Santa Barbara · For couples
Things to Do in Santa Barbara for Couples
Sea views, Spanish courtyards, wine on your doorstep and fireplaces at dinner: Santa Barbara is one of California's great romantic escapes.
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Dinner for two
Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch
900 San Ysidro Ln, Montecito
A Michelin-recognised restaurant in a 19th-century citrus packing house, with fireplaces, a creek-side terrace and produce from the ranch garden. Dinner nightly 5 to 9 p.m.; the ranch's Speakeasy bar has live music from 7 p.m.
Tip: Book on OpenTable; this is the special-occasion dinner of the trip.
The Lark
131 Anacapa St, Funk Zone
Seasonal Central Coast cooking designed for sharing, with Michelin Guide recognition and a Wine Spectator award. Dinner nightly from 5 p.m.; brunch at weekends.
Tip: The Funk Zone's best table: reserve well ahead for Friday and Saturday.
El Encanto Dining Room & Terrace
800 Alvarado Pl, the Riviera
The hilltop hotel restaurant of El Encanto, with alfresco tables in the gardens and views down to the coast. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and takes outside reservations on OpenTable and Resy; ask for the terrace.
Tip: Come for a sunset drink on the terrace even if you dine elsewhere.
Lucky's Steakhouse
1279 Coast Village Rd, Montecito
A classic American steakhouse of steaks, chops, seafood and cocktails on Montecito's Coast Village Road, open since 2000. Reservations through OpenTable.
Sunset and after dark
Sunset Kidd Sunset Sail
Santa Barbara Harbor, 125 Harbor Way
A 41-foot ketch that takes no more than 16 passengers, and says plainly it's "not a narrated tourist ride". Bring your own wine and picnic in a soft cooler; there's no bar on board.
The Good Lion
1212 State St
A small, serious cocktail bar next to the Granada Theatre, styled after the Mediterranean coast. Open daily 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Tip: Ideal for a drink before or after a show at the Granada.
Lobero Theatre
33 E Canon Perdido St
California's oldest continuously operating theatre, an intimate hall for jazz, classical recitals, comedy and Opera Santa Barbara. The autumn 2026 bill includes the Charles Lloyd Quartet and the Julian Lage Quartet.
The Granada Theatre
1214 State St
A grand 1924 movie palace and live-performance venue on State Street. Check the calendar for your dates.
By day
The Funk Zone and the Urban Wine Trail
Funk Zone, between State St and the beach
More than 20 tasting rooms pouring Santa Barbara County wines, most of them in the converted warehouses, murals and galleries of the Funk Zone, with a second cluster on Anacapa Street and El Paseo downtown.
Tip: Pick three rooms rather than ten, and book ahead at weekends.
Ganna Walska Lotusland
Montecito (address given on booking)
Heads-up: Open for the 2026 season until October 31; reopens February 17, 2027.
Ganna Walska's celebrated Montecito garden, seen on a two-hour self-guided or docent-led visit. Visits are Wednesday to Saturday at 9:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., by advance reservation only; book about three weeks ahead.
Santa Ynez Valley wine country
About 45 minutes over the hill from Santa Barbara
Pinot noir and chardonnay from the Sta. Rita Hills, Rhône and Bordeaux grapes further inland, and small tasting-room towns such as Los Olivos and Solvang. A tour with a driver saves arguing over who drives.
Our advice
- The Sunset Kidd sail needs a minimum of four adult fares to depart, so book early.
- Reserve the Stonehouse on OpenTable, and stay for the live music in the ranch's Speakeasy.
- Visiting before October 31? Book Lotusland about three weeks ahead.
Everything here was checked in September 2026. Garden seasons, boat schedules and show calendars change, so confirm before you go.
Questions people ask
What is the most romantic thing to do in Santa Barbara?
A small-boat sunset sail with your own bottle of wine, followed by dinner by the fire at the Stonehouse in Montecito.
Where should couples eat in Santa Barbara?
The Stonehouse for a special occasion, The Lark for shared plates, El Encanto for the view and Lucky's in Montecito for a classic steak.
What do couples do in Santa Barbara at night?
A cocktail at The Good Lion and a show at the Granada or the Lobero, or live music at SOhO.