzeria, Mexican restaurants, a sushi bar, and more. 

Check Out the Santa Barbara Courthouse

One of the best free things to do in Santa Barbara is visit the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, which dates back to 1929. The Spanish-Colonial style building is a fully operational courthouse, but is open to visitors who want to explore the ornate and historic structure. 

On weekends, visitors can join the free docent-led one-hour tour, which starts at 2:00pm (no advanced reservations required). Alternatively, you can do a self-guided tour. As you’re touring, you’ll want to make sure you stop by the Mural Room, which explores the early history of Santa Barbara through elaborate paintings. 

You’ll also want to go up to the Clock Tower, where you’ll get incredible 360-degree views of Santa Barbara and beyond. There is an elevator for those unable to make the climb up the stairs. Before you leave, talk a walk through the beautifully landscaped Sunken Gardens. 

Note: the main entrance for tourists is under the Great Arch (you can’t miss it – it’s huge!), located off Anacapa Street. 

Enjoy Turkish Coffee and Treats at LOKUM

For a unique treat, walk over to LOKUM. This dessert and coffee shop sells Turkish delights, baklava, herbal teas, and Turkish coffee – all in a beautifully decorated space. When it comes to the Turkish delights, they have a huge variety of options. They are also generous with samples, so you can try a few before making a purchase! I really enjoyed the orange and hazelnut delight. 

Go Shopping and Wine Tasting in the Funk Zone

As you meander down State Street, you’ll eventually make your way to the Funk Zone, which is on the beach side of Highway 101. There’s a ton of great shops and galleries worth checking out, including (but not limited to!) The Shopkeepers (a home goods and clothing store) and Tendrel (a men’s clothing store).

The Funk Zone is also home to many tasting rooms on the Urban Wine Trail. This “trail” consists of over 20 wineries and tasting rooms in the city of Santa Barbara. There are plenty of great wine tasting rooms in the Funk Zone, but one of my favorites is Pali Wine Company. This family-operated winery sources grapes primarily from Santa Rita Hills (in the greater Santa Barbara County), and specializes in Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. At the tasting room, you can enjoy wines from Pali Wine, as well as two other brands operated by the company: Neighborhood Winery and Tower 15 Winery. 

Enjoy Dinner

After wine tasting, it’s time to end the day with dinner! Here are two Funk Zone restaurant recommendations:

• Loquita: You can’t go wrong with Loquita, a popular Spanish restaurant and tapas bar. In addition to delicious cocktails, the restaurant has multiple paellas (including a vegetarian-friendly option), as well as a wide variety of tapas, seafood dishes, and more. 
• The Lark: Another option is The Lark, which specializes in New American fare made with locally sourced ingredients. Menu highlights include crispy brussel sprouts, hand cut pappardelle pasta, fried chicken, oysters, local seafood dishes, and more.

Grab Breakfast in Town

Before heading out for your hike, you’ll want to grab a quick breakfast. Here are two spots I recommend:

• Lighthouse Coffee (Multiple Locations): Lighthouse is a great spot for coffee and a casual breakfast. This coffee shop’s menu includes a breakfast sandwich, an acai bowl, a lox bagel, toasts, smoothies, pastries, and more. Be sure to go to the location on Chapala Street, Cliff Drive, or Turnpike Road – the Haley Street location doesn’t have food. 
• Cajé Coffee (Multiple Locations): There are three different Cajé locations in Santa Barbara (all of which are great), but I especially like the one at 1316 State Street. The patio is absolutely gorgeous. The food menu differs depending on which location you visit, but you can expect breakfast items like avocado toast and bagels. It’s also the spot for photo-worthy (and super delicious) coffee drinks – but note that they are pricey! The Burnout (pictured below) is excellent.

Go on a Hike

There are plenty of absolutely beautiful trails in the area, so you’ll want to add a hike to your Santa Barbara weekend itinerary. I’m recommending two different options, depending on how difficult and how long of a hike you’re looking for:

• Arroyo Burro Beach Loop (1.3 Miles, Easy): This trail (which is about a 10-minute drive from downtown) is really more of a walk than a true hike – there is very little elevation gain, and the trail is wide and easy to navigate. That said, it’s well worth the visit, as it sits on a bluff and offers gorgeous views of the coastline. It’s also conveniently located right next to the next stop of the itinerary. For parking, you can street park on Medcliff Road or the surrounding streets. You’ll find photos from the trail below.
• Inspiration Point Trail (3.4 Miles, Moderate): For those looking for a bit more of a challenge, this is one of the best trails in the area. The out-and-back trail (which is about a 15-minute drive from downtown) takes you out to a viewpoint, where you’ll get stunning views of the ocean and the mountainous landscape. There isn’t a parking lot here, so you’ll need to street park on Tunnel Road (on the right side as you’re driving up). It’s a popular spot, so you might have to park a bit down the road and walk up to the trailhead. 

