The Best Restaurants in Santa Barbara Wine Country
If you’re looking to plan a delicious trip to Santa Barbara wine country, you’ve come to the right place.
Located just two hours north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara wine country is one of my favorite weekend getaways. Made up of seven AVAs, or American Viticultural Areas, this underrated California wine growing region specializes in pinot noir, chardonnay, Rhone varieties, and more.
It’s a haven of quaint towns, open roads, and plenty of wineries to visit. For a complete guide to visit Santa Barbara wine country, visit this post.
Yes, the wines are amazing, but that’s not what this post is about. The restaurants in Santa Barbara wine country place an emphasis on seasonality and use of local ingredients - an incredible representation of California’s central coast and the surrounding areas.
Here are my top restaurants to eat at in Santa Barbara wine country for your next getaway. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (plus plenty of food porn photos).
The Best Restaurants in Santa Barbara Wine Country
Whether you’re staying in the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria, Alisos Canyon, or nearby, these restaurants are a must for your visit to Santa Barbara wine country. Because let’s be real, wine country trips are all about the food, too.
This list is organized by local towns of Santa Barbara wine country (Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, Ballard, Buellton, Solvang, Los Alamos), but know that each of these restaurants are easily accessible, no matter where you’re staying in the area.
Best Restaurants in Los Olivos
Located just off the 154 in the Santa Ynez Valley, Los Olivos is a small, one-street town filled with wine tasting rooms, gift shops, and a few restaurants. It’s the perfect place to spend a day hopping around to tasting rooms and taking in the quaint movie-set-like ambiance.
Breakfast
Corner House Cafe - It’s best to fuel up before a long day of wine tasting, and I like to do so with a breakfast burrito and a latte from this cafe. Conveniently located in downtown Los Olivos, this is the spot to grab a quick breakfast before you hit the wine trails.
Breakfast burrito at Corner House Cafe in Los Olivos, California
God’s Country Provisions - This little donut pop-up in downtown Los Olivos is only open on the weekends, but their seasonally themed donuts are sure to put a smile on your face. P.S. Grab a coffee next door at Corner House Cafe.
Donuts from God’s Country Provisions in Los Olivos, California
Lunch
PANINO - This is hands down my favorite sandwich shop potentially ever. There are plenty of locations throughout Santa Barbara wine country, so it’s easy to grab a gourmet sandwich and bag of chips to keep you satiated between wine flights.
Vegetarian sandwich from PANINO in Santa Barbara wine country
Dinner
Nella Kitchen & Bar - It’s a fun environment with delicious cocktails, and you have to try the pinsa (a Roman-style pizza made with fluffy dough and a variety of toppings). If you’re staying at the Fess Parker Inn, this is just a quick trip downstairs for you.
Image borrowed from @nellakitchenbar Instagram
Bar Le Côté - From the same owners as the iconic, Michelin-starred Bell’s in Los Alamos, Bar le Côté is a seafood-focused restaurant in downtown Los Olivos. Hear me out - I think this is one of the best restaurants in California right now. They serve the freshest oysters and peel-and-eat prawns you can get (some are local and some are from Maine). The wine list is also incredible (duh) and the service is incomparable. I highly recommend planning a night here.
Image borrowed from @barlecote Instagram
Best Restaurants in Santa Ynez / Ballard
These small towns are right next to each other in the heart of wine country, so I combined my restaurant recommendations for Santa Ynez and Ballard.
Breakfast
Bob’s Well Bread - One of two locations, this Bob’s is the perfect stop for breakfast or brunch. Their coffee is delicious (a huge plus in my book), and you can’t go wrong with a sticky bun or their famous Egg in a Frame.
Breakfast sandwich from Bob’s Well Bread in Santa Barbara wine country
Lunch
PANINO - Again, there are many locations for this incredible sandwich shop, but I had to give it another shoutout. In case you’re in town or passing through, don’t forget to pick up a sandwich for the road. Many wineries will let you bring your own picnic to snack on while wine tasting - just check with the winery to make sure it’s okay ahead of time.
Dinner
SY Kitchen - From the same owners as Nella Kitchen and Bar in Los Olivos, SY Kitchen is easily one of my favorite restaurants in the area. The Italian-Californian cuisine is always fresh and just hits every time. You’ll have to try one of their craft cocktails, and do not sleep on the golden beets.
