Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [324]
Inn of the Spanish Garden (Map; 805-564-4700, 866-564-4700; www.spanishgardeninn.com; 915 Garden St; r $269-399, ste $379-515; ) You’ll feel ‘to the manor born’ at this Spanish-style inn where casual elegance, top-notch service and an impossibly charismatic central courtyard will have you lording about like the royal overseer of your own private villa. Beds have luxurious linens; bathrooms have oversize soaking tubs. Lush palms surround the pool, and the outdoor courtyard gets lit with candles every evening – the perfect spot to enjoy the evening wine bar. Breakfast included.
Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel (Map; 805-969-2261, 888-424-5866; www.fourseasons.com/santabarbara; 1260 Channel Dr; r $600-950; ) Don white linen and live like the Great Gatsby at the oh-so-cushy 1927 Biltmore, Santa Barbara’s iconic beachfront resort and spa where rooms are decorated in retro ’20s chic and every detail is perfect. Bathrooms have custom Mediterranean-style tiles, huge soaking tubs, French-milled soaps and 300-jet waterfall showers; bedrooms are decked out with ultra-high-thread-count sheets and 40in flat-screen TVs. Perfect for a honeymoon or a great big splurge. Wi-fi in the lobby.
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EATING
Budget
Sojourner Café (Map; 805-965-7922; 134 E Cañon Perdido; dishes $6-13; 11am-11pm Mon-Sat, to 10pm Sun; ) Vegetarians rejoice – the food is fab and the menu extensive at this upbeat, mostly veggie café that gets creative with vegetables, tofu, tempeh, chicken, fish, rice, seeds and other healthy ingredients. Outdoor seating, too. The tempeh taco salad is delish.
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company (Map; 805-966-6676; 230 Stearns Wharf; dishes $5-16 11am-9pm, to 9:30pm summer) ‘From sea to skillet to plate’ best describes the process at Santa Barbara Shellfish, an end-of-the-wharf crab shack that’s more of a counter joint than a sit-down restaurant. The food and atmosphere go best with beer, not chardonnay. Decent prices; awesome crab bisque; great water views; same owners for 25 years.
La Super Rica (Map; 805-963-4940; 622 N Milpas St; dishes under $7; 11am-9:30pm, closed Wed) This low-slung, unmarked shack – the one with the happy hordes spilling out the door – was culinary guru Julia Child’s favorite Mexican restaurant. Who are we to argue? Make your choice from the 20 meals written on the board overhead, order from the window, then join local families at the picnic-style tables for authentic south-of-the-border cooking. Avoid peak meal times, when the place gets packed and searching for a seat is an Olympic sport.
Metropulos (Map); 805-899-2300; 216 E Yanonali St; mains under $10; 8:30am-6pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat) Before a hike in the front country, order up some picnic-perfect gourmet salads and sandwiches at this new-ish, super-nice deli east of the tracks in the Funk Zone. Try the smoked turkey and brie with cranberry-fig confit on honey whole wheat. Mmmm. They’ve got wine and cheese too.
Natural Café (Map; 805-962-9494; 508 State St; mains under $10; 11am-9pm) The lunch line – stretching 10 deep from the counter – can look daunting at this beachy, mostly vegetarian bistro in the thick of things on State St. But no worries, the line moves fast. Options range from spinach salads to tempeh veggie burgers to black-bean enchiladas. Grilled chicken pitas and turkey sandwiches available for carnivores.
D’Angelo Pastry & Bread (Map; 805-962-5466; 25 W Gutierrez St; dishes under $12; 7am-1:30pm) Come in the morning for a fresh-from-the-oven flaky croissant, poached eggs and big cups of strong coffee at this sidewalk café and bakery off Lower State St. The best pastries go quick, so get here early; the bakery closes