Visit Arroyo Burro Beach

Next up, make your way over to Arroyo Burro Beach (also known as Hendry’s Beach). It’s about a 5-minute drive from the Arroyo Burro Beach Loop, and a 20-minute drive from the Inspiration Point trailhead. This beach is lined by scenic coastal bluffs, and is a great place to jump in the water, go on a walk, or just lay out and catch some rays. 

Grab Lunch & Coffee

After spending some time at Hendry’s Beach, make your way back into town for lunch. Here are two options to consider: 

• Helena Avenue Bakery (Funk Zone): This bakery and kitchen is a great spot if you want to enjoy a post-hike sandwich or salad. They also serve their breakfast menu (featuring dishes like a grilled sausage biscuit sandwich and a smoked salmon toast) all day!
• The Blue Owl (Downtown): Another casual eatery worth stopping by is The Blue Owl, an Asian fusion spot. The menu features dishes like fried rice, an eggplant sandwich, multiple banh mi sandwiches, and salads. There are also plenty of options for vegan and gluten-free diets. 

If you’re also in need of some caffeine, I recommend stopping by Dune Coffee Roasters (there are two locations within walking distance of The Blue Owl) or Dart Coffee (in the Funk Zone). If you visit Dart, note that the company also owns an outdoor garden space with tables and chairs right across the street. It’s the perfect spot to chill outside while enjoying your coffee!

Check Out a Local Museum

Next, visit one of Santa Barbara’s museums. The city has a lot to offer, so I’ll suggest two options, depending on your interests. 

The first option is the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, located about a mile from Helena Avenue Bakery, and a mile and a half from The Blue Owl (you may wish to drive!). This museum was founded by divers, sailors, and fishermen who all wanted to teach the public about maritime culture and the history of the Santa Barbara Channel. Adult tickets currently cost $10, and while you don’t have to purchase in advance, they can be purchased ahead of time online. 

Another option is MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, which is conveniently located across the street from the Funk Zone. This fun, interactive museum has exhibits for all ages focused on science, technology, and art. Adult tickets currently cost $18, and can be purchased online (or in person at the museum). 

Walk Along the Beach and Chase Palm Park

Continue your exploration of the coast by walking along the coast. At the end of the wharf, you’ll see a paved beach path on your right. It is meant to be shared by bikers, runners, roller skaters, and essentially anyone who wants to enjoy the path!

As you make your way down this path, you’ll soon pass by Chase Palm Park on your left, which takes up both sides of Cabrillo Boulevard. On your right, you’ll see East Beach.

If you’re up for the walk, you can continue down the path and make your way to Santa Barbara Chromatic Gate, which is about a mile from the end of the wharf. This colorful permanent art installation was built in 1991 by Herbert Bayer, an Austrian-born artist. 

Once you turn around and make your way back towards town, I recommend walking through Chase Palm Park on the opposite side of Cabrillo Boulevard. You’ll pass through open grassy fields, a beautifully landscaped pond, and more.  

Go Wine Tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley

Wine enthusiasts can’t miss a visit to the Santa Ynez Valley, which is about a 45-minute drive from Downtown Santa Barbara. This area (which is located in the greater Santa Barbara County) is the heart of the Santa Barbara wine scene. There are tons of great wineries to explore, but some of my favorites include Koehler Winery, Rusack Vineyards, and Sunstone Winery. Many spots require reservations, so be sure to look at their website in advance for booking information!

Alternatively, rather than traveling up there on your own, you can choose to do this top-rated wine tour of the Santa Ynez Valley. This tour makes the whole process a breeze, as they’ll pick you up from your accommodation – no need to worry about driving! A trusted guide will transport you in a luxury passenger van, taking you to three different wineries in the region. The exact wineries visited will differ from tour to tour, but some partner wineries include Andrew Murray Vineyards, Koehler Winery, Sunstone Winery, and Roblar Winery. The tour also includes lunch and snacks.