Ballard Inn - If you’re lucky enough to stay here, do it! If not, be sure to stop by the Ballard Inn for an incredible dinner and wine pairings. Enjoy the tranquil patio on a warm evening or the moody vibes inside during the cooler months. This is truly a farm to table experience, with most of the produce coming from within a 10 mile radius of the restaurant.
I highly recommend the fried chicken (one of the best I’ve ever had) and the shrimp and grits. This is a seasonal menu, so order plenty of whatever vegetable is in season at the time of your visit. You can also grab a coffee or tea in the lobby on your way out.
Best restaurants in buellton
Buellton is located at the intersection of Highways 246 and 101, so you’ll likely pass through this town at some point during your Santa Barbara wine country trip.
Breakfast
God’s Country Provisions - This is a great spot to start a day of wine tasting. They have coffee and seasonally inspired donuts that you’ll want to take with you for bites between wine flights. Note: this is their brick and mortar location, while the one I mentioned in Los Olivos is a pop-up that’s only open on the weekends.
Donuts at God’s Country Provisions in Buellton, California
Lunch or Dinner
Industrial Eats - Located in a repurposed warehouse, Industrial Eats provides an energetic vibe, sustainable ingredients, wood-fired pizza, and seasonal specialties. The smoked turkey sandwich and caesar salad are the perfect combination. This is a must-try restaurant for a late lunch or early dinner.
Smoked turkey sandwich from Industrial Eats in Buellton, California
Best Restaurants in Solvang
Solvang, aka “The Danish Capital of America” is worth a stop when visiting Santa Barbara wine country. The Danish-inspired architecture, windmills, and wine tasting rooms make for a fun afternoon strolling through this iconic town.
Breakfast
Solvang Restaurant - While I can’t speak for the rest of the menu, the Æbleskiver is worth a trip to this old diner. These Danish pancake balls are served with raspberry jam and are sure to hit the spot. You might recognize the interior of this restaurant if you’ve seen the movie Sideways.
Image borrowed from Kelly J. on Yelp
Lunch
PANINO - You already knew it - the best sandwich shop in California definitely needs a location here. Clearly, you can’t avoid a PANINO sandwich while visiting Santa Barbara wine country.
Dinner
Coast Range - This is a great place for craft cocktails after a long day of wine tasting. I have yet to taste the food, but I have heard great things about this steakhouse and seafood restaurant.
Craft cocktail from Coast Range in Solvang, California
Best Restaurants in Los Alamos
About 15 minutes north of Los Olivos, Los Alamos is my favorite one-street town in California. It’s still tiny, but it’s quickly developing into a trendy place to visit.
Breakfast or Lunch
Bob’s Well Bread - I have already raved about the Bob’s Well Bread in Ballard, but this one is just as good. Stop by for coffee and a hearty breakfast before your day of wine tasting. The line might look long, but it moves pretty quickly.
Morning bun and coffee from Bob’s Well Bread in Los Alamos, California
Dinner
Norman - Located at the Skyview Motel, Norman is a cozy spot for cocktails and a yummy dinner. Also, the breakfast is not half bad.
Craft cocktails from Norman at the Skyview Motel in Los Alamos, California
Pico - Centrally located on the main drag of Los Alamos, Pico was founded by a local winemaker and serves up Californian cuisine made from organic ingredients and sustainable practices. Definitely get the burrata and try some of their craft cocktails.
Image borrowed from @picolosalamos Instagram
Full of Life Flatbread - This bakery turned restaurant (only on the weekends) is a go-to for dinner made from seasonal, local ingredients. Enjoy their patio on a warm evening and try at least one of their pizzas paired with a glass of local wine.
Bacon and date pizza and cheese pizza from Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos, California
Bell’s - While I have yet to dine at Bell’s, this French bistro has been recommended to me many times and recently received its first Michelin Star. As you can imagine, it’s a bit of a pricier meal, but they have half-off bottles of wine on Mondays, or you can stop by for the more affordable lunch menu.
Image borrowed from @bellslosalamos Instagram
I bet you’re hungry and ready to book a trip to Santa Barbara wine country after reading this post. If you have other restaurants you love in this area, drop them in the comments and I’ll check them out next time.
For more information on visiting Santa Barbara wine country, the best wineries and wine country hotels, and some of my favorite wines, visit this post.
In the meantime, reach out here to book a private virtual or in-person wine tasting for your next event.
And if you like trying new wines and learning while having fun, you’d love my Wine Tasting Club. It’s like a book club, but for virtual wine tastings. Learn more about our awesome wine community here.
You might also like this post about red wine and cheese pairings, or this Copenhagen food and wine guide.